I walked into my fencing css, excited and ready to learn. I've always liked swords since I was a little kid. They were always cool to me. If a cartoon character used a sword Iil immediately liked them.

  As I walked in the room, and sat down on the mat. The instructor looked at me inquisitively. “And you are?” I look up at him and tilt my head. “I’m on the list, I'm the st one who applied, look.” He raised an eyebrow and looked at his list.

  “Oh… the overly enthusiastic one.” he said ftly. Just another person who doesn't like my enthusiasm huh? “Well, stand over there with the rest of the students and we'll get started.” he said with a slight smirk on his pce, I think he wants to hurt me.

  I woke up.

  I sit up in my bed and rub my eyes. Was that a dream of my past life? Why now? I haven't dreamt of it before? Perhaps because my father is about to teach me how to use mana and how to use the sword. So maybe the familiar feelings brought that memory back.

  I get out of bed and check my room. Alright so this world is real and I really did get a second chance at life. Good, that dream felt a bit too real.

  I look out the window and it's still pretty early, the sun is just rising. It was probably around 5-5:30 am? I don't have a watch so I don't know for sure.

  As I turn to get back in bed my father opens the door and says “Theo! It's time to– oh… you're already up” He pauses, not expecting me to wake up early considering I sleep te. “Well, that just makes things easier. Get dressed Theo, We’ll have breakfast and then start training.”

  We leave my room, and walk down the hall to the kitchen. I sit down and wait patiently for my father to make something to eat. After a few minutes he threw together a quick meal, bread, some steamed vegetables, and water. He definitely isn't as good as mother, but it was still good.

  We walk outside. Wooden sword in hand I stand about 6 feet from my father.

  “Alright Theo, since your body isn't used to using mana yet. You’re dear old dad has gotta toughen you up.” he says with enthusiasm “If I don’t… well let's just say the mana in your body could make you go boom!” he excims, spreading his arms out wide. For a guy who looks ultra serious he's quite the showman.

  “Aww man! I want to learn the cool sword tricks now!” I said disappointedly. I mean it's the truth, what guy from my world would wanna wait?

  My father looks at me and shakes his head, smirking slightly “Heh, you're just like how i was at your age, too ambitious. But don't worry I'll whip you into shape!” He says grining, and gives me a thumbs up.

  And that's when my training started. Since I was small, and not very built yet, my father set me up with an exercise routine. Since I was only four it was 15 push ups, 15 sit ups, a 30 second pnk, and a half mile run. and I had to swing my wooden sword about 50 times in a row.

  The push-ups were the hardest part. 5lbs is hard enough for a little kid to lift, let alone trying to push up the 35lbs of my entire body, but at least with push ups I have leverage with the ground so it's not too hard.

  The sit-ups were pretty easy, my father would just hold my legs down and I'd do sit-ups, not much to it. Although after a few days my gut was sore.

  The rest of the workout was pretty hard, especially the half mile run. I had to make a few stops during it at first, but eventually my endurance was good enough to go all the way in one go.

  And thus three months had passed as I did that same routine 6 days a week. I really felt like I was connecting with my father as the time went on, he's actually a really good guy, a surprisingly good teacher too.

  Today was when he would teach me how to use my mana to enhance my body.

  The day started like any other: my father woke me up early, he made us a quick breakfast, and I did my workout. Then my father brought us to the center of the backyard, and held up a really thick stick, it was almost a log.

  “Theo, I want you to break this branch in one strike.” He says, like it's a regur part of training. Is this guy serious? I've been training hard, but that? That's too hard! “Oh, sorry. I forgot to say you have to use your mana and then strike the branch” he says while scratching the back of his head.

  “I can already see the wheels turning in your head Theo.“ He says jokingly “What you have to do is direct the mana to the parts of your body required for the action.” He says while walking over to me to help me get in my stance, before picking the branch back up and holding it.

  “Alright dad, I'll try.” I focus, really feeling. As I do that, I feel the mana rush through my body into my core, arms, shoulders, back, and legs.

  I step forward, bringing the sword up. Then I lunge towards the branch and swing at it. CLANK! Is all I hear before ricocheting right off it.

  “Ahh! That hurt! Dad? What did I do wrong?” I ask, wincing as I shake my stinging hand.

  “Alright Theo, I forgot to mention that you have to infuse mana into your weapon as well.” he says apologetically, before getting back into position.

