POV Gareth
"BREAK!" Gareth barked, watching the children collapse to the ground like puppets with cut strings.
All except one.
Arthur stood upright, barely winded, looking at the others with an expression somewhere between boredom and disdain.
This kid…
Gareth shook his head and walked toward the main building, where Liora was already waiting, leaning casually against the wall.
"So?" she asked with a sly smile. "How are the new recruits this year?"
Gareth grunted.
"Pathetic. As usual."
He paused, then added in a lower voice:
"Except one."
Liora raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"Oh? Someone managed to impress the great Gareth? That's rare."
"Don't mock me," he grumbled, crossing his arms. "The black-haired kid. Arthur. The… bastard."
Liora's eyes narrowed.
"The seventh son? The one the Family Head personally authorized to come here?"
"That's him."
Gareth ran a hand through his green hair, clearly disturbed.
"Liora, I've trained hundreds of children. Prodigies. Geniuses. Descendants of legendary bloodlines."
"I know, I know," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "You remind me every year. What's your point?"
Gareth looked her straight in the eye.
"This kid… He did a hundred push-ups, fifty pull-ups, a hundred squats, and ten laps around the field. Without breaking a sweat. Without trembling. Without any sign of fatigue."
Liora's smile faded.
"What?"
"And worse…" Gareth lowered his voice as if sharing a dangerous secret. "I could feel it. With each exercise, his muscles were getting stronger. In real time. Like his body was absorbing the effort and instantly converting it into growth."
Liora frowned, skeptical.
"Are you sure you're not exaggerating? Five-year-olds can't—"
"I know what I felt," he cut her off sharply. "I have a sensitivity to physical development that few people possess. That's why I'm the head instructor. And I'm telling you this kid has an abnormal physique."
Liora remained silent for a moment, digesting the information.
"A special physique, then?" she finally murmured. "Like your sister Nyssal with her ice affinity?"
"No. Different."
Gareth shook his head.
"Nyssal has a body naturally synchronized with the ice element, which allows her to sense mana earlier than others. But Arthur? His physique has nothing to do with elements. It's… purely physical. Like he has a body made for exertion."
He paused.
"Like he was born to become strong."
Liora whistled softly.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
She straightened up and stretched her arms above her head, cracking her joints.
"Well, it's my turn now. We'll see if this prodigy can also master mana breathing."
Gareth snorted.
"Good luck with that. Mana breathing is far more subtle than physical training. Even geniuses take weeks just to sense mana."
Liora shot him a playful look.
"Want to bet?"
"Bet on what?"
"If this kid manages to sense mana today, you're buying me dinner at the Golden Phoenix restaurant."
Gareth burst out laughing.
"You're dreaming. No five-year-old has ever sensed mana during their first session. Never."
"So you accept the bet?"
"Obviously. It's easy money."
Liora smiled mysteriously.
"We'll see."
She headed toward the training field with a swaying gait, leaving Gareth watching her go with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
She's going to be disappointed. Even this prodigy can't defy the fundamental laws of this world.
Change of Instructor
"Alright, children," Liora's voice rang out, soft and slightly teasing. "Now it's my turn."
Arthur turned his head toward the source of that voice.
A woman had just arrived on the training field, walking with a… how to put it… seductive stride. Almost provocative.
She had wavy auburn hair that cascaded over her shoulders, green eyes that sparkled with a mischievous gleam, and a figure… voluptuous. Her generous curves were accentuated by a form-fitting training outfit that left little to the imagination.
Okay. She's definitely not bad-looking.
Arthur caught himself thinking that—his thirty-three-year-old adult mind reacting instinctively—before remembering he was technically in the body of a five-year-old kid.
Calm down, Arthur. You're a child. Act like one.
The woman stopped in front of them, placing her hands on her hips with an amused smile.
"I'm Liora," she announced in a sing-song voice. "And this time, I'm going to teach you something crucial."
She paused dramatically.
"I'm going to teach you how to breathe."
…What?
A stunned silence fell over the group.
"Breathe?" one of the children repeated, visibly confused. "But… we already know how to breathe, right?"
