I followed Senior Qīnq out of the chamber, my body still aching from the injuries I had sustained. She led me to a small, cosy room deep within the Shadow Guide's headquarters, filled with soft cushions and warm blankets different from the other room I stayed. A small table held a steaming bowl of soup and a pitcher of cool water.
"Rest here, Leon," she said, her voice soft. "You need to recover your strength. Your training will begin when you are ready."
I nodded, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over me. I lay down on the cushions, feeling the softness envelop me. Senior Qīnq handed me a bowl of soup, and I ate it gratefully, feeling the warmth spread through my body.
For two days, I rested, my body slowly healing. Senior Qīnq checked on me regularly, bringing me food and drink, and changing my bandages. I slept a lot, my dreams filled with visions of the Shadow Guide, and the trials that lay ahead.
On the third day, I woke up feeling stronger, my body refreshed. I stood up, stretching my limbs, and walked to the door. Senior Qīnq was waiting for me, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Are you ready to start your training, Leon?" she asked.
I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Yes, I'm ready," I said. "I want to begin the Trial of Endurance."
Senior Qīnq's smile grew wider. "Very well," she said. "Let us begin but first I will go and inform the Shadow Lord that you are ready"
"Okay, That's great I will be waiting for you," I said looking at Qīnq as she swiftly walked out of the room.
I sat on the cushion thinking what today and my first training would be like, but the thought of how my village People were massacred made me want to do better.
.......
Senior Qīnq walked into the Shadow Lord's chambers, her footsteps quiet on the stone floor. She approached the Shadow Lord's throne, her head bowed in respect. As she reached the foot of the throne, she slowly lowered herself to her knees, her back straight and her hands placed on her thighs.
She bowed her head down, her forehead almost touching the floor, and waited for the Shadow Lord to acknowledge her. Her dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her breathing was slow and deliberate.
"Shadow Lord," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Leon has recovered from his injuries and is ready to begin his training. He wishes to start the Trial of Endurance."
She paused, waiting for a response, her head still bowed in respect. The Shadow Lord's voice was low and measured, and Senior Qīnq's eyes remained cast downward, her gaze fixed on the floor.
"Very well, Qīnq," the Shadow Lord said. I will be the one to train him"
"What!!! In suprise Qīnq said. "Shadow Lord," Qīnq said in a low voice. permit me to ask"
"Permission granted," the Shadow Lord said
"My Lord it has been twenty years since you ever trained any student personally, what potential do you see in this young man?? She asked with her face down.
"That young man has the eyes, potential and aura of a True assassin, his potential must be awakened," he said.
Qīnq was shot of words because the only people the Shadow Lord student trained personally were the A and B rank assassins and it had been twenty years, she was stunned by the Shadow Lord's words.
"Okay my Lord I will get him ready for you" she said.
"Keal!! Keal!!. the Shadow Lord called out a name. "get me the outfit for a new student"
"Okay my Lord" someone from the shadow spoke and disappeared.
Suddenly a man walked up to Qīnq handing her the outfit in a wooden box, she stretched out her hand and took the wooden box.
"Qīnq you are dismissed" the Shadow Lord said.
Senior Qīnq slowly rose to her feet, her movements deliberate and graceful. She bowed her head once more, her forehead almost touching the floor, before straightening up and turning to leave the Shadow Lord's throne room.
As she walked out of the room, she felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. The Shadow Lord's words echoed in her mind - "That young man has the eyes, potential, and aura of a True assassin, his potential must be awakened." She couldn't believe that the Shadow Lord had decided to personally train Leon, a young man he had only recently met.
She walked swiftly through the corridors, her footsteps quiet on the stone floor. She clutched the wooden box containing the outfit for Leon's training, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.
As she approached the room where Leon was waiting, she took a deep breath and composed herself. She pushed open the door and entered the room, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Leon, the Shadow Lord will be your trainer," she said, her voice soft. "He has personally requested to train you, which is a rare honour."
Leon's eyes widened in surprise, and Qīnq could sense his excitement and nervousness.
"Come, let us prepare you for your training," she said, opening the wooden box and revealing a sleek black outfit. "This is the attire of a Shadow Guide student. You must wear it during your training."
Leon nodded, his eyes fixed on the outfit. Qīnq helped him change into the outfit, her movements swift and efficient.
"Is this the new student outfit?? I asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah, all the outfits of all students and members of the Shadow Guild are in black but there are barges with different colours signifying their rank" Qīnq said handing the outfit to Leon.
As they finished, Qīnq stepped back and examined Leon. He looked determined and focused, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity.
"You are ready," she said, a hint of approval in her voice. "The Shadow Lord awaits you."
With that, she turned and led Leon out of the room, heading towards the training area where the Shadow Lord waited.
Senior Qīnq led me through the winding corridors of the Shadow Guide's headquarters, her footsteps quiet on the stone floor. We walked for several minutes, passing by several doors and intersections, until we finally arrived at a large, imposing door made of solid steel.
Qīnq pushed the door open, revealing a vast training area that stretched out before us. The room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering torches to light the space. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and smoke.
As we entered, I saw dozens of students training in various forms of combat, their movements swift and deadly. They were all wearing black outfits, identical to the one I now wore, with coloured badges on their sleeves signifying their rank.
The training area was a vast, open space, with several sections divided into different training zones. There were areas for hand-to-hand combat, sword fighting, archery, and other forms of combat training. In the centre of the room, I saw a large, raised platform, where the Shadow Lord stood waiting for us.
Qīnq led me through the crowds of students, who parted to let us pass. They cast curious glances my way, their eyes lingering on my outfit and the badge on my sleeve. I felt a sense of pride and belonging, knowing that I was now one of them.
As we approached the platform, the Shadow Lord's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze piercing and intense. He nodded at Qīnq, who bowed her head in respect before turning to leave.