  “Okay then… here goes nothing.” I take a breath, channeling mana, this time putting mana into the sword. I step forward and lunge towards the branch once more, I swing downwards and BAM! I snapped it right in half!

  “Alright! I did it! Let's go!” I excim, jumping up and down, pumping my fist in the air several times. My father cps proudly, and I can even see my mother on the porch now, cheering as well. “Well done Theo! You're now ready for the next phase of your training.”

  The next day he set me up with a new exercise routine: it was basically the same as the old one, except it was 25 push-ups, 25 sit-ups, a 45 second pnk, 100 sword swings and added mana control exercises. The run was the same distance.

  And I did that set of workouts for 3 months. The push-ups once again were difficult, the sits ups were trivial as always, the pnk was agony. Who's idea was that exercise anyway? I wanna throw hands with them.

  The mana control exercises required a lot of deep breathing, and precise focus and my father drilled into me how to use it while moving effectively. Being able to swing a sword once is one thing, being able to run, jump, and move with mana coating your body is a must.

  My bond with my father proved farther, he would tell me stories of his adventuring days. How he syed monsters the size of houses and led a party of highly talented adventurers. All of them were at least B Ranked. With him being the highest of his party at AA Rank.

  During my rest days, I would read in the study room, or go into town and read at the library. From what I've read The Adventurer Guild ranks adventurers From E-SS Rank. With the average adventurer being between D and C Rank.

  I've also got popur with some of the kids my age physically. But I don't really have time to py with kids, they always ask me to show them how to use mana. But, I have to focus on my training, so I haven't befriended them.

  After these 3 Months it's time for my next milestone.

  The day started as all the rest, my father woke me up early, I ate a quick breakfast, I did my workouts and my father told me a few stories about his adventures.

  “Alright Theo, are you ready for your next test?” He asks, tossing to me my wooden sword. I catch the sword and give it a few practice swings. “Yeah, I'm always ready dad.” I say with a grin, hopping on my feet a bit, unable to stay still.

  My father walks off for a little over a minute, and returns carrying a very rge boulder. Given what I had to do with my st test I assume I have to break this too.

  “Okay, here we go. Theo, your next test is to break this boulder in one strike!” he excims, motioning towards it dramatically. “Don’t be Discouraged if you can't do it today.” He says, stepping away from the boulder.

  Okay, so he wants me to break that in one strike? That's a rather difficult task for a 4 and a half year old. This is going to take awhile huh? I take a few steps back, and grip my wooden sword in two hands.

  I channel the mana throughout my body and into my sword, it almost feels like I'm drawing energy into myself. I'm so focused, I could probably hear a pin drop.

  I step forward, transferring energy from my legs to my upper body, and then to my arms as I lunge forward, bringing the sword down in a sshing motion.

  BONK!

  I stagger backwards, dropping my sword and shaking my stinging hands. “Ow! This is gonna be harder than it looks isn't it dad?” He looks at me, smirking a bit before answering “Oh yeah, you're right about that Theo. But I never said stop.”

  This guy really just expects me to keep going at it until I do it? Well I suppose I did have a few fws in my technique, this has to be a test in mana manipution isn't it. I have to do it the right way to break the boulder in half.

  I pick my sword back up, and get ready once more. Lunging forward once more the result was the same BONK! But I'm too persistent to give up, so for an hour all you heard was CLANK! BONK! DING! BANG! Until my father saw enough and grabs me lightly by the shoulder

  “Theo, I think that's enough. You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep it up.” he looks at me with a concerned expression. it's almost like he expected me to give up after the third swing, you underestimate my persistence Dad!

  “Alright Dad… you have a point.” I say dejectedly, because I don't really wanna stop right now. “Let’s go in the house Theo, you need rest.” he says as he gently takes my hand and leads me into the house.

  So I repeat that process for a month, that boulder is a tough task. But I've been slowly but surely learning how much mana I have to use to break it in one swing.

  Today started as any– you know what, you already get the point so let’s just skip to the good part.

  I take a few steps back from the rock, and ready my wooden sword in both hands. “I’m really gonna break it this time Dad, I mean it!” I say with sure-fire confidence, gripping my sword tighter.

  “Alright Theo, let's see if you can back up that bravado of your's this time.” he says ftly, this isn't the first time I said that. But I mean it this time really!

  I focus, channeling my mana throughout my body, I see my mother watching from the porch, and my father right next to me… I have to show out this time.

