Part-49

  The promised stat boost surged through him, a tangible reward for his sleepless night. But beyond the numbers, James felt a deeper sense of satisfa. He uood basic stances, strikes, and blocks. He could identify pressure points and vital targets. More importantly, he khe limitations of each move, the potential weakhat could be exploited. He wasn't a master by any means, but he was no longer helpless. Knowledge ower, and James, for the first time, felt empowered.

  The thrill of newfound knowledge mingled with the exhaustion. He colpsed onto his bed, the weight of the book a f presen his chest. Sleep cimed him instantly, the events of the day repying in his mind like a fast-forwarded movie.

  Exhaustion finally wrestled James into a deep sleep. The harsh gre of the m sun wouldn't bother him today; it was a school holiday. His overworked brain finally received the respite it craved. Dreams filled with intricate martial arts maneuvers danced behind his closed eyelids.

  A gentle aroma, a symphony of spices and simmering goodness, infiltrated his sleep. The unmistakable st of his mother's cooking tugged at his subscious, pulling him closer to wakefulness. He cracked open an eye, blinking at the sunbeams filtering through his blinds.

  A wave of satisfa washed over him. No more bring arms, no dreaded walk to school, and most importantly, no bullies lurking in the shadows. Today, he could simply be. He savored the quiet, the knowledge that for once, he was in trol of his own time.

  A soft rapping on his door jolted him awake. "James, honey? Are you up?" his mother's voice called out.

  He stretched nguidly, the tiredness slowly reg. "Almost, Mom!" he called back.

  The anticipation of a delicious lunch fueled his movements. He showered, surprised by the newfound lightness in his steps. Maybe it was the extra sleep, or maybe it was the feeling of aplishment after finishing the martial arts book. Or maybe because his stats increased all at once. A faint smile pyed on his lips.

  He emerged from his room to find his mother setting a steaming bowl of noodles oable. The st was even more entig than he'd imagined. Her eyes kled at the ers as she saw him.

  "Finally awake, sleepyhead? You look exhausted."

  James chuckled. "Just a te-night study session, Mom," he said, knowing the truth was a little more…plex.

  They sat down together, the king of chopsticks a f rhythm. James devoured his lunch, the fvors exploding on his tohe tension that had g to him for so long seemed to melt away with each bite.

  "So, what's on yenda for today?" his mother asked, her voice full of gentle curiosity.

  James paused, sidering.

  "I was thinking about going to the park," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "There's some practice I o do."

  His mother raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile pying on her lips. "Practice, huh? Well, whatever it is, I know you'll do great."

  A warm wave of te washed over James as he finished his lunch. The delieal, coupled with a good night's sleep, felt like a magic potion, mending the physical aal strain from the previous night. He decided to indulge in a short afternoon nap, his body craving a little more rest before tag the day's pns.