" Young master, are you sure?" Spencer looked at Rowan with a confused eye.
Rowan swung a wooden staff with weights attached to his limbs. His face covered with sweat, yet he still swung the staff.
" Yes, I am fine doing this training. Before using a sword or anything else, I would rather have my basics down."
Spencer nodded as he stood to watch over Rowan. " Then let me teach you something that commoners have no knowledge about."
" Most people know about mana, as it's the energy that has existed since the beginning. However, as for how to use it, only a handful know."
" But besides mana, there are two other energies as well." Spencer's voice turned deep.
" Mana is the external energy. The energy that is inborn and within the body is called Ether."
" Ether is the most important aspect for a fighter or a knight. Anyone who can wield either can forge their body into a powerful weapon."
" Mana, on the other hand, is used by those who are perceptive of the energy of the world." Spencer explained. " When controlled, the mana can be transferred into various attributes, enabling mystical phenomena."
" So, basically wizards?" Rowan asked while swinging the staff.
" Mages, yes. Although the number of mages is less, they exist nonetheless." Spencer nodded.
" As for the remaining one is faith." Spencer's tone turned serious. " Think of it, Young Master. How could religions still have a foothold if humans can wield supernatural powers like Ether and Mana?"
" It's because of Faith! The energy of faith allows the gods to bestow divine abilities and manifestations of powers to their believers." Spencer explained. " Faith can be truly random. Even a peasant might be chosen as herald of a god, granting him divine power!"
Rowan didn't exclaim at the existence of gods, because already seen three godlike beings. He also realized that when the Heavenly Tower opens in the near future, people with supernatural powers will have an edge over normal people.
" Young master, as long as at least two stats surpass 10 points, you will receive a divine blessing," Spencer explained. "The more stats you push beyond the 10-point stage, the better the blessings will be."
" The older you are, the harder it is to train yourself."
" Hehe, So, only those who know how to train their body and energy could possibly raise their stats beyond 10 points, no?" Rowan chuckled as he did the final swing of the staff.
For example, getting training from a professional and medicinal herbs as nutrition, only a wealthy family could afford to train their youngsters in this.
Money isn't the only thing that keeps the difference in society. It's the knowledge, the crucial information for certain opportunities, that only allows elites to take advantage of.
" Unless it's someone truly exceptional, then no. Most ordinary people have no chance." Spencer shook his head. But when he saw Rowan quickly finishing his daily training, he couldn't help but get astonished.
Rowan dropped all his attached weights and stretched his body. Unlike yesterday, when Spencer had to carry him back to his room, Rowan was only panting heavily.
" Impressive, Young Master! To think your stamina grew so much in a single day!"
Rowan scratched his hair as he let out a forceful smile. " I guess so. I will just go and take a bath now."
In reality, Rowan's fatigue was almost nothing, thanks to his
[ Ding! Superhuman Training and The Pioneer's effects are super imposed! User gets +2 In Strength stat. User gets +1 in Agility, Constitution, and Stamina stat!]
Rowan rested in the bathtub filled with medicinal water. After taking a wash, he got up.
' Well, damn! The stats aren't just for show. This body looks fine now.'
Rowan checked out his physique before the mirror while wearing only his towel. The frail and weak physique already transformed into lean and polished. Even his sunken eyes and nerdy face has undergone changes.
' I just need to get rid of this yee yee ass hair cut.'
Before Rowan could finish his thinking, the door opened loudly. The moment Rowan turned around, a silver glint flashed and a sword was resting on his neck.
" Who are you?"
Rowan raised his hands in surrender, " Si-Sister Elena, wh-What's the matter?"
The holder of the sword was none other than Elena, Rowan's sister in law. Elena's face was flushed, mixed with a strange sense of rush, confusion and anger.
' Crap, did she realized I am just using Rowan's body?'
" I am asking, Who are you?!"
Rowan gulped a mouthful of saliva as he answered. " I am Rowan Von Aurelius, your brother in law?"
" If you are really Rowan, then you can easily answer my questions, correct?" Elena spoke in a choked voice. It appeared as if she was holding a lot back and trying to put a brave face.
" Then tell me, what is my favorite dish?"
Rowan was stunned as he quickly rushed his memories. " Your favorite dish is Honeycomb Pie with extra crust. But you also love baked sweet potatoes roasted with butter." Rowan answered with a smile.
" You never reveal the latter one because…Umm, the gas it causes…"
Elena was stunned as her ears turned slightly pink. The sword in her hand trembled for a moment before turning steady once again.
" This was nothing. A good spy can even find that." Elena refuted Rowan. " My real question whose answer only Rowan knows…"
" What is my dream?"
Rowan paused for a moment before taking a deep breath. " Sister Elena you already…"
" I asked you a question!" Elena shouted, almost pushing the sword a bit further. A slight red cut appeared on Rowan's neck.
" Answer or get killed!"
" Your dream was…" Rowan sighed. " To live a normal life. You wished for a normal life, and away from any nightmares."
*CLANGG!*
Elena was stunned as the sword dropped from her hands, ringing a metallic noise on the ground. Leaping forward, Elena hugged Rowan tightly.
" It's…It's really you." Elena almost sobbed. " I thought I almost lost you when you were in jail."
" Ermm…"
Rowan's mind was in total chaos, making him stand still. Elena felt a strange sensation, feeling something was poking her from below.
" Huh?"
" Umm, Sister Elena…If you allow me…" Rowan scratched his cheek. " Can I put on my towel?"
Only then did Elena return to her senses, yet her eyes still bore witness to Rowan's figure. The towel was already lying at his feet, leaving him fully bare.
And then, Rowan's little brother slowly stood up to do a standing salute.
" KYAHHHH!"
Not long after, Rowan wore a loose robe as he walked to the balcony. Elena was sitting on a chair, her face flushed and sweating.
" I am really sorry, Sister Elena." Rowan gave an embarrassed smile. " That reaction was…"
" Natural, it was natural," Elena murmured in a low voice. " You don't need to apologize.
" Well then, since we are all good." Rowan sat before her. " Care to tell what the hell actually happened?"
" Ahh! That!"
Elena slapped her forehead as her face turned serious. " It's all my fault, Rowan. But, trust me, everything I did was for a reason."
" Today, I went to the Church of Endless. When I was listening to the sermon, I suddenly dozed off. And…And I dreamt!"
" I dreamt of seeing your corpse after you went to jail. But then, everything just turned differently. Our family, I saw our family falling. Conspiracies one after another, and betrayals…"
" But that was nothing. I… I saw a vision of a terrifying portal opening in Westford City."
" Dangerous miasma coming out and infecting people! And it all happened in two weeks!"
Elena's voice dropped. " But, before I could uncover the secret of your death, I was stabbed by…someone."