Part 18 – Daily Life In Training
…One more hit and it's over.
…Done. Next one.
That was Ziar's voice.
My three-year training had started a month ago—and it was insanely hard and painful.
This session?
I was standing in the magic field, shirtless, wearing only pants.
Ziar was striking my upper body and stomach with a staff—hard.
Ziar: "Alright, your next training goes like this: you'll stand on a pole. Beneath you—sharp, jagged stones. I'll attack you while you try to stay balanced."
"This is balance training."
My honest reaction: @_@ (curse)
Ziar: "Let's begin."
I stood as instructed, waiting for Ziar's attack.
He started.
The blows were brutal.
I barely managed to block them.
If I fell—I'd land on the rocks and get punished.
Punishment meant no food and twenty lashes.
Not ordinary lashes—magical ones.
By the third strike, you'd pass out.
…One more hit and it's done.
Ziar: "Alright, that's enough for today. Go rest. Also, read four books on magic and bring me a summary and conclusion by tomorrow."
Oh, so my exhaustion is a joke to you?
Sigh I better go, or I'm doomed.
I'll wait for Sister Eva and Grandfather to arrive—then I'll give him the final result and reflection.
I'm rambling, but whatever…
…That night, in the Church library…
Oh * why won't this end?
It's honestly ridiculous to finish a 1000-page book overnight and write a 500-page summary.
Absolutely insane.
I didn't know what to do anymore.
I dipped the dry quill back into ink and resumed summarizing—when my stomach growled.
I was starving.
• Have mercy—there's no one here.
If I get any hungrier, I'll eat my own kind.
Anyway, I found a piece of bread.
It helped a little—but made me sleepy.
It's fine—I'll sleep a bit.
No, I must stay awake and finish the summary.
But no—if I'm sleepy, I'll mess it up.
But no—if I sleep a bit, I'll write better.
So I laid my head on the book and slept.
…The next morning…
The rooster crowed—morning had arrived.
Oh * I fell asleep!
I have to finish the summary before Ziar arrives.
As usual—cursed habit—my drool had soaked the summary while I slept.
All my effort… ruined.
• Curse you, Ziar. You bring me nothing but misery.
Then the library door opened.
I was preparing for my own funeral when I heard Sister Arna's voice.
She said I had to go quickly.
Good thing—if Ziar saw this mess, he'd give me an even worse punishment.
(I should see a doctor and get something to stop my drooling at night.)
"Master, I'm ready."
Ziar: "Alright, lie down."
"Yes, Master."
I did as he said.
At the same time, I felt burning and crushing pain.
Of course—he'd placed a multi-hundred-kilo stone and several flesh-eating beetles on me.
I had to use magical pressure and a magic field to repel the beetles—while enduring the stone.
Ziar: "Don't stop until I say so. Begin."
I was being crushed under the stone, and those cursed beetles were doing their thing.
Ziar: "Alright, that's enough. Now go pick up that concrete weight over there. Walk around the Church with it."
Oh * why won't this end?
I picked up the stone and set it aside.
I stood up—my body covered in beetle bites.
I did what he said and started walking.
Why won't this end?
Still hours till evening…
…Evening…
Sigh Finally, it's over.
I collapsed on the ground from exhaustion.
Ziar stood over me.
Ziar: "So, did you finish the book summary?"
"To be honest… no. It got ruined."
Ziar: "Thanks for your honesty. Now instead of summarizing four books, you'll summarize eight."
And he left.
Why won't this end?
…The next day…
Inner peace. Inner peace.
Thankfully, no brutal training today—just meditation and strategic war theory.
After meditation, we sat at the study table for my lesson.
Ziar: "This technique I'm about to teach—only I know it across all three walls. Now tell me—what do you do when facing an army larger than your own?"
"Uh… well… you do something… like… uh…"
Ziar: "Got it. Don't say anything. You need to use irregular warfare—guerrilla tactics."
(Note: The master of guerrilla warfare was General Surena of the Parthians. In an irregular battle, he famously defeated Roman Senator Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae—10,000 Parthians against Crassus's 45,000.)
"So what do you do?
You either confront the enemy head-on, or split your army into three.
You attack with one group—while the other two wait.
Once the enemy is engaged, the other two attack.
Repeat this over and over until the enemy Is confused and defeated."
"Got it?"
"Yes… no…"
Ziar: "What did I do to deserve this kid?"
And the whole day was spent trying to make me understand.
…Night…
Ziar: "Alright, be ready. Tomorrow we'll get you some magical tools, new books, and clothes.
Also, two new subjects will be added to your curriculum."
"Religious studies—taught by Father and Sister Eva."
"Etiquette and noble manners—since with the Church's support and the Hyper family's backing, you're now considered a noble.
This will be taught by me and Sister Patolina."
"Now go write a few notes about today's training."
And that… was my ridiculous, miserable life during three years of training.
End of Parts 18