The sun was rising. The rays of sun were peaping through the windows. It was casting a soft, ethereal glow. Blaze woke and geared up for a new day of training.
"Cloudy, rise and shine! You're up early today!" he exclaimed as his spirit was crackling with energy.
"Woof woof," the doid eagerly replied with his tail wagging wildly.
"Wanna tag along?" Blaze asked as his eyes were sparkling with determination.
"Woof!" Cloudy barked as if he was saying, "Absolutely!"
With that, they went ahead. The whole days trainings and hardships were waiting for them. Their eyes were blazing like fire, and the excitement for the training was fueling them.
"Today is the day! I'll lift these tubs, no matter what happens!" Blaze declared as the fire was ignited in his eyes. It had been ten days since he began this journey, but the weights had stubbornly resisted his efforts. But today felt different. These grueling days had to change.
Blaze reflected on the intensity of his training. The hours that he spent doing push-ups. And how his muscles were screaming with each repetition, and how he ran laps through the gardens and the park. Everything was getting alive as he was readying to lift those tubs. He could remember. He could remember how his steps were making rhythms with nature. As if it was fueling his ambition as he was drawing strength from the surrounding flowers and towering trees.
In every moment, he sought improvement—even while soaking in the bath, clutching a gripper, visualizing the surge of power in his fingers. It was tough, but he didn't stop. And now, he could feel all of the strength that he gained through it.
With that, a surge of determination swelled in his chest, and Blaze filled the heavy metal tubs with water and hoisted the sturdy stick onto his shoulder. As he did that, its rough surface dug into his skin. Then, it started. He summoned every ounce of strength within him. His voice was trembling with raw emotion as he pushed against the weight—but he failed.
"This can't be. All those workouts I've done. Is it still not enough to lift these tubs? No! I won't give up now!" Blaze shouted. Anguish and agony twisted his heart. he was fighting against his own limitations. "Why am I so weak? I want to be stronger! Arrrrrrrgghhhhhhhhh!" His anguished scream echoed through the clearing, a primal cry, resonating with the struggles that he faced.
Cloudy, his loyal companion, sensed Blaze's frustration. He joined in with a chorus of encouraging barks. His tail was wagging in fervent support. Grit and sheer willpower were fueling his spirit, and Blaze pushed through the excruciating pain that shot through his limbs. His muscles were screaming. They screamed in pain and protested for Blaze to stop. But he focused on the moment, blocking out everything else, and with one explosive effort, he finally hefted the heavy tubs off the ground. His body was trembling as he did so.
Without a moment to lose, he went ahead. He didn't stop for pain. Each step he took was a grueling battle. His legs quacked. His legs were shaking like they would collapse at anytime then. His muscles strained to the breaking point. Blood was seeping from the wounds that were inflicted during his arduous attempts. He roared in agony and the pain of the weights. His face was streaming with tears, mixing with sweat, yet the fire of determination within him was blazing brighter than ever before.
Blaze pressed on. He didn't stop. He had to prove strength. The sun dipped lower on the horizon. And it was casting long shadows across the ground. He bit his teeth as he took each step. Finally, he reached it. He reached the pond. With a triumphant yet exhausted face, His face was spreading a soft smile. He staggered to the edge of the pond. And the water in the tubs was glimmering under the fading light.
"Small pond! Huh..? You damn old fart!" he gasped, and his voice barely heard as a whisper before he collapsed on the ground. His body was drenched with sweat. It was screaming in pain. The weight and hardships of the gruelling day overwhelmed him.
The old man chuckled from the shadows. "Calling an old man names after he helps you? Hmph. Kids these days."
"But, I'll admit. You've done well. Now, rest," the old man said. He appeared from the shadows. Then he approached Blaze, who was unconscious from pain, and took him on his back.
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The next morning, Blaze was in his bed. He was waking up. The sun light was streaming through his window and enlighting his face. He woke up in his room. So, he was confused about how he ended up in his room.
"What's going on? Where am I?" he muttered. He looked around the room. "This looks like my room. But how did I end up here? I don't remember what happened after I collapsed."
He sat up, he realized that he felt totally different from the other day. His body felt fine. It was like all the pain from the last night disappeared. He felt the energy that was flowing through his body. His body was etching to go and train again. "Looks like I am alright." Saying that Blaze was getting ready to train again.
