《Mithra》 Prologue:The Purple Thunder Ugh,room reeks of blood.Finally I took all their mana.Who knew that in fact all legends were true?There were martial artists and magicians in this world.Secret societies existed.I made meridians of my own.Mana was such a scarce commodity here,practitioners killed each other for it. Now I can feel the existence of a realm above this one,but no way of going to it.So this is what they meant by bottleneck.That should be realm of gods!I am so close and yet so far!Maybe I could have broken through if given time.But I already am doomed. Thick steel door is shuddering under many blows"Come forth Mithra!We will kill you!Pay for all our brother''s lives you have taken!"a man screams and finally door surrenders.It lasted long enough.All of masters have come after me. They all are crazy.Coming at me like hungry ghosts.With bloodshot eyes and desperation.Palms punches and kicks.For each one I take I give one back.Reality itself ripped open with ever exchange.I am filled with power of dozens of masters.But still I cant handle this many desperate guys. I somehow was able to trick them into the truck and escape...No one should know.I send the code from my phone and my house goes up in blazes.Blown up sky high.I sigh,that was my house for many years now. I remember my life.When I was young I was called a genius doctor.One day I chanced upon a wounded man who died and saw during autopsy this man was more different than normal.It was when I realized the existence of mana.I call it mana because it was an existence like that. Spells that could shape the world to ones wishes.Want to burn a man?All you have to do is to focus your mana.Then begin to vibrate his atoms.Spontaneous combustion!It existed.Magic was a mystery scientists could not solve and did not know!I was the first scientist who knew of mana! After that I thirsted for this knowledge.I was thrown into secret societies.One by one I had beaten all of them and learned all their arts.I drained all their mana too.I am going to die.I can tell,I got a wound from our exchange and I can tell it is too late. If I had some time...Maybe I could have broken through into that realm?" I am so infinitely jealous.If I was born there...I could peer even deeper into the mysteries!I could know secrets of creation!I could become even a god!"I reach out for skies.Then I find myself filled with resolve,I will not perish. "I WILL NOT PERISH!"I know there are magics that make one into an existence akin to a ghost!I will sacrifice them!They are all inside truck and cannot use their mana.I made truck for that reason.They underestimated me.I fill truck with sleeping gas and prepare ceremony. At that moment I feel a tear at the universe.I wondered what it was.Even a bit of mana could destroy the wall while the rest was so thick that I could not even feel it.Curious I used my power on it. Finally newcomers,with this I have enough power to tear apart this prison.I immediately kill them,they are so weak that it is like swatting flies.It reminds me of my time outside the void.The days I rampaged through the creation. They worshiped me as a demon god!I was a demon who went from world to world and slaughtered billions.Nothing could stand in my way.They would all think I would not kill them,too.Like I needed their prayers! I am filled with rage.This anger never ceases,never weakens.As expected.It demands more and more blood.I was anger and resentment given form after all.I fought,fought and fought.Every time I killed I grew to a greater strength.So did anger and resentment within me. They called me demon,but my kind is spirits.They are made of emotions,places and thoughts.Gods of mountains,gods of rivers,gods of nights,gods of suns.I was a god of wrath.We are all born as demigods,birthed by mana in response to the wishes of people.I was born in a world that was slaughtered.All hatred and anger gave birth to me was etched into my soul. I was finally tricked and sent into the void.In this void there was no mana.Mana enough to tear the walls of reality asunder.I fought with many demons and finally ended up as the last demon.My wrath insatiable,my boiling blood.Nothing to fight.Nothing to kill.I cannot fulfill my nature. Today is the day I finally have enough mana for tearing it apart.I will tear the reality asunder and escape.Finally I shall escape this cursed prison!When I go out I will kill once more!World will shatter,heavens will shake in fear of my wrath!"I think blood spilling as the worlds burn.It soothes my heart.My reason for existence is killing! The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "Be torn apart cursed walls of void!"I laughed with joy and slashed them apart.At least that is what should have been.Walls was now very thin but not broken!I had made an error!Even a bit of mana would be enough to tear it now.I will have to wait for countless years to tear this wall open again?I would rather die! It was just a normal day.So why?I was walking up the mountain.Only place even bandits don''t dare come.I had just gone out to get water from river.I played with a boy.Boy was not from around here.He did not know the river was dangerous.Deeper the more dangerous it is. Boy drowned,no matter what I did I couldn''t save him.It turned out boy was a noble''s bastard child.He wanted our heads on pikes.City guard attacked me and my family.We were just normal villagers from a small village.If a noble wanted to kill us our lives was nothing.Besides noble''s were supposed to be buried with some peasants to serve them in their afterlife. I am only alive because of my parents.First my father fought them back and gave us at least a minute.Then my mother separated from me.To lead a false trail.I have knowledge enough that they both would die.But I was so scared that I kept running while cursing myself.It was I who brought ruin to my family...I should have never played with that boy... ..When sun set this blizzard began.I am walking but there is no shelter in sight...I see I am going to die here aren''t I?But I cannot give up,for the sake of my parents who gave their lives for me,I shall not give up.With renewed resolve I walk still... ...I cannot do it.Everywhere is covered with snow.I cannot see where I am going.For all I know I could be walking in circles.I am beginning to be unable to feel my legs anymore.I remember my mother"Never go up into mountains.There are demons there"snow and shadows make shapes in the dark. I am tired,hungry and I already stopped hurting,now I feel an irresistible sleep.I fall down unable to move anymore.My tears frozen on my cheek.I can see my mother looking."Mother I am scared"I reach her with my hands... <3RD PERSON POV> The man was stupefied.Before him was an existence like devil.Demon was so happy that he could jump for joy.He turned to one who helped him and felt that he was dying.He frowned.The one who did such a huge favor to him no matter how unintentionally it was,he could not leave him alone. Man asked"Who are you?Are you the devil?"while wondering if the devil came to take his soul to hell.He was not afraid,but to see such a