Chapter 5: First Step
Farhon wasn't always the brightest tool in the shed.
He was the kind of guy who lived life first and thought about the implications of actions later on.
It's this trait that brought about an 'interesting' relationship with his maid, who he felt guilty for.
But those thoughts were pushed aside quickly.
Living a full life was harder than becoming a well-known Adventurer. Tragedies plagued this world.
Demons tended to ruin the lives of many, but this world wasn't so simple that beating them meant anything. What came after that was your position in life and the hierarchy you were born in from birth.
Commoner, noble, foreigner, and rare instances of illegal slave trade despised by the Holy God.
That great man who lived at the forefront of the battlefield fighting against Demons constantly.
If it wasn't for him, there would be not even the smallest hope for peace. Not room to breath.
Without him, Farhon wouldn't have even been able to practice swordsmanship as a mere 'Human'.
Because waving around a stick had no use.
There were only two ways of defeating Demons of any nature. Working hard or having innate talent.
Those with innate talent being called the 'Sage Blooded'. Having entirely different ways of growth.
For untalented and uneducated bumpkins like mere humans, they could only rely on the three school of battle born from a mixture of the 'Elemental Sword God Style', and the 'Clear Sky God Style'.
These were the Daybreak, Sunrise, and Sunset Schools. Adaption, Aggression, and Defence.
These three schools all majoring in certain aspects of both the Nature Styles of the Sword God, made by Gerald Knightly, and Fundamental Styles created by hero of the Dark Ages, Simon Rainglow.
Now, in the current era, it was possible for anyone of any age to at least learn aspects of each style.
Farhon watched the start of his son's journey.
Diana held his son's shoulder while he grabbed the hand. The right hand Steve dominantly used.
"Within all people of humanity, a 'Limiter' had been placed into our very core of being. It's said that the Holy God and 13 Graces have bestowed this sacred blessing on humanity so we wouldn't get infected by Miasma." Farhon explained to his child.
"Is it in my right hand or something?" Steve felt a bit ticklish when his father poked around his hand.
"Like I said before, it's in the core of your being. A part of you that needs to be manifested through recognising something…" His father kept him in suspense before letting go, saying: "…Death."
"…Seriously?" He was scared they were telling him to die out of nowhere, but then thought rationally.
"Oh, so you mean functionally speaking. Confused me for a sec." He continued while brushing it off.
This reaction brought Farhon some surprise. He remembered his own surprise way back when.
And he was an adult of age of 15 back then.
"Steve…" Thinking he might have been too hasty with this, he mellowed out a little: "…Sorry."
"Huh?" The boy furrowed his brows.
"I got worked up and asked too much. You can go in and take it easy. Sleep for a whole, or I can even take you out to see the neighbours kids if you're up for it." Farhon found it a bit weird talking like this.
Although children being obedient was a blessing to him, it wasn't right to force his beliefs like this.
The man thought of his long forgotten past…
As the fifth son of the Thornebrook Family deeply connected to the Vermilion Kingdom's founding ancestry, he was expected to be perfect by his parents. If not, disowning was a matter of course.
Farhon grew to hate his father because of that. He was one day so stressed that he ran away from home, and eventually formed a ragtag group called the 'Seven Great' Adventurer Party with friends.
Back then, Garcia was the healer of their team and devout follower of the Holy Doctrine. A religion that now served a living god that had lived for who knew how long. Maybe before civilisation was built.
As an adequate user in all three schools of the current era Nature Style, he forged his own path.
Eventually coming to believe leaving home was right. That his belief when escaping wasn't flawed.
A true family didn't need so much sophistry.
But underestimated his child.
"If I do that, then I can rest easy…" Steve looked down while holding his hands. Feeling relaxed.
But then it turned into a monologue:
"I know mum will take care of me even if I just learnt farming. You also would take care of me if I failed your expectations." There was this rare air of maturity about the boy when he was speaking this.
And Farhon couldn't deny it.
Having two Adventurer parents didn't mean he had to take care of other villages. He only needed to be able to protect himself, and that would be all that matters. They wouldn't force him to fight Demons.
"I don't want to live like that." When Steve spoke this, his father saw the sincerity deep in his eyes.
The boy had sworn an oath to himself that this time would be different. That he wouldn't avoid pains.
There was a difference between constant pain from illness, and the pain of reaching your bodily limits.
The former was bad luck; the latter was intentional.
If he could grow beyond what he could be, then why hesitate? It's natural for him to be grow up.
It wasn't like he had any childish tendencies or hobbies to begin with… other than talking to Diana.
"Son…" Farhon lifted his little boy up and took a good look at him. His child was so skinny.
He was so light despite being a boy, which broke his perception of what 'strong kids' looked like.
Even though he was so small and fragile, this very same child was much more brave than he looked.
Not only was he sensible, but he was courageous.
Still…
"Do you like swordsmanship?" Farhon knew this son had been hanging with Diana more often.
And he had also peeked at some of his 'lessons' recently. Finding his boy had a knack for learning.
So was this truly what he wanted?
"Dad… You make it look so amazing, then you ask me that? Obviously I like it. Teach me!" These words from the little boy swept his heart like a warm breeze. He felt an icicle in his heart melted.
It had been a long time since he had taught someone else, but he wanted to make this work.
Hopefully, his boy could have fun while training.
"Alright. Then listen up closely." Farhon put the boy back on the log and started teaching immediately.
He started to monologue:
"The basic 'Fundamental Style' is based off the four Lesser Forces every living creature had."
"Every human is made up of the mind, body, soul, and heart. When one is destroyed, the others will too. It doesn't matter which, losing one Lesser Force would be the end of your life. No doubt."
"Demons are always missing something. A body, soul, or maybe a heart… They tempt humans to make contracts with them simply to take an aspect away from them. Because each one is precious."
"Because these are the four fundamental pillars of life. Without them, we wouldn't be alive at all."
"Do you understand now?" When Farhon finished those words, he realised Steve fell into a trance.
The boy was internalising those words and forming a perspective of his existence that split into four.
Wisdom wasn't the same as having knowledge.
Knowledge wasn't the same as having wisdom.
Willpower was nothing without having a vessel.
Vessels were nothing without having willpower.
It was the line drawn between the heart, mind, soul, and physical body. The flesh worn by the ethereal.
The knowledge separated from the heart that feels.
It created a cross on his body, and this symbolic comprehension appeared on his hand clearly.
Proof that he'd internalised the state humans were in after crossing over. The way this world operated.
"Good job!" This surface understanding was something regular kids rarely understood.
So it was surprising to see Steve do this.
"Is my son a genius?" After praising his kid, Farhon felt like a bit uncomfortable deep in his heart.
Like this was too good to be true.
"Now, you have to start breathing with this Limiter in mind. Separate the magical energy Diana will send you into the Wand of your Heart, the Sword of your Soul, the Coin of your Flesh, and the Cup of your Mind." These words from Farhon dug deep.
Following his father's advice, Steve found that there were four objects forced into his imagination.
Even without purposely trying to think about their existence, he naturally felt their existence in him.
The so-called Heart Wand, Soul Sword, Flesh Coin, and Mind Cup. They hovered around his Vital Gem.
Then made themselves home in different ways.
The Soul Sword and Heart Wand spread around his body. Exploding into particles naked to the eye.
These two objects simply became part of him on a spiritual level. Their origin not tied to one place.
On the other hand, the Flesh Coin became routes.
Those veins eastern fantasy martial artists used became clearer, and his body became the coin.
Unlike the vague properties of the former two, he felt his body becoming stronger after it melded in.
Increasing Steve's control over his physical body.
The last aspect was even more simpler. The Mind Cup gravitated to his brain and melded with it.
Then spread through his body using the nerves.
Steve felt knew forces had been made, but also that his outlook on life was now more complicated.
"Do you feel it?" Farhon wasn't sure if he was just used to his son's talent or just like his reactions.
"Everything… it feels so different." There was a look of discomfort on his face. He felt a bit disoriented.
"That's normal. Your body hasn't really grown that much stronger, but the difference in senses on top of denser muscles is the problem." It was like an early growth spurt. He simply couldn't handle this.
"That… But… My… training…" The boy sounded lethargic. It was a good thing Diana held onto him.
"Go inside with her for now. You can't rush these things. And congratulations, you have done something usually achieved by teenagers at the age of 5, little genius." Farhon patted his head.
"Why do you all call me little? I'm not little at all!" It looked like the dizziness was getting to him now.
Steve flopped into Diana's arms and closed his eyes. Mumbling how he was old and an adult.
"Take him to bed." His father told the maid.
Diana nodded her head and took him away. Thus leaving Farhon to his own devices once again.
He wasn't in the mood for training right now.
"Are you done watching?" He called out to the woman who had been watching them for a while.
Her hand touched the kitchen window silently.
Showing the man her palm.
Then came out to meet the man with an eerie silence unlike her, who would usually be full of joy.
"Anything wrong?" Farhon couldn't help asking.
"Did he learn 'that' already?" Her face was stern.
"Steve is quite the genius. We should get him to become an Adventurer, then…" He was interrupted.
Garcia stopped him with her palm again.
She came closer and grabbed his hands with a deep intimacy. Making him feel her love and care.
"I have something to say." Garcia finally made her mind about talking to Farhon about everything.
They'd decide the future together.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone