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Chapter 40: Cleansing

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This was just the beginning.

As much as they were excited, they knew, it would be unfair to expect result in such a short period. During the Dawn Meditation, they sat in the most comfortable position, cross-legged. The blowing of gust made their body chilly, yet it was still far better than in the water.

Kneeling a knee, Krone gave them tips on what they could think, meditate. He did not specify what benefit Dawn Meditation would give them, for a reason. The very first thing for them to do, was not to focus on benefit, but on what new things they could realized.

Things which were obvious for all to see, yet eluded them.

Seeing all of them were serious, he was satisfied. Well, all except for one, looking around in confusion.

The big boy, Doran.

Krone went to him, separating him from everyone. Placing him to the very front, he told him;

“Listen, Doran. Don’t think too much, don’t be confused. For now, your most important task would be to stay calm,”

“Calm?”

“Yeah, be calm, and after that, try to listen,”

“Listen, listen to what?”

“Your surroundings, that is. Calm and listen, you hear?”

“Calm and listen,”

After repeating the simple command several times, he nodded.

In regard to simple-minded boy like him, rather than making it vague and far-reaching, simple command would do best. It was crucial for him to have a grasp on senses first, before thinking.

Because this simple-minded one, was not used to thinking. For those like him, they had to train their senses. Only later, their thinking.

‘It might take time, but after he’s used to it…’

Krone left him alone, still repeating the command as he left him.

Checking on the twins, he noticed they were still shivering, mana circulating within them. He smiled, their hands, holding one another.

‘Huge potential, as long as their spirit held on,’

He thought on what weapon he could equip them. Many thought that a magician’s weapon was either staff or gloves, yet he knew it was a misconception. There were many others to consider.

‘Something that’ll help their potential, I’ll have to order,’

He turned to his ‘sister’, Athea.

He knew he had not paid the red-head much attention since the test, even when he promised to help her. After giving her tips on how to handle her inner fire, he had not given her any personal training since.

Eyes on her, he channeled mana into his eyes. Image of her mana pool entered his vision, mana continuously flowing into her veins. Within the mana pool, an ember-like existence, right in the middle.

The ember, as if heating the mana pool.

‘More stable. She did well, but not enough. Even now, it must to be painful when she sleep. Fortunately, the cold training,’

The cold training just then, was more beneficial to her than most.

It forced her to circulate her mana, preventing her mana pool from turning into an enclosed cauldron, while the coldness pacified her raging mana. That ought to reduce her pain when she rest, but that was only temporary solution.

‘I’ll have to oversee her third steps series, I’ll have to find time,’

As he looked around, Ron and Kyril entered his vision.

These two had potential. Especially Ron, a leader-type. He had to polish him, and gave him responsibility. Kyril might look a little too feminine to be a mighty leader, but he had the tenacity. With enough push, he would shine.

‘What to do?’

As he pondered on each and every one of the candidates, the time was up.

There was no need for them to meditate too long. For starters, an hour was plenty. Ideally, he wanted them to stay for two hours, but not now. As he thought so, he saw someone waving, calling in from the upper beach.

Kristine, waving a crystal torch.

Smiling, he clapped his hands, breaking everyone’s stupor.

“Alright guys, breakfast time.”

...

On the way back, Krone noticed the moon. It entered full moon phase.

He recalled something. His subject, and…

“Trait Link,”

Trait Link

Subject:

Arnea Argon.

Trait Linked:

----

Touching Arnea’s name on the screen, he linked her one of his traits. The trait which he felt useful, especially for apprentice knights, those in training right now.

Trait Link

Subject:

Arnea Argon.

Trait Linked:

Tyrant Guardian

‘She and Julia are soul-bound, hm, will this work? Kind of hope she can train her peers. With her affinity, she ought to have some influence.’

He did not place much hope, but any improvement for future Kharlussian Knights, would be welcomed. He put it aside, noting the time for the next full moon.

…

===

Reaching the resort, they were greeted by Kristine’s smile.

