Training and a request.

During the night, Aster started to practice his meditation towards mana. It was due to Mana that he was able to become a guard. Therefore, he needs to absorb as much as he can in order to become stronger.

Unfortunately, he barely has any understanding about the aspect of Mana. What method would be the optimal way to circulate the mana? Does he have any meridians according to Chinese web novels? In the future, by learning the cultivation books in Mitgar continent, Aster is looking forward to guiding himself systematically.

Completing the 8 hours of meditation, Aster felt his body refreshed, ready to complete the daily challenges that are coming. The breakfast was already served outside the dormitory room. With fresh tea with no salt and sugar, and rice with some mutton.

'How pleasant. Being a guard is not that fearful comparing to being a slave with Tiger brothers' Filling his stomach and rubbing his belly. He went to the training ground.

It was early in the morning, prior to the rooster cry. You could sense the chill air as well as the dawn morning that would be remarkably getting brighter across the hill far away.

In the streets of Waldov city, people started their assigned duties, farmers would go to their farm, herders would milk the cows, merchants were cleaning their boots. The livelihood of Waldov city is rising.

When he reached the training field, he stood in the last row in front of the Guard Captain named Jefferson. Around 100 new recruits got their places in three rows. Upon reading the names out loud and got the roll call, Captain Jefferson stated that today's training would be running 50 kilometers with Qi cultivation training and Basic swordsmanship training.

Captain Jefferson was Duke Norman's Youngest son Alexander's Guard captain. He was previously a guard for the Duke Norman himself. After Alexander reaching his adulthood, it was only now that he got his own personal guard platoon.

Guard Jefferson introduced the hierarchy system of the military.

Firstly, Duke Norman, Commander of the Warren lands army commands a total 100,000 troops through his Generals. The army divides into two parts which are guards and troops. There are total 5,000 troops that protects the Duke's mansion. The military ranks are

Commander

General

Colonel

Captain

Lieutenant

Private

New recruit

As the 100 new recruits started to run in a row of 2 to the Mountainous area in the south of the Waldov city, Aster started to heavily breathe. It was only the first 10 kilometer, he couldn't blame others but himself. Working behind a desk for an entire year with no exercise made his body rusted.

Sharp rocks, heavy uniform and boots made him feel fatigued. However, for the first time ever, he felt the mana residing in his body to change into something different. Different than Mana in the air and the cosmos. It felt like the energy he feeling gives him enough energy to overcome the harsh training.

'Is this Qi that everyone mentioned before? What a pleasant feeling!'

"Feel the Qi in your body and circulate it through your body while you run!" Captain Jefferson shouted as loud as everyone can hear.

The newly formed energy started as a strand of air, slowly increasing as a gas like substance was forming inside his body. He felt the Qi in his body as it's a newly grown limb, that is part of him yet unfamiliar.

While running, Aster tried to circulate the Qi. As he gently forces the Qi to move around his body, the gas like Qi started to move clockwise being circulated around his entire body as if it is his blood. After several minutes, Aster found that there were tunnels for Qi that is connected to each of his body parts.

'Meridian channels, Did I have this tunnel when I was born? Or did this tunnel form when I circulated Qi in the first time of my life?' Aster thought inwardly. Would all Earth residents have meridians in their body?' he thought inwardly.

Remembering the traditional Chinese doctors, healing people by needles, Aster concluded that every person has meridians, but on Earth since there is no Mana, naturally they wouldn't have Qi as Qi is formed by the energy around the cosmos.

After the 50km run, the new recruit guards started basic swordsmanship. They would line in 10 rows and imitate the movements that captain Jefferson is doing.

"Sword is your life, and sword is part of your body. Always remember that, Understood?" Captain Jefferson shouted.

"Yes sir!" the new recruits shouted in unified voice.

"The technique I am teaching you is Dove clan technique named "Diving Dove". Even though it is a basic technique, merging with Qi, you can win against most novice bandits around the mountain. So work diligently" Captain Jefferson acclaimed.

