Chapter 4

"Get up." Said Mike.

"You should be gentler with him. He is young and not as strong as you." exclaimed Mira, Aarons mother.

"He needs to be tough. If I dont push him he will not learn." Mike refuted.

Aaron laid down on the ground and watched his parents argue. This started two months back, the day after Mr Anderson left. His father woke him up in the morning and took him to a small ground behind his house.

He first made him run rounds around the ground till he dropped and then began his training in the way of the sword.

Although Aaron had a little fascination towards sword as most people on earth.

Sword and magic after all is the bread and butter of all fantasy books, games and movies.

The thing he didnt realise was that learning sword could be so difficult.

He thought a little posing and slashing was all that was left required. The movies definitely had him believe that.

Running during the morning hours alone was more than he can bear. He was never an atheletic guy. He barely ever went for trekking or any other physical activities.

He had never put any real effort into physical training. This was even more difficult for him since he always had a easy life.

"Pushing him doesnt mean hurting him. He is just a young boy. " Mira shouted.

"He is not hurt. He just fell down after he tried to parry one of my attacks. Its a wooden training sword. Not a real sword I am using. He is my son too. I wouldn't really hurt him." Mike retorted.

"Hmmmmp!" Mira harrumphed. But she knew Mike was right. The world they lived in was full of dangers. Sooner or later her son would face something he didn't want to. It was important for him to learn how to protect himself.

"Ok, ok. I will be a little gentler. " Seeing Mira, Mike had to concede a little.

Turning around he said "Why are you still laying down there. Do you find dirt to be so interesting. Dont worry I will let you have a taste of it for this entire year." Mike said.

Hearing that made Aaron cringe. He knew it was going to be a long hard year.

Seasons changed, but Aarons routime didn't. He woke up early. Did the morning runs. Practiced his sword, more like tasting dirt everyday. He seemed like he did find the dirt interesting.

Read a bit in the evening to expand his knowledge of this world. That was his day. He neither had the time nor the will to be with other kids his age until he was really forced to.

He had to admit it though, the training was very benificial for him. Not only it improved his strength and stamina, it improved his focus.

Turns out, sword needs a lot of focus. Its not all fancy moves and slashes. Plus running seemed to have an calming effect on him. He counted the days for his 8th birthday and the day he would test himself and see if he could be a mage or not.

As the time went by, he grew better at his training. One day Mike called him to his study.

"Mr Anderson will be coming tomorrow to take you to Rivertown. You need to listen to everything he says since this is the first time you are going to leave your house." Aaron nodded.

He knew that although be was grown up on earth, he was still a little kid here. He didnt knew the rules of this world.

"You are going to be tested soon. Let me tell you, the chances of becoming a mage is very small. I am not saying you wont be one, but if you dont pass, dont be dissapointed. Even Anderson failed the test and your father didnt even try for the test." Aaron indeed thought that mages must be pretty rare else he would have seen more mages uptil now.

"You know how your father learned his swordsmanship? " Aaron did wonder about it.

"I was an adventurer before. You dont need to know what an adventurer is for now. Just know it is a job most young and adventurous people strive for. I learnt my sword from a man I met during my adventurer days."

"I also gained one small magical item which was the only reason I was able to call a mage when you were born. There were some complications during your childbirth and I had to make sure both you and your mom were alright."

That solved the mystery how his father was able to call upon a mage. It seems the magical item was the payment for the mage to come. His father perhaps parted away his most expensive and cherished treasure to call him. This further raised his opinion of his father.

Talking with his father made him think about a lot of things. How rare were the mages. Was it so hard to be one. What kind of life his father had before he was born. What is an adventurer? But as his father said, he didnt need to think on it much now. He instead wondered what tomorrow was going to be like and he slept with a smile on his face.

Morning came fast. By the time Anderson had arrived, Aaron was up and ready to go.

"Looks like you are ready to go" Anderson said to Aaron.

"Yes Mr. Anderson." Aaron replied.

"Dont trouble your teacher too much on the journey." Mike said.

With the pleasantries done, young Aaron and Anderson left for Rivertown. A journey which would change his life forever.