A few nervous laughs broke out.
Liora smiled wider, clearly amused by their reaction.
"No, little one. You know how to survive by breathing. But you don't really know how to breathe."
She clapped her hands.
"Sit down, everyone! In lotus position!"
The Breathing Exercise
All the children sat down awkwardly cross-legged. Some didn't even know what lotus position was and simply sat however they could.
Arthur sat properly—back straight, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees—as he had done thousands of times in his previous life before fencing competitions.
Meditation and breath control. Essential basics for any high-level athlete.
Liora began to explain.
"In this world, everything is connected to mana. And mana flows everywhere—in the air, in the earth, in water, in fire. And also… in your breath."
She made a circular gesture with her hand.
"Learning to breathe properly means learning to sense the mana around you. To let it flow through your body. It's the first step toward forming your mana core in a few years."
Ah. So it's not just basic meditation. It's a technique from this world to prepare for magic.
"Close your eyes," Liora ordered gently. "Breathe in slowly through your nose. Count to five. Hold your breath for three seconds. Then breathe out slowly through your mouth while counting to seven."
The children complied as best they could.
Some clearly struggled to follow the rhythm. Others didn't even understand the concept and breathed randomly.
Arthur closed his eyes and began the exercise.
POV Arthur
Inhale… 1… 2… 3… 4… 5…
Hold… 1… 2… 3…
Exhale… 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7…
At first, it was simple. Mechanical. An exercise I'd done thousands of times in my previous life to concentrate before competitions.
But on the third breathing cycle, something changed.
A strange sensation emerged. Subtle at first, like a barely perceptible tickle on the surface of my skin.
What's that…?
I continued breathing, focusing on that sensation.
The tickle intensified. It wasn't just on my skin anymore—it was around me. In the air itself.
As if the atmosphere had become… alive.
I can feel them. I can feel the particles.
Those particles I'd been seeing since birth with my special vision. But this time, I wasn't seeing them. I was feeling them.
They floated around me, spinning gently like invisible fireflies. Dozens, no, hundreds of tiny points of pure energy dancing in the air.
With each breath, they drew closer.
Inhale…
And then, something extraordinary happened.
The particles—attracted to my breathing like a magnet—began to enter my body.
No, "enter" wasn't the right word.
They were merging with me.
Through my nostrils, they came in with the air I breathed. I felt them travel down my throat, into my lungs, then spread throughout my body like a wave of gentle warmth.
This is… incredible.
It wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary.
It was like drinking fresh water after running a marathon. Like plunging into a warm bath after a freezing day. Like feeling the sun caress your skin after months of winter.
Comforting. Revitalizing. Invigorating.
The particles spread through my muscles, fatigued from training. I literally felt them nourishing my muscle fibers, soothing micro-tears, accelerating recovery.
My arms, which should have been sore after a hundred push-ups and fifty pull-ups, began to relax. The slight burn in my thighs after the squats gradually faded.
It's like my body is… regenerating in real time.
But that wasn't all.
The particles weren't just repairing. They were improving.
I felt my muscles becoming denser, stronger. My bones seemed to solidify slightly. My tendons, my ligaments, my entire musculoskeletal system vibrated with new energy.
It's like an upgrade. Like my body is software and these particles are a major update.
And suddenly, a notification exploded in my mind.
[SKILL EVOLUTION DETECTED]
[Absolute Physical Adaptation] → [Absolute Physical Absorption]
[New Description: Your body no longer merely adapts to physical effort. It now actively absorbs ambient energy (mana, elemental particles, vital essence) to exponentially accelerate your physical development and recovery. Your muscle, bone, and cellular growth is now multiplied by an unknown factor.]
[Side Effect: Continuous Passive Absorption - Even at rest, your body absorbs environmental energy.]
WHAT?!
I nearly lost my concentration, but forced myself to maintain the breathing rhythm.
My physique just evolved again?!
I focused again on the sensations in my body.
And then I realized the flow of particles had increased.
It was no longer a steady stream. It was a torrent.
