Death!
The realization hit Caleb like a thunderbolt, shattering his illusions about the nature of his training. It was not a pampering exercise; it was a ruthless lesson in survival. His battle powers meant nothing if he couldn't reach his peak while staying alive. The intensity of the training showed that the knights recognized Caleb's strengths but sought to address his weaknesses head-on. Gratitude mingled with fear within Caleb as he understood that a single momentary lapse in vigilance could result in his downfall. The betrayal he had experienced had taught him that not everyone could be trusted, and not everyone sought survival but craved power even at the cost of their souls.
Tonight's lesson had been a pivotal one for Caleb.
Exhausted and shaken, Caleb found solace in the corner of his tent, the warm glow of the lantern casting an orange hue around him, pushing back the encroaching darkness. His face was pale, his lips tinged with a hint of blue, and his body weakened by the poison coursing through his veins. Fear gripped his heart, a fear of death that he had never truly faced before. His mental state teetered on the edge of breakdown as he contemplated his mortality. The pain amplified by the poison prevented him from even attempting to cultivate his faith energy, leaving him in a state of helplessness.
Reya's orchestration of events became clear to Caleb. She had purposely designed the training to exploit his weaknesses and increase the mental stress he endured. As the antidote slowly reduced the poison's effects, Caleb mustered the strength to rise to his feet, gingerly donning the heavy armour he had acquired earlier that day. Holding onto his staff tightly, he resumed his seated position, his back pressed against the tent wall. It was going to be a sleepless night, haunted by the spectre of death.
Unbeknownst to Caleb, Reya observed his reaction from outside the tent. She knew she had pushed him to his limits, testing the boundaries of his sanity. She was prepared to step in and offer support if he succumbed to the overwhelming pressure. However, she hoped that he would find the strength within himself to overcome this trial. Caleb had proven himself to be an exceptional student, displaying perfect reactions and unwavering dedication to his training. He possessed the potential to reach the pinnacle of this world, but he needed to... As Reya worried, she noticed a peculiar change unfolding within the confines of the tent.
Contrary to her expectations, Caleb's mental fortitude grew stronger instead of breaking down. His eyes regained clarity, indicating a breakthrough of sorts. Reya sensed that the humiliation he had endured had propelled him forward, resolving some of the internal conflicts within him. She smiled, believing that Caleb was indeed worthy of her teachings. Without delay, she faded into the night, leaving him to his thoughts.
Unaware of Reya's watchful gaze, Caleb sat in the corner bathed in the gentle glow of the lantern. He reflected on every experience he had faced thus far, realizing that he had never truly confronted the inevitability of death. Slowly but surely, he accepted the weight of this realization. "I will not die. I must live to create a better world for my family," he whispered resolutely in his heart. The second verse of the Song of Solomon Scripture echoed in his mind, refining his resolve and bolstering his mental fortitude as he advanced into the Heart-like Glass stage.
The following day, an exhausted Caleb made his way to the assembly ground. He had been on high alert throughout the night, his bloodshot eyes emanating a dangerous aura that kept others at bay. People instinctively avoided his path as he traversed through the crowd. In this state, Caleb remained hyper-focused but underestimated the cunningness of Reya. An explosion in one of the storerooms diverted the attention of several soldiers, creating a gathering on the path leading to the training square. Seizing the opportunity, Caleb cautiously manoeuvred through the crowd until a sharp pain pierced his right chest.
Looking down, he discovered the tip of a dagger protruding from his flesh, indicating an attack from behind. The sudden agony was accompanied by a whispered voice, reminding him of the importance of having a plan for every situation and remaining flexible while ensuring his safety. The dagger was swiftly removed during the subsequent chaos, causing blood to spray onto nearby oblivious soldiers, who panicked and scattered.
Caleb crumpled to the ground, clutching his chest as he reached for a healing potion and a blood clot pill. A concerned soldier approached, offering assistance, but Caleb tactfully declined, determined to manage on his own. Struggling, he mustered the strength to make his way back to his campsite.
