Kizuna (絆) [KHR Prequel] 2

102: strength

If hiking was the most tiring thing he had ever done, he was wrong about it.

The first thing he did early in the morning was warm-up exercises with Timoteo. Stretching was needed before they start their hectic training and Reinhart decided to have them wearing some rock climbing equipment to protect themselves.

Probably only for a few weeks before they started to climb again without any safety equipment.

Climbing up the cliffs was not a problem for both of them until they felt like they were about to lose their breath.

Ietsuna tightened his grip and he was trying to lift himself up to grab another rock. His shoes slipped and he immediately lost his grip. He blinked his eyes hard before he glanced to see the distance from below the cliff to where he was. Thankfully he had the rope to keep him safe.

"Hey! Are you alright?!"

He looked up and saw Timoteo just above him. Even with his worried expression, Ietsuna could see his exhausted face and he only smiled back at him.

"I'm fine...I've slipped..."

"How about taking a break for now??"

"...sure."

After reaching the ground, Timoteo and Ietsuna were dipping their legs in the river and they let out a sigh of relief, feeling glad that they were finally sitting on the ground.

"My whole body aches a lot...!" Timoteo groaned with pain.

"Me too..." Ietsuna replied weakly. "This pain is the same as I had after using my dying will flame..."

"And we haven't reached half of that mountain," Timoteo added. "This is worse than climbing one hundred and fifty stairs to the shrine..."

"...I wonder if I could eventually master this technique."

"Why are you saying as if you regret learning about Primo's technique?"

"...This is just the start of the training, and yet, I'm wondering why he would push himself so hard to create this technique."

Ietsuna slowly placed his sore hand into the river and let the water wash away the dirt from his hand.

"The ice he created was not ordinary ice. From the outside, it feels like you are touching a large block of crystal. But, if you are the one who is trapped in this ice, would you be freezing or another way round?"

"...I remembered you said that Primo was crying while creating that ice. Any explanation about your opinion?"

"...I'm sorry. Until now, it's hard to explain why I would say that."

"Well, our only choice is to continue with this training," Timoteo huffed and crossed his arms. "If the previous Vongola bosses failed to master it, then let both of us break the record!"