Forger's Day

  Early this morning was still a beautiful sunny day.

  Theo woke earlier than usual. He would prepare this morning's breakfast for his parents and siblings. A simple meal: golden fried eggs, characteristic Oakhaven smoked meat, served with hot crispy sliced dark bread and fresh wild fruit. He wanted to ensure these final days would begin in the most peaceful way.

  The whole family gathered around the dining table again.

  They quickly returned to the usual quietness when dining like every day, although this morning's simple breakfast was still very delicious. Last night's warm atmosphere had vanished, replaced by somber settling.

  Parents and Sera were somewhat sad; the coming separation was clearly visible.

  Meanwhile, the two rascals Finn and Ben were somewhat fearfully eating. They'd seen Theo's familiar gaze and understood clearly the consequences of sleeping too early last night. Their current silence wasn't respect, but wariness toward the eldest brother with absolute authority in the house.

  Theo still calmly ate, but his eyes occasionally glanced at Finn and Ben—a wordless warning about the "education" plan ready to execute.

  After eating, Theo still let the two little guys help Mother and Sera clean up. Finn and Ben still trembled while cleaning because occasionally, Theo would glance at them meaningfully.

  When parents all went to work, Sera went to wash clothes, the house became empty and quiet. Theo stopped reading, looking at the two rascals playing before the door, saying softly to himself:

  "This much time should be enough to digest."

  Then, a light whistle rang out. Al standing on the church bell tower immediately swooped down, landing neatly before the two rascals playing—before Finn and Ben's extreme surprise.

  Theo's voice calm, emotionless:

  "Warm up."

  The two siblings were still bewildered, they thought they'd escaped this 'dictatorial' brother. But bewilderment didn't last long: the small Pidgey had pecked the two rascals awake per its master's orders. The pecking damage wasn't high but enough for the two little guys to remember what Theo had taught.

  They quickly proceeded with joint loosening and body warming exercises. Fifteen minutes passed.

  Theo ordered them to run around the small town (~5 km) with Pidgey's supervision. Theo only had them run about 45 minutes. For two ordinary 7-year-olds perhaps too much, but for Finn and Ben—two who'd been "bullied" by him with physical exercises from small—it was still okay.

  That's right, Theo admitted he didn't like children, he hated the chaos they caused. This prejudice only wavered slightly when Sera was born, because the little girl was very obedient and listened to Theo. From then he had a new view of kids. But when this twin pair was born, this was in danger of returning—Oh no, had returned. Noisy, playful and lacking discipline. Needed straightening.

  Theo had utilized the time the two rascals ran to absorb mana, compensating for the busy morning preparing breakfast he'd missed.

  Thirty minutes passed. Finn and Ben had run back, they cried while running, Al still flew behind them, sometimes pecking lightly on their heads to urge.

  Running back before Theo, the two rascals nearly collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. Theo only glanced at them, still sitting on the chair reading in G's database. He only said two words:

  "Cool down."

  The two little guys cried while trembling helping each other stand up. They began walking lightly around the small yard, sniffling while breathing deeply according to 'dictatorial' Theo's instructions, trying to regulate breathing and heartbeat. They knew clearly, no matter how exhausted, big brother's instructions must always be obeyed to avoid even worse consequences.

  Fifteen minutes of cooling down was the time Theo allocated for the two little ones before continuing.

  The next exercise was ready: the pull-up bar Theo usually used at the small yard. This was a training frame too familiar to them. Not taking too much time for Theo to have them re-execute what he'd always trained; of course the pull-up bar had been adjusted suitable for their reach.

  Still as before, Al supervised mercilessly, lurking on a nearby wooden beam. The two rascals had to practice the first pull-ups with difficulty.

  Theo still looked at his book, occasionally glancing at the little ones. He also sometimes stood up adjusting technique for them. He made them do a full 10, no time requirement, of course with correct technique. This difficulty was enough for them to spend considerable strength and sweat. Their faces flushed red, fear had temporarily yielded to focus on each labored breath.

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  Fifteen minutes for cooling down passed.

  Theo, who always adhered to precise time down to the second, never delayed. He closed the book and looked at his two siblings.

  "Push-ups," he ordered, voice decisive.

  This exercise was even harsher: fifteen push-ups. The rule was they were only allowed to rest 30 seconds once throughout the process. If violating the second rest, both would have to redo everything; note that if one person erred then both had to redo everything.

