Chapter 4: New Sword Style and an Elf.
{ 20 years since the passing of Himmel, The Hero.}
Location: The outskirts of Holy City, Strahal.
~Akash pov~
In a blink of an eye, a year passed. Many things happened in the past year. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?
After the old man had given me the task of cutting the HUGE rock in half and giving me a dairy of his friend, I started to think of a way to break it. The rock of course. The first option was to break it with my raw strength but I don't have that kind of strength yet. The second option was to have a shape enough object to cut it. While my sword is sharp it wasn't that sharp. So, that's out of the option too. The third option is to learn a sword technique to cut it, which is the most promising option. But, I didn't have anyone to teach me. The diary that the old man gave me has a technique but it's for an axe. Although it also has a breathing method in it.
After practicing the breathing method, I thought about the [ Breathing Technique ] that demon slayers had in the anime Demon Slayer.
" But it's harder to do it than just talking about it. I don't even know how to start."
So after that, I spent two months entirely trying to recreate the breathing technique that suited me.
I first tried out [ Water Breathing ] by meditating under a natural shower. The results? I caught a cold and automatically made Fern angry. Although, I got over the cold the next day but I had to deal with a pouting Fern for the whole day. Still, she did look cute when she was worrying about me. Only after getting more of the sweet berries did she stop pouting
Man, she got even cuter over the year. I mean, she is still a kid but cute. You get what I mean, right?
Anyway, after that I practiced [ Wind Breathing ] by meditating on top of a cliff. I didn't get any results but I did get to see Fern training. Oh, and she got her challenge too. She has to make a hole in a big rock that is on the other side of the cliff. Only after doing it will she be allowed to be called a mage.
I cheered out loud for her that day and she shot a magic arrow at me. She is such an adorable girl. Anyway, after the two failures, I decided to stop making it more complicated and just let my body do the work.
So, the next day I woke up as usual did my morning practice, and reached on top of the cliff. After reaching the top I sit down at my meditation pose. I started to breathe in a way that would be comfortable for my body and give me strength. I didn't have any results for half an hour but I didn't give up hope.
Finally, when the sun started to rise I started to feel it. It's like warm water coming down your throat. I opened my eyes and saw with my EIS that my temperature was starting to rise.
" No way! This! This is surely [ Sun Breathing]! I didn't think I would be this lucky." I said excitedly.
I knew the benefits of [Sun Breathing]. It is the origin of all the breathing techniques. Even in a world without magic, it can make anyone feel like using magic.
' If I can combine this with magic I could very well be the {Sword Saint}! Jokes aside, it truly is a fantastic technique."
Unfortunately, I only got the feeling of {Sun Breathing} back then. I couldn't even practice the proper technique. My body was not powerful enough to withstand the heat that {Sun Breathing} creates. So from then till now I have been practicing {Sun Breathing}. I would like to say I got the basics down. I can't see the results myself but I can feel my endurance increasing. I can now do 300 push-ups, sit-ups, and a 3km run.
It's a massive improvement! Although I still couldn't even make a crack in the rock. Even with all my grind I couldn't reach my goals.
That's the improvement of my physical side. As for the magical side, I made use of the knowledge that I gathered from anime. I tried to stick to the wall and walk on water and to my surprise it worked!
Of course, it wasn't easy. But I had to do it because I wanted to make a gift for Fern's birthday. And what's better than giving new magic to a rising star mage? So, I worked twice as usual, which is around 1o hours a day, to finish the magic. I would have prepared it earlier if I had known her birthday date a bit sooner.
' That damn old man, I think he likes to see me suffer.' After all, he only said to me about her birthday only two weeks before. I didn't get much sleep for two weeks.
' Although I reaction I got from her was worth all the trouble.' Well, here is what happened.....
* Flashbacks 3 months *
'Today is her birthday. I hope she likes my gift.' I thought nervously. Even if I am confident she will like it it doesn't make it any less nervous!
" Happy birthday Fern. From today onwards you are 9 years old."
The old man said to Fern while patting her head. I also saw him talking out a brash from his pocket.
" Here you go, your present. I have noticed you started to keep your hair long. I know you will need it in the future."
" Thanks, Heiter-sama. I will use it often."
After that, she turned towards me and pouted. I awkwardly smiled. So the thing is, I was intentionally avoiding her for the past two weeks to get her a surprise. But it looks like I got her angry. I was in the corner of my the old man was watching our exchange with clear amusement. That old hug!
I let out a sigh and approached her. I stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes and said, " First of all, happy birthday Fern. I wish for all of your wishes to come true. And the thing about avoiding you is that I was preparing a gift for you. I was extremely busy the past two weeks thanks to a certain someone telling me about your birthday in the last moments."
I said while looking at the old man. He just smiled innocently.
" Anyway, I got you a present nonetheless," I said while grabbing her right hand and handing her the book.
Fern just looked at the book with curiosity. I decided to reveal the gift.
" This here, dear Fern, is the fruit of my hard labor. I have written two new magics in this book of mine. " I said with pride clear in my voice. The looks on their faces were priceless. Even the old man was shocked by it.
'I guess creative new magic is not something common here. '
It just means that I am that awesome. " The first magic is what I call {Wall Climbing}. It's as its name says it lets us climb on the wall, trees, mountains, etc." I said as I walked near the wall under the watchful eyes of Fern and Heiter. Then I first put one leg on the wall and started doing the work.
" It works by moving your mana around your feet in a thin layer and making the mana under the feet sticky," I said while walking onto the wall.
" Ohh!" I saw the old man looking at me with wonder. I continue to walk on the wall until I am upside down.
" As you can see it can be very handy in many ways. As for the water walk, that can't be done here. We will have to go to the river to test it out."
I said dropping down and landing on my feet.
" So, Fern what do you think? Do you like my gift? "
I smiled at the birthday girl and felt a bit nervous
She was just looking at me with a gauge I don't know the meaning of. After looking at me a bit more she just sighed and smiled. Yeah! Smiled. The girl who had a poker face most of the time since I had seen her has a smile! A smile that looks so good on her!
" Thank you Akash-sama. I like this gift very much. I will master this magic quickly. "
I just stood there for some time. But I came out of my thoughts after hearing the old man cough.
" Ah, yes. It's good you like them. I personally created them after all ha ha ha."
"...."
"....."
" Then, I will train a bit more," I said while running away. Once I was far enough I stopped.
" What was that?! What was that I was feeling? That can't be love, right? Am I in love with a little girl? Then again I am little too. But I am older mentally."
I started questioning myself. ' Am I a lolicon? God, I hope not. I didn't like little girls back in my world. So why is that I am feeling like this?!'
I am questioning my morality. I started to think deeply about it. I don't have much experience in love. I did date a girl in my middle school but that was it. After breaking up with her I didn't try to find love again. I thought that would be a waste of money. Money that I didn't have at that time.
Having no answer to my questions I started training. I started running. After two hours of working out, I started to get tired. I didn't reach a solid answer to my questions but I got to a conclusion.
" I will continue to live my life and how it goes between us. And I doubt Fern will understand it any time soon. "
*Flashback End*
Truly that was a day to remember. Right now I am meditating in my {Sun Breathing} technique. I haven't mastered this technique yet. It's a lot harder after creating the basics. I don't have any leads either. I have to re-create it from scratch.
Although I did gain something from the breathing alone. All my overall status has improved. Especially endurance. My strength increased too. But endurance is the one that was affected the most. My agility increased too but not so much as the other two. But it is not low mind you.
My relationship with my new family increased. I already saw the old man as my grandpa and I would like to think he too sees me as his grandkid. As for Fern, I think we are somewhere between friends and best friends. I still don't know what to do about my growing feelings.
I get out my thoughts as I prepare to leave. I took two stocks of wood on my back and started home.
" I am home," I said as I reached home and placed the woods where it should be.
" Fern, I am hungry. What is there for breakfast?" As I reached the living room I saw the old man sitting with an unknown girl and Fern serving tea to her. But I was shocked to see the girl. Not because of her beauty or that I know her. It's because the woman has pointed ears.
My curiosity got the best of me and I asked,
" Hoo! Are you an elf? Like, the real deal. But you don't have the looks or the body I imagined the elf to have."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Arnab_Panday
Arnab_Panday Can anyone tell me a good way to make a picture? I don't know any myself.
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