Just then, he heard his mom call from the kitchen. She sounded a bit worried. "Blaze, you're up? Come quick! Breakfast is ready! You were all messed up last night. Are you feeling okay?"
Blaze wanted to put her mind at ease. So, he gave her a soft and reassuring smile.
"Yeah, Mom, I'm good now," he said. Saying that, he stretched his limbs, which felt great; that was the expression he was giving.
Luna's brows were knitted with worry, and she kept fussing with Blaze. "An old man brought you home. Do you remember that person? Who was he?"
Blaze hesitated for a slight moment, the memories from the day before floating in and out like it was a dream.
"Right, he brought me back," he murmured, thinking about his master.
"Who was he?" Blaze's mom pressed. She was still concerned and worried.
Blaze shook his head, brushing it off for now.
Casting that aside, "I'm gonna train," he said, feeling his routine.
"Wait! You didn't even eat yet," she reminded him. She stepped into the doorway to block Blaze's path. But then--
"I'll eat later," he insisted. His excitement about training was bubbling up.
"Wait..." she started again, worry still in her voice, but Blaze was already focused on the training waiting for him outside.
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"Are you ready for today's fun, Blaze?" He murmured to himself. His mind was overflowing with determination. He was ready to fill the tubs then--
"Wait, where are the tubs? I can't see those anywhere." Saying that, he started to look for them, and then suddenly he remembered. "Ohh, I left them on the other side." After that, he ran to the pond to fetch the tubs.
With determination, he dashed toward the east. He was full of spirits. When he reached the pond, he saw the tubs on the edge of the dry pond. The water in the tubs was glistening in the sunlight. Then, he realized that he hadn't even poured the water into the pond. So, to correct his mistake, he poured the water into the dry pond. After that, he ran toward the west. To the pond to bring water again.
Despite their weight, Blaze said, "These tubs are heavier than I thought, even without any water in them." He noted. He was feeling the strain in his arms as he hoisted them up. But he didn't stop. With all his strength, he pressed toward the river. His body was getting hot from the sun and the workouts that he did. His muscles were steaming. It was like he was on fire.
When he reached the pond, he poured the water into the tubs. It didn't feel that hard this time. This time, it took him way less time than before. After pouring water into the tub, he lifted those and went for the pond. He didn't even stop to take a relieved breath. When he reached the pond, he poured the water into the pond and turned again to fill those with water from the river. But this time when he filled the water, he felt more drained. This time, it took more time to go to the other side, to the pond. Not only time, the effort of lifting them was paining him too much. He could feel his lungs straining for air. So, he took a necessary moment to rest and recover. He sat under the shadows of the trees and took a deep breath.
"Ahh, what a relief." Blaze was panting so much before, but after some time, he got normal.When he was taking some rest, he saw a girl standing on the edge of the pond. It was an elf. She looked like she was looking at something. She looked the same age as Blaze. Her height was also the same as Blaze's. Her slender figure looked gentle and it was radiating a generous air.
Her hair was long, and the color looked like liquid gold. The subtle waves of his hair were looking like silk, so great and beautiful in the sunlight. Strands of hair framed her delicate and youthful face. It highlighted her high cheekbones and the soft curve of her jaw.
Her eyes, a striking shade of brilliant golden yellow, gleamed like molten amber—sharp, inquisitive, and filled with an almost ethereal intensity. They held wisdom beyond her apparent years. Yet a flicker of mischief danced within them, revealing a spirited nature beneath her composed exterior, which was calm.
Long, pointed ears peeked through her golden locks, twitching slightly at the sounds around her. She wore a simple yet elegant tunic. It was embroidered with subtle patterns. The patterns looked like autumn leaves, which were swaying in the air. She appeared delicate. But her aura was quite strong. The way she carried herself wasn't weak. It was like a subtle confidence. A confidence that suggested not to underestimate her. The steps that she took looked so weightless. And that was what embodied the timeless elegance of her elven heritage. What a mystery!
Yet, beneath her poised facade lay an untamed spark that was tempered by a quiet shyness, as if she stood at the edge of a world filled with wild adventures and uncharted territories. She looked hesitant yet was longing to explore.