After the basic swordsmanship training, Captain Jefferson gave the new recruits 5 copies of 'Ant Cultivation Technique'. Where the new recruits needs to memorize for 2 hour and practice it during night.

'Ant Cultivation Technique' was derived from ant's high body strength where they can lift something that is many times heavier than their body. But the Cultivation Technique will be painful as pinning needles into your body. It is a body tempering cultivation technique by forcing your Qi to enter your organs, and bones.

The experienced guards who know something about cultivation acclaimed that the 'Ant Cultivation Technique' is trash. But after several round of beating by Captain Jefferson, they couldn't resist anymore and promised to cultivate 'Ant Cultivation Technique' with determination.

"I know it is a cheap cultivation technique, but if you put your effort into it and train hard, you can even become as strong as young masters of noble houses. Even it is the simplest and brutal cultivation technique, it is still a cultivation technique" Captain Jefferson explained the advantage and disadvantage of the cultivation technique.

The advantage? Yes it is the cheapest cultivation technique, where you can find a copy of it with 5 silver coins anywhere in Mitgar continent.

About the disadvantage? It is inefficient, and gives you almost zero improvement. It is correct that, if you train hard that you can become as strong as a noble young master. Perhaps as strong as a noble young master that is lazy and spoiled as hell.

It was the lunchtime, where the new recruits eat their lunch sitting quietly at their training ground. For the lunch, it was rice balls with some stuffed meat inside, as well as spring cold water.

"Hey what is your name?" a brown haired, skinny boy who is around 18 years old asked.

"Aster, and yours?" Aster said to the brown haired boy.

"Robin, nice to meet you. I know that 'Ant Cultivation Technique' is harsh, but believe me, to suggest you if you use anesthetics like greenwood tea the pain during the cultivation would decrease dramatically. It's a family secret of mine" Robin said proudly, and smilingly looking at him.

"But why are you telling me this, wouldn't it be an advantage to you if you only know this by yourself." Aster suspiciously asked. If Robin knew this all alone, perhaps he could become a shining star among the guards and could be promoted quickly.

"Aster, actually it is not a big deal, to say the truth some of the other new recruits have better cultivation technique than 'Ant cultivation technique'. It is just that when you were allocated to the guards, I was actually guarding the the courtyard where Butler Zuchi and the other slaves from Tiger Brothers were. I heard that you are from a Noble family?" Robin asked.

"So, it is just because I am from a Noble family that you are helping me?" Aster felt awkward. Such a sly guy is trying to let me owe him a favor.

"No actually, it's something different. You may think that I am creating positive impression to you. Yes I am trying to create positive impression to you not because you are a noble, but you are a sensitive towards mana. To be frankly honest, I have a request from you. If you ever remember your memory, can you become my teacher?" Robin asked seriously, you would see his serious eyes where he knitted his brows.

"What, become your teacher? Why?" Aster was shocked. He to be his teacher? Why? He just transmigrated to this world 1 month ago.

Robin made a worried expression and came closer to Aster to whisper something to him.

"After being I became a new recruit seven days ago, I actually started to feel a distinct feeling towards mana. I don't know whether it is truly mana or not, but if you can teach me, I believe one day I can become a mage." Robin said in a low voice.

"But why do you want to become a mage?" Aster asked in a low voice.

"My father passed away three years ago, and after his departure, it was harsh for me, older brother, and especially to our mom to lose him. Without him, we didn't have any income except our mom selling some of her handcrafts. But since last year, my mother got sick. Some doctors came, but all of them said that it was Qi deviation. To cure it we need highly expensive pill named "Qi stabilization pill" but the price was freaking 10 gold coins. I and my older brother discussed and we stole a jade necklace from a Baron's mansion, but unfortunately I was caught and was sold to Duke Norman to become a guard to compensate the jade necklace." Said Robin ,with depressed face

"I apologize, But you still didn't tell me why you want to become a mage, Robin." asked Aster.

"I want to become powerful and gain my freedom back so I can meet my mother again." said Robin determinately.