being...He felt curious and all mana he had gathered was sucked by that being...He was going to die. "I am Blood-red Demon God!I was sealed inside the void,but just now you freed me!Even if it is unintentional I wish to repay my savior!"Demon said and continued"I cannot save you!But I can make you reincarnate!Tell me what you wish for and it shall be done!" Man''s eyes gleamed!What good luck!What good luck indeed!He said immediately"I wish to reincarnate in higher realm!But please let me reincarnate as a male!It is alright as long as it is sentient!Also I don''t wish to be reborn,acting like a child."he shuddered at the thought of being a plant or an animal and-to a much lesser extent a girl while acting like a child was annoying. "Close your eyes and leave it to me!"said the demon.For him such a task was simple.He took man''s soul out of his body and his body perished.He searched for a suitable body.He found body of a child in a world in half-material realm.He had a little dragon blood in him.He wanted his benefactor to have best possible body there is. Also someday he wanted him to be strong enough to fight him.He gathered mana from divine realm.Used his power to bestow on him both power enough to awaken his dragon blood to its purest form possible and put the soul of his benefactor into his body. But from afar this act looked like a purple thunder descended on boy.Then his body shook with his heart violently beating again.He turned partially into a dragon then turned back to human form.Demon now satisfied,left... Chapter 1:Aesur Clan <3rd Person POV> Eldest rose up on his throne.He looked like a man in his fifties,had white hair and white skin.A few wrinkles,not too much,but enough to show how old he was.His most prominent feature was his eyes.He had eyes that looked like gold and they glittered like one too. He was sitting in a cave not-so-well-lit.A basic throne in a plain room carved from rocks.He called this place the winter palace.It earned its name because of constant winter.At top of a tall mountain of course it almost snowed everyday.Those of his descendants who had strong dragon blood in them lived here.Others?He did not care.He had millions if not billions of descendants.How can he look after them all? After so many years,he had a descendant like him.He had dragon blood pure enough.How he appeared all of a sudden he did not know.But he was not going to leave him alone."TUESYR!"he roared.Tuesyr was the strongest among his descendants.He looked like a man in his twenties,he had looked like elder except that he looked young and he had black hair. "Yes Eldest"said Tuesyr.Eldest usually sat on his throne all day,meditating.It was not uncommon for him to not speak to anyone for few years at a time.After all for someone like Eldest,years were nothing.Long ago all races had united against the tribes of demihumans.Eldest were their emperor.Strongest demihuman clan,Aesur clan. "Go down the mountain.In west I felt one of my descendants awakening."said elder.When first time awakening dragons released a unique aura that called out for their elders.It was usually faint,but this one was strong.Elder could feel it so others definitely would.This world had individuals known as demigods.They were people just below a god.Among them Eldest was strongest.When they invaded the Aesur dynasty.Eldest fought and defeated them all,but demihumans were defeated. In exchange for Eldest never going out of winter palace,they would allow spare demihumans and allow Aesur dynasty to exist.Eldest felt humiliated and would never accept,but he was the emperor of an empire.He had responsibilities.But from then on other demigods who suffered defeat in his hands grew bold.But they dared not touch him.They would kill his descendants when they awakened instead. "Yes Eldest,I shall go and find him swiftly!"Tuesyr bowed and ran through the halls.Jumping off and turning into dragon he rapidly flew to west.Dragons called him Tuesyr the gold.Because every part of his body was as if it was made of gold.He understood seriousness of this duty given to him by Eldest.Sending him meant he was allowed to fight demigods. He had found a young boy in Sunset mountains.He had expected to find him in a town instead."There must be strange circumstances,besides he looks absolutely exhausted.I should save him first ask questions later."He said to himself and grabbed young boy with his claws and took off. I wake...It seems demon kept his promise after all.AURGHH!MY HEAD IS KILLING ME!It is like they are driving screws into my brain!Wait are those memories?Memories of this body?Every piece of memory flashes around in my head! ...Mother,I am scared,huh.I feel strange.This body''s emotions are affecting me too much than expected.I really don''t feel like myself too.Did that demon screwed up and put me in a body with a soul and I somehow merged with it?Who cares,I am alive.I open my eyes. What the hell?I am inside a room a carved room.It doesn''t really lacking in furniture.But it feels kinda plain.Not like I care though.But I am just a peasant''s son.I should not really have this much luxury and it is not like I have a home either...Now I feel depressed and angry.But I am powerless... Anyway lets get up.Wait!Wait!Wait!Is that me?I was supposed to have green eyes,brown hair and olive skin.I have white hair,pale skin and my most prominent feature,purple eyes that have an otherworldly shine to them.I have sharp features and even sharper eyes.I look intimidating,hostile and mysterious. After having enough of seeing my face I get out of my room.I am in a vast hall.There are rooms all over.An old maid with cat ears sees me"Wait please young master!I will inform Lord Tuesyr that you are awake."she bows and walks away.Tuesyr?I remember being in snow dying.Is that the name of the one who saved me?But why did she call me a young master?I did not have one whit of noble blood in my body.If I had... Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. As I was contemplating"Ah I see you have awakened."came a young man with sparkling gold eyes and said"I am Tuesyr Aesur.Grand elder of Aesur clan."he looked at me now"You are also of clan Aesur.Aesur clan is the strongest demihuman clan as well as the strongest clan in the world.But do not be surprised being dragons this much is usual."he said with pride.Am I a dragon?What the hell? "Are you sure I am a dragon?I am fairly certain I do not have dragons in anywhere in my ancestry."unless I was adopted I don''t see anyway of me being a dragon."Eldest has millions,if not billions of descendants.every century one or two of them becomes a dragon blooded."Tuesyr said and looked at me with sparkles in his golden eyes."I expected to find you in a town or something what were you doing in a blizzard?" "I was playing with bastard child of a noble.He drowned in the deeper part of the river.Then noble demanded our heads.Even if he didn''t we were certain to die.My mother and father sacrificed themselves for me,so I escaped to only place I could,to mountains."I close my fists.Unshed tears in my eyes.I am weak!I could only run!I cannot even