Saphire finally arrived in front of the inn. The building was simple but warm, surrounded by small, well-maintained plants. The aroma of the afternoon cooking from Elara's kitchen wafted outside, reminding Saphire that her stomach still needed attention.
When she opened the door, Aria's cheerful voice greeted her. The little girl was busy helping Elara clean the tables used by the guests for breakfast. Her face was full of smiles as usual, the typical energy of children who always spread joy.
"Mom!" Aria jogged over to her, a rag still clutched in her hand. "Mom is home! Are you okay? Not hurt?"
Saphire gently stroked Aria's head, flashing a thin smile. "I'm fine, Aria. How about you? Aren't you tired of helping Elara?"
Aria shook her head quickly. "No! I'm happy to help. Elara said I was very helpful, you know! And..." Aria chuckled. "They said I've become a mascot here! The guests are always happy when I bring food."
Elara emerged from behind the kitchen counter, carrying a tray full of warm bread. "She's really diligent, Saphire. You don't have to worry, I'm taking good care of her." Elara smiled kindly, though she was clearly busy with her work.
"Thank you, Elara." Saphire replied sincerely, then looked at Aria again. "You're great, Aria."
Aria smiled broadly, pride evident in her eyes. After giving the child another pat on the head, Saphire turned towards the stairs. Her energy was still drained from the battle with the Alpha Wolf and all the commotion at the guild this morning. Now, she just wanted to rest for a while.
When she arrived in her room, Saphire closed the door and carefully placed her beloved katana in the corner of the room. Her gaze shifted to the window. The morning sun was starting to set, lighting up the sky with a bright orange color. But Saphire's thoughts were still focused on her meeting with Lunaria.
S-rank adventurer, the strongest Ice Mage, she thought. There was both curiosity and drive within her. Her meeting with Lunaria, a living legend, made her want to surpass her own limits.
Saphire sat on the edge of the bed, opening the small window to let in a gentle breeze. Her eyes stared at the expansive blue sky. She clenched her fists slowly, thinking about the missions to come.
If I want to get stronger, I have to keep going. There will be more powerful beings out there, more challenges. I won't stop until I reach the top.
After a moment of contemplation, Saphire lay down on the bed, letting her body lean against the soft mattress. Her breathing began to slow down, slowly the tiredness that hung over her made her fall asleep.
Under the increasingly bright sky, Saphire rested peacefully, while outside, city life continued. The next adventure awaited her, bringing the promise of new battles, new challenges, and the possibility of becoming even stronger.
Morning came with soft sunlight shining through the curtains of the room. Saphire opened her eyes slowly, feeling her body much fresher after a night's rest. The cool morning air and the sound of chirping birds greeted her. Today, she already had a clear plan: to train Aria all day long.
After washing her face and tidying herself up, Saphire went downstairs. There, Aria was already busy helping Elara set the table for breakfast. The little girl always looked cheerful, full of energy as usual.
"Morning, Mama!" Aria exclaimed with a big smile, waving at Saphire.
"Morning, Aria," Saphire replied softly, approaching the dining table where Elara had prepared the dishes. "Elara, I won't be taking any missions today. I want to focus on training Aria for the next three days."
Elara, who was pouring tea into glasses, turned her head while raising an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're serious about training her now?" She glanced at Aria who paused for a moment from her work.
Saphire nodded. "Aria needs a strong foundation. Her stamina and physical strength must be strengthened first before learning to use magic. Otherwise, the impact could be detrimental to her body later."
"That's right," Elara muttered, smiling thinly. "You know what's best for her. But don't be too harsh, okay? She's still a child."
"I know my limits," Saphire replied confidently.
Aria jogged over to the table enthusiastically. "Mommy, are you going to train me today? I'm ready! I want to be as strong as Mommy!"
Saphire stared at Aria's excited face, a faint smile on her lips. "If you're really ready, hurry up and have breakfast. We'll start now."
After breakfast was finished, Saphire took Aria out of town to an open area on the edge of a small forest. The place was quite quiet and far from the crowds, perfect for training. Green grass stretched out wide, surrounded by towering trees. The sound of the wind rustling softly accompanied them.