In the ensuing days, Caleb became intimately acquainted with death. His mind was filled with the harrowing lessons he had learned from Reya. He had been ambushed by twenty soldiers while he was still recovering, each assailant striking with calculated precision, leaving him battered and bruised. Reya had appeared once again to impart yet another lesson — the utilization of others to achieve one's goals. Caleb realized that he had to be constantly aware of this potential manipulation.
Every lesson taught by Reya had been a life-or-death struggle, leaving Caleb with scars both physical and emotional. Reya did not hold back, delivering each attack with lethal intent. Through these trials, Caleb recognized how vulnerable he had been in the past, and how he had placed too much trust in others and failed to acknowledge hidden threats.
As time passed, Caleb's sleeping awareness gradually awakened, heightening his senses of the world around him. Though a subtle change, it allowed him to evade some of the ambushes that lay in wait. Reya knew that it was time to elevate their training to the next level.
Today, Caleb found himself sitting on the cold floor, bloodied and sweat-soaked, gingerly dismantling a sliver of a bear trap with trembling hands. Pain radiated through his body, but he made no sound, determined to free himself silently. Once freed, he swiftly drank a healing potion and applied a blood clot pill to the puncture wounds on his calf.
Despite the pain, Caleb's eyes burned with an unwavering light. He kept his heightened awareness activated, monitoring his surroundings and fixating on the spot where he believed Reya might be hiding. And indeed, Reya materialized, fully aware that Caleb had locked onto her position. She commended him for not making a single noise during his escape and lauded his ingenuity in utilizing his skills to overcome the trap. Twirling her dagger and licking the blade, she instructed him to get his injured leg checked, cautioning him about the severity of bear traps and their potential to impede his growth. With her cryptic advice given, she vanished into the shadows, leaving Caleb to ponder the impending challenges.
Caleb remained silent, giving Reya the space to continue her lessons. His thoughts centred solely on survival as he realized that everything he had faced thus far had only been a prelude. The true test lay ahead, and the stakes were higher than ever. Wasn't the tutorial already excessively demanding? The shock registered on Caleb's face as he stared into the void, but Reya revelled in his surprise. She relished witnessing such a reaction in her prey. Granting him a week-long break, she vanished, leaving Caleb to contemplate his next move.
He knew he couldn't continue on this path indefinitely. He couldn't force his awareness to develop, and his scarce lightning skills offered limited solutions. The only option left was to employ the skills he had mastered creatively, using them to compensate for his weaknesses.
Weeks had passed since Caleb last cultivated. His constant state of alertness denied him the necessary calmness to engage in cultivation. The ambushes, beatings, near-death experiences, and the absence of trustworthy companions made it difficult to find the peace required for spiritual growth. He teetered between life and death, perpetually straddling the precipice.
With a wince of pain, Caleb rose from his resting place, dragging his injured leg behind him as he made his way towards the library. Observing his determined yet agonized gait, onlookers outside the library shuddered, feeling a chill down their spines. They marvelled at the sight of a student who already exuded the aura of a battle-hardened veteran, his countenance devoid of emotion, his leg a testament to the pain he endured.
Caleb's relentless march to the library attracted attention, prompting others to gather near the entrance, their chairs scraping against the floor. Eager to catch a glimpse of the spectacle, they watched in disbelief as he pushed through, seemingly unaffected by the scrutiny. Oblivious to the growing crowd, Caleb pressed on, directing his steps towards the basement stairs at the back of the library. The onlookers stared at his retreating figure, questioning whether this was still the same student who had embarked on the training program, for he now emanated the gravitas of a battle-scarred warrior.
As Caleb reached the basement, Alex, his once youthful and refined appearance replaced by the visage of a weathered warrior, felt a twinge in his calf. Sweat dripped down his face as he imagined the excruciating pain Caleb must be enduring, the unparalleled determination driving him forward.
"Give him some space," Alex whispered to the other students, who swiftly packed their bags, leaving the reading area to create an open space for Caleb's recovery.
Acknowledging their consideration with a nod, Caleb continued his steady descent towards the back of the library, where the lightning-skill section awaited him. Ignoring the blood seeping from his puncture wounds, he threw himself onto the ground with unyielding determination, his eyes shutting tight as his consciousness delved into the Crystal Ball.