For a child still unknown to the harshness of the world, the agony felt from the flames gave all of the pain, multiplied hundreds if not thousands, he had ever experienced in his life collectively. His screams were covered by the roars of the flame. Much like the flames, they too were unending.
The glow brightened the instructor's face as she looked deep into the fire, "And so it begins…the Light has finally begun to Burn."
…
The twins eventually continued with their training, but anyone could tell that their minds were elsewhere. The speed of improvement was quite lower in comparison to that first day. The dorm being empty of their roommate seemed to depress them even more. This went on for a while until Remus snapped! She grabbed her brother by his collar, "What the hell are we doing?!"
Obviously, Roman was confused but thought better of interrupting his sister, letting her continue, "He's risking his life right now and we're basically spitting on his resolve?! No more! When he comes back, I'm sure he'll be the strongest in the class, we must not fall behind, otherwise it'll all be for nothing."
The light came back to Roman's eyes as he nodded his head. The two rushed back out despite it not even being training hours.
While Virgo immersed himself in the seclusion of the fiery pit, Roman and Remus faced their own challenges on the training grounds. Determined not to disappoint their friend and eager to make progress of their own, the twins intensified their training regimen.
Under the watchful eye of Instructor Charon, Roman and Remus devoted themselves to perfecting their physical conditioning and honing their flame dancing techniques. They pushed their bodies to the limits, enduring grueling workouts and embracing the intense heat of Apollo's Inferno.
With their unique expressions of self and their innate connection to the divine flame, the twins found themselves excelling in certain aspects of their training. Roman, with his intricate movements and fluid grace, demonstrated remarkable agility and speed in his flame dancing techniques. Remus, on the other hand, exhibited raw power and unwavering strength, channeling her inner passion to everything that stood in her way…in unprecedented intensity.
As days turned to weeks, Roman and Remus focused on their individual strengths, yet supported one another in their weaknesses. They provided feedback and encouragement, pushing each other to go beyond their limits. Their bond with each other, and strangely even Virgo grew stronger, solidified by shared hardships and the common goal of surpassing their friend upon his return.
…
As Virgo descended into the scorching depths of the fire pit, he was engulfed by the searing flames that surrounded him. The intense heat licked at his skin and the air crackled with fiery energy. But deep within his being, an unwavering determination burned brighter than ever before. Driven by his passion and a relentless competitive spirit, Virgo refused to succumb to the challenge that lay before him. He knew that to catch up to Roman and Remus, to bring pride to his family and honor to his name, he had to overcome the Fire Pit's trial.
It was strange, as he never thought of himself as a competitive or overly prideful person. But something seemed awoken in him as he failed for the first time. Through the pain and the searing heat, Virgo discovered a newfound strength within himself. He tapped into it, harnessing the mental power that coursed through his very existence. The pride that his title represented was more than just simple will, it was an obsession. Only time could tell how it would fully manifest.
But for now, it would serve as a ball and chain, trapping him in the Divine Fire Pit. For Virgo, there was no escape, as a greater force was almost physically holding him down to complete the burning of his body's weakness.
As he trained in isolation, Virgo's focus sharpened. He studied the intricate movements of flame dancing after they were imprinted upon his memory. He practiced them with dedication every second he was not forcefully resting. His progress was fueled not only by his desire to catch up to his friends, but also by the need to make his family proud, especially his brother who had set a high standard.
…
The deadline for the last day had come neither too fast nor too slow. The twins were particularly fierce today, though obviously Remus more so. It was almost as if they could feel their friend would be joining them soon, so they fought to increase their physiques by even a percentage more.
This went on until a trainee suddenly pointed out, "Don't you feel it's somewhat quiet today? I can't put my finger on it, but I swear it feels incredibly peaceful for some reason."
Looks of realization dawned on everyone there as Instructor Charon merely smiled, "It seems two months exactly have ended. He truly did make it. That kid has one hell of a strong will burning in his heart."
The sound of flames igniting for the Fire Pit had become a common occurrence throughout the training area. This was despite its distance, as a low roar was constantly heard by the trainees until they started to subconsciously ignore it. Now that it was gone, the environment did indeed seem different.
Two blurs sped passed the trainees as they rushed towards the cooling Divine Fire Pit. A figure could be seen pulling itself out of the burnt ground. Virgo emerged from the Pit; a transformed figure standing before his friends. His body, once weaker in comparison, had been molded by the intense heat and flames that surrounded him. Lean muscles were beneath his skin, condensed and strengthened through this crucible of fire.
His physique now exuded power, a testament to the countless hours of training and the unwavering determination that had fueled his journey. The flames that had once licked at his skin now seemed to dance in harmony, along with his every movement.
The showing off only lasted a second though before Virgo passed out but was caught by Remus before he touched the ground. She stared at her stupefied brother before she yelled at him, "Are you trying to catch flies with your mouth or something?! Call Instructor Charon to check on his condition!"
The latter sighed… Closing his mouth, he ran to get their instructor. Though one could hear some mumblings about 'big brother privilege' or something like that as he disappeared from view.
Remus looked onto the tired face of the collapsed Virgo; her heart was warmed. She was always obsessed with strength due to her parents pushing her to become a Flame Dancer. It was never her choice, but she didn't mind. The young girl had no real wants in life, so a predetermined path wasn't necessarily bad. But this changed however when she met Virgo. Her first real friend, a rival to measure herself against, who very clearly didn't disappoint. Remus was thankful for him coming to her life and truly igniting her passion.
Soon the teacher and Roman came back. Roman's face twitched as he saw his sister. The one who he sees as more beast than human, was currently brushing her hand over Virgo's hair with such care that he felt she might have been possessed by a gentle spirit. Instructor Charon cleared her throat, interrupting a rare moment that the world may never see again.
Embarrassed, Remus hurriedly got up, giving space for the instructor to work. She then turned to her brother who was eyeing her with a raised eyebrow, seemingly questioning if what he saw was an illusion. With a smile that wasn't a smile, "Tell anyone about what you saw me doing today, and I'll burn your Spring Collection of clothes."
One would think that Roman had acquired the Divinity of Speed with how fast his expression returned from teasing to questioning, "…I don't know what you're talking about, dear most respected older sister." To which she nodded her head before continuing to observe her friend's condition.
Instructor Charon finished her assessment as she announced, "He's fine…actually more than fine. His physique is probably on a slightly higher level than you two. You're all talented in Flame Dancing and might just become some of the most powerful. You three will be the next generation's leaders, so remember not to bring shame to our name, the Flame Dancers of Apollo's Inferno."
" "Yes Instructor!" " the twins replied in unison.
The Instructor sent them away, "He should wake up tomorrow. I'll leave him in your care so take him to the dorms."
The night was peaceful, as the trio united once again and had the best sleep of the past couple of months. This was especially so for Virgo, who even while resting when in the Pit, felt pain that seemed infinitely contrasting to the soft sheets that hugged his skin. His body enjoyed the feeling relentlessly, even though his conscious mind could not.
The morning came and the warm sun greeted the skin of the sleeping Virgo, waking him up to an unfamiliar ceiling. He suddenly smiled as he had succeeded! The young prince was excited to show his improvements to his friends. Today was the day of the next session of classes after all…the art of Grappling.