After looking at the pendant for so long, remembering the past, which made his rage burn more and more, he wiped the tears which rolled down his cheeks and wore the pendant.
"Mom... Dad...I am taking care of Licia as promised. It's been 4years now, things have been hard but I know I can make. I won't deceive you but honor your memories" Ethan said looking at the sky, with a faint smile pasted on his face. Though he was smiling, pain could be felt from his voice. From his young age he has always been stronger than children his age, taking care of his sister all alone in this hard world.
He opened the pot and an aroma lingered in the air, making his stomach jolt in anticipation. He took a taste of his masterpiece(at his level) and was satisfied by the result "So delicious, Licia will enjoy it"
Just as he thought about Licia, she woke up immediately. This aroma was so nice and pleasant that it woke her from her sleep "Hmmmmmm, miam miam, what is this pleasant smell. It's so....I can't control my glands, they are secreting alot of saliva" Licia said running towards her brother who was done with the soup.
"It's mushroom soup and some veggies kiddo, let me serve you and cool it for you. It's still very hot" Ethan said, putting some in a bowl, blowing and stirring the soup to reduce the heat.
Licia watched her brother do, waiting and anticipating to enjoy the delicacy her brother made for dinner. Not only was he a good carer, but he was also a good chef and she always enjoyed what he made for her.
She was glad that her brother came back today without any injury on his body, he was sound and safe this time around. Even if he had nothing with him, she was only so happy that her sweet brother wasn't suffering from any injury at all. Ethan who was done cooling the soup to the right temperature, he took out a bun from the side he emptied his items from Fatty Chuck and walked toward Licia.
"It's ready Kiddo, Bonne a petit"
Ethan said handing her the bowl and the bun, then he sat behind her while she was enjoying the soup. This was how he always sat, always behind. He felt that it was making feel at ease and protecting her from any danger. Licia who was eating, she looked up at her brother who she saw wasn't eating but seemed lost in his thought as always, she called him out
"Brother...brother are you not eating??" Licia asked in a cute voice
"No kiddo, I am fine. All the food is for you to eat at you satisfaction" Ethan said with a smile, looking his worried sister.
"But brother haven't eaten for a week now and sister is worried. Brother have to eat too to be healthy and strong..."
Licia explained with a worried face. Ethan was happy that his sister was worried about him, he patted her head and smiled "I will eat then Kiddo, enjoy your meal and I will do same after you" He explained
"Promise brother...you will eat right?"
"Hahaha...promise kiddo, I will eat"
Licia smiled and continued eating knowing that her brother will keep his promise and eat after her. After eating, her stomach took a dome shape, showing it was filled to the brim. Like always after every dinner in the evening, Ethan will take her in his arms like a baby till she sleep. Her face was shinning in satisfaction, smiling and sleeping soundly. Ethan was so happy, smiling and caressing her cheeks. He then took her to the placed he fixed for her to sleep, then covered her so she won't catch a cold.
Only then did Ethan eat. But he made to not eat that much. He didn't eat because of hunger, he did that only to provide the nutrients to maintain his body. So he ate only the strict necessary and left all for Licia. This was how his body adapted to this lifestyle, making it consume lesser fats and energy. Ethan lived like someone in the desert, deprived from food and water and for years, his body developed an adaptation model for survival. Even though his stomach was empty and his glands were pressuring him to have a meal, he fought hard not to succumb. But now he ate to keep his words, he was a man of word.
Ethan proceed to take some rest. Today was tedious and tomorrow awaits them to be more tedious than today. That was the spirit, the f at that you survived today doesn't mean you will survive again tomorrow. You have to be constantly fighting relentlessly for your survival. If relentless effort and resilience was a person, that would be Ethan. No intimidated by any obstacle, putting in mind that nothing is too hard to do as long as you believe, stay determined and never give up.
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The next morning, Ethan was up before his sister as always. He fetched some water and warm the food for Licia so she won't bother to do so and just enjoy the meal. He went in the inners of the forest in his usual spot. This was his daily morning routine. I front of a dark cave. It was his training ground. There was a rock tied with a thick rope, the rope tossed over a branch which when dragged with the right amount of strength, the rock would be lifted from the ground.
Ethan proceeded with his training. Tossing his t-shirt to the ground, he inhaled, exhaled and took his position. Holding the rope as tight as possible, Ethan took a deep breath and dragged the rope while moving away from the tree. Veins popping all over his neck, forehead and arm. The muscle of his neck and arms were tensed, as they were contracting to the fullest. Lifting the rock to a certain height before letting it fall.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan repeated his action over and over. His muscles were becoming sore and he was feeling numb in his arm, muscles screaming fatigue but he careless about the pain, he was used to it. He moved to another tree where two other small rocks were tied by ropes like the other rock, but they were tied separately. He held the ropes with both different hands as tight as he could. He then lifted the rocks but he was faster doing this. Lifting them high up and then slide down and then up no letting them touch the ground. And so the rocks were lifted up and down, up and down, doing this even after his muscles were sore.
He lifted the rocks to his satisfaction and let them fall to the group as he deeply exhaled. He noticed a very slight improvement but it was better than nothing. With a smile, he laid to the ground and did 40push ups. He was surprised at how he has reached this level, him that wasn't even able to to a single push up back in the days. Standing immediately, he didn't want to rest even for a second, he did 40squats. But this was a lot more painful. His thigh muscles were already sore from the first exercise and he was still pushing them forward.
Pain was his friend and he was taking it as a champion. After his squats, he laid on his back. There two roots from a tree that protruded to the ground. He put his foot there such that he could lift his upper body from the ground before falling again. He started immediately, lifting his upper body from the ground, he did go down again but didn't touch the ground. Ethan lifted his upper body up and down for about thirty good minutes before standing.
The fist exercise which was lifting the big rock was to increase his stamina, toning his thighs' muscles and arms' muscle. The second exercise was focused on toning his arms' muscles and also his shoulders' muscle. The squats was for his legs and thighs' muscle, push ups for the arms' and the last for his abs and lateral muscles.
Though he felt numb all over his body, he moved on to the next exercise which was his speed and agility. He went deeper in the forest. They was a pack of Carnivorous plants with tentacles. They were deadly for the other animals but not for humans. This was his training ground for speed and agility. Picking up a stone, Ethan shot one of the plants which woke up wiggling it's tentacles up and down and the whole pack of 20plants started doing same. It was time, to start.
Ethan started charging toward the plants which were wiggling their tentacles at him immediately they saw him charge forwards
"Let's move it baby"