Everyone was tense. Demons had returned, and a war against them was underway. It was no longer just a contest; it was a real battle for survival, and they were at the heart of it. They understood the stakes: if they lost the war, all cultivators would become wanted criminals, hunted and killed, while mortals would be enslaved by the demons. "We cannot lose this war," some thought to themselves. "We cannot let down our ancestors who fought and won in their time."
"All guiding instructors from each academy can now return. We will take over the training of these young ones. Your academies should already be aware of this news and should have started the necessary preparations. The demons will likely attack all human settlements in an attempt to divide us. Your academies were built as strongholds in each country. This is all I can say for now."
Lieutenant Judas and the other instructors quickly relayed this information to their students before mounting their horses and galloping away, leaving behind a trail of dust in the air.
"Those ranked 44 to 30 will be training with the elite soldiers in the camp. Those ranked 15 to 30 will be training with the Junior Knights. Those ranked 1 to 15 will be training with the Advanced Knights," announced Sir Mark.
There was no time to waste. The students were reorganized into their respective groups; those going to the camp and those training with the knights. Everything was moving so fast, and there was no time to process any information. The soldiers led one group to the barracks on the west side of the palace, while the Junior Knights took the other group to the barracks on the east side. Those left behind to be trained by the Advanced Knights waited in the gathering square, but no one came for them. Caleb could see that everyone from his Frontier Academy in Moonlight Country had made it into the top 15. No one made any noise, and no one slept. Caleb himself felt a heavy heart, thinking about his mother and the clan. The others shared similar thoughts, as they waited in the square for their commanding officers.
The next morning, a tired group of students still stood at the Gathering Square. Sir Mark once again stood in front of them, without mentioning the fact that they had been left exposed to the elements all night and likely had no sleep.
"I see that everyone is still here and no one is willing to quit. If you do want to quit, this is the time to do so. You will not be disqualified from the special training; you will only be demoted to training in the barracks with the elite soldiers. How about it? Which of you wants to quit?" he asked with a cunning smile on his face.
"No one? Very good! I know you are all worried about the war, about your friends and families. These are enough reasons why we must do all we can to win this war. Each country's army has started making preparations and will be our first line of defence against the demons. To win this war, we need more experts. You will all be trained to shoulder more responsibility. I hope you are prepared. It might be easier to be relegated to the other training groups."
The tension in the air was palpable among the students. While relieved that there would be a counterattack by the humans and a force to resist the demons, they couldn't help but worry. War was unpredictable, and no one knew if there would be further betrayals. They had all led teams during their days in the academy, so they knew some of the responsibilities Sir Mark mentioned. But that was during peaceful times. Now, they couldn't help but think about the upcoming battle and the roles they had to play.
"Two years! We only have two years to train all of you before you will be sent into battle. I hope that you all become strong enough to stand as heroes of your generation. Each of you will be assigned to an Advanced Knight, and your training and development will be organized by the knight. You have only one goal: to defeat the knight within two years. If you can't defeat the knight, you can at least earn their recognition. I assure you, it won't be easy.
"Starting from now, any idea you have that this is going to be a simple training should be removed from your mind. This is going to be a battle. Every place in the south barracks is a battleground, and each knight will have their way of doing things. So, make sure you learn as much as you can.
"The palace library will be open to you for cultivation scriptures and blessing skills. You will come close to death multiple times during these two years. The best doctors are available in the barracks to patch you up, but notice that I didn't say 'cure' or 'heal' you. You will be under physical and mental stress during the training. If you continue to get injured, it will only add to the level of difficulty.
"The armoury is also open to you. Take what you need to survive these two years: weapons, armour, and medicine, but within reason. Remember, the training ends if you are deemed unfit to continue by your instructing knight. If this happens to you, you will be healed and sent to the soldier barracks to complete your training."
"Caleb!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Knight Reya!"
"Steph!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Knight Marcus!"
"Luca!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Knight Pete!"
"..."
Everyone soon met their instructors in the training square of the south barracks.
Caleb's eyes followed the figure of his assigned knight, the enigmatic woman known as Reya. With her dark hair cascading down to her shoulders and her piercing eyes hidden behind the visor of her helmet, she emanated an aura of mystery and strength. Despite her average height, there was an unmistakable air of confidence that surrounded her.
Her choice of attire intrigued Caleb. While the other knights donned imposing suits of heavy armour, Reya opted for a lighter approach. Her leather armour hugged her form, allowing for greater agility and speed. The two sharp daggers fastened securely to her belt hinted at her preference for swift and precise close-quarter combat.
As she moved with a grace and fluidity that belied her armoured appearance, Caleb noticed the subtle but purposeful movements she made. Each step seemed calculated, every gesture deliberate as he moved in his direction.
The square became a gruelling place as shouts of pain filled the air. Some students were beaten black and blue, some endured torture, and others performed physical exercises. This was only the first day, and they didn't dare to think about what the rest of the two years would be like.
Caleb stood in front of Knight Reya. Unlike the other 14 areas where cries of agony could be heard, the introduction between Caleb and Reya was relatively normal.
"This square will be our training ground," Reya said with a playful voice. "Firstly, don't call me Madam Reya or something like that. Just call me Big Sister Reya. Don't feel too happy that you aren't receiving the same treatment as your comrades; my training will be just as tough."
"For the duration of the training, you are not allowed to stay in the Barracks accommodation. You should pick up a military tent from the supply room. That will be your home. I won't go as far as making you hunt for your food, so you can have your meals delivered to your tent daily. I'm not picking on you; this is also a form of training. It's your luck that you got me as your instructor."
"Anyway, zone out the noise for now. Tell me about yourself. I see you use a spear. What blessing do you have, and what is your cultivation level?" she asked curiously, almost as if a different person had taken over her body. She switched from being a serious, bloodthirsty knight to a fan girl.
Caleb maintained a straight face as he answered Reya's questions. "I am from the Levi Clan in Free City, Moonlight Country. I am a final-year student in the Frontier Corps. As you noticed, my weapon is a spear. I am a lightning cultivator. Not long ago, I broke through to the Heaven Rank for body and Deacon Rank for faith cultivation."
Tweeeeeeeet! Reya whistled. "How old are you again? You should be 18 years old, right? Don't tell me you're a cultivation maniac." Caleb flinched a little after she made this comment.
"You're right. I am a madman. Heaven in body and Deacon in faith. No wonder you easily ranked first place in the contest."
Caleb was amazed. It seemed like Knight Reya already had all the information about him, yet she still asked him for the details.
Reya suddenly turned serious. "Your first lesson: Trust no one! You shouldn't easily give out all your information like that. What if I were a spy working for the demons, or someone among us is a spy looking to destroy the future powerhouses of the human side? If there's no way to ascertain what side the person is on, then withhold some information, making it as general as possible.
"Anyway, about me, my cultivation level is not important. You should know that I am at a higher cultivation level than you. I awakened the Darkness blessing. So for the next two years, you must train to be alert because you never know when I will attack you.
"Training begins now. See you later, Caleb. Let's have fun in these two years." After saying this, Knight Reya turned around and casually left the square.