Saphire put a small bag filled with supplies on the under a large tree. She then turned to face Aria, who was standing with an excited face, both hands clenched tightly at her sides.
"Today's training will be hard, Aria," Saphire said firmly. "If you feel tired, tell me. But remember, the harder you work, the stronger your body will be."
"I understand, Mama!" Aria replied firmly.
Saphire nodded briefly. "Good. Let's start with a warm-up."
[The training began with the physical basics.]
Saphire led Aria to do some simple movements, such as stretching her arms, legs, and back. After that, she asked Aria to run around the field.
"Run ten times around this field," Saphire ordered while standing straight in the middle of the field.
Aria, although initially shocked, did not protest. With strong determination, she began to jog. Her steps were regular, but it was clear that the boy's stamina was not very good. After three laps, Aria's breathing began to become heavy.
"Keep going, Aria! Don't stop. Slowly, but keep moving," Saphire said firmly, but her voice didn't sound angry.
Aria bit her lip, sweat starting to bead on her forehead, but she kept running. Saphire watched closely, making sure the boy didn't push himself beyond his limits.
After completing ten laps with difficulty, Aria collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily. Her face was red, but there was a look of pride in her eyes.
"You did well," Saphire praised as she approached, handing Aria a water bottle. "Drink first. Take a short break."
"Thank you, Mama…" Aria smiled slightly, immediately taking a quick sip from the bottle.
[The training continued with physical strength.]
After a short break, Saphire led Aria to a small tree. She took a strong branch and handed it to Aria. "Now, lift this. Hold it above your head for as long as you can."
Aria looked at the branch a little confused, but she obeyed. The boy lifted the wood above his head, his small hands shaking from the unusual weight.
Saphire stood in front of her with her arms folded. "This exercise will strengthen your shoulders and arms. Don't put the wood down until I tell you to stop."
Time passed slowly. Aria struggled, sweat dripping from her chin. Every time her hand almost dropped, Saphire encouraged her.
"Just a little bit more, Aria. You can do it. Don't give up."
Aria gritted her teeth, her eyes full of determination. Finally, after a few minutes, Saphire decided to stop her.
"Enough! You did great."
Aria immediately dropped the wood and sat on the ground, her breath coming out again. But a satisfied smile adorned her face.
[Closing the exercise with a simple reflex.]
Saphire stood a few steps in front of Aria, holding a wooden stick. "Last exercise. I'm going to swing this stick at you. Your job is to dodge."
Aria looked at Saphire a little nervously. "Dodge?"
"Yes. Don't let this stick touch you. This will train your reflexes."
Saphire started off slowly, swinging the staff left and right. Aria tried her best to dodge, sometimes stumbling, sometimes moving too late. But slowly, her speed began to improve.
Saphire nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Let's end today's training."
As the sun began to set, Saphire and Aria sat under a large tree, enjoying the cool afternoon air. Aria rested her head on Saphire's shoulder, her small body looking tired but happy.
"Mommy… I'll be strong, right?" Aria asked softly.
Saphire gently stroked Aria's blonde hair. "Of course. If you keep training and don't give up, one day you'll be much stronger than me."
Aria smiled slightly, her eyes slowly starting to close. Saphire stared at the orange sky above them, a sense of peace enveloping her heart. She knew that this was Aria's first step towards a stronger future—a future she would protect with all her strength.
The sun began to set in the western horizon, leaving the sky with beautiful orange and red hues. Saphire looked at Aria who was fast asleep on her lap. A small smile appeared on her face as she realized how hard the boy had worked all day. Gently, she stroked Aria's blonde hair that was starting to get messy from sweat and wind.
"Sleep well, Aria. You've worked hard," Saphire whispered softly.
She stood up slowly, making sure not to wake the boy. One hand supported Aria's small body, while the other deftly tidied up their belongings. The small bag containing provisions and water bottles was put back into her large bag. Once everything was ready, she carried Aria carefully, letting the boy's head rest on her shoulder.
The journey back to the city was peaceful. The path they walked was decorated with the golden yellow light of fireflies that had begun to appear. The night wind blew softly, carrying the scent of wet leaves and wild flowers growing along the road. Saphire's steps were regular, occasionally glancing at Aria who looked comfortable in her arms, her face as calm as a little angel.