Along with warm blanket and warm water, hot tea and coffee for all to drink. Many boys started to see her in shining lights, much like the starry sky. The girls chatted with her more, some even volunteering to help.

With the given free time, many decided to change clothes quickly, as the blowing wind was more than they could normally handle. Taking breakfast together, the atmosphere turned lively. As tired as they were, they still chatted, making acquaintance of one another.

Light breakfast with veggies, bread, mayonnaise and scrambled eggs filled their belly, energizing them. Aroma and warmth from the coffee and tea filled their being. The drinks were better than normal, prompting them to ask Kristine the reason.

Apparently, she put some herbs into them, making the aroma and taste richer.

…

After an hour of break, many started to worry, wondering what kind of torture, um, training Krone had in store for them. Even the early morning training was harsh, what would the next one be?

They expected worse.

Yet surprisingly;

“Alright guys, well done. I know you’re all tired, and lack of rest. That’s why, we won’t start the next session until after two more hours. We’ll start here, and it’ll be a simple session. For the meantime, rest, I implore you. Really rest.”

As he said this and turned away, the forty chosen blinked.

They could not relate to it. The devil turned into an angel? Preposterous! Not even in a dream!

…Or maybe, just maybe, they painted his image wrongly? Could it be that he was warm-blooded after all? He was a human, like us?

...

Slivers of sunlight passed through the clouds, as if declaring the descent of angels. The night had passed, the day had come. The whole of heaven, illuminating them, as if giving them revelation.

The atmosphere prompted them to think, could it be that Krone turned a hundred-eighty already?

The Lord had saved us?

As they pondered this, some of them shuddered, Ron and Kyril included. Not warning anyone, they rushed to their room, for Krone’s instruction was clear.

Really rest.

…

===

Two hours had passed.

The forty lined up, eight people in each line, five in each row. Waiting for him, he was carrying a basket of fruits.

Wait, fruits? They really were fruits. Calculating, it was around three or four dozens. Green, lined with orange, it looked like papaya, yet weird-looking. None of them had seen it before, not even the few girls who frequented the market.

They looked at each other, eyes inquiring.

Without any sound, they conversed with their eyes and gestures.

‘The hell’s that?’

‘Don’t ask me,’

‘Never seen them,’

‘What are we,’

‘I’m as confused as you’re,’

‘I’ve a bad feeling about this,’

Heads shook, shoulders rose and fell.

Eyes frowning, expressions were rich. They had learned how to communicate without conversing. Krone did mention them discipline, so while in formation, they had to stay silent unless he started a conversation.

It was a basic knowledge.

Kharlussian way of life had been influenced heavily by their military culture. Thus even youngsters of thirteen would know the ethics of being in formation, in front of a commander. Due to the size of their empire, military was the prime stabilizer and guarantor of their sovereignty. Their enemies surrounded them, all through history.

Thus people of Kharlussia had the spirit of strength and unity, militaristic, beyond any young nation.

That, was something they held pride on.

…However, what did these fruits have to do with their training camp?

Sure, they were healthy food, but for training session? They pondered whether they would do something akin to what some parts of the Union did, wasting their fruits as a target practice or in celebration. Kharlussian could not do that. Part of it was because they were not as rich as the Union, another was their value.

They dared not waste any food.

Soon, Kristine came, bringing several jars of oil. She placed them on the wooden hut, just next to them. Krone put the fruits beside the jars, whispering to Kristine.

Making sure she remembered the instruction, he turned to them.

Confusion still on their face, he smiled. Taking a folded paper from his chestpocket, he opened it in his hand. It was the list of everyone in every room.

“Alright, good day, everyone.”

“Good day, Sir!”

“Let’s start, shall we? Eight rows. Each row for every room right? Let’s see… Hm, alright. Well for today we’ll continue with Air Sliding like yesterday, just with a little change. We’ll do a hundred in the morning, a hundred in the afternoon, and fifty in the night. In between, we’ll have either rest or discussion. The six I’ve chosen before, will follow me to the back. Any question?”

Either rest or discussion, in between?