Particles flooded toward me from all directions—from the air, from the ground, even from the distant trees. As if my body had become a vortex, sucking in ambient energy with irresistible force.
This is… euphoric.
Each inhale brought me a new wave of vitality. Each exhale expelled toxins, fatigue, impurities.
My entire body vibrated.
It wasn't just my muscles now. It was everything.
My bones. My skin. My organs. My blood.
Everything was touched by this flow of energy.
I felt my cells multiplying faster. My heart beating stronger, more efficiently. My brain lighting up with new neural connections.
It's like I'm becoming… more. More than I was five minutes ago.
And the sensation was addictive.
I understand better now.
Everything became clear in my mind.
I understand better why the sequence of physical exertion is followed by a breathing exercise.
Physical effort broke down muscle fibers, created micro-traumas in the body. And breathing—this absorption of mana—allowed those damages to be repaired instantly while strengthening them.
It accelerates bodily recovery. It allows the body to adapt to ambient mana.
Which not only facilitated muscle strengthening but also prepared the body to form a mana core in the future.
It's a perfect cycle. Destruction and reconstruction. Fatigue and regeneration. Weakness and strength.
I continued breathing, savoring every moment of this transformation.
The particles kept flowing, ever more numerous, ever more intense.
My body absorbed them with almost instinctive greed.
It's like being hungry and finally eating a feast. Like being thirsty and drinking from a pure spring.
Except it wasn't food or water.
It was pure energy. Life itself.
And I couldn't stop.
I didn't want to stop.
More. Again. Always more.
My smile widened despite myself.
With this… With this power…
I'm going to become invincible.
POV Arthur
Inhale… 1… 2… 3… 4… 5…
Hold… 1… 2… 3…
Exhale… 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7…
At first, it was simple. Mechanical. An exercise I'd done thousands of times in my previous life to concentrate before competitions.
But on the third breathing cycle, something changed.
A strange sensation emerged. Subtle at first, like a barely perceptible tickle on the surface of my skin.
What's that…?
I continued breathing, focusing on that sensation.
The tickle intensified. It wasn't just on my skin anymore—it was around me. In the air itself.
As if the atmosphere had become… alive.
I can feel them. I can feel the particles.
Those particles I'd been seeing since birth with my special vision. But this time, I wasn't seeing them. I was feeling them.
They floated around me, spinning gently like invisible fireflies. Dozens, no, hundreds of tiny points of pure energy dancing in the air.
With each breath, they drew closer.
Inhale…
And then, something extraordinary happened.
The particles—attracted to my breathing like a magnet—began to enter my body.
No, "enter" wasn't the right word.
They were merging with me.
Through my nostrils, they came in with the air I breathed. I felt them travel down my throat, into my lungs, then spread throughout my body like a wave of gentle warmth.
This is… incredible.
It wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary.
It was like drinking fresh water after running a marathon. Like plunging into a warm bath after a freezing day. Like feeling the sun caress your skin after months of winter.
Comforting. Revitalizing. Invigorating.
The particles spread through my muscles, fatigued from training. I literally felt them nourishing my muscle fibers, soothing micro-tears, accelerating recovery.
My arms, which should have been sore after a hundred push-ups and fifty pull-ups, began to relax. The slight burn in my thighs after the squats gradually faded.
It's like my body is… regenerating in real time.
But that wasn't all.
The particles weren't just repairing. They were improving.
I felt my muscles becoming denser, stronger. My bones seemed to solidify slightly. My tendons, my ligaments, my entire musculoskeletal system vibrated with new energy.
It's like an upgrade. Like my body is software and these particles are a major update.
And suddenly, a notification exploded in my mind.
[SKILL EVOLUTION DETECTED]
[Absolute Physical Adaptation] → [Absolute Physical Absorption]
[New Description: Your body no longer merely adapts to physical effort. It now actively absorbs ambient energy (mana, elemental particles, vital essence) to exponentially accelerate your physical development and recovery. Your muscle, bone, and cellular growth is now multiplied by an unknown factor.]
