003 - Hellish Training

The next day started as any other… is what I would like to say, but…

“...Good morning… Mom.”

“Good Morning An!”

I saw the smiling face of my mother sitting beside my bed. I didn’t see Lily in bed so she must’ve left for her classes early.

She had her dark brown hair tied up in a bun and she was wearing her glasses as I could see the bags under her eyes, she had not slept even a little.

I didn’t hear any sound of the door opening when she left or when mom entered, so who knows how long she had been sitting here.

“How long have you been sitting here?”

I asked directly.

“Oh, not long. I just wanted to get started on your training quickly, we only have a week before the ceremony. We need to get you ready for the test too.”

In this sect, just because you are a son of the peak master doesn’t give you admission straight up. You still need to pass the entrance exams just like everyone else.

Although I have been living in this place with my mom and Lily, that doesn’t mean I am a student here.

The moment I become a student, I will be given accommodations of my own and will have to move out of this residence as well. Because at that moment my identity as the peak master’s son will be overshadowed with my identity as the disciple of Four Golden Magic Sect.

“I spent the whole night preparing a training plan for you! Get up quickly! After you’re ready, get to the backyard, we’ll begin. We need to beat the basics into your body to make up for all the lost time!”

Saying this, she left the room, leaving me sighing this early in the morning.

I used to consider myself lucky for not having my mom as my teacher, but I guess I’ll finally learn why they call my mom the “Demon Instructor”.

I have seen Lily shudder in fear at times when I asked how her training with mom went. Seeing her like that, I had stopped asking.

There is a reason my mom only has one student. All the other peak masters have multiple students besides the prime student that gets sent to the main peak.

But my mom only has Lily, not because she didn’t take any students, but because not many “survived” learning under her. Almost all of her students have dropped out after a few weeks or sometimes even days.

And that's the funny thing, our peak, the Shining Cauldron Peak, has a lot of students as well as instructors, but only one core student, Lily.

“She won’t be too harsh, right? I’m her only son after all. And I’m too adorable as well. That has to count for something!”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

…

A few hours later.

I was wrong. She is a demon.

She was standing in front of me with a wooden stick in her hand as I lay on the ground gasping for breath.

I looked at the stick with bitterness in my eyes. That thing has been beating me senseless since this morning.

“You know, mom. When you said you were going to beat the basics into my body, I didn’t think you were talking literally.”

“Of course I was talking literally! You think you are going to learn everything in a week if I were being nice?”

“I don’t think anyone has ever complained about your teaching being too nice-”

The rest of the words got stuck in my throat as she showed me a dangerous smile as she said,

“Looks like getting some magic has given you too much confidence, you even think you can now talk back to your mother. Looks like I need to beat some manners in your body as well.”

“I-I’m sorry, mom! You’re nice! You’re the nicest mom there is!”

I tried defending myself with flattery. All I got in return was a smile. Even colder than last time.

…

A few hours later.

“So, what did you learn?”

“Y-you should never talk back to you mom…”

“Good boy. Now go freshen up, and after a little break we will begin your magic training.”

I wanted to cry but no tears came out.

I wanted to say I was hurt all over, but she has been feeding me healing pills after each beating so I can’t even say that I can’t get up.

Still it isn’t like this session was worthless.

[Novice Swordsmanship Lv.1 / 5]

[Novice Footwork Lv.1 / 5]

Two Novice skills and only level 1?

[Answering Host - Skills not related to innate abilities have a higher threshold for acquisition and progress. The fact that the host was able to gain these two skills after just training for a day is a feat in and of itself.]

“Oh, so if I awaken a swordsmanship related ability during my awakening, then I’ll need less proficiency to upgrade this skill?”

[Answering Host - Correct. But similar acquired skills merge into their corresponding innate skill and innate skills do not have ascending levels. But they can be upgraded after they have been completely mastered.]

Now I’m really curious what kind of Ability I’ll awaken. I hope it is something as cool as Mom’s or Lily’s.

…

As Eshreal finished up the morning training with her son, she was in a good mood. She looked out, seeing her son still lying there on the ground taking in the afternoon sun, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Overdramatic brat.”

This was probably the first proper bonding session she has had with her son. She knew she had gone a little too hard on him, but she also knew it was necessary. She might’ve ignored his physical training all this time thinking he was going to become a magic scholar. But his awakening had changed a lot of things. And not all of them in a good way.

Her carefree expression changed as she looked out at her son again but this time there was a little bit of pain in her look, as the smile she held vanished.

Her fists tightened all on their own as she thought about what kind of ability her son might end up getting. If he, by some miracle or mistake, awakened one of their abilities, then who knows what his future might be like.

She didn’t want her son to go through the pain she had gone through. If possible she didn’t want her son to meet those people ever in his life.

A man's face flashed in her mind, as she once again looked at her son, this time her eyes moistened with tears, as after a few seconds she finally looked away and left her son to rest.

“I hope you don’t get our abilities my son…”