END Initiated...

Awakening from his deep slumber, Kiel felt refreshed. He was totally exhausted due to his various smithing adventures. Never having done anything this tiring before, Kiel felt extremely exhausted. Although his body was being regularly strengthened by his Red Chakra core, Kiel was still a three-years old little kid. He had always practiced his chakra production and control but he never did any exercises,except some stretching, because of his age.

After experiencing today's exhausting activities, Kiel felt that, now that he reached his training age, he should start a little physical exercises. It would help him in improving his body physically and not strain him much.

Slowly opening his eyes, and confronted with an unknown ceiling; dazed, Kiel tried to remember how he ended up here. He still remembered sleeping on his Aunt Ena's l.a.p, and how comforting it felt. Almost like his mother's embrace.

'That's right Aunt Ena...'

He slowly tried to sit upright. But the door in front of him slowly opened and a familiar lady in pajamas, walked in while trying to dry her hair. A green colour cool wind was flowing around her wet hairs, adding even more charm to her. It seemed that she had just taken a bath and was still drying her hair using magic.

Kiel remembered having seen some hunters using such green color magic spells before in the village, but the magic was not so vivid like Ena. His mother only created water balls out of thin hair and his father would sometimes conjure orange colour flames. That's all about his interaction with magic and spells. Kiel had often asked about magic to his parents, but they would shrug him off saying that he should not know much about mana now, as it would create a strain on him. Everyone would know about mana and stuff when they reach five and go for their 'First Mana' ceremony. Before that it would only create mental burden and may even halt body development.

So, Kiel was in a daze watching the lady in front of him displaying such a vivid magic spell.

' Seems that this is wind magic. '

"Oh dear! Did you wake up??"

"Aunt Ena??" Waking from his daze, Kiel asked.

"Hmm…  You sure sleep a lot. It is evening already..."

Knowing that it is already evening, Kiel panicked.

"What!!! Why didn't you wake me up? How will I go home now? Where is papa?? And why…  are you smiling like that?"

Seeing the little boy asking her this many questions at once, Ena had a smile on her face. It had already been a long time since she interacted with someone of the opposite gender intimately. Although Kiel was a little boy, spending time with him still filled her with excitement.

Awenasa could feel like she was caring for her very own child. She never had any kids and it had always been a sore spot for her. Now that she met with Kiel, she could feel her motherhood coming back to her. Despite being cheerful, she had always kept her distance from everyone of the opposite s.e.x. She was an independent woman, after her husband died, and wanted to memorate her life to her dead husband.

But with Kiel, she felt a little different. The little kid had a gentle aura around him, which made it bullying him easier. But it also had a feeling of unknown. She didn't know if it was because Kiel was a kid, but she felt soothing spending time with him. And she liked it too.

"Well! Your father is still working on the new order. He will be free within half an hour. So how about having dinner with me??"

Feeling the warmth coming from her, Kiel immediately nodded and sat down on her l.a.p.

"Why don't you stay the night here??"

"But… momma will be worried!"

"Oh don't worry, I'll tell Derek to inform Agatha. Now it's fine right??"

"But..."

"Don't you like aunty?? Aunty is always lonely. No one to talk to at home…. Sniff… sniff"

Watching Aunt Ena behave like that, the little boy could only reluctantly agree.

"Hmm… ok"

"Hehe… Great"and he was hugged tightly by Ena.

'Sigh! This is going to be a tiresome night!'

"Papa what are we going to do today??" Kiel was way too eager to start learning smithing.

"Did you enjoy your time with Ena?? Agatha was so worried that she didn't even sleep properly."

Hearing his mother worried, Kiel felt panicked.

"But… but papa, Aunt was forcing me..."

"Don't worry. I have informed her about it."

"Alright! Today you are going to learn the basics. The first thing would be to learn how to hammer. Go and pick up a lighter hammer and start striking on a wood ingot. Learn how it feels to hammer. Then come learn how to withstand flames."

"Ok dad!"

Kiel saw his father frowning about something. Although he wanted to ask about it, he saw Derek going ahead. So he didn't get his time.

And began Kiel's troublesome days of blacksmithing.  Although he was excited about experiencing new things, Kiel still couldn't deny how tiresome it was.

Waking up in the morning Kiel would start his chakra training. His chakra training had now showed a lot of results. Now, that his control over his lifeforce had become much better, Kiel could even incorporate his Vitalization and Tranquil Force even without much focus. This made it easier for him to master his chakra even while focusing on other things.

He noticed that his body was becoming tougher. And now he could even walk on inclined surfaces very easily, just like walking on a horizontal plane. Kiel was very much intrigued by this ability of his. Experimenting more on this ability of his, Kiel felt it worked best on forty-five degrees and less incliness. He had four petals in his Root chakra and currently, he had opened only one. He imagined if he awakened more petals or even if the entire flower, what would happen then!  

Kiel also experimented on his so called telekinesis ability. But besides perceiving the sensations around him even more clearly, he could not feel anything else.

After practicing his chakra exercises, Kiel would then have his breakfast and take a nap. Then he would go on with his father to the smithy and work on his hammering technique, fiddling some tools and learning how furnaces and forges work. But he was not yet allowed to touch mana stones. According to his parents, he still had no mana in him and so, the stones violent fire energy may damage his body severely. Only when he could cultivate mana, would he be allowed to touch a mana stone.