When entering the city gate, the atmosphere began to get a little more crowded. Several people were still walking around on the street, closing their shops or chatting casually in front of their houses. Some of them noticed Saphire walking while carrying Aria, then smiled warmly.
"She seems very tired," said an old woman standing in front of her house.
Saphire only replied with a small nod and a thin smile, continuing her steps towards the inn. When she arrived, the front door of the inn was already half closed, but the lights inside were still on. She pushed the door slowly, creating a small creaking sound that was greeted by Elara, who was cleaning the dining table.
"You're back," Elara said with a soft smile. Her eyes were fixed on Aria who was still asleep in Saphire's arms. "Your training was tough, huh?"
"That's enough for today. She really tried hard," Saphire replied as she stepped inside. She paused for a moment, looking at Elara. "I'll take her to her room. Thank you for preparing dinner."
Elara nodded. "Sure. If you need anything, just call."
Saphire carried Aria up to the second floor to their room. After carefully opening the door, she lowered Aria into her small bed, laying the child down gently. A thin blanket was pulled over Aria's body, making sure she stayed warm.
Saphire sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, looking at Aria's peaceful face. In her heart, she felt proud and touched at the child's enthusiasm. She knew the journey to becoming strong was still long, but Aria's first step had started very well.
After making sure Aria was comfortable, Saphire stood up, tidied up her bag and equipment, then sat down on her own bed. Her body felt tired, but her heart was full of satisfaction. Before falling asleep, she looked at Aria one more time, making sure the child was okay.
"Sleep well, Aria," Saphire murmured softly, before finally closing her eyes, letting the fatigue of the day carry her to dreamland.
< Three days passed quickly. >
Saphire and Aria's training routine was consistent. Every morning, they started the day with simple warm-ups such as stretching and jogging around the city, followed by reflex, speed, and strength training in the meadow outside the city. For three days, Saphire took advantage of every moment to teach Aria the basics of physical and mental strength, ensuring that the little girl had a strong foundation for her future.
On the fourth morning, as the sun began to rise, Saphire stood in the middle of the meadow, looking at Aria who stood across from her with a serious gaze. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fresh scent of grass and wildflowers.
"Alright, Aria. This is our last training for the week," Saphire said as she took her position. "I want to see how much you've grown."
Aria nodded, her face full of determination. Her pale blonde hair swayed in the wind, and her large eyes stared at Saphire with an unusual focus for a child her age.
Saphire grabbed a long branch and threw it into the air. "Catch this!"
Aria took off, her legs moving as fast as a young deer. Her hand deftly caught the branch before it hit the ground, an amazing feat considering that just a few days ago she had been slow to react.
"Good!" Saphire praised with a small smile. "Now, try to catch me."
Saphire started running at a moderate pace, but fast enough for Aria to struggle to keep up. The little girl took off at a surprising speed, her feet moving lightly but steadily. Saphire quickened her pace a little, but Aria still managed to catch up, despite her apparent exhaustion.
"Great, Aria!" Saphire stopped suddenly, and Aria almost managed to touch her before slipping slightly.
Aria was out of breath, but her smile was wide. "I… I almost caught you, Mama!"
"Yeah, you almost made it," Saphire replied, helping Aria to her feet. "Your speed is much better than before. Even a child your age wouldn't be able to do this."
After that, they moved on to physical strength training. Saphire had Aria push a small log that had previously been nearly impossible for her. With her now stronger little muscles, Aria managed to move the log a few steps.
"See? You're so much stronger now," Saphire said with a proud smile. "These three days have really made a big difference."
Aria looked down at her hands, then looked up at Saphire confidently. "I'll get stronger, Mama. I promise!"
Saphire knelt down in front of Aria, gently stroking her hair. "You're on the right track, Aria. But remember, true strength doesn't come from just muscle, but also a kind heart and strong determination."
That day, they ended their training early. As they walked back to town, Saphire couldn't help but smile proudly at her daughter's progress. Aria was no longer the weak little girl she used to be. Now, she had the foundation to become someone formidable, and Saphire knew that this was just the beginning."