Golden rays of morning light spilled into the world, inviting the day.
There was an ethereal beauty to the sunlight, as if a layer of tinted filter had been added to the sky. Everything glowed in honeyed tones, beautiful and soothing. He moved his hand through the air, watching his fingers as if the light were amber nectar, flowing in slow and graceful swirls.
He went to the bathroom to relieve himself, cleansing before changing into casual wear—not that he had many clothes anyway.
As soon as he left the house, he started jogging into the mountains behind it, his usual routine, but he decided to increase his distance for the next month. Normally, he jogged for about 2 kilometers every morning, but from now on, he aimed for 4 kilometers, gradually increasing it as the days passed. He controlled his rhythm between running and walking, finding the perfect balance. It would exhaust him faster, but at the same time, it would help him build his stamina, which was vital in everything.
He continued to jog silently while enjoying the morning breeze, maintaining his rhythm for two kilometers before slightly picking up the pace.
One hour later, he finished. On his way back, he stopped in the forest at the foot of the mountain to gather some herbs he would use to strengthen himself. Having known in advance which herbs to pick, it didn't take long for him to collect them. One of the herbs he picked was horsetail, also known as Equisetum arvense. It is rich in silica, a mineral that plays a role in bone formation and strengthening. He often used it to make tea or as a supplement.
The second herb he gathered was comfrey (Symphytum officinale), which is used to reduce pain. He brewed it into tea or added it to a bathtub, like the night before. The third herb was chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), which he also brewed into tea.
Chamomile tea may help prevent bone loss by balancing minerals in the body and halting the process that breaks down bones—perfect for someone who exercises recklessly. After harvesting those herbs to help strengthen his bones, he didn't forget the ones that would help toughen his skin: aloe vera, turmeric, ginseng, and gotu kola.
Aloe vera aimed to increase collagen production, which is crucial for skin firmness and elasticity.
Meanwhile, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent collagen breakdown, promoting healthier skin.
Ginseng helps restore skin structure, strengthens blood vessels, and can stimulate collagen synthesis.
Gotu kola is known for its tightening and firming effects on the skin.
He gained this valuable knowledge through various medical books; the wisdom found in books cannot be underestimated.
Carrying a basket full of herbs, he returned and did as usual. He headed to the training area he had created for himself—a small open space with scarecrows he made and trees with ropes coiled around them, which he used as punching bags. Their worn states showed how much they had been used.
He drank some herb-infused tea before starting his push-ups.
In record time, he completed 100 of them, then it was time for squats—50 of those. He repeated this two more times and took a moment to rest before switching to his next exercise. It was important to rest between exercises; he believed it was the best way to let his muscles relax and the work he did sink in.
After a short rest, he walked toward one of the trees with ropes coiled around it. He removed his top and clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly. The knuckles tightened and emitted a cracking sound. Inhaling deeply, he took his position and began punching the tree like a marionette following an order.
Tuak! Tuak! Tuak!
More damage began to accumulate on his specially made punching bag.
Tuak! Tuak! Tuak!
His hands began to bleed, but he showed no sign of stopping. The herbal tea he had drunk began to work as he continued to punch the tree.
This was an insane method he had devised to make himself stronger and toughen his bones. Each time they broke, they would heal, becoming more robust. The same applied to his skin. It was an extreme method that only a masochist would consider, but he wasn't a masochist. He simply viewed this as the only shortcut to achieve his goal. Most children from the family were nurtured from a young age, consuming elixirs to strengthen themselves and having teachers to instruct them in various skills, but he had none of that. So, he had to devise his own methods to strengthen himself. This small area was where he could experiment with various techniques. He had gone through countless trials and errors to finally create this method. He couldn't access the training ground unless summoned; sneaking in to observe others training was out of the question.
Back to his training, he kept hitting the tree for about thirty minutes. Due to his strengthened body, he didn't bleed too much, nor were his hands severely injured. He gritted his teeth as he pasted some herbs over his wounds while drinking another herbal tea.
He breathed in and out, trying to ignore the pain. It wasn't that he couldn't feel pain; he had simply learned to ignore it. Having been through hell—at least from his perspective—what he suffered from the day he was born changed him. He didn't know if he was broken, but he became capable of not showing any emotions. He learned to suppress his emotions; otherwise, he was certain he would have died in this place, overwhelmed by feelings that could have led him to do something reckless and potentially end his life.
"Fuh! Time to train my legs," he mumbled as he began walking toward the same tree he had previously left. The ropes coiled almost reached the base of the tree, and he began striking the base of the tree with his legs.
Bang! Bang!
He continued this for half an hour before stopping to treat himself, not forgetting to drink his special tea.