'Sigh! Being a kid is so troublesome!'

After all the tiring training, Kiel would return home dead tired. He would often have muscle aches. Sometimes, he would be so tired that he wouldn't have the energy to return home. As Awenasa's home was near the smithy, he would sometimes spend the night there, if he was too tired. However, the next day, he would have to suffer the torment of his mother.

"Kiel how could you do this? Don't you know how worried I was! Remember to Always come home after work, with your father."

"But Mom, Aunt is so lonely at home… and it feels good with her too. Just like you!"

"Sigh! Fine you can visit your Aunt sometimes. But remember, to come home!"

"Ya! Ok mom"

Seeing her son happy, Agatha was happy too, but somehow she felt a little loss.

'Is my son being stolen from me?'

Before bed, he would always remember to meditate, as it helped improve his mental state. After a day's of hardwork it would help him in refreshing his mind. Kiel could feel a steady improvement in his mental state and memory. He now could maintain his Tranquil State for a longer duration and could even read runebooks properly because of his improved memory. So he always took a little time for it.

Ena would often tease him seeing how hardworking he was. And although he got scolded if he mediated before, now that he had reached three, he could train himself. So Agatha let him do what he wanted.

Although he was very  busy these days, Kiel would never forget to spend some time playing with his sisters. In the evening, or giving up his morning nap, Kiel would let out some time for them. And mostly they would play Kiel's favourite game- 'hehe HOUSE'.

"Little wives give your husband a welcome home hug!"

Saying so he rushed towards them and hugged them both tightly. Kiel even gave her two sisters some special attention, making them blush.

"Brother your hugs are always so good."

"Little fawn not brother! Husband! Remember that."

"Alright brother!"

Seeing his two sisters acting cute, Kiel would too be filled up with happiness.

Fawn was still innocent. But Amber now knew about man and women stuff. Although she would not stop him from cuddling with them, she would always feel embarrassed. But she liked her brother's hug. So she always looked to it.

But things like this were always a secret from their mother. After all it may have consequences! And even big ones.

In the next few days continued his daily routine. He would also help his father and Remmy sometimes in work. When asked, he would give them the necessary tools and materials and even help them to cool the hot metals in water

But he always had problem swinging his hammer. Although it was light, Kiel who never worked with a hammer was not comfortable with it. Seeing him unable to swing the hammer properly, Derek gave him a wooden sword to practice swinging. He even gave him a small manual about sword training. The manual was brought from a fair and contained basic sword moves, techniques and images about postures and even detailed explanations about how to perform them.

Getting the manual, Kiel was incomparably excited. But it only took away his morning nap times as he had an extra thing to do. So he reduced his smithing time a little, to practice more on swords. He wanted to build a good foundation for himself. Although, he wanted to do everything, he knew rest was equally important. So he wanted to balance as much of his works as possible.

***

Kiel would often spend his afternoon in the smithy. Hammering down a metal sometimes and sometimes wood, raising his hammer with his right hand and then bringing it down to hit the target.

Although, it seemed to be an easy job, only those who did metal works would know the difficulty. First, you have to choose a particular spot where you want to strike. After making the choice, you have to strike the hammer down at that particular spot only. Even a centimeter would make a difference on how the metal functioned. Kiel would often face problems in this. Sometimes, the spot where he wanted to hit, would be different from where it actually struck. And sometimes applying more force on a thinner or softer metal would dent or break the metal piece. Sometimes applying less force would make his hammer rebound and distract him, making him irritated.

Although Kiel was new to this, being a former scientist, he always wanted perfection. Applying force and choosing where to apply force were the most basic concept of learning to work with a hammer. In short hand-eye coordination. Kiel wanted to be perfect in it as soon as possible to start making things. He didn't lose his patient to be quick though.

However, Derek would often lecture him about this. So, Kiel always tried his best. Now that he started swinging swords, he felt his hand-eye coordination become a little better. So Kiel tried to remain patient about it.

Kiel often saw his father frowning more and more recently and how Derek would remain in a foul mood more and more. Although he guessed, it was because of work, Derek would often take out his frustration on him. However, Kiel didn't mind it much. And even when taking out his frustration, Derek would remember to suggest to him, how to work properly. So Kiel just took it as a grumpy teacher teaching him. But always being scolded made him a little irritated.

"Kiel you need to hold the hammer properly!"

"Alright dad."

"Kiel lean more backwards, your posture is not the right one."

"Yes dad."

"Kiel apply more force. Aratrum is a light metal. Use even less force."

"..."

"Kiel…."

"Alright Derek! Stop your scolding. Kiel just started smithing. He is doing it only for a month."

"But Awenasa, he is my son. How can he make such little mistakes?"

"Derek!"

"Fine… fine. I'm going. But Kiel you have to do better. Having a great potential and being able to use it properly are two different things."

"Yes dad."

Only Ena would save him from such scoldings. Otherwise Kiel would be out for even more torments.

"Thank you Aunt Ena. You saved me there." Kiel said with his signature dimpled smile.

"Aww so cute. Let me hug you some more." And he was suddenly embraced in a warm and soft feeling.

"Kiel, Derek would be working more nowadays. So spend the evening at my house. He will come to pick you up when he is done!"

"Alright! Aunt Ena."

"Then let's go cutie pie!"

"Aunt Ena no dumb names!!"

"Eh... you are no fun at all"