I couldn't stall any longer.
I had to start training.
I really didn't want to and I feared something would go wrong.
But I had no choice.
I couldn't upset Arrak any further, fearing she could reach her limit.
And I don't want to see that.
"g-good morning my lord."
"Good morning Arrak"
"Ready to start recovery training?"
"of course"
"Then let's begin"
Arrak was still a bit shaky.
But she wasn't as disturbed as she was yesterday.
"Now imagine your magna flowing through your magna veins evenly distributed across your body"
It was a little tricky, but eventually I found a balance.
Then it started to become increasingly difficult.
"Agh I-I can't"
"keep trying"
I tried harder.
But I felt my body strain.
Then the strain built up.
And popped like a balloon.
I coughed up a small puddle of blood.
"ok ok that's enough."
"Gah!"
"I'm sorry for pushing you too far…"
"I-it's fine… I'm just not strong enough…"
"No that's not true."
"Why not?
"Because of our last training session, you were strong"
I was confused.
What does that have to do with anything?
"But I'm weak now!"
"That's not possible."
"Huh?"
Of course it's possible.
What is she talking about?
"If you are strong, you stay strong.
People with strength never lose it.
You never lose anything that defines you.
No matter how old you get or how weak your body gets, you'll always be strong"
"…"
" Being strong isn't about how many people you can fight or how big your muscles are.
It's about how many times you get back up again."
"I-"
"And I know you!
You always get back up! You're strong!
But go ahead and say you're weak as an excuse.
You can stay down as long as you like.
Though when you're ready to get back up, and you will be, I'll be here."
She was right.
I'm just telling myself I'm weak to get out of the work.
I can do this.
I'm just being lazy.
But I'm done being lazy.
I'm gonna do this!
"ARRRGH"
I started to balance my magna energy again.
Every magna particle produced by my magna glands will be distributed evenly across my body.
I felt the strain.
It hurt.
It really hurt.
But I'm not going to give up now.
I'm too strong to give up.
"w-wait I didn't mean to get back up right now!
You can take a break-"
"No! I can do this!"
I kept going.
It felt like hours.
But I pushed myself to my absolute limits.
And beyond.
I lasted for a total of 10 minutes.
Wow.
I am strong!