In a huge ground surrounded by high walls, swords and different weapons were hanging on stands near the walls.
At the center of the ground, a little kid and a man were sparring with wooden swords or rather, with the size difference it would be more correct to say that the man was playing with the boy.
The boy moved, drenched in sweat, aiming his wooden sword at the man's thigh.
"Do not put too much focus on one attack."
Kevin said as he dodged the incoming sword attack by shifting a bit to the right as he lightly touched the sword tip at the kid's forehead.
"It should have hit!"
The kid, Karl, whined as he slumped down on the floor, throwing his sword at Kevin's feet.
"When fighting someone a lot stronger than you, you should always think for the impossible to become possible and for the possible to not happen."
Kevin said as he picked Karl's sword and put both his and Karl's sword into a sword stand.
"Then how do I defeat someone a lot stronger than me?" Karl asked while panting.
"One is called a lot stronger because you can not defeat that person."
Kevin gave a proud grin as he looked at Karl wasted on the floor.
"When you fight someone a lot stronger just try your best to last until you find a way to run away."
"Can I not win if I learn some strong fighting techniques?"
"You think fighting techniques are some miracle? To learn strong fighting techniques you also need to be stronger. Miracles do not happen Karl, just keep working hard so that you can catch up with the people stronger than you."
'Heh as if! My reincarnation is still a miracle.' Karl scoffed as he closed his eyes.
"Do not think of fighting techniques so soon. You will learn techniques after you go through the ceremony, things will happen as their time comes, you just have to work hard."
Kevin spoke gently as he started walking towards the exit of the training ground.
'That is the thing father, with my knowledge I can make that time come according to my will.'
Karl slowly stood up from the floor after Kevin had left and exited the training ground, staggering.
Meanwhile, as Kevin was walking towards his office, he saw an old man in front of a window, looking out.
The window was at the top most floor of the 'duke's manor', which was where the office of Duke of Hearth was, and from the window one could get a clear view of the training ground Kevin was in.
"Father, I think you should talk to him more often."
Kevin said wryly as he looked at the old man, Marcus, the previous duke and his father.
"How is he?" Marcus asked, still looking out of the window.
Understanding the intent behind his father's question, Kevin sighed but still started talking.
"A genius. It has only been two weeks since he held the sword for the first time and he already has a bit of control over the speed and power of his sword attacks. He can already make precise stabs while running which took even me a month to do!
I was thinking of only watching while teaching him but I changed my mind after seeing his fast growth and started to teach him while sparring." Kevin spoke with a proud expression on his face.
But Marcus' eyes instead sharpened as he turned his head to look at Kevin.
Kevin understanding the thought of his father quickly added.
"I am not ignoring his basics. His growth is just that fast. He can already guess the trajectory of a simple sword strike, and can think of the best possible moves to try to land a hit. Practicing by himself would have just been a time waste for him."
Even after hearing Kevin's explanation, Marcus' expression remained the same as he slowly opened his mouth.
"Just because he can does not mean he should.
If he becomes too used to such a fast growth, he might become lazy when he sees how much faster his growth is than others his age.
Worse, if he keeps growing at such a fast rate, he might succumb to his mind demons when his growth slows down later in life.
You know about the troubles of a genius."
Marcus spoke coldly.
Hearing Marcus' words Kevin looked down, standing quiet like a child being scolded.
"Do not teach him any further. The ceremony will be happening in a week. After that he will go to the Children's Hall where he will learn with others of his age."
Marcus stated as he turned back and started walking away, his foot steps being the only sound echoing in the corridor.
After Marcus left, Kevin walked up to the window as he looked at Karl, exiting the training grounds with a waddling gait.
"Troubles of a genius huh." Kevin wore a self depreciating smile as he was reminded of some bad memories.
***
Karl was lying in his bed, drenched in sweat as he heard a knock on his door.
"Young Master, Duke has sent a message."
An old voice came from behind the door.
'Message?' Karl wondered as he asked the man to come inside and speak.
An old butler entered Karl's room and spoke after giving Karl a bow.
"Duke said that he just got some urgent work and would not be able to teach you for now. He also said to remind you that the potential testing ceremony will be happening in a week."
Butler ended his words with another bow as he turned around and left the room, closing the door behind.
'So I will have to practice by myself till he gets free.' Karl lamented.
'Never mind that, the ceremony will finally be happening in a week!' Karl grinned.
"It has already been 3 years huh." Karl thought out loud as he looked around the room with a nostalgic smile.
The room was very different than it was 3 years ago.
The room which had looked looked like a playground when Karl had just came in here, now looked a lot more mature and homely.
His small cradle was now replaced by a huge bed.
There were tables, at one side of the bed, with toys arranged beautifully on them.
There were three huge cabinets on the other side of the bed which were filled with clothes. There were also clothes lying around on the bed and Karl was just lying over some of them.
'So much time has passed, though not a lot of things have happened in the last three years.
I have been exercising since I was able to move and even started practicing sword, two weeks ago.
Another new thing is... nagging.
Maybe because I did not have parents in my previous life or maybe because this is a noble family, being told what to do at every step is very, very annoying!
I get that it is out of care I am not a kid!
One more thing I realized as time passed is that my thinking or rather emotions are becoming more and more like a child.
I got angry and sad very easily and would even feel very possessive of my toys.
I thought it was just psychological but as I looked into the situation more, I found out something very abnormal.
On a whim, I thought of my granny's name from my past life but... I could not remember it.
As I tried to recall further, I understood that... I could not remember anyone's name or voice from my previous life.
I could remember all the events but could not remember anyone specifically.
I remember how a kid tried to bully me, what he said and what I did but I do not remember his name or voice.
It is as if... someone erased the voices and names from my mind.
At first I panicked but... as time passed I came to accept that.
It is even better as this way I will not dwell on past and will be able to live this new life to its fullest...
Also, I had completed the first step of the formation of ether body when I turned two.
Since then, I have just been enhancing the etherised blood (short for ether enriched blood).
A lot faster than my plan. It also goes to show that I am more talented than Isurt!
I will start the second step when I reach the limit of ether enhancement for my blood.
My prowess should now definitely be around a beginner tier-1 arhat.'
As Karl was recollecting the events of the past three years of his new life, he soon fell deep asleep.
"KARL!"
"KARL!!!"
Karl's eyes opened up wide as he heard his mother's shout as his heart started to steel itself for the scolding that was about to come.
"What do I do with you! Why do you never listen to me! You are only three years and you already do not listen to me! What will you do when you grow older!
I always tell you to take a bath and change your clothes before you sleep! And this smell!
Did you not even change your clothes after you exercised last night!" Ercia shouted as she signaled a maid to pick up the clothes lying in the bed.
"Mom, I will take care of my clot-" Karl tried to speak but was cut by Ercia.
"I know all the care you take! I do not understand how you can possibly sleep when covered in sweat!"
'Yeah you would not. Only I know how it felt to cry after shitting and peeing on my own clothes so that someone cleans me.
I was not too much of a hygiene person even on earth and after living like a newborn, I can not care any lesser about hygiene.'
Karl grimaced at his mother's scolding.
"Do not make faces!" Ercia shouted as she started pulling Karl out of the bed.
"Wait, I will go and bathe. You don't need to rush me."
Karl said meekly, scared to hear some more of Ercia's scolding.
"Don't need to rush you? Did your forget about today!?"
Ercia pulled harder as her voice started to shake with anger.
"Mom, calm down and just tell me what is today."
Karl asked, not in the very least expecting the answer Ercia gave..
"Today, your fiancée is coming for a visit!"