Chapter 5 Stamina (2)

• Alex left the cave and decided to depart for home. Being that he was punished not to sleep in the house and to not get any food for the entire week, nobody cared where he was as long as he served his sentence. He passed by the river, where he always takes a shower as he's not allowed to use the one at home and dipped himself in the water.
• After around thirty minutes of socking in the water, he came out and put on his clothes and went back to the stables. The stables had different sections. There was a section for horses, sheep, goats and pigs. Most of the times he's always sleeping in the pigs' section where life there is hell. Well, this only occurs when his father is gone for months where his condition will only be improved during the last week of the month. This was such a week.
• When he entered the stables, he immediately lay down to rest. Even after resting in the cave in Maza forest he was still mentally and physically tired. He closed his eyes tightly and began reflecting on the events that occurred the previous night.
• 'Who was that woman? Or was I just dreaming? No, it felt so real. Mhm, I don't know why but I felt a sense of familiarity from that woman. Well, that power was insane indeed. I wonder if I can ever get that much power.' He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling.
• 'Maybe if I had awakened dad wouldn't let me be mistreated even at home? Well, even though he doesn't mistreat me, the fact that he remains so silent makes me frustrated. Did he even love mom? If so, then why should I be like this?'
• 'I wonder if I have my home somewhere else or if this is my real home? Well, I think I'll just to get away from here and try to forge my own path in life. But, that will have to wait till I turn fifteen and I am completely done with the train I am currently undertaking.'
• 'Well, I guess I am thinking things that are now too far from my grasp. I better find a way to survive the night though. At least I got good food. All I need is an all night long sleep to rest enough so that I can continue training tomorrow.'
• Alex closed his eyes and slept. He was truly exhausted that he even forgot to make something to cover himself from the cold at night. Simon who was observing him from a far sighed and waved his hand. Several thin layers of hay were lifted by his mana control and landed on top of Alex who was sleeping like a bag of potatoes.
• "I wish I could do better than this cousin. For all you did for me I don't think there anything else that can repay you other than taking care of your son for you. And that I've failed too. All I can do is train him how to survive. Please forgive me for my incompetence." Simon muttered under his breath before leaving after giving the kid one last look.
• .....
• "Wow, morning came fast today. Yawn! I better get up and head out for training so I can finish this training for the day." Alex stood up and pushed aside the hay that was on top on him. He clearly didn't remember covering himself at night but all the same, he thanked the one that covered him.
• The muscles all over his body ached that he immediately fell down just as he stood from the pain he was experiencing. His body felt week in such a way that he doubted that he'll be capable of completing today's workout. He stood up again and stayed still until he got used to the pain before he began dragging himself to Maza forest.
• Those who saw him limping away thought that he must have had a thorough beating from his step mother or step brothers. They just hope that the boy would manage to reach adulthood and be capable of depend on himself.
• Alex didn't care what they thought of him and continued on his journey towards Maza forest at a steady pace until he began getting used to his aching body. After long three hours, he finally arrived at the edge of the forest and decided to do some stretches to ease the tension his body was in. Ten minutes later, he began jogging around the area he was assigned to go around for thirty laps.
• Today, the thirty laps became harder than the previous day which he ended collapsing again just like the previous day. Simon took him to the same cave and fed him a recovery portion before leaving him a backpack as usual. He just hoped that Alex would be able to endure this training till the end. This was actually a training for not only stamina but also perseverance and a test of his will and determination.
• ....
• Three weeks floated just like that and Alex had adapted to running around at a pace of at least 5km/hr. This was indeed a great improvement went you take into account the way the forest drained his energy. Currently, his leg muscles had began developing due to the training and the balanced diet that he now receives during training.
• His father had already come back a week ago and his punishment was lifted and he was back in his small room where he resided. Although life was somehow better, that didn't mean that problems ended. He was still abused but somehow minimally. He received one meal a day at home, and that was supper. Of course, he had no breakfast but lunch was what he ate in the forest. It was indeed plentiful enough to allow him to do all his training the following day even after consuming the small portion he receives at home.
• "Well done Alex, you've indeed done well so far so it is time for you to advance in your stamina training. So, now you'll have to lift the log over there and go for thirty five laps. Make sure not to put your hands down until you are done with the laps. The log weighs 7 kg so get going." Simon was once again here to ensure training progressed.
• "Yes elder," replied Alex as he went to where the log was and lifted it up in the air and began jogging. He went with the usual pace that he'd gotten used to in the previous three weeks. At first, things were just normal but when he continued going round, things began being hard. His breathing haggard and his arms felt so week that he really wanted to drop the log down. The training was indeed hellish.
• Days came to weeks and weeks summed to a month of training. Every time he got used to the weight, it was added until he went back to struggling. Throughout this time, Alex experienced what it meant to train.
• After this, he was to train how to remain under water without breathing for a certain period of time several times which kept increasing as he continued progressing. He always dipped himself in the same river where he usually took a shower. Every day, he kept breaking the previous record by five seconds.
• After this, he was given some bracelets that were enchanted with magic runes. These always increased weight in such a way that the one putting them on would always feel like he or she's carrying around 20 kg. This will always increase as one's strength increases. The weight was evenly distributed in the body in such a way that it was always the body that felt heavy.
• After four long months of training, stamina training had come to an end. Alex's muscles had built up in such a way that he didn't look like a slim boy like before. Although his body stature was still small, it had some muscles.
• "Congratulations on completing the stamina training. Now, you've got one week break before we continue to another type of training. So, better be prepared when that time comes," said Simon with a smile.
• "Thank you elder, I'll make sure to be ready when time comes," replied Alex with his usual calm demeanor.
• "Okay. Your training will be continuous so you'll have to stay where you'll be training. I'll talk with your father so you can get the permission. For now, you can go back and relax," Simon said.
• "Yes elder, have a nice day," Alex replied as he left the forest heading home. Simon watched him go with a smile. He was truly impressed by Alex's performance. He hoped that he'll continue the same way till the conclusion of the training. "Well, time to get to this old man to accept to Alex's training." Simon then disappeared from the forest, headed to the patriarch's house.