avenge them!I want to be strong!I want to kill him!I want to tear apart his spine! "What is your name?"Tuesyr asks,a kind smile on his face and pity in his eyes.His hand caresses my hair.It feels good. "Mithra." I answer him."My name is Mithra."I like name Mithra.It is not my birth name.But it is the name I gave myself. "Mithra,you need to meet with the Eldest.He will give you three books containing techniques from his treasury and assign you to a brood keeper.A brood keeper is your master and the one who will take care of you.So regard him as your second parent."He says smilingly"You are among your kin,you will never be alone." "I thank Grand Elder and benefactor for his kindness!"I say bowing.I know this is the proper courtesy in this world. "When you meet Eldest,kowtow once and sit on your knees and say I greet Eldest.Do not speak unless he asks something from you.Do not be nervous I will handle most of the talking."Elder Tuesyr says.Eldest huh,it seems he is patriarch of our clan.I wonder how is he like? "Your descendant Grand Elder Tuesyr,has brought you your descendant Mithra!"Tuesyr says bowing respectfully in front of the door.Behind there is the eldest,huh.Door is so huge,I think it was made for dragons or something. "Enter."said the calm voice of Eldest.His voice is calm but it is very deep and loud.Doors creak open as we are going in.Eldest has a majestic aura and looks very lofty and proud.It feels as if I laid my eyes on a tall mountain whose head looks down on even clouds.He has white hair and shining golden eyes.Other than his wrinkles he looks similar to Elder Tuesyr.Oh,it should be Elder Tuesyr that looks like Eldest. I immediately kowtow once and sit on my knees and say"I greet Eldest!"Eldest ignores me,Elder Tuesyr also sits on his knees and says"I greet Eldest." "Tuesyr.My descendant Mithra is not worse than you.Impart him skills I imparted on you!From now on you are responsible for him.Until he passes the rite of maturity.Train him well."said Eldest and turned to me"From now on Grand Elder Tuesyr is your brood keeper,he is akin to your parent.Greet him." I got up kowtowed to Elder Tuesyr once,rose up to my feet and sat on my knees my forehead on ground"Mithra greets Elder!" "Good!Now Tuesyr I can tell you have a soft spot for my descendant Mithra.But don''t be easy on him!Harsher the teacher,better he will learn.The more he rolls on ground higher can he fly.Dragon first lies down then ascends to sky."said Eldest in a pleased voice.Half of the things he said disturbs me.Elder Tuesyr won''t do it right? "Of course Eldest!I shall harden my heart to teach him!"Elder Tuesyr?You really don''t need to harden your heart you know?I am fine like this..."Then let us begin Mithra!"I have a really ominous feeling.My sixth sense is screaming!Oh shit,I am screwed... Chapter 2:Elder is a demon! "I am just asking because I am curious...But elder,your disciple doesn''t think this will help...Can we start on something simple?Like running?"I say pleading with my eyes. "Hoo,it seems you have some spirit!"Elders eyes gleam and ominous aura sends shivers to my spine."To think you question your teacher...Lesson number one,do whatever I say without question." *SMACK* OUCH!It strangely hurts so much.It is just plain old wood!But it strangely hurts really too much. "So just give me a reason elder?Aren''t I supposed to sit and mediate?Feel mana and breathe in and out or something?"I say to elder.This doesn''t match any story I have read!I do not know how to cultivate mana because I only stole it!With help of scientific gadgets.This body''s owner never even knew anything like that. "You think I,Grand Elder Tuesyr,would teach inferior skills like that to my disciple?"*SMACK*OUCH!"I feel underestimated!You think your teacher is a man of no talents?"*SMACK*OUCH!"Even though I am trying so hard.This foolish disciple doesn''t get it!"*SMACK*OUCH"Since your brain is stupid you will suffer!From now on you are only allowed to say yes!"Me a great genius,stupid!Elder you might as well be blind!You have eyes but don''t see mountains! *SMACK**SMACK*OUCH,My hands are trembling."Elder please stop my hands are trembling!Why did you hit me anyway I never even said anything!"*SMACK*Oh shit I am gonna die!My hands have no strength.I wish I could do partial transformation like elder.Wings would have helped me out greatly! "I just felt like I was insulted.Your master is giving you love why are you complaining!"Elder your "Stick of love" hurts too much!This is too much elder!At this rate I am going to die you know?"Climb!"says elder with a strange gleam in his eyes and the stick of love is waiting for me!I immediately choose to climb! After we had left room of the Eldest,Elder Tuesyr told me that he would train me hard and to rest well.Strangely people told me to try not to die.I thought you know,I would sit and breathe,run around,do push ups and squats or something.Next day after breakfast he grabbed me and told me to climb a cliff.Which brings us here. I desperately climbed!Even though my hands were trembling.Even though it was absolutely freezing!That stick of love...It is strange that it can hurt so much.Is this why they say love hurts,I wonder?Huh?At last elder left me alone?Is this my rest time?Why am I getting an ominous feeling! *Clack*I just hear something breaking that sent shivers on my spine!I look behind and see a huge tiger.He has white fur with black stripes,he is already twice as large as a normal tiger.He looks as if he saw an easy food!I leap,running for my life while calling elder!...Elder why haven''t you arrived already?....I am dying!I am gonna die!I am gonna die!!! The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ...How do I escape?Climbing to a tree?Would it even work?If I meet the tiger and battle?I do not know its strength it might be too powerful!What to do?There is only one choice!Climb back down! I am jump back down and grab a rock!Don''t look down,don''t look down.Shit,I looked down...I don''t see the bottom!But still I wait until tiger is bored enough to let me go and climb back up!*SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK*OUCH!It hurts all over!Why are you showing me "love" Elder?Wait elder is back? "To think you ran from just a magical beast...Do not tell anyone I am your teacher."says elder and sighs"It is too embarassing.I ended up with a stupid disciple."He calls me stupid again!I am not stupid!Do you have eyes?*SMACK*Why do you still have that disrespectful expression?Shouldn''t you adore your teacher?" "It is not disrespectful at all!My eyes are sharp so it seems like that!Look at the sparkles in my eyes!"I try my best!I am gonna pay you back one day you demon! "You think I do not notice what you are thinking!Here is some more love!"*SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK*I am gonna end up bruised later!You demon!How can you hit a cute child like this! "Elder you hit me so much yet I do not have any injuries?"I say amazed.Is this power of my body? "Of course it wouldn''t show up!Pain and actual damage are two different things.If you can wield your weapon right,you can cause damage if you want to and hurt if you want to.Be relieved my cute disciple,I mastered this art!"That doesn''t relieve me at all... "Now I shall take you to bottom of the mountain to train!"he ties me to a rope and ties it to a rock then kicks it down!GYAAA!I am going to die!I am piercing through mist?It is not mist at all!These were clouds?! I somehow survived...Now we are in a forest of evergreen,in front of a pond.There is a waterfall."Go and assume the horse stance under waterfall."Hmm,it seems easy enough? I take that back,this is actually hard!I am gonna fall!I fell down.Now gotta swim again and get under waterfall.Are those eyes I am seeing?Fishes!...with a really sharp teeth!Carnivorous fishes! With fishes after me I reach for the shore.But Elder again uses his "Stick of love".I had to swim 5 times around the lake before I was allowed to get on ground. "Huu"I breathe out.I am tired.*SMACK*"Why aren''t you starting again already?"Elder smiles.ELDER IS A DEMON! Chapter3:Killing a "Kitten" I stand up with closed fists.I breathe in and breathe out.I am calm.I take a simple karate stance.Defiance in my eyes.Tiger and I circle each other.He unleashes a roar and I unleash a battle cry.We both grit our teeth and tiger pounces on me with his body at size of a boulder,weighting thousands of pounds. He is incredibly fast but his body is big and mine is small.I have the advantage!I do not withdraw but charge.As he pounced with great speed I roll to front!Tiger''s body touches ground with a boom...Are those cracks I see there?Did earth shatter? Since now he turned his back on me I should take advantage of it.I strike his back leg from behind.I punch behind the knee.Tiger roars losing balance of its massive body for a few seconds and looks at me.He really is pissed off.My attack did no damage but merely pissed him off? Tiger now charges!It feels like an earthquake!I quickly move to side dodging him.*BAM*I see something white coming at me and immediately taking a step back I change my body''s gravity center.Now my body is leaning back and I use my arms to block.*BAM* I was sent flying.Tiger used its tail to hit me.I did not expect that attack.I took some damage.But if I had not taken a step back,I would have been killed.For me this is a life or death battle.If I ask for elders help...NO!I cannot ask him.If I ask him then...*shudder*THIS IS...DO OR DIE! Now tiger growing in confidence charges again.He thinks I will dodge?I stand calmly.Making my stance.Focusing what little mana I have towards one hand.He thinks I am weaker than him?In my mind I smile.I fooled you.He is very strong thus very weak!I borrow charging force and my knife hand penetrates it thick fur!Take this!In a moment I tear out his heart and withdraw instantly,not daring to stay a second longer. He looks dumbfounded,he never expected me to beat him.I did not have any aura.Well it is not like I am strong I just am very carefully using my mana.I do not have much of it.If he had not underestimated me,if I had not gambled to use all my mana,if I had not chose to flee...There were so many ways I could die.He was truly strong. Phew!I chew his heart.Since he is a magical beast his intelligence should be similar to human even if he is of lowest rank.Humans would be manipulated if they think everything is going according to their plan.Feigning weakness snatching victory with an ace in the hole!A basic strategy but it works well.Of course I broke my arm.Well,it will be fixed soon enough. Flesh of a magical beast is strong.It gives body energy required to heal.Every part of this tiger should be a treasure,no part of him should go to waste.I feast on my fallen foe like a ravenous beast.It seems since I am growing my body needs mana.Since I have no way of taking it.I eat magical beast flesh every meal. For my clan it is very easy to supply children with thousands of pounds of magical beasts.For me this huge tiger is just three meals.Of course if I think about it these magical beast meat,one steak of it should be enough for a human for a day.Yes,growing dragons are that ravenous!But I am more ravenous then them,since I always am exhausted.There is only breakfast and dinner in this world. A dragon mother would feed his children entire cities as they grow.But of course dragons outside are just magical beasts with a bit of dragon blood.They cannot match my clan,who actually keeps magical beast valley beneath the winter palace.Where magical beasts are slaughtered for food!Like cattle!They cultivated an entire valley of magical beasts. I am standing there flashing a smile at elder,quite proud of my victory!Since I did not even cultivate any mana!*SMACK* OUCH this again! I did not take this lying down,once I tried to resist "Stick of Love" and then elder struck a boulder with it.Boulder was crushed to dust!After that he said"Defiance?You dare defy your teacher?Perhaps you want to challenge me?Obedience or defiance choose!"I obediently let him whip me with his stick of love some more! If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Finally you are able to defeat that kitten"Elder says with bored eyes.He is even yawning.THAT WAS NO KITTEN,DAMN IT!! "Teacher that was a magical beast!A tiger for heaven''s sake!I have no weapons!With only bare skin on me!I managed to kill it!This tiger even grown man might not defeat it!"I spout out all my thoughts!My grievances!*SMACK* "So you are proud of yourself?You,who is a dragon as well as this Grand Elder Tuesyr''s disciple?You are proud of killing a mere kitten,huh?"I WANNA CRY!UNFAIR!THIS IS SO UNFAIR!*SMACK* *SMACK*Oh crap,I looked at him with a defiant expression there!"Oh you finally decided to defy your teacher?That it?"elder says with gleaming eyes.*SMACK* "Of course not teacher!How can this student of yours cannot manage to kill a kitten?Is that even something worth being proud of?Just this student wanted some praise from Elder!"I say bowing my head.One day...one day,I am going to....I am gonna cry damn it! "Is that so?" Elder says smiling"It is your fault for not being honest!So you wanted some encouragement...Then let me give you a most joyous news!You have passed warm-ups and ready to for me to teach you the basics!"I freeze...My brain stopped working...Tears fill my eyes as past few months lashed in my eyes... There was this one time I was made to climb the mountain,god knows how many meters tall mountain,freezing to boot.Elder was there to provide assistance with the stick of love.Every time I stopped walking or climbing I was hit,then I was punished for being unable to climb mountain fast enough by Elder. When I finally climbed mountain fast enough,he told me that I was not done climbing..Climbing was climbing up and climbing down so I had to climb back down too.Then he said he was too soft teaching me since he loved me and that my punishment was not motivating enough.When I finally told him how absurd this was,I got some more sticks of love and he threw me down the cliff... He had also made a fighting pit for me.Where I had to run from magical beasts.I could not climb and get out.Only way to get out