That sounded a little too easy. Many frowned or raised their eyebrows, yet dared not ask.

Seeing no one dared, someone raised her hand. Being somewhat familiar to him, she braved herself to ask.

“Yes, Lisha?”

“Sir, excuse me for asking, what are those for?”

“Ah, these? Well, it’s medicine. For each room, those who are tired first, will be the first ones to take. Meaning, there’ll be five successions. Have no worry, hm hm, I’ll see and choose you guys myself.”

They looked at each other.

Medicine? Somehow, that did not sound too good. No, Krone’s happy expression did not sound too good.

For them.

…

===

Almost two hours later.

The last eight had taken their share of ‘medicine’.

“Gahhh!”

“The hell, ugh, I feel, ugh, throwing up…”

“J-just gulp it all down!”

“Ughhh, can I skip this?”

Among them, was Ron.

Even with his willpower, he felt like rolling on the beach. His stomach was rebelling, as if saying, the hell’s you taken me for?

‘I knew it. That happy expression of his! Too suspicious,’

It was bitter, terribly bitter!

It was not apparent at first, so they thought it was not so bad. Yet after halfway finish, there was a reaction from their stomach, slowly spreading out. At first, discomfort. Then, they felt like throwing up.

It was as if something was moving, within them.

Fortunately, it was time for morning tea.

Kristine prepared them a rather sweet tea with aromatic herbs, giving them relief. For those who were tired, she used Restoration, relieving them of their dizziness, sore and pain.

Truly, if Krone was the devil, she was the angel. How was it possible for these two to be siblings? The contradiction did not mix well in their mind.

It was unacceptable.

…

Because of the bitterness, only some ate the biscuits Kristine prepared. Though their eyes said yes, there were rebellion within them, killing their appetite.

Looking around, ugly expression was on everyone’s face. Kristine’s tea and treatment did ease their suffering, yet the bitterness was too much. Soon, Ron noticed something. That was, some people were missing.

He counted, eight of them.

“Weird, where are those first eight?”

He turned to Kyril, the pretty boy had a pale expression, as if he had just thrown up.

Stamina a little lacking, he was called by Krone during the forth batch. He thus took the medicine earlier than Ron. While Ron finished sliding over a hundred thirty, he was resting.

"Hey, Kyril. The first eight?"

“Oh, them? Well they suddenly groaned, then ran to their room… Wait,”

“What?”

“I think they had stomachache?”

“…That’s, is that bad news?”

“Ah haha, hopefully, not so bad?”

“…”

Pa!

Sliding out of nowhere, Krone stood in front of them.

"Hey guys, I've announcement to make,"

He announced another resting time. They were to rest all the way till lunch. After announcing, he disappeared. Hearing this, many a little disturbed. Could it be that he really turned a new page?

While they were resting, some discussed.

“Oh yeah, he must have been considerate.”

“That’s a given. He did force us to take such a bitter medicine, uhh.”

“Somehow, I still find it suspicious, ugh,”

“Hey, he might be a bit devious, but he’s still human… I think?”

“Yep, yep… He’s human alright. Just a bit weird,”

…

On a particular roof, someone was lurking, observing. Something appeared by his side, alerting him.

"...That's weird. I'm sure I'm being lenient,"

Tyrant Guardian in Full Effect

Push the one you train to their upper limit, in anyway. This trait will heighten the effectiveness of their training, shock their innards and push them to break their limits.

Current effectiveness:

100%.

Soon, they knew. The knowledge was shoved down their throat.

Human? What human?

Who’s the naïve bastard who said he’s just a human?!

Shouts originated from toiling rooms. Many others were growling, rolling in pain outside, waiting their turn, banging the doors. Some guys kept moving, searching for hidden places, especially in between rocks on the beach. For girls, those who never cursed before, broke the taboo.

Of course, some polite girls, did not curse. Especially the blonde twins, they were admirable, graceful.

They were merely calling his name out, from a certain place.

...

Kroneeee! I hate you!

=== Chapter 40 ‘Cleansing’ End ===