chapter 22

Next morning, the sun peeked over the horizon as Alex, accompanied by Ayelet and Pia, made their way to the sprawling farm on the outskirts of their village. It was a routine they had grown accustomed to—a blend of rigorous physical training and nurturing their newfound magical companions.

"Pia, you will walk 10 rounds around the farm. If you feel tired, just stop and start meditating and doing breathing exercises," Alex instructed, his tone gentle yet firm.

"Okay, master," Pia replied, her determination evident as she adjusted her pace to match Alex's expectations.

"And Ayelet, follow me," Alex continued, setting off on a brisk run that Ayelet matched with ease, her lithe form effortlessly keeping up with his strides.

They completed 5 rounds of running, interspersed with sit-ups and various strength-building exercises. Sweat glistened on Ayelet's brow by the time they finished, a testament to her dedication to keeping pace with Alex's rigorous training regimen. Afterward, they settled into a peaceful meditation session, grounding themselves amidst the tranquil surroundings of the farm, before heading back home.

Ayelet's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as they walked back—a mix of pride in her progress and eagerness to further hone her skills. Pia, too, felt a sense of accomplishment,

Back at the breakfast table, conversation naturally turned to their training.

"So, you've decided to start their training," Alex's father commented, his gaze thoughtful as he observed the earnest faces of his children.

"Yes, Dad. I learned that they had been training in the slave market, and they are better than some people my age because of it," Alex explained

"Yes, I know Luna had told me. But you know, it's not enough to just train and reach a higher rank; you also have to implement what you've trained. Therefore, they may get stuck at the same level sometimes," his father cautioned.

"Yes, Dad. I was planning to go hunting with them, but not right now," Alex responded, his mind already plotting their next steps in their journey of growth and learning.

Suddenly, jubilant shouts echoed from Sia and Ana's room. Curiosity piqued, they rushed over to find the girls holding three delicate baby birds in baskets, their faces radiant with joy.

"Look, brother, they finally hatched from their eggs!" Sia exclaimed, her voice filled with delight as she bounced up and down in excitement.

"Alex, Sia, Ana, quickly drop your blood on the babies so they can accept you," their father advised, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Following his advice, they carefully pricked their fingers, each letting a drop of blood fall onto the birds. Each bird was then placed in a separate basket to avoid confusion. Though they all looked strikingly similar, the bond forged through the contract made it clear which bird belonged to whom.

As the birds settled down to sleep, they followed their father's further advice, crushing the eggshells to feed the newborns, ensuring they received the essential nutrients needed for their early growth.

Hours later, when the birds woke up, Alex took charge of their care, feeding them the crushed eggshells with a gentle touch that spoke of his growing affinity with these magical creatures. He assigned Pia the task of overseeing their care while he embarked on a hunting expedition into the nearby forest.

The familiar trails of the forest welcomed Alex as he ventured forth, his keen eyes scanning the underbrush for any signs of prey. The day passed uneventfully, yet purposefully, as he honed his tracking skills and returned to the village with a modest bounty of ground rats. The sale of his catch at the local market earned him a few coppers, which he promptly reinvested in purchasing E-rank horned rabbit meat for their upcoming meals.

Back home, evening descended as Alex and his family gathered around, each contributing to the evening's meal. Ayelet, still flushed from her earlier training, assisted with cooking under her guidance. Meanwhile, Pia found herself engrossed in a lively game of Ludo with Alex's younger sisters, their laughter ringing through the household.

The next morning dawned with a sense of purpose as Alex took one of the fledgling birds with him to the village smithy, eager to deepen their bond through shared experiences.

"Good morning, Alex. How was your trip to town?" Brook, the village smith, greeted him warmly as he emerged from the smithy, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the tiny bird in Alex's basket.

"It was good," Alex replied, a hint of amusement in his voice at Brook's jest.

Brook peered at the bird quizzically before joking, "Is that today's lunch? I don't think it will be enough. It hardly weighs 5 grams!"

Chuckling, Alex clarified, "No, Brook. This is the bird that hatched yesterday. Remember I told you about the egg I found in the forest?"

"Yes, I remember. But I heard you sold that to the guild for 6 silvers," Brook teased, his banter reflecting the camaraderie they shared.

"Who said that? I found 4 eggs that morning, not just one," Alex retorted playfully, recounting the fortunate turn of events.

"So how many do you have?" Brook inquired, genuinely intrigued.

"I don't have any left. All three eggs hatched yesterday morning, one after the other," Alex explained, his voice tinged with wonder at the unexpected blessing.

"You lucky guy! Getting eggs worth 18 silver in one day. I might join you next time," Brook laughed heartily, his admiration for Alex's fortune evident.

"Okay, but don't complain if we find nothing. It was a rare chance that I obtained them that time," Alex replied good-naturedly, already looking forward to their next adventure together.

"Yeah, yeah. Luck seems to be on your side. I also heard you won 2 slaves worth 4 silver in town," Brook continued their banter as they made their way towards the village school.

At school, Alex and Brook joined their friend Roy, their minds shifting gears from outdoor pursuits to academic endeavors. They immersed themselves in their studies, absorbing lessons on history, mathematics, and arcane arts—the latter of which particularly intrigued Ayelet, who had borrowed a scroll for a new spell, Fireball, from the school library.

After school hours, Alex dedicated himself to mastering the art of wood carving—a skill not only vital for crafting tools and weapons but also a potential career path in the village's thriving woodworking industry. He recognized its importance in survival situations in the forest, where resourcefulness and craftsmanship often meant the difference between safety and peril.

Weeks passed swiftly, marked by the steady growth of the birds' feathers under their care. Alex and his family ensured Pia's well-being, mindful of her limits as she integrated training with her newfound responsibilities. Ayelet, meanwhile, delved deeper into the intricacies of spellcasting, overcoming challenges and occasional lapses in memory—a testament to her resilience and determination forged through years of self-guided learning in the slave market.