was beating that monster.All of them were monsters I barely could defeat if I was smart.This was supposed to train my body and provide me with the experiences of life and death battles. When I had my first such battle with a dire wolf,I called out to elder,ran around until I was exhausted,was about to die then elder simply threw a pebble that blew a hole-no!It made the beast a gaping hole!Then I was scolded for being cowardly and weak... Days I spent training under waterfall in horse stance,with weights on my arms and legs.When I inevitably fell,I was supposed to escape carnivorous fishes which was also magical beasts.Doing this again and again.I do not even remember how many times I saw a light at the end of the dark tunnel.I stopped counting around thousand... Those were just warm ups...I want to laugh!Tears are going to come out!...I BARELY SURVIVED!Those were just warm ups?...Should I die like this?I cannot run away...I once tried.There are some magical beasts in the valley.For them this tiger would be a kitten indeed.I can only obediently take my training if I want to survive. "Oh,you don''t like it?We can continue you know.I also think it was not enough,but relented out of my soft heart."WHAT SOFT HEART YOU DEMON?! "No of course not!This student is ready for basics Elder!"I resign to my fate...NOW COME HELL OR HIGH WATER! "Basics is to live correctly.The way you breathe must be correct,the way you walk must be correct,the way you eat must be correct,the way you sleep must be correct...In short you must live correctly!"Oh,that doesn''t sound so bad?Finally I can take it easy?No!This may be a trap!Elder can''t be like this! Chapter 4:Love at first sight? "So,I shall train you in basics soon,but as I train you in basics you are going to live with me.Since I have not gone to home for a few days,I want to take it easy.I am going to give you a break!"Elder said...If you think that why did you beat me every day?It is not like I wanted you to come you know... "Elder this disciple apologizes!Even though I am Grand Elder''s disciple I was unable to even kill a kitten.I should have been put to death because of my incompetence!But Elder,out of his kind heart,continued to teach me!Now Elder gives me a break!"I said with crocodile tears and added more tears as I cried out"ELDER!THIS MEDIOCRE DISCIPLE DOES NOT DESERVE A BREAK!"You think I have not learned new tricks! "Quit your act!It is not that your act is bad.It is that I do not feel your sincerity,sincerity!"Elder said with a displeased voice and continued"Of course you do not deserve a break,but I did not found it in my heart to work you more.I teach you weakly because I pity you.My heart is quite soft and so full of love."as he sighed. What love?WHAT LOVE?!You demon!I am gonna beat you up one day!But for now..."Elder is so merciful,this disciple doesn''t deserve a teacher like Elder!"I still cry crocodile tears.One day I''ll beat you!On that day I will weep from joy! As we spoke we came to main hall.There really is nothing to describe...It really is very plain.Eldest doesn''t like to furnish the place.He likes plain places.In main hall is just rooms of branch family members.Upstairs are corridors to rooms of main family members and finally if you go through the huge door you go to room of Eldest. We were climbing stairs and we go through the corridor with the sign of Grand Elder...the hell is this?What is this?This isn''t at the level of a house damn it!This is a house?Then you might as well call mansions of noblemen huts.Garden was like a forest.Upon it rose a chateau.Adorned with statues and carvings,both gilded with gold. There are many maids and soldiers...I really do not understand why my clan has soldiers.Who in their right mind would attack here?Of course if enemy is not in his right mind he might or if he is feeling suicidal.Just dismiss soldiers,they look like weeds in a garden of flowers! Not that I don''t feel any different here.I feel so out of place.Like an ordinary rock among gold ores.Like a country bumpkin coming to a city.I sorely stand out here."Elder I feel uncomfortable may I stay in my home instead?"I ask elder,I would rather be beaten by stick of love!This place is really too uncomfortable. "You do not need to feel uncomfortable.Your brood keeper is me,Grand Elder!Brood keeper is akin to a parent thus you are a son of me,Tuesyr!"he says with pride...Not that it makes me feel any better. "But elder I was originally a farmer.My place,compared to this,would not even be called a dog house!I feel so out of place here that I would rather live in a forest."I say.I really feel uncomfortable. "Husband,you are finally here"says a woman.She has black long hair,eyes glitter like gold.It seems black hair and golden eyes run in family.She has delicate features and a motherly aura.You just want to get babied by her. I immediately kowtow once,get on my knees with my forehead touching ground"I greet Elder''s wife."then raise my head and say"Since Elder is my brood keeper he is akin to my father.Since you are his wife,you are akin to my mother!This worthless disciple is Mithra!" "So you are my husband''s disciple."Says woman and a smile forms on her lips"Then I shall regard you as a son as well,My name is Kayela" "Please do"I say lowering my head.What is this motherly aura?It makes me want to hug her.Tears form in my eyes...Mother. "Father!"Says the voice of a girl,when I turn around I see her.Running to Elder while waving her hand is a girl in her late teens.She has an alabaster like skin, one can tell it''s smooth just from looks.Just seeing makes one wish to touch her.She has delicate features and long silky black hair.Like Elder she has golden eyes that glitter like sun.Her figure feels full.She hugs the elder.Her smile feels so beautiful. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. It feels as if I am struck by lightning.My breath is getting rough and fast my heart is beating in my ears.I can tell my face is flushed!Time is moving in a slow fashion.A rosy aura is in the air!My drool leaks.What is happening to me!...Is this so called love at first sight?I am even uttering phrases like a girl! I suddenly feel a very strong killing intent!It is so cold!It is like I was pulled out of hot water and kicked out into freezing weather with no clothes.I quickly wipe drool and turn around like a robot while smiling"Elder?" "Hmm,what is it?"Elder looks like a demon...I thought he was a demon,but now he looks like one too!You are letting out a real killing intent elder!It feels like a cold force is simply choking me! "Elder I feel really uncomfortable here.I should go back to my room!"I hurriedly try to retreat.But elder stops me. "Hoo,you were not looking so uncomfortable a minute ago?"Elder says smiling his eyes are shut"You should stay now.Tell me what were you looking at so intently." "This student was really amazed!There were so many fine works of art!Garden was so beautiful!This house can be called a work of art!This student simply fell into a trance admiring it!"I say smiling. "But you were not admiring them a while ago..."Says elder with a malicious