Chapter 4: During One Month 1
Golden rays of morning light spilled into the world, inviting the day.
There was an ethereal beauty to the sunlight, as if a layer of tinted filter had been added to the sky. Everything glowed in honeyed tones, beautiful and soothing. He moved his hand through the air, watching his fingers as if the light were amber nectar, flowing in slow and graceful swirls.
He went to the bathroom to relieve himself, cleansing before changing into casual wear—not that he had many clothes anyway.
As soon as he left the house, he started jogging into the mountains behind it, his usual routine, but he decided to increase his distance for the next month. Normally, he jogged for about 2 kilometers every morning, but from now on, he aimed for 4 kilometers, gradually increasing it as the days passed. He controlled his rhythm between running and walking, finding the perfect balance. It would exhaust him faster, but at the same time, it would help him build his stamina, which was vital in everything.
He continued to jog silently while enjoying the morning breeze, maintaining his rhythm for two kilometers before slightly picking up the pace.
One hour later, he finished. On his way back, he stopped in the forest at the foot of the mountain to gather some herbs he would use to strengthen himself. Having known in advance which herbs to pick, it didn’t take long for him to collect them. One of the herbs he picked was horsetail, also known as Equisetum arvense. It is rich in silica, a mineral that plays a role in bone formation and strengthening. He often used it to make tea or as a supplement.
The second herb he gathered was comfrey (Symphytum officinale), which is used to reduce pain. He brewed it into tea or added it to a bathtub, like the night before. The third herb was chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), which he also brewed into tea.
Chamomile tea may help prevent bone loss by balancing minerals in the body and halting the process that breaks down bones—perfect for someone who exercises recklessly. After harvesting those herbs to help strengthen his bones, he didn’t forget the ones that would help toughen his skin: aloe vera, turmeric, ginseng, and gotu kola.
Aloe vera aimed to increase collagen production, which is crucial for skin firmness and elasticity.