  The fatigue from the pull-up bar was still there, making each push up a torture. Finn and Ben understood clearly the punishment's severity, so they tried their utmost to keep their bodies straight and follow technique—because no one wanted to hear the "redo" order from big brother.

  Though already trying to pour all strength, but the body was exhausted, Finn lost strength at the twelfth push-up, and his stomach touched ground before he could push up.

  Failure.

  Both desperately looked at each other. They knew the rule clearly: no room for giving up, and failure must be paid by a new beginning. They breathed deeply, trying to gather every bit of remaining strength in their tired bodies, preparing for the redo, because they knew Theo never allowed them to quit.

  Theo still stood there, eyes unchanged, waiting for them to consciously enter position.

  After the final push-ups, the two rascals nearly collapsed.

  Theo spoke, still calm, still indifferent, not a trace of wavering:

  "Rest thirty minutes."

  Though very tired, Finn and Ben still had to try relaxing their bodies and follow cooling down steps. They didn't know exactly how long thirty minutes was, but also suspected and guessed the necessary timeframe, because so many times being "bullied" had deeply engraved this training rhythm into every muscle fiber.

  The two little guys sniffled, walking lightly while grateful for the brief rest, because they understood that after thirty minutes, big brother would have the next exercise.

  Thirty minutes rest ended, not more not less one second.

  Theo ordered, voice decisive like a time bell:

  "Sit-ups. Twenty each."

  This was the final exercise in the morning physical torture chain. With already sore abs, Finn and Ben executed the final sit-ups with extreme difficulty, but they knew this was this nightmare's destination.

  Finally, when the two rascals had completed and lay breathing hard on the ground, Theo nodded, rare satisfaction passing through his gaze.

  Right, that simple, he thought silently. That was all the content of this morning's "education" portion. This afternoon, this entire exercise chain would be repeated once more—sufficient consequence for not following yesterday's "rules."

  Theo 'closed' the book. He knew the boundary clearly: this was training not torture.

  His principle was very clear: they were punished for violating rules, but they must be rewarded for following orders. This balance was the foundation of absolute authority Theo had painstakingly built toward the two little guys.

  Therefore, Theo decided it was time to prepare a nutritious and attractive lunch. He entered the kitchen, preparing fragrant honey-roasted meat along with fresh bread—this was the taste Finn and Ben extremely loved, of course vegetables still couldn't be absent. This meal not only helped recover lost stamina, but was also Theo's way of engraving a message once more in their minds:

  Obey, honey; otherwise, rod and stick.

  Parents wouldn't return at noon today so the meal only had four people: Theo, Sera, Finn and Ben.

  On the dining table, hot roasted meat and honey scent spread throughout the Great Hall. The two rascals Finn and Ben, though their whole bodies ached and still sniffling somewhat, but seeing their reward, their eyes lit up brightly. They quickly sat at the table, forgetting fatigue, and began lunch in reverent silence mixed with eagerness.

  Sera sat opposite, the little girl wasn't surprised seeing the half-trembling half-ravenous expression of two little brothers. Anyway, this also wasn't the first time they had to experience such harsh "training."

  She looked at Finn and Ben with deeply sympathetic eyes. The little girl understood she was much luckier than the two siblings because she'd been adjusted by Brother Theo from small with gentler methods. She silently hoped the two little guys could complete the afternoon exercises without any obstacles. Brother Theo always knew how to help lessons be remembered long and clearly.

  That afternoon, exactly as planned, the exercise chain had no surprises and still proceeded with tears and sweat double the morning.

  Finally, right when the two rascals completed the final sit-ups and rejoiced that the nightmare had ended, Theo stepped closer.

  Before Finn and Ben's extreme surprise, he knelt one knee to the ground, dusting off the two little siblings' clothes, adjusting their collars. Then, he said with instructing voice:

  "Did very well, but, must always be clean."

  Next, Theo looked straight into the two little ones' eyes, gaze firm carrying final seriousness:

  "Diligently train what Brother taught. At home, protect Father Mother and Sera."

  Having spoken, Theo stood up, dusting off dirt from his pants, then turned decisively walking toward the house.

  "Though a bit early, but the two mischievous rascals will do well the task I assigned, right?" Theo told himself, with rare doubt.

  The two rascals still sat there, eyes wide in amazement. They watched big brother's shadow gradually fade, then looked at each other. Both knew clearly, this was the first time Theo gave them praise. The ache suddenly seemed to vanish, replaced by the unfamiliar feeling of recognition, along with a light pressure on their shoulders.