Chapter 5: The Looming Storm
The air inside the training grounds was thick with the midday heat, the sun's relentless rays bearing down on the assembled initiates. Each grunt, shout, and clash of wooden weapons blended into a symphony of discipline. For most, it was a typical day. For Kairos, it marked the beginning of something far less ordinary.
Kairos lounged in the shade of a gnarled tree, arms crossed behind his head. His posture screamed indifference, a sharp contrast to the disciplined movements of the other initiates nearby. Their figures blurred as they followed their instructors' commands with precision. To Kairos, it was a mundane spectacle.
"Wake up, lazybones!" a familiar voice called out.
He cracked one eye open to see Erynn, her hands on her hips, glaring at him like an irate mother hen. Her auburn hair was tied back, her training uniform pristine despite the day's rigors.
"Relax," Kairos said, closing his eyes again. "I'm conserving my energy."
Erynn huffed. "You're conserving laziness. Everyone else is training, and you're doing what? Meditating under a tree?"
Kairos grinned. "Meditating is important for the soul."
Before Erynn could launch into another lecture, a loud clang echoed through the grounds. The sound silenced the chatter and drew every gaze to the source—a towering figure clad in heavy armor. Instructor Toren stood at the center of the training field, his piercing eyes scanning the initiates like a hawk sizing up its prey.
"Attention!" Toren bellowed.
The initiates scrambled into orderly lines. Even Kairos, with a reluctant sigh, pushed himself to his feet and joined them.
Toren's gaze swept over the group before settling on Kairos. "And yet again, our young prodigy deigns to grace us with his presence."
A ripple of laughter spread through the group, quickly stifled by Toren's sharp glare.
Kairos offered a lazy salute. "Always happy to entertain, Instructor."
Toren's expression darkened. "Let's see how entertaining you find today's task. We'll be pairing off for combat drills. Kairos, you're with Rurik."
The crowd murmured. Rurik, a broad-shouldered boy with arms like tree trunks, stepped forward with a predatory grin. He had a reputation for enjoying fights a little too much.
Kairos tilted his head, unfazed. "Big guy. Lots of muscle. Should be fun."
"Try not to embarrass yourself," Erynn whispered as she passed him.
The training circle cleared, and the other initiates formed a ring around Kairos and Rurik. Toren stepped to the edge, his booming voice cutting through the noise. "Rules are simple: no crippling blows. First to yield or fall loses. Begin!"
Rurik wasted no time. He charged like a bull, his wooden sword arcing down in a powerful strike. Kairos sidestepped casually, the sword smashing into the ground where he'd been standing.
"Careful," Kairos said with a smirk. "You'll dent the floor."
Rurik growled, swinging again. This time, Kairos ducked, the blade whooshing harmlessly overhead.
The crowd was divided. Some cheered for Rurik's raw power, while others marveled at Kairos' agility.
"You're quick," Rurik admitted, circling him. "But you can't dodge forever."
"Maybe not," Kairos replied, twirling his own sword lazily. "But I'm pretty good at it."
Rurik lunged again, this time feinting to the left before bringing his sword in from the right. Kairos parried, the impact jolting up his arm. He winced—Rurik's strength was no joke.
The clash escalated, Rurik's strikes growing more aggressive. Kairos moved like water, each dodge and block flowing into the next. But even he couldn't avoid every blow. A glancing hit to his shoulder sent him stumbling back.
"Not bad," Kairos said, rubbing the sore spot.
"Yield," Rurik demanded, his chest heaving.
Kairos shook his head. "Not yet."
Rurik charged again, aiming for a decisive blow. But this time, Kairos didn't dodge. Instead, he stepped in, using Rurik's momentum against him. With a deft twist, he locked Rurik's sword arm and swept his legs out from under him.
The larger boy crashed to the ground, the breath knocked out of him. Before he could recover, Kairos placed the tip of his sword at Rurik's throat.
The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps.
"Winner: Kairos," Toren announced, though his tone was less than pleased.
Kairos stepped back, offering Rurik a hand. "Good match."
Rurik hesitated, then took it, allowing Kairos to pull him to his feet. "You're annoying," he said grudgingly. "But you're good."
Kairos grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The training resumed, but Kairos found himself on the sidelines, watching. Erynn approached, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"You could've ended that faster," she said.
"Where's the fun in that?" Kairos replied.
Erynn shook her head. "One day, that attitude will get you into trouble."
"Maybe," Kairos said, leaning back against the tree. "But not today."
Unbeknownst to them, Toren watched from a distance, his expression unreadable. He turned to another instructor and murmured, "Keep an eye on that boy. He's going to be trouble."
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