Chapter 343 - Diversity

A month has passed, October has struck across Ignis. Eric has repeated his given exercises, he has become better on most of them although he still can't touch his toes. Yet it is still progress, he can feel himself grasping more control of his own feelings.

He hasn't felt such control in over a year, which says a lot because before he came in to power he was angry and in some aspects depressed most of the times. This can give a good view of what it is like to have Inner Demons to beat.

Apart from this progress, he has felt a sense of relief due to the fact that the farm is doing great! 12 tons of various fruits and vegetables are stored in the storage caves! This is enough to feed everyone year around, and a good 20% of it will remain in the reserves even with two proper meals consumed a day.

The Grand Masters of Lava Controlling have given a rather accurate specification that Eric is almost half way there to reaching Level 2 in his Lava Controlling, respectively he isn't too far from escaping his title as a Hatchling but obviously far away from becoming a Magician, he is far from being able to Control Lava.

Now of course with further advancement in his training, new methods have to be introduced in the aims of progress and of course he is in no way abandoning the old methods.

Kazer, the much mentally gifted has learned Eric's Ignite language enough to exchange almost proper communication. If scaled, we can consider it a firm 3/6! Amazing isn't it? To be able to learn a language simply by hearing someone talk and studying body language that comes with sentences.

It is well determined that Kazer could be the smartest man or person for that matter, they have ever met. Stefan would come in second, Bittore and King Michael would share a spot as third.

Although it is practically impossible to measure intelligence accurately regardless of technology, actions speak louder than words here and grant these four mentioned people with the top 3 ranks.

However the point here is, thanks to Kazer learning the language this well, training has become remotely easier due to the fact that Kazer can explain them better. Perfect timing too, because these new training methods require proper explanations or Eric could be wasting time.

A new technique, throws in a sense of self authority and possible consequences. Because, if Eric fails to do the move properly for an hour straight, this specific training is stretched for another hour. Obviously, Eric wouldn't want that so he has to he in all ways careful to not fail!

What is this new training method you might ask? A trick as old as time come to think of it, placing a rock over his head. Now to fight away confusion, this rock isn't large nor would its weight crush him like a bug.

This rock is almost the size of Eric's fist, about 10% smaller come to think of it. But it is very spherical, meaning it can roll off rather easy. So to prevent the possibility of Eric holding on to this move for 12 hours due to the consequences of dropping it, the Grand Masters decided for him to train it for a week first, an hour every day.

Now, it is fair to say that he has a bit of control over the exercise. Although the first three days after the week long preparation, he dropped the rock 6 times. Meaning the 3 hour training split between 3 days, turned in to 9 hours of training! Truly tiring, and nothing he would want to experience again.

But in another way, it helped in a couple of aspects. A 16 year old boy figured out that actions can have a consequence, that's big progress itself. But the fact that each failure formed a new step for Eric to walk over made it a whole lot more rewarding although not impactfully noticeable immediately.

On a different aspect, this has slightly imprinted a little fact on Eric's head. If he lost control of his anger, or himself for that matter, consequences will inevitably follow. It is a law of common sense come to think of it.

Now in October, he is still continuing with this exercise along with all the older ones he is closer to mastering. He trains 7 days a week, 4 hours each day (Or more If he fails on certain training.).

The Grand Masters helped form a schedule for him so each exercise is done at least once a week, none of it can be skipped. Speaking of which, directly mental exercises have become more common.

As a start, he has to look over the bundle of kids up to 3 times a week. Specifically without Ada's help this time, the Grand Masters want him to tackle such a task alone.

Although not the best around kids, he just aimed to keep them distracted. Of course he used Ada's advise, and when he revealed these methods by word to Kazer, he found Ada more and more insightful. For a 14 year old these are indeed wise methods of handling a situation.

Another new training method of which Ada might not be able to help Eric with, basically includes running back and forth at full speed. Doesn't look so complex, and doesn't really feel like it mixes with self control training.

You do have a point, but what would you say if I told you that he only has a line measuring 5 meters long to work with?! Run 5 meters in full speed, and try to stop exactly at his marked spot. Sounds practically impossible doesn't it? Considering the fact that he can't be too slow when starting to run or can't take much time when stopping.

When he stops, he has to stop immediately and fast as if nailing himself to the ground. He has to stop his build up momentum exactly after he crosses the line, without moving over a foot away from the line.

He has to give his entire strength and speed on it, he can't start slow and he can't stop slow. This training method has both mental and physical benefits.

Physical wise, this will give him rather good calves in a matter of time which in a way is great because a lot of physical strength is required to Control Lava, in many ways it will determine what he can achieve.

Mental wise, it is also a considerable challenge because the constant failure of attempting this exercise will no doubt tire him out mentally and often poke his self control, many times he will have the urge to throw a tantrum although it might not be physically inflicting towards the Grand Masters.

Osira on the other hand, has been spending most of her day at the mine. Specifically to work with the tremendously gifted Blacksmith. There really isn't much work to do there in aspects of providing for the Town, so she decided to make a few things for herself with his aid.

For example, using the Volcanic Mushrooms to enchant the Sword with The Blacksmith's help of course since she doesn't know how to do it perfectly just yet, she has made herself a nice 75 cm long sword including both Calidum lutum and Ignite customs.

The smooth Volcanic rock handle of course resembles the Calidum Lutum, and the Iron of course resembles Ignites. Because way before this war started, Ignites were known for their work around Iron.

She calls this nice sword of her's, "Diversity". Because come to think of it, if it wasn't for diversity she and her tribe would have never survived. They went through ill.u.s.tratian land, it was the roughest but they've learned more.

They've went through raping across Snow Ignite land, obviously rough as well but they still learned more. Last but not least she is now in Calidum Lutum territory, being accepted as family and thankfully not suffering.

What does all of this come down too? Diversity! If it wasn't for the fact that the tribe had to deal with different religions, customs and traditions and even pain. They would not have survived, the tribe of 57 people would likely have been a tribe of 10 or less.

Where their journeys fun and pleasing? Mostly no, but due to the diversity they have attained survival. After all, losing and dying is far worse than living and suffering. At the end of the day, the rules are written by the winners and adapted upon by the Survivors.

At the beginning, she wanted to make a Sword because she was sick of using Daggers. But of course the Urge for a bigger sword didn't make her go over board with the size of it. The Sword's length of 75 Centimetres perfectly fits her Battle-wise.

To go along with this beautiful sword, she also made a little helmet for herself and this resembled some ill.u.s.tratian ways yet it doesn't mean that she can't use it to her advantage.

The ill.u.s.tratios give extra attention to head protection, after all a mentally disabled Soldier can't be made use off. Neither would it be useful if the Soldier lost his head, so they merge two Iron plates in one helmet while most domains or Alliances only use one.

Now she didn't put any ill.u.s.tratian mark on her Iron helmet, she just made it thicker, heavier and more dependable. As far as Bittore told her, she has had a hole on her head when she was tumbled down the stairs back at the hidden domain when barricading the portal.

Would she have that hole if she wore a helmet? Most likely no! Osira wants to live long enough to see her tribe progress tenfold, and she feels like Diversity will help her achieve that goal.