  I dash towards the boulder, spraying grass and dirt off my left foot. I bring my sword up and lunge towards the boulder, bringing my sword down in a sshing motion.

  CRACK… SLINK… crumble…

  I did it… I really did it! “I Finally did it! Let's go!” I pump my fist up into the air. My mother leaves the porch and comes and hugs me. “Oh Theo, you did so well! You did a wonderful job.” I hugged her back. My father comes up and pats me on the shoulder “Well done Theo!” My father turns to my mother “Lily, why don't we celebrate with a rge dinner?” He says with a grin, before leading us into the house.

  It felt good to finally break that boulder. But the praise felt even better than that. But do I really deserve it? I'm happy that I have this new life, and all these achievements. But I only have this because I didn't wanna jump out of the way of that truck… even though I probably could have.

  As time passes I continue my training, working out everyday, practicing my sword techniques my father has started to show me. Everyday I get a bit better, it's been three months, but I feel like I'm reaching a pteau. Or that's what I would have said if my father hadn't come up to me today with this.

  “Theo, I feel that you're ready. Would you like to spar with me?” He asks, picking up my wooden sword. Sparing huh? So you're telling me only now we reach the fun part? “Yeah! You bet I do dad! I've been waiting for you to ask.”

  My father passes my wooden sword to me and picks up his own. He steps back 10 feet and gets in his fighting stance and I get in mine.

  “Are you ready Theo?” He asks, his aura starting to flow out of him. “I'll go easy on you, but that doesn't mean I won't attempt to overpower you.” he says, staring me down with intensity.

  To say I was intimidated was an understatement, I felt like if I made one mistake it was over. My hands shook, and my heart pounded in my chest but I still nodded and responded “Yes Dad, I'm ready.”

  With that he dashes at me, spraying dust everywhere. He's fast, really fast. I can't keep up, I'm on my back foot barely able to block any of his strikes.

  Dodging one of his strikes I pivot my left foot shredding the grass under it as i lunge to drive my sword forward, but he quickly parries, sending me reeling. He follows up by attempting to ssh at my chest. Quickly I jumped back, barely avoiding his attack.

  Before I even have a chance to catch my breath he's already there. I bring my sword up to block, but the swing wasn't there. He feints right and ducks to his left, I spin my head in that direction and he's already there, swinging his weapon up towards me, I barely managed to block it in time.

  But Newton’s Third w came to mind: For every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

  Our weapons collided, and because I weighed less than my father I got sent flying, rolling across the ground a few times before hitting a tree.

  I sit up, my head spinning and my entire body hurts, my head is pounding from my rough nding and I'm pretty sure I sprained my wrist.

  I wipe the blood from my nose and attempt to stand up but I can't. Then I see my father rushing towards me.

  “Oh… Damn, your mother is going to kill me, are you okay Theo?” he says, holding his hand out for me to take. Which I do and he lifts me up.

  “I don't know Dad… it really hurts…” I say, quite delirious. Despite my blurry vision I do see my mother come home from whatever errand she was on.

  “Oh no! Theo!” my mother shrieks, running over to me and quickly healing me. “Marcus! What did you do to Theo?” my mother snaps back to my father. “I uhh… well uhh… we were just sparring and I kinda got a bit too into it, Theo is really talented.” he answers with a shaky voice, scratching the back of his neck

  Well I suppose that's good, knowing he completely destroyed me because he instinctively saw me as a threat. I guess I do have some talent.

  “Well did you see the state I came home to him in?” she asks rhetorically. “what would have happened if I didn't get home when I did?” She says while holding me close.

  “I could have lost my only child!” she says, before putting her hand on her chin, still holding me close and running her hands through my hair.

  After that we go in the house to have lunch. My father and I sit down and my mother begins cooking. I was basically drooling the entire time she was cooking, with the smell of chicken in the air.

  Once she's done cooking she sets the table, and hands us our ptes. It's grilled chicken with avocado, tomato, and a light dressing. Served with a side of sweet potatoes It looks as good as it smelled.

  As we eat our lunch. we banter and joke, enjoying each other's company. after a few minutes my mother pauses before saying.

  “Oh wait... I forgot to mention, the reason I went to the town doctor was I missed my… well you know.” She says bashfully, my father nods, basically understanding what she's about to say. “The doctor says I'm expecting.”

  My father jumps up and down with glee, and congratutes my mother, giving her a big kiss. But all I can think about is the fact this is a rather interesting pce to reveal that.

  But seriously? Am I actually gonna get a sibling?