Getting intrigued, Blaze stepped closer, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Hello! I'm Blaze," he greeted her. His voice was infused with warmth and genuine curiosity. "Nice to meet you!"
The elf looked shy. Her large and luminous eyes were cast downward. Her cheeks flushed, and she fidgeted with the hem of her tunic when Blaze called her. She was avoiding direct eye contact with Blaze out of shyness.
After some time, in a brief silence, the elf turned on her heels and walked away without saying anything. Her footsteps were soft and silent. Blaze watched her retreat. The realization dawned upon him. "That elf was not just quiet; she was shy, wrapped in a cloak of timidity." Blaze felt a pang of empathy in his heart, wondering if he could coax her out of her shell.
Casting that aside, Blaze returned to his training. A refined determination was powering him up. He focused on his tasks. He found a rhythm that was pushing him to his limits. He diligently worked throughout the whole day, transporting water with increased efficiency. The sun was going down on the horizon. He successfully carried three times more water than he had during his previous session.
A sense of pride was seeping within him. He realized that he had poured eight times more water into the pond than the previous day. He was satisfied as a starter, yet a lingering thought was nagging in his mind: "It's still not enough. It's still too little. I have to grow even stronger." The drive and desire to improve and accomplish were fueling his ambitions. They were reminding him that every drop counted in his journey toward the strongest.
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"Offhh, I'm finally home," Blaze called out. Right after he stepped inside the home, a wave of relief washed over him.
"Onii-chan!" Mili exclaimed. Her silver eyes were shining. She was throwing her little and cute arms on his waist like she was embracing him.
"Mom! Onii-chan's home!" Lili shouted from the living room. Her voice was ringing with the joy of his return. She bounded toward them. Her pigtails were bouncing with each step, eager to reconnect.
The two sisters were bursting with curiosity and bombarded Blaze with questions about his long hours of training. "Where do you stay all day? We miss you!" Mili inquired, her tone a mix of concern and admiration.
"Lisa Onee-chan came by earlier," Lili added. Her brow furrowed slightly as she recalled the earlier visit. "But she didn't find you. She wanted to meet you. It wasn't the only time that she came and didn't find you."
Blaze bit his tongue and said, "Oh, okay. I'll make sure to meet her tomorrow then. I also have to say sorry to her. I should've taken her with me. It would have been great if I got her company."
Then, Luna came from the kitchen. She had pancakes with her. "You are home after so much time. You hadn't eaten anything from yesterday. Just training and training. Go, fresh up and come running to the dinning room. Dinner is waiting for you." Luna said to Blaze. Her voice was mixed with both anger and worry.
"Okay, Mom," he replied. Gratitude overflowed in his voice as he nodded. He knew that despite his relentless training, he had a loving family waiting for him at home, and it was quite a blessing. So he thanked god for his family.
Blaze quickly went to the restroom and freshened up. Then, he wore a fresh and clean shirt. His belly was growling as he was going to the dining room. The aroma of food filled the air, which made Blaze more hooked for eating.
He sat down. "Ohhh, the smell is filling my mouth with water. Food! Food! I need food now." He was pestering his mother for food.
"I told you to eat before you went, did I not?" Luna replied, "Here you go. Now dig in."
"Thank you for the food. This is so delicious!" Blaze exclaimed; his eyes were lighting up as he took his first bite. "The meat is melting in my mouth—it's incredibly juicy. I always like the food you prepare, Mom." He savored each morsel with delight. He was enjoying every moment of eating.
Then, after hearing Blaze, Luna shook her head with a teasing smile. She was happy. "Yes, yes, I know it's tasty. But remember, you haven't eaten anything all day, so it's bound to taste extra good. Now, focus on your meal and slow down a little," she advised Blaze so that food doesn't get stuck in his throat.
Blaze looked at the chairs and turned to his sisters. "Where is Dad?" he asked. He noticed that Ignis wasn't home.
Lili looked up from her plate with her fork paused mid-air. "Dad said he won't be coming home tonight. He has some important work he needs to take care of," she explained.
Mili, meanwhile, was taking her time with her dinner. "Yummy," she whispered contentedly. She savored each bite slowly and enjoyed the food like his brother.
The warmth of the familial bond and the joy of sharing a wonderful meal filled the air, which created an atmosphere of comfort and togetherness as they ate together.
What waits for the next day?