[Side Effect: Continuous Passive Absorption - Even at rest, your body absorbs environmental energy.]
WHAT?!
I nearly lost my concentration, but forced myself to maintain the breathing rhythm.
My physique just evolved again?!
I focused again on the sensations in my body.
And then I realized the flow of particles had increased.
It was no longer a steady stream. It was a torrent.
Particles flooded toward me from all directions—from the air, from the ground, even from the distant trees. As if my body had become a vortex, sucking in ambient energy with irresistible force.
This is… euphoric.
Each inhale brought me a new wave of vitality. Each exhale expelled toxins, fatigue, impurities.
My entire body vibrated.
It wasn't just my muscles now. It was everything.
My bones. My skin. My organs. My blood.
Everything was touched by this flow of energy.
I felt my cells multiplying faster. My heart beating stronger, more efficiently. My brain lighting up with new neural connections.
It's like I'm becoming… more. More than I was five minutes ago.
And the sensation was addictive.
I understand better now.
Everything became clear in my mind.
I understand better why the sequence of physical exertion is followed by a breathing exercise.
Physical effort broke down muscle fibers, created micro-traumas in the body. And breathing—this absorption of mana—allowed those damages to be repaired instantly while strengthening them.
It accelerates bodily recovery. It allows the body to adapt to ambient mana.
Which not only facilitated muscle strengthening but also prepared the body to form a mana core in the future.
It's a perfect cycle. Destruction and reconstruction. Fatigue and regeneration. Weakness and strength.
I continued breathing, savoring every moment of this transformation.
The particles kept flowing, ever more numerous, ever more intense.
My body absorbed them with almost instinctive greed.
It's like being hungry and finally eating a feast. Like being thirsty and drinking from a pure spring.
Except it wasn't food or water.
It was pure energy. Life itself.
And I couldn't stop.
I didn't want to stop.
More. Again. Always more.
My smile widened despite myself.
With this… With this power…
I'm going to become invincible.
POV Liora
Liora walked slowly between the rows of seated children, observing their progress with a critical but benevolent eye.
As usual, it's difficult for them at first.
Most of the children visibly struggled with the exercise. Some couldn't maintain the breathing rhythm. Others fidgeted, unable to stay still. A few even had their eyes open, completely lost.
It's normal. They're still young. It'll take them weeks, even months, before they really sense mana.
She stopped in front of a red-haired boy who was breathing completely chaotically.
"No, no," she said gently. "Breathe in through your nose, not your mouth. And count slowly."
The boy nodded, embarrassed, and tried to correct himself.
Liora continued her rounds, offering advice here and there.
Then she approached Arthur.
And she froze.
What…?
Her eyes widened.
Around Arthur, the mana particles—invisible to most people but clearly visible to her thanks to her developed sensitivity—swirled in a circular motion.
And they were being drawn toward him.
Like a vortex. As if the child were a gravitational well sucking in the surrounding mana.
How is this possible?!
She blinked several times, thinking she was hallucinating.
But no. The phenomenon was real.
Am I dreaming or what?!
Five-year-old children couldn't absorb mana. It was physically impossible. Their bodies weren't developed enough yet. They didn't have a mana core to channel the energy.
At most, they could vaguely sense mana after weeks of training. But actively absorbing it?
That shouldn't be possible before at least eight or nine years old!
And yet…
Arthur was there, sitting in perfect lotus position, breathing with methodical regularity, and absorbing mana as if he'd been doing it his whole life.
What kind of monster is this?!
Liora leaned in slightly, observing more carefully.
The flow of mana entering Arthur's body wasn't just constant—it was accelerating. As if his body was learning, adapting, optimizing the process in real time.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
She had trained hundreds of children over the years. Prodigies. Precocious geniuses. Descendants of legendary bloodlines.
But this?
I've never seen this. Never.
She stood there, frozen, watching Arthur with a mixture of amazement and disbelief.
Gareth was right. This kid isn't normal.
Not normal at all.
She bit her lower lip, suddenly realizing something.
Damn. I'm going to have to pay for that dinner at the Golden Phoenix…