The physical assessments had been grueling, even for those of us who were more fit. By the time we were all called to assemble back on the training grounds, the sun was high in the sky, casting its relentless heat over us. Sir Brook wasted no time in cutting through the lingering tension.
"Well done," he said, his tone brusque but laced with just the faintest trace of approval. "You've all shown us what you're capable of, physically and otherwise.
Now it's time to sort you into training groups. These groups will define the intensity of your training and the pace at which you'll be pushed."
Aristo stepped forward, his ever-present fan flicking open with a soft snap. "Indeed," he said, his voice carrying an air of calm authority.
"To put it plainly, Group A will consist of those with exceptional abilities—those whose skills and talents have the potential to lead, inspire, and defend on the frontlines of this conflict. Group B, on the other hand, is no less important. It is for those whose abilities require refinement or whose strengths may yet be untapped."
The distinction hung heavy in the air. No one wanted to land in Group B, though Aristo's smooth tone made it sound like a kinder fate than it probably was.
Sir Brook began calling names, his voice carrying easily over the assembled students.
"Group A," he started, pausing for dramatic effect, "will include Alex, Elara, Lily, Sofia, Mia, Arthur, Serena, Kara, and Dorian."
The chosen few stepped forward, their expressions ranging from confident smirks to quiet resolve. Alex stood at the front, his usual air of leadership firmly in place, while Elara remained as composed as ever.
Lily looked a little surprised to be included but kept her composure.
"Group B," Sir Brook continued, his tone unchanged, "will be everyone else, however Nathen and Emma you'll be working under a slightly different curriculum tailored to develop your specific abilities."
I exchanged a glance with Mia, who gave me a small shrug, her expression unreadable. Logan, on the other hand, looked entirely unbothered, his easygoing demeanor intact.
Aristo's voice broke through the murmurs. "Make no mistake," he said smoothly.
"Group B is not a punishment or a reflection of lesser worth. Every one of you has potential—we simply intend to unlock it in a manner suited to your current abilities."
Sir Brook's sharp gaze moved over the group.
Aristo nodded, stepping back. "Your paths may be different, but remember, you are all heroes now. Work together, push yourselves, and grow stronger—for your sake, and for this world's."
Aristo began to walk away, his elegant stride as fluid as ever. Without turning back, he spoke calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly. "A Group, follow me. Don't lag behind."
The group hesitated for a moment before jogging to catch up, their footsteps quickening to match his unrelenting pace.
Alex led the way, his usual air of confidence keeping the others steady as they disappeared from view, leaving the rest of us standing there, unsure of what to expect next.
Hmm, I wonder where they're going, I thought, my gaze lingering on the empty path as the last of their group vanished from sight.
A loud cough interrupted my thoughts, dragging my attention back to Sir Brook.
He stood in the center of the training grounds, arms crossed, his face unexpectedly relaxed as a kind smile spread across his lips.
"So," he said, his tone almost conversational, "how are we feeling? A little less tired?"
The group exchanged uncertain glances, but slowly, heads began to nod. The air was still heavy from the earlier tests, but Sir Brook's sudden shift in demeanor had us lowering our guard.
"Good, good," he said, nodding as if genuinely pleased. "I'm glad to hear that."
Then, just as quickly, the smile dropped from his face. His entire expression hardened into the familiar, no-nonsense glare we'd come to expect.
"START RUNNING THEN!" he bellowed, his voice slicing through the momentary calm like a thunderclap.
"NOW!"
The shout sent us scrambling into motion, feet pounding against the ground as we rushed to obey.
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Leaning against the cool stone wall of the training grounds, I watched my classmates sprawled across the dirt, their chests heaving as they fought to catch their breath.
The groans of exhaustion were nearly as loud as the earlier shouting during the drills. The sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the field and bathing everything in a warm, golden glow.
The air was heavy with the smell of sweat and dirt, and the once lively chatter from earlier in the day had been replaced by a chorus of groans and muttered complaints.
"Is he... even human?" Logan wheezed, lying flat on his back, arms splayed out dramatically.
"I can't feel my legs," Mia mumbled into the ground, her voice muffled by the dirt.