grin on his face it sends shivers down my spine!He then continues"You should admire your master''s skill as well!"I try to run! Then Elder appears right in front of me."You dare defy your master?You want to challenge me perhaps?"he says with a grin on his face.He looks like a fox mask.Killing intent rains on me. "How can this student defy master?!"I act shocked"If this student,with no care for his good fortune to have a teacher like Elder,defies him.Isn''t this student worse than a base beast?!" "Good then you should just obediently accept your master''s love!"Elder says brandishing stick of love.I am screwed! <3RD PERSON POV> "Mother"says the girl"Who is he?Why is father beating him?"she asks sincerely curious.She has never seen her father that lively before.While it looks like his father is giving a beating to young boy.Neither of them are really mad.It feels more like they are playing around. "Didn''t I say your father was chosen as someone''s brood keeper?"Kayela says and continues"As for why he is beating him,it is how they communicate I guess."she smiles.Her husband usually is not this playful. "Hmm,I do not get it."says the girl"How would someone communicate by fighting?It does not make sense." "It is their unique way of communicating we may not get it,Laila.But it seems he likes you?How do you feel about him?"She says teasing her. "Don''t tease me mother!My husband should be strong enough for my father to acknowledge him and love me enough to challenge him in a life or death battle!"Laila says shyly.Elder is only inferior to Eldest in the whole world.Even other demigods won''t dare challenge him! "It is because you kept saying that you are not married!I want to see my grandchildren you know"says Kayela playfully.Every suitor that came to ask for her hand was told same thing and they immediately gave up.What does life or death duel means?It means either you live or die.Against Elder that is plain suicide. "He is now very weak but he has potential to be strong.Since your father teaches him it is quite possible he will become quite the individual and he does not have bad looks to boot.You really are not interested?"says Kayela.If she is not interested still it might be impossible for her to find an husband. "It is not like I need to marry someone mother!If you want grandchildren,you have elder brother Ator.Get him to marry and you may get one!"says Laila,very headstrong.After all she does not really like the boy or hate him.She does not care about him at all.While they are speaking Mithra is obediently getting hit by stick of love... Chapter 5:I got my first weapons! It has been almost a week since I began to live with elder.I also learned what Laila said to most of her suitors.Indeed to fall in love with her means challenging master.Challenging master means I am dead!I would rather live so,no thank you!Besides I am treated like air by her! As for Kayela,I like her.She is really motherly,I just wanna hug her sometimes and call her mother!But then my real mother comes to my mind.My mother is dead I cannot avenge her!But if I get stronger I might be able to get away from clan.Then I would like to go to an academy,learn magic and make connection with future rulers.If I show enough of my power,to appease me they might wipe out his entire clan! When I told master that I wished to learn magic he told me dragons could not use human magic.Our mana was wild.Other than that he said human magics was pitifully weak!Our dragon magic was stronger.But it took longer to learn instead.But it seems it is not like they do not accept people from my clan.Elder''s son Ator was going to an academy. Apparently it is called Thedrein Royal Academy.It is founded on soils of the Holy Union.Union is a union of many subservient human kingdoms,who are free to rule themselves,even to wage war!But if Holy King doesn''t like one thing,they would not dare disobey.As Holy king is a new demigod he does not really hold any malicious intents toward Eldest and our clan. Thus we are safe there.Since other demigods wouldn''t just challenge his authority to kill us.It only accepts best of best or people from influential families.It is a place where people who will influence future of the world meets.Of course Elder''s son would go there.As for Laila she refuses to go to anywhere.Is she a shut-in,I wonder? My training is going to begin again.But before that Elder is going to give me weapons.I am going to get weapons!Then excitement faded and a bad feeling crept in.I barely survived warm ups!Elder did not give me a weapon before!Basics are just living correctly right?This should be easy!Oh shit,that is a bad flag there! "Mithra,our Aesur clan has many weapons.But we mostly use swords!Do you know why?"said elder facing the armory filled with countless swords and had many spears and other weapons.But sword weapons amount compared to others was far higher.More like aren''t there way too many swords?Not only they were numerous.They were numerous in shape as well.Myriads of different swords. "I do not know elder.All I know that it is a common weapon for nobles and knights,for it is hard to master.Compared to spear it lacks reach,compared to axe and mace it lacks power.However it has speed and it is a very well rounded weapon."I said.Yes it should be correct that sword is hard to master and that it is a well rounded weapon. "You think our clan wields sword because it is common?We wield swords because it is the strongest weapon!"said elder visibly annoyed"In warfare many weapons were developed.Practitioners develop many weapons still.Sword would not be used if it was not suitable.Most suitable weapon for understanding weapons is sword." "A weapon,in the end,is extension of one''s body.In the end all weapons are one.Whether it be a sword or a spear.Both are just extensions."Elder said then continued"When you reach that level of understanding and strength you will find that everything is a weapon.Then you can use a stick as if it was a sword or a mace." "There are many ways to attack,there are many ways to defend.At the end of the road you will see all movements are one and same.This is how everything is.Everything goes from simple to advanced then from advanced to simple."Elder said while walking and picked up a big metal stick. "Elder what is that?"I asked since I had a very bad feeling.This feeling is...very familiar.Where did I feel it before? "I have made this weapon for you!"said Elder.I felt confused.Wasn''t I supposed to start with a sword?But Elder..to think he made it custom ordered for me!But the bad feeling does not go away! He was swinging it around.Then he said something that made my blood curdle"Grip is nice and I can grab it very easy.Isn''t this very light,would this even hurt?"Hurt?Why do you want it hurt?Elder said"Look my disciple!You are always so nervous and so cowardly.This is a tool I made to counter that!This is a tool to beat out your nervousness and your fear!"STICK OF LOVE GOT AN UPGRADE! "MASTER,WHAT NERVOUSNESS?!"I act shocked"This disciple always does what you say!This is unfair!I am neither nervous or cowardly!"Stick of