CH21 Chamberlain
***
A few days later...
Leo spent the last few days training because Rowland turned out to be busy with Guild work.
He began the new regimens of his two training methods.
Since he was only at a new level of the same volume, there wasn't really much of a change in the training method.
The training method for the second level of the Eternal Mind Codex remained Meditation and the Visualisation technique.
There were only some subtle differences.
Leo's Mental Energy Cloud had increased in size, so it now took a little longer to fill up his Cloud through Meditation compared to before.
Similarly, the visualised Castle Fortress increased in size. Its design was also more intricate, meaning Leo now had to spend even more effort to visualise the Castle and build it up with his Mental Energy building blocks.
As for the Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual, the second level introduced targeted refinement.
Unlike the first level which targeted the whole body with a goal of laying a full foundation for future refinements, the second level built on this but specifically targets the muscles and tendons of the body.
The goal of this level was to destroy and rebuild more resilient muscles and tendons.
According to the instructions left behind by the Martial Sovereign, it was not necessary to make the muscles bigger. He claimed it was possible to get the same strength and/or generate the same force with the same muscle volume by repeatedly tempering the muscles and tendons.
Through the usual destruction and repair method of the Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual, each thread of muscle and tendon would be destroyed in order to rebuild it with stronger, better tempered material.
Simply put, it was replacing weaker silk thread muscles and tendons for iron thread muscles and tendons.
As usual, the proposed day-to-day training method was strenuous and excruciating to say the least, however, this was required because this tempering not only required the muscles to be stronger, they also needed to keep or even improve their flexibility.
This was a requirement in order for the body to bear the toll of future tempering that would move towards improving the boy's explosive strength.
-
The methods certainly got a bit more difficult for Leo to practise but the teenager wasn't discouraged. Instead, this validated that he had indeed gotten strong. And he was more than willing to continue working hard to do so.
He would continue to prove to himself that he was worthy of the gift given to him by his two predecessors.
-
Aside familiarising himself with the new training requirements needed for his continued growth, Leo also familiarised himself with the new state of his body and mind in general.
In the process, he comprehended the difference between his training methods and Mana Cultivation method.
Mana Cultivation Methods were holistic. They tempered the body, mind and energy.
They allowed for possibilities of 'cool' feats such as shooting out fire, hardening skin into a rocky layer, healing with a thought and so on.
On the other hand, both the Eternal Mind Codex and the Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual were plain and grounded, the latter especially more so.
Both technique were specific in what they did, and didn't bother concerning themselves with anything else.
The Ultimate Martial Body Tempering Manual concerned itself with training the body into the ultimate weapon. It didn't concern itself with the possibility of shooting out mana or hardening into a rock. Its doctrine was all in the natural flesh of its practitioner.
On the other hand, the Eternal Mind Codex focussed on the Brain, Mind and/or Soul– whether one saw them as the same or different entities did not matter too much.
As the current basic level, it worked to increase the perception of the mind. It allowed Leo to think faster as well as better sense the world around him, all so he could better comprehend the world around him.
Even the Ocular mutation his Mental Energy caused, the Truth-Seeker eyes, leaned towards this purpose.
They were not flashy techniques that were easily noticeable. Everything was about improving his mind to better perceive the world around him.
In other words, the Eternal Mind Codex eschewed everything that didn't improve his Mind with the goal of better understanding the world around him.
As a result, neither technique was versatile like Mana Cultivation Techniques, however, they made up for it by being absolutely good in what they focused on.
In essence, neither technique offered the teenager anything flashy that a normal youth his age would yearn for, what they offered was good old-fashioned plain and boring efficiency that old, more experienced people prefer.
In the wisdom of the Martial Sovereign, 'Why bother creating a complicated technique to blind an opponent before punching him when I can simply move so fast that he can't stop my attack in the first place?'
Leo chuckled as he left the training room. He took a bath before returning to his room to continue his Breathing Exercise and meditation as usual.
But his plans were interrupted by Rowland's arrival.
The air around him was solemn so Leo knew Rowland didn't come as just his close uncle.
"You have taken etiquette class so I assume you know how Oath of Allegiance are given and how they are properly accepted or denied." Rowland said.
Leo nodded with a confused expression.
From what he knew, he wasn't expected to give an Oath of Allegiance to anyone. As for accepting one, that was even more impossible.
Who would in their right minds would swear an oath to someone like him, a person publicly known to be unable to use Mana and is likely to forever remain a weakling?
"It is tradition within House Kroft for an offspring venturing out to receive a Chamberlain to guide and protect them while they establish themselves. As you know, Jaras was my Chamberlain before coming to hold his current position after I became the Guild Master of the DoomMane Guild. In the same vein, you will also be receiving a Chamberlain." Rowland said.
Leo was caught off-guard by the announcement.
"But my surname is Xander." Leo tried to protest.
Rowland shook his head, "You spent most of your time with me, the Head of House Kroft. As far as I am concerned, that makes you no different from an heir of House Kroft. With me here, no one can say otherwise."
Leo's lips twitched.
He wasn't worried about what other members of House Kroft -who he hasn't met due to Rowland's interference- would say. He personally didn't want a Chamberlain. He didn't want someone who he would have to be looking over his shoulder to guard against.
Rowland continued, "Besides, the person who has chosen to be your Chamberlain is no stranger to you.
"And before you jump to conclusions, I tried to convince them against this path numerous times, but they are determined to walk it despite my best efforts."
This immediately caused Leo to raise an eyebrow.
'Who would go against the War King? And for me?' He wondered.
"Come in." Rowland called out.
The door opened and Jaras walked in ahead of a familiar figure.
It was Zora.
Leo's body shook in alarm.
Jaras stepped behind Rowland while Zora walked before Leo in the most serious expression the fourteen year old girl could muster.
Dressed in the same butler suit as Jaras, Zora knelt on one knee before Leo, confirming his fears.
(To be continued...)