Sir Brook, of course, looked as fresh as he had in the morning, arms crossed as he surveyed us with a satisfied grin.
"You're still alive," he said, his voice filled with mock encouragement. "Good. That means we can push even harder tomorrow."
A collective groan rose from the group, and I couldn't help but smirk at their misery. 'I should probably feel worse about finding this funny,' I thought, shaking my head.
In truth, I wasn't as wrecked as they were. My body still felt strong, the energy from the earlier training still humming faintly beneath my skin.
But I knew better than to let Sir Brook catch on to that—so I stayed leaning against the wall, feigning the same exhaustion that had taken over the others.
"Ah man, I'm so hungry," I said aloud, rubbing my stomach. The thought of food was the only thing keeping me upright at this point.
Without me noticing, Sir Brook had come to stand near me, his towering presence suddenly casting a shadow over me.
"Good," he said, his voice gruff but oddly approving. "There's plenty of food prepared for you in the Grand Hall."
Startled, I glanced up at him, squinting against the sun behind him. "Can't wait to eat," I said, trying to mask my surprise. "And maybe get some good sleep."
His brow quirked slightly, an expression that seemed to teeter between amusement and suspicion. "Hmmm," he mused, crossing his arms. "Is that so?"
Something about the way he said it made me pause. I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes.
"Get up and head to the hall," Sir Brook barked, his voice cutting through the groans and heavy breaths of my classmates. "There's dinner prepared for you all. Rest up... we'll continue tomorrow."
Slowly, one by one, people began to stagger to their feet, their exhaustion evident in every sluggish movement. I pushed off the wall and joined the group as we trudged back toward the main building.
No one spoke much there wasn't enough energy for that but the unified sound of our steps filled the air as the day's training finally wound to a close.
When we reached the hall, the massive creaky doors swung open, their groaning hinges echoing loudly in the quiet evening.
The sight of the long table piled high with food was enough to send a second wind through the group. The aroma of roasted meats, fresh bread, and warm soup drifted toward us, and suddenly, the exhaustion didn't seem quite as unbearable.
Without hesitation, everyone filed in and began eating as though their lives depended on it. The clatter of plates and utensils filled the room as we wolfed down the feast.
I wasn't much different, plates of food disappeared quickly in front of me, and I barely tasted half of it, my focus entirely on satisfying the gnawing hunger that had grown throughout the day.
After finishing my meal and feeling the familiar weight of fullness settle over me, I got up and made my way back to my room.
My footsteps were heavy, but my mind was already drifting toward the comfort of a hot shower. After a quick shower, I stepped out, towel-drying my hair as the cool air of the room greeted me.
The moonlight streaming through the large window caught my attention, its silver glow spilling across the room like a gentle invitation.
Walking over, I opened the window wider, letting the night breeze sweep in. It was refreshing, carrying with it the faint scent of earth and grass.
I hopped onto the windowsill, leaning back against the frame as I let the breeze wash over me. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing, slipping into the rhythm that had come so naturally that morning.
The sensation was there again, but this time it felt... different. Where the morning had been filled with vitality and warmth, the night seemed quieter, cooler, as though the energy carried a more subdued but potent strength.
The world outside was silent save for the rustle of leaves in the wind. The night seemed alive in its own way, and with each breath, I felt myself becoming a part of it, the subtle flow of the ambient mana weaving through me.
This world really is different, I thought, a small smile tugging at my lips. With that, I let myself sink further into the rhythm, the moonlight casting a soft glow over the room as time was lost and the night stretched on.
Opening my eyes, I glanced toward the clock on the wall. The glowing hands read 2:40 a.m.
'Jeez, I've been at it for nearly five hours,' I thought, stretching slightly as I hopped down from the windowsill.
Walking toward the bed, I noticed something odd. I wasn't really tired—not in the way I expected after such a long day. My body felt refreshed, almost restless.
Looking toward the bedroom door, a thought struck me. 'I could go train. It's not like the exercises with Group B earlier did much for me'.
The idea of sneaking out for some real, uninterrupted practice was too tempting to ignore.
Without wasting another moment, I grabbed a set of workout clothes from the closet and quickly changed.
Opening the door as quietly as I could, I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, closing it gently behind me. The faint creak of the hinges made me pause, listening for any sound of movement.
When none came, I began shuffling quietly down the corridor, careful not to disturb anyone. Nodding at the few maids and butlers remaining.
The castle was eerily silent at this hour, the usual bustle of staff replaced by the faint hum of the night.
Stepping outside, I was immediately greeted by the cool night air, crisp and refreshing. The faint rustle of leaves in the breeze was the only sound as I made my way along the familiar path.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting its silver glow over the landscape, and the stars twinkled like scattered diamonds above.
My footsteps echoed softly against the stone path as I passed through the empty training grounds.
The lingering smell of dirt and sweat from the day's activities was faint but still present, a reminder of the relentless training sessions that had taken place.
I continued forward, veering off the main path and heading up the hill. The incline wasn't steep, but the solitude made it feel almost otherworldly.
The breeze picked up as I climbed higher, carrying with it the faint scent of grass and wildflowers.
Finally, I reached the spot where I had trained the night before.
The large tree stood tall and unwavering, its wide canopy partially shading the pond below, the water's surface still and glassy, reflecting the moonlight.
The sight was just as breathtaking as it had been the previous night, and the quiet energy of the place seemed to hum in harmony with the world around it.
I stepped forward, taking a deep breath and letting the serenity of the place wash over me. 'This is it,' I thought. 'The perfect place to train without anyone watching.'
I stretched out my arms, rolling my shoulders to loosen up. 'Alright, back to basics.' I dropped into a set of push-ups, focusing on slow, controlled movements. One after another, the repetition felt natural, my muscles warm and responsive.
Switching to squats, I kept my form steady, the familiar burn in my thighs pushing me further. My breathing synced with the rhythm of the movements, steady and purposeful.
After a while, I moved into shadowboxing, throwing punches and kicks into the air, imagining an opponent. The movements felt sharper than the day before, my body responding quicker, more fluidly.
Finally, I transitioned into laps around the pond, keeping my pace consistent. The cool air filled my lungs, energizing me with every step. My muscles ached, but it was the satisfying kind—the kind that meant progress.
Taking a break, I sat beneath the tree and closed my eyes, breathing deeply, feeling the ambient energy flow into me again. My palms against the tree behind me. This time, it felt stronger, more deliberate, as if I was finally starting to tap into something.
'One more set,' I thought, pushing myself up.
Over and over, I repeated to myself, 'One more set.' The words became a mantra, driving me forward. Each time I finished, I found myself starting again, refusing to stop.
As the sets became easier, I pushed harder. I added more reps, turned squats into jump squats, held the positions during breaks to test my endurance.
My push-ups turned into explosive ones, my sit-ups into twists to engage more muscles. With every change, I felt the burn return, but it only fueled me more.
'Just one more set,' I thought, even as my muscles ached and my breath came quicker.
Finally, as the sky began to turn a soft shade of blue, I collapsed onto the grass, my body giving in after countless sets.
"Whew... that was a lot," I muttered, breathing heavily, my chest rising and falling as I stared up at the sky.
Turning my head toward the small, clear blue pond nearby, an idea crept into my mind. 'If taking my shirt off made the energy flow faster, what about breathing while soaked in water?'
Getting up, my legs wobbled slightly, but I pushed forward, walking toward the pond. I stripped down, leaving only my underwear, and dipped a cautious toe into the water.
A sharp chill shot up my leg, and I instinctively pulled back.
"Damn, it's surprisingly cold," I muttered, shaking my head at myself.
Gritting my teeth, I slowly sank my foot back in, braving the icy sensation as I let the water rise up my leg. Inch by inch, I lowered myself, shivering as the chill crept over my body.
'It's not very deep', I realized, my feet touching the bottom. The water barely reached my shoulders when I finally sat down, crossing my legs beneath me.
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, trying to steady the shivers wracking my body. "Whew... slowly in, slowly out," I murmured to myself, my breaths fogging the air around me.
Repeating the rhythm over and over, I felt my shivering start to fade. The cold that had bitten into my skin earlier was replaced with a subtle warmth, spreading from deep within. A refreshing sensation settled in my stomach, like drinking cold water on a scorching summer day.
My breaths grew slower, deeper, each one drawing me further into the moment.