Side Chapter 1 - Ramon’s Story 2 ‘The path to getting stronger 2’

Streams of blazing sunlight fell through thick walls of tree leaves, filling up the training courtyard. Rays of lights tumbling upon the back of the strict swordsman instructor guiding the small 3-year-old on how to properly distribute his weight throughout his body.

“You are 2 centimeters too far”

“1 centimeter too close”

Even though all Ramon hears every day when he trains were nitpicking and lecturing, he understood that it was to bring the best in him, making sure he succeeds in inheriting the sword of Veria. He also never became discouraged simply because even his father, the one whom he looks up to, only perfected the sword of Veria when he was 18.

The reason why Levis was only able to fully acquire the sword of Veria when he turned 18 was that it was then that he stopped growing height-wise and gaining weight. Even if he did gain 1 or 2 pounds, Levis would have been able to adjust his weight accordingly regardless.

“Yes, that’s right Lord Ramon, that’s the perfect distance for your current body! Now please maintain that pose for 10 minutes”

The instructor asked Ramon to keep his body still at that pose to make his whole body understand and remember what the feelings feel like.

A child staying still in an uncomfortable squatting-like-position for 10 minutes was full torture, but that was the only way to quickly achieve results! Not only does this torture trains your body, but it also trains your mind to be zen. Being overly too excited, angry, or having fluctuations of emotions would completely ruin the way oxygen circulates throughout your body, and would break the complete form you are in.

“Make it 30 minutes.”

Taking a glance at the instructor, he quickly went back into focus. Completely stripping his mind of any thoughts and feelings. Because once he perfects this basic position with his current body mass, can he finally move on with real training.

“Alright, Master Ramon”

Naturally, the instructor was very happy with Ramon’s enthusiasm, however, he did not any hope for a 3-year-old to maintain that pose for too long, as even 10 minutes was already pure agony. Besides, It was scorching summer, not to mention, Ramon had to be holding a hefty wooden sword while in that pose.

Already, his skin started to take on a glossy shine, as the sun became relentless on him. Salty drops of sweats started dripping from his forehead, into his eyes, yet even with his eyes feeling a slight burning sensation did he not dare to take his mind away from controlling his breathing, and like that, he overcame the 10-minute mark surprising the instructor greatly.

“Kukh”

Only when his emotions became severely agitated, did he drop the wooden sword onto the ground, releasing himself from the form. His whole body completely drenched from the amount of sweat he racked up; hair, shirt, and short trousers stuck like glue to his body after 20 whole minutes.

“Haah”

Breathing a lungful of fresh air in, his tensed body automatically relaxed. Yet all Ramon could feel was a sense of loss. He was incredibly afraid of what happened at the Royal palace and especially his useless self. He felt guilty of being the only person to escape from that situation.

“Master Ramon, you did a good job, holding your pose for 20 minutes! I would recommend ending the lesson today and continuing again tomorrow.”

Already incredibly proud delighted by the jump in Ramon’s training growth and the vigorous determination in Ramon’s eyes, he recommended they stop now. Overtraining might lead to a decrease in performance, and destroy Ramon’s young body.

“No, let us continue”

Crouching down to grab his fallen sword, this time, he repetitively practiced sparing with the instructor; until his daily training was finally over.

The moment Ramon left was when the instructor finally breathed out a sigh of relief. He purposely did not exert much strength during his sparring with Ramon, but dove in more about the theoretical techniques when attacking and defending.

When the twins of the Veria family were born, Ramon has been unconsciously slacking off with his training. His thoughts wandering off throughout his training, making him unable to last for 10 minutes.

Although he was content in the changes in Ramon, he also hopes for his youth to not be destroyed by his current mentality of wanting to be better and stronger. Not willing to relive the destruction of the Veria family members again because of this mental state of power hunger.

Shaking his head as he stared out towards the sky; watching the clouds slowly drift by, the instructor reaffirmed the Veria swordsmanship. The best way to fully perform the Veria style was to be a blank sheet of paper.

Emotionless...

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“Ramon”

Levis called out to his son who was heading up towards him from the stairwell. Noticing Ramon completely soaked in sweat.

“Good afternoon Father”

Ramon greeted, walking up faster to stand in front of his father.

“Good Afternoon”

“I will cleanse my body before heading to the study room.”

Habitually reporting to Levis, he was about to pass by his father when he was stopped.

“Yes?”

Ramon curiously glanced towards Levis, wondering if he had something to tell him.

“...Well, don’t work too hard, your mother is incredibly worried.”

Levis sighed, carefully inspecting Ramon’s fully tired body because continuing,

“And if you don’t often play with the twins, they will completely forget about you.”

Which wasn’t a complete lie as babies do tend to forget people if there is no continuous interaction or contacts.

“They…they…”

Speechless at the sudden bomb dropping by his father, he stared at his father in horror.

“THEY WILL FORGET ME, FATHER??!”

Feeling his whole body trembling in fear, Ramon felt like his whole world was about to collapse!

“They won’t! They won’t if you see them every day”

Shocked by the sudden shout, Levis quickly tried to calm him down, lying in the process.

“Alright, father! I will take a 1-week break and go play with the twins!”

Ramon quickly agreed with his father, and ran to his room to quickly shower! Incredibly afraid that the twins will forget him as he did not see them for 2 whole days!

Seeing Ramon run-up gave Levis a sign of relief. This would not work on Louis who was incredibly smart, thanking god that Ramon was not at all like Louis.

When Louis was born, he was still of the age of 16, having no control over the Veria household, and having to have Louis forcefully taken away from him and Moniqua by his parents. That was how Louis inherited his former personality as it was all too late when he took Louis back as the damage has already been done.

Heading downstairs, Levis quietly muttered,

“I should look for my wife.”

Feeling a little salty over Monqiua rejecting him on the previous episode...

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Quickly showering, he ran towards the twins’ room to see if they were awake to play with him; also to embed his face into their memories so that they can’t forget him. However, his wish was rejected, as the twins were soundly asleep on their big bed.

Going around the curtains to sit beside them, he watched the 2 slowly breathe in and breathe out, deeply sighing in disappointment.

“Haa.”

Stroking the cheeks of Eugene and Euria, he softly whispered,

“Brother is sorry...”