"Huh? What are you saying?" Ezra asked.
"Stop playing games with me." Richard roared.
"Play with you? I don't think you are smart enough for me to play with you. Just hand over my pamphlet." Ezra said he was starting to get pissed off.
"No way, I am a prodigy as of now, so you have to bow to me to get this back," Richard said.
"What did you just say?" Ezra asked.
"You have to bow- "
Boom, Ezra's fist connected with Richard's face, cutting him short. Richar flew like a bag of trash that had been thrown out, he landed with a thud.
The boys with him ran to him to check if he was okay, they kept calling out his name to ensure he was still alive.
"Get off me." Richard roared, he pushed them away and got on his feet.
"Don't ever make the mistake of telling me to bow," Ezra said to Richard.
"You bastard, I'll make you pay," Richard said, he dropped the pamphlet and turned to leave, there was no way he could fight here, as they were in public. He didn't want the matter to escalate, but he wasn't giving up, Ezra would hear from him soon.
'You walk away now, thinking that you will get me next time, but the funny thing is that when next we meet, I would have become stronger, kid.' Ezra thought as he smiled.
He took his pamphlet and left the place headed home, as soon as his mother also told him that his sister had gone for the trial exams for the magical and martial arts academy in the neighboring city with his dad.
He felt a bit bad about it, he was getting left behind, and he needed to get the remaining two vitality and unlock his power.
He went out back and began training, he practiced what Oliver had given him, repeating it over and over till it was engraved in him. His dad and sister didn't return that night, they had stayed in the city, so he was alone with his mother.
She looked at him through the window from time to time, admiring his persistence. The only time he had stopped was when she brought him dinner, he ate up and continued soon after.
It was past midnight, and he was still practicing, he kept going, repeating the sequence, and his hard work paid off.
[You have received one vitality.]
With that notification, he was now one vitality away from his goal. Ezra felt ecstatic. He decided to keep going, with the new burst of energy, he could go all night, and he did.
The next day, he bid his mum goodbye and was off to the dojo, he ran all the way there, not stopping once to catch his breath, this was the person who hadn't slept last night.
He got to the place and saw Oliver sitting in a lotus position, seemingly he was meditating. Ezra didn't want to disturb him, so he tried to walk in as quiet as possible.
"No need for that, I am already done," Oliver spoke up. He got up on his feet and looked at Ezra, he immediately raised a brow in surprise. The vitality in Ezra's body had increased once more.
'This kid must be a martial prodigy, his growth is outstanding, if he increases even a little more, then he would have stepped into martial adept realm.'
"Good morning then." Ezra greeted with a slight bow.
"Hmm, good morning. I spent the night refreshing my understanding of your weapon of choice, and I also decided to get one for you." Oliver said, then mysteriously took out a scythe that was just taller than Ezra.
The shaft was black, and the blade was a shiny stainless steel. Ezra collected the scythe and observed it closely. He looked at Oliver and with a smile spoke. "Thank you."
"Enough chit-chat, you are currently at the threshold of stepping into the martial adept realm, I would prefer that you know your weapon well before you break through, so today you will attempt to master the scythe as much as you can," Oliver explained.
Ezra nodded his head, he determined that he would get that last vitality today by any means, and then he would take the rest days off and hunt a beast to awaken his shadow ability.
So, the training began, with Oliver showing him moves with the scythe, and him copying them. They went on for hours, and soon Ezra could flow without the help of Oliver, his moves were getting better.
He danced with the scythe, spinning and slashing to his heart's content, and in half a day, it was as though that weapon was made for him.
Oliver saw this and had a smile on his face, he walked to Ezra and stopped him. "I think that is enough for now, drop the scythe and give me both your hands, you have worked hard these few days, and you deserve a gift."
Ezra obeyed and stretched out his hands, Oliver took his hands, Ezra suddenly felt energy streaming into his body.
[You have gained one vitality]
[You have gained one vitality]
[You have gained one vitality]
[You have gained one vitality]
[You have gained one vitality]
The notification rang five times, meaning he had gotten five vitalities in total. Ezra looked at Oliver with wide-open eyes, there was shock written all over his face. He had toiled day and night to raise four vitalities, but now he gained five just by holding hands.
"A stronger person can transfer vitality to you, though the practice is not recommended at all, as it could cause severe damage to the receiver the more you do it. Though giving you one time would not cause any harm, so this is my gift to you. Congratulations on reaching the martial adept realm,"
Ezra was bursting with joy and energy, he felt like he could run around the town and not feel tired as well, it was a pleasant feeling.