love hurt too much,this?I am going to die! "When you teach someone you either use stick or carrot!Since carrot is too troublesome I use stick instead!You dare question your master?Who teaches a mediocre disciple like you out of his kind heart filled with love?!"said elder.His heart is full of love,huh?I DON''T FEEL IT! You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "Now I also ordered your swords they should come here by now."said Elder.My swords?Wasn''t I going to use a sword? "Why are you so confused Mithra!If you use a one handed weapon it is common sense to use other hand too!"said Elder.I see.Elder was right.If I use a one handed weapon it would be foolish to not use my other hand as well! A maid came bringing a ring.So where is my swords?"Come here Mithra.If you have not seen it before this is a spatial ring!Spatial rings have two types;one has unlimited space,other does not.The one with unlimited space makes user feel the weight of what is stored.Other does not make user feel weight but has limited space.Needless to say yours is the former!So you can train yourself more!"said Elder.Elder you are just a training demon. "Use your blood to bind the ring to yourself"said Elder.I wore the ring,bit my hand and dropped my blood on it.As soon as the ring swallowed my blood,I fell down with a *BAM*!I investigated suspecting Elder had filled the ring with boulders or something!I only found 5 swords.They were really heavy! "It is good that you respect your teacher who did all this for you!"said Elder with a mischievous grin!LIKE HELL!I ain''t gonna give up but my body is just not standing up!I willed them all out!Phew! "Elder what is with these weapons?Why are all of them so heavy?Why do I have five weapons?Was I not supposed to have one?"I rained down questions on Elder. "I never said you were going to use two swords!I had the forge working day and night to forge blades for you.They are made out of bones of a great beast!Which is harder and heavier than any metal!Be grateful!Only main family has access to weapons like this!"said Elder.Elder I know they are too good for me.But aren''t they unsuited for someone like me?Shouldn''t I practice? "Of course you cannot use them now!You are going to use them as weights!What a waste!"said elder clicking his tongue.If you think its a waste then why did you give them to me? "Elder of course this disciple doesn''t deserve weapons like this!Why give them to me at all?Give me common iron weapons instead!"I plead with elder with crocodile tears.Faking being moved. "Again I tell you cut out the act!You think your master doesn''t know you,huh?"said elder poking my cheek with his upgraded stick of love. "You are going to train,I want you to be ready tomorrow!Of course you will wear your ring and keep the weapons in it!"said Elder.I don''t see any way of doing that!"Now come we are going home!" Mithra is crawling on ground trying to get up.It is fun to mess with him. Kayela comes"Isn''t this too hard for Mithra?Why are you making him wear family ring and his weapons?It weights tens of tons!Isn''t this too harsh?Ator succeeded but he was a year older than Mithra!"she says with worry.She babies him too much! "If he cannot do this much he is not worthy of being my disciple and my son!You do not understand my feelings!The more precious a child is,the more you roll him around!I am making him lower himself so one day he might take flight in skies."I say with pride and add"I am already going easy on him!My heart is just so soft"I sigh.I really am going easy on him.If he was in hands of Eldest...I do not want to remember those days! Although I call him a mediocre disciple or a stupid disciple his talent is not worse than mine.It might even be greater.It is not like he has only talents as practitioner either.Recently he is even acting so good that I would be fooled if I didn''t know him. My wife says"You say your heart is soft but you make him do things that makes him barely survive!Your so called basic training is not really any better!"and she frowns at me"After all of that you never praise him!" This is this and that is that."If we praise him too much he will get a big head!Being too proud is more fatal than being too humble!Also he does not train hard if I do not make him!"I say to my wife.Once I was too proud and challenged someone I should not have.I barely survived with great luck. Mithra is a genius.It took me a year to graduate from "warm ups" Eldest forced on me.Now I understand what it feels like to be on giving end.It is not like he is in any danger,when he was near death I always saved him.Not that he can realize! I am looking forward to training him in the basics!It made me cry like a girl!This is going to be fun! Chapter 6:The Basics and Determination! I worked hard for the entire day and was barely able to walk."I am so pitiful,teaching a stupid disciple like this."said Elder.YOU ARE PITIFUL?!What do you think I am,huh? "Anyway let us begin with teaching you the basics my mediocre disciple"said Elder and continued"You must do everything in your life correctly!As for how to do it watch me!" I am watching you are not doing anything special elder!Then I got hit by many sticks of love"Breathe correctly!Stand correctly!"yelled Elder.Why are you hitting me? "Elder why are you hitting me?You never even showed me anything I can do?"I ask Elder was unreasonable,but not this unreasonable! "Are you not watching me I am already doing it!I always have done it!"said Elder and then hit me three more times "Breathe correctly!Stand correctly!" Then he hit me once more.I have not even done anything!"What was that for Elder?"I ask rubbing my head. "You do not know?"Elder asked and I shook my head.He then said"Let''s just say it is because you do not know." I CANNOT DO THIS SHIT!I AM FED UP WITH IT!ENOUGH!"UNFAIR!MASTER''S WIFE,PEOPLE THIS IS SO UNFAIR!UWAAAH!"I yell,running with tears in my eyes!I am crying like a girl.It is humiliating because I am an adult in mind! "Hoo,so you dare defy me now?You are saying you are challenging your master?"Elder says with a grin. "This mediocre disciple does not dare!I was just...joking?"I say with a fake smile. "Here are some more jokes!"says elder and hits me five times in same second with stick of love,the flurry is going to continue"MASTER I AM SORRY!"I say to end it.Flurry ended,phew! "For what?What are you sorry for?What did you do to be sorry?"Elder asks...I DON''T KNOW!I mumble something like I...erm...uh.Seeing stick of love is going to hit me again I suddenly reach enlightenment! "Teacher I was wrong!"I say while crying crocodile tears. "So you know it,you know what you did wrong?"asks Elder while brandishing stick of love. "This disciple dared to talk back to Elder!EVEN TRIED TO TALK AGAINST KIND TEACHER!This student was just plain wrong!For me to do that this student is just unworthy!"I say still shedding crocodile tears"This student begs forgiveness from Grand Elder!"I am mumbling nonsense. "Hoo,so you finally understood what you did wrong."says elder with a pleased voice while nodding his head...JUST HOW PRIDEFUL ARE YOU ELDER?! "When you get hit think for yourself,should a student of this Grand Elder need me to hold his hands?I am too lazy to explain every single thing!"says elder with a pleased voice...Why are you so pleased?Did you explain anything,huh?WHEN DID YOU EXPLAIN JUST ONE THING? "Yes elder!This disciple understands!"I say with glittering eyes,which is of course a fake.*Smack* Ouch!"What was that for Elder?" "Take some more blows and think about it!"he said with gleaming eyes and a wide grin.Stick of love rains down on me! "Elder,wait I got it!"I said and continued"I did not breathe correctly!" Stick of love stops."Good job but still,take what you deserve!You mediocre disciple!"says elder brandishing his stick! "Elder I think I am an alright disciple!I am alright!"I say running away!Since I can''t run,I just walk. "Are you saying as a teacher I am not alright?!"says Elder following me and reaching me in an instant.Then hits me with his stick of love. ************************************************************************************************** From there on began my basic training,I was stuck with elder at all times!When I was walking I got hit when I was sitting I got hit.I got hit all the day.Now it is night Elder puts me in the room next to his own. Then elder sister Laila came and we talked."Elder sister Laila I love you!"I confessed!My heart was beating loud.I was very afraid. "Mithra...I love you too!"said Laila.Oh my god!I cannot believe this!I want to cry tears of joy!I am so happy! Is she removing her clothes?!Revealing her beautiful body,moonlight shined on her taking away my breath.She is quite aggressive!My drool is gonna leak and my smile is quite lax.I am climbing stairs of adulthood tonight!She gives me a passionate kiss!Oh the tongue,the tongue! "But elder sister Laila,master is just next room.We should not be doing this!"I say quite shyly.Trying to reject her with no force at all. She throws herself at me."I do not care!Do you not want me Mithra?"she asks with upturned eyes.I cannot bear it!I am turning to a beast! "Of course not!Tonight I am not going to let you leave!"I kiss her neck passionately as I lay her down to bed.Under me is a beauty,beauty that I love! "OUCHHH!What the hell?"I look and find myself on bed.What is this familiar pain?Then I look at my left and realize master is awake and is brandishing his stick of love again. Stolen novel; please report. "Your sleeping posture is incorrect!Now what did you see in your dreams,hmm?"says Elder.Elder you are smiling but your eyes are not!Elder releases his killing intent that send makes me shudder. "Nothing at all master!It is not worth telling!"I say trying to smile! "I quite insist!"says Elder.I jump out of my bed and open windows.I leap through the window and into the night.Elder catches me and pulls me back in then beats the life out of me.Needless to say I am going to train again tomorrow. That day he also kicked me out of main house and told me to sleep in the barracks with soldiers. Everyday I train get hit.Soldiers always look at me with pity in their eyes.They are nice guys too.They let me sleep in a room of my own.They are always so nice to me following that incident. One day I woke up and went to water the flowers.I was just sleepy and did not notice Elder arriving.He hit my son with his stick of love!Every soldier flinched.I unleashed a howl of pain that echoed through the halls and valley! "Always be ready!Where and when danger will come is not certain!Train yourself there too!Do not leave a weak spot.Do not assume your enemies will not hit you in your nether regions!"said Elder.FUCK YOU! "Myyy preciousss ssssonnn..."I was holding my son and crying.Pain was out of this world! Thank god he was alright in the end! After that Master''s wife told me to refer to her as mother and think of her as one too.I did and told her my grievances.I got some sweets and she hugged me.Then told me master was doing everything for me.That he loved me.HIS LOVE HURTS! As for elder sister Laila.She acted like an elder sister would.Whenever I hinted at my feelings she would laugh and tell me that she loved me too!But strangely hearing that hurt me actually.I really do not know how this love works. Yes I know it is cocktails of chemicals that makes you bond with another yeah!Beyond that I know nothing!I never fell in love!I am a complete beginner! I determined myself to confess to her but I am just thirteen year old in body...Also I am afraid of master!Should I just give up or die for sake of love?One should live life without regrets!For now lets gather courage to confess! ********************************************************************************************** After a few months more I began get hit less,maybe once a day.Then elder said"It was annoying to get hit wasn''t it?I am going to give you a chance to burn some of that anger!After all no training is better than combat.Do not be afraid I will only use my index finger."and threw me a wooden sword. I catch the sword."How could I dare to hit master!Please do not order this disciple."I say.I hope you order me to!I am gonna beat you Elder!All those bad memories!This anger! "I have never lied once in my life.Strong have no need for lies.Attack me there will be no punishment!"says Elder. "Then I apologize for my rudeness!"I say and throw my shoe and jump afterwards"For all the beatings nice things you did to me!Allow me to pay you back please!" ...I lie on ground.I was naive.Elder beat me no matter how many times with his index finger.I could not even get him to use his other finger.Even beyond that I was not able to touch hem of his clothes!I wanna cry. "I always feel you are underestimating me!"says Elder while he was giving me an elixir of recovery. "How can that be elder!You can split apart mountains and seas!"I say with respectful eyes.Needless to say this too is an act. "You only see me as a puny being like that?If I get serious I can split continents and oceans!"says Elder with pride.Somehow it does not feel like a lie."Have you awakened to my greatness my stupid disciple?" "This disciple has always thought of you as a mighty being teacher!But your caliber this puny disciple cannot even see it!This disciple might as well be blind!I have eyes but cannot see mountains!"I say really amazed. "What did you expect from strongest clan!But compared to Eldest I still am a puny being.Eldest is so powerful that he can tear apart Earth and Heaven!"said Elder and sighed with praise. "If Eldest is so powerful why Eldest always stays inside here?Why did he accept terms?"I ask confused.If I was Eldest I would leave. "It is not that Eldest does not dare leave,it is that he does not wish to leave!Here Eldest is greatest deterrent.If someone makes him mad Eldest can get out and slaughter them all!That is why no kingdom touches Aesur dynasty!"said Elder. Eldest was a powerful being like that...Also isn''t he more close to dragons than anyone else here.Always sleeping,never getting out,being a shut-in and stuff.Like elder sister Laila...I sigh.My heart aches!I am going to tell her tonight!I am going to tell her how I feel!