Chapter 15: The training begins
That night Osmond dreamt and saw a dream that was not a nightmare. In his dream, he saw himself vanquishing monsters and saving the weak. He saw himself showers of praises and he bathed in it.
Morning came and he had his breakfast. He was given two whole eggs, a keg of milk, some pancakes and roasted chicken. He didn't know why his meal was like that, but he still ate it.
"Master has ordered you to be present at the training ground after breakfast," Audrey said.
Osmond ate his breakfast alone. He wondered when he was going to see Kira. He decided he will ask about it later.
Connor was waiting in the training ground. The oak tree stood in the back and its leaves waved. Birds chirped over and squirrels cried. Save for the tree, the grass on the ground and metal rods, nothing else was there.
Connor was standing in the centre with his hands folded. He was wearing a grey shirt and brown pants. He tapped his foot in impatience. His eyes glared.
"You are late," Connor said.
"I am sorry," Osmond shuddered.
"I don't have time to spend with you all day. I think you learned about Zest from Channing yesterday?" Connor inquired and Osmond nodded saying yes.
"Well, the Crux is for the body like Zest is for the mind. So you need to train your body first. Let me see what I am working with. Take off your shirt, boy," Connor commanded.
Osmond's eyes widened. He felt a little shameful to remove his shirt in the open. He took off his shirt and Connor examined him head to toe.
"You have very little muscle, as if you are a girl," Connor clicked his tongue.
"Drop to the ground and show me how many times you can push yourself up with your hands, " Connor ordered.
Osmond laid down with his palms on the floor and tried pushing himself up. "What are you, a crab? Put your arms closer," Connor shouted.
Osmond tried his best to put his arms closer and failed, and each time Connor shouted at him. After the sixth push, Osmond felt the world spinning and his chest ached.
"Six! A girl can do better than that. Am I wasting my time with you boy?" Connor shouted, he sounded impatient.
"I can get better," Osmond said brimming with determination.
"You better. Now try to pull yourself on that bar," Connor said pointing.
Osmond tried grabbing the bar and pulling himself up. He couldn't even manage one. "Well, that was more pathetic than the last one. Are you even trying boy?" Connor shouted.
"I am," Osmond cried back.
"As of now, you don't have any reservoir of Zest in you. If you can do what I say, there may be hope for you," Connor said.
"You will increase your pushups to twenty and pull-ups to ten this month. Your training with Channing will be separate from this. Learn what you need to eat to grow. Channing can help you regarding texts," Connor said. "I won't be monitoring you this month. There is a war brewing and I will be away. Audrey will report your progress to me."
And with this Osmond's training began. Osmond ate mainly meat, rice, beans, egg and milk. He ate till his stomach burst and pushed till he almost puked. On days with Channing, he focused so that all the world besides him and the book vanished.
"From where did the Deimians come from?" Osmond asked reading a book on history.
Channing looked up from the book he was reading. He placed his glasses back on the table. "The ancestors of the Deimians call their fatherland the land of eversnow. It was a cold place they say, colder than Deimo. They landed on the east of Deimo about two hundred years ago."
"Then why didn't they reach Pemphredo?" Osmond was curious.
"The war between Pemphredo and Deimo is a big topic and I plan to teach you that soon," Channing said.
The next day was physical training and now besides pushups and pull-ups, Osmond was also doing squats. He felt as if his legs were made of jelly and his thighs hurt as if it was broken into two. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Lying there, he thought about Kira. He has been wondering about Kira and he decided to ask about her.
"When can I see Kira?" Osmond asked in his gasping breath.
"Well, if you could complete your test, the master may grant your wish," Audrey said. He clenched his fist. He now had a goal to work on.
It has been ten days since Osmond's training started. He can now do ten push-ups in a row and two pull-ups. He felt he had grown a little. His chest was larger and his arms were thicker. He felt a pride of joy inside; results indeed are great motivators.
Connor was not in the mansion now. He had gone to the palace to raise the army against the coming destitute. He wondered what Kira was doing now. He wondered if Kivela was doing okay. He wondered where the other slaves were.
He needed to get strong fast, to avenge his parents and protect the things that he gained now.
After finishing his workout, he went to his room. He was dripping from his hair, so he decided to clean himself.
After that and having his lunch, he went to help in the mansion. He helped in the garden, helped in the kitchen and did whatever he could do.
Evening came knocking, and he went to his room. He picked a book about training and started reading. Apparently, different parts of the body require different types of training. He also found that meat and eggs will help him grow. He made a note of what he had learned.
On another part, unbeknownst to Osmond, the world was moving. Letters were sent to artifact holders and five answered. Armies were arriving at The land of adventure for the coming war. Connor was writing more letters from his office in the palace, asking for more troops.
Osmond didn't see or know any of this. He will have no part in the coming war. He read the book that was on the table.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone