The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 46 - A Month

Chapter 46: 46 - A Month

After our sparring match... Viktor and I rested again. It’s not like we were tired because our fight only lasted a few exchanges. It’s because of my arms and hands.

They were still numb, but at least the shaking had stopped now.

And after a few more minutes, the numbness went away too. So with that...

"Let’s go."

"Got it."

We started training again. Viktor got back to the lifting area, while me... I took a wooden sword once more and started running the fight I had with Viktor just now in my head.

’Hmm, I could’ve swung like this and hit him if I was fast enough.’

Swish—

I started analyzing the fight to find areas to improve on, things that I could’ve done better. This is so next time, I could do better.

*****

It was night now, and I’m back in my room. I’m currently lying on my bed.

"My body hurts."

I mumbled. My stomach is grumbling, and I feel very weak. I did weight lifting again after analyzing my fight with Viktor earlier... I’m exhausted.

Viktor and I trained the whole time we were in the training ground. We came back together too. And while I look like shit, Viktor looks like he just had a light exercise.

His stamina is really something else.

Anyway... I rested for a bit before going out of my room and eating dinner with Brock and the others.

"How’s your first time in the training ground?"

Khan asked me as soon as I got to them. Brock and Jin were looking at me, waiting for my answer.

I shrugged my shoulders at them, then opening my mouth—

"It was shit. I feel like I’m going to collapse right now."

I responded.

The three of them just laughed at my words. They patted me on the back, saying they understood what I meant.

"So, are you going back there tomorrow?"

Jin asked curiously as we ate.

"That’s the plan. I’ll train my body until I can use that greatsword I got from you."

I immediately replied, glancing up at him.

"Good luck with that."

"Yeah, keep it going."

"One day, you’ll have a body like ours!"

Jin, Khan, and Brock said to me. Brock flexed his muscles, but I just ignored him and continued eating.

...

After eating, I stayed with the three. They’re gossiping like old ladies again, talking about other fighters they didn’t like.

Then, as I was with them, about an hour or so after having dinner...

"Kaiser!"

Rai arrived with a paper bag in his hands.

"I’ll be going first."

"See ya later, kid!"

I excused myself to the three before approaching Rai at the metal bar gate.

"Here, two skewered chicken breasts this time."

"Oh, thanks."

I replied with a smile on my face as I took the paper bag through the metal bars.

After that, Rai and I talked for a bit. Just a casual conversation, catching up with each other. It was still a bit early, so he wasn’t really worried about his curfew.

Though, he left just half an hour after giving me the chicken breasts.

"I still have chores to do."

Rai said as he waved goodbye at me.

"Is that so... See you later, then."

I waved back to him, then I watched him leave. And when Rai was gone... I went back to my room.

Tap- tap- tap—

...

Back in my room, I ate two of the chicken breasts immediately. I’m not planning to do any more weight lifting tonight.

But still—

I took my short sword and javelin, I wore my boots and vambraces, and of course the buckler too. And with me being all geared up... I started simulating a fight in my head.

The greatsword was still on the floor where I left it when I got it here, by the way. It was too heavy to move.

Swish—

I swung my sword and moved, responding to the fight in my head. I was shadow fighting.

And the opponent I had in mind? It was still Viktor.

"A month..."

I’ll be going to the training ground for a month with him. In that time—

"I’ll at least land a direct hit on him. And if I can..."

’I’ll beat him.’

So with that on my head, I trained more even with my exhausted body.

Just when I was hit with drowsiness, I stopped and rested. I’m in a body of a child, I can’t be pushing myself too much.

And since I’m still growing... I need proper rest too. So after wiping off the sweat from my body and catching my breath—

"Haaaa..."

I laid down on my bed, and almost immediately... I fell asleep.

"..."

*****

The next day, I woke up with my body aching all over. I was already frowning early in the day.

I sat up on my bed and woke myself up, and after that... I started doing light exercises inside my room to get my blood flowing.

I did that for a few minutes before going out and eating with Brock and the others.

Then after having breakfast, I told the three that I’ll be going. They gave me good lucks for the day.

And with that, I joined up with Viktor, who was waiting for me.

"Ready for another day?"

"No."

I simply replied to him. We’re on our way to the training ground again.

...

...

We got there not long after. The two of us were actually the first people to be in the training ground.

Viktor and I did some light stretching. A few people arrived as we were doing so. Then immediately after that—

"Let’s go, Kai!"

"Mhn, coming."

We headed to where the weights are and did a lot of lifting... A LOT OF THEM!

And just like that, the day went on like yesterday. Viktor and I only stopped training to eat lunch, then after resting for a while—we had a sparring again.

We started lifting and training our bodies again after our fight. We did that for hours. My body was already screaming with pain...

"AAARGH!!!"

Even I was screaming in pain.

...

...

...

Viktor and I got back to the copper place at night again.

There, I ate dinner with Brock, Khan, and Jin as usual. Waited for Rai to get my daily protein. Got back to my room and ate the chicken breasts...

SWISH—!

And then I started shadow fighting again while fully geared up.

In today’s match, I lost completely. Viktor didn’t hold back that much.

And because of that—

’I roughly know now how strong he is.’

I updated the movement and strength of Viktor in my head.

This whole thing became a routine for me... This continued on the next day, the day after, and the day after that too.

And just like that...

...

...

A month passed.

"Are you ready, Kai?"

"Yeah."

And Viktor and I were about to have our daily sparring match.