When Kaidan returned to the training grounds, every step felt lighter than it should have, as if his body had defied the punishment it had endured. The dull ache from yesterday's torment lingered in his muscles, but the raw, searing pain was gone. His mismatched eyes—one blue, one gold—swept over the space, taking in the familiar sight of the rough stone floor and battered equipment.
The trainer stood in the center of the room, arms crossed, his stormy gray eyes narrowing as he noticed Kaidan. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by his usual scowl.
"You're on your feet already?" the trainer said, his tone skeptical. He stepped closer, scrutinizing Kaidan's posture, his movements. "Most recruits would still be crawling out of bed after what you went through. Hell, some never get back up at all."
Kaidan met his gaze steadily. "Guess I'm not like most."
The trainer smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Don't get cocky, boy. All it means is that I can push you harder." He gestured toward the equipment strewn across the room. "Today, we're going to find your limit. And then I'm going to break it."
The Pain Returns
The first exercise was deceptively simple: running laps around the ring. Kaidan had done it before, but this time, the trainer wasn't satisfied with his usual pace.
"Faster," the trainer barked. "You think yesterday was bad? That was just a warm-up. Today, you're going to wish you were back in your cell."
Kaidan's legs burned as he pushed himself forward, each step slamming against the stone floor with relentless force. Sweat poured down his face, stinging his eyes as his breathing grew ragged. The ache in his thighs spread to his calves, then to his feet, each muscle screaming for reprieve.
Keep going, he thought, gritting his teeth. One more step. Then another.
But the trainer wasn't done.
"Add weights," he ordered. Two heavy sacks were strapped to Kaidan's shoulders, their weight pressing down on him like a crushing tide. The added burden slowed him to a crawl, his movements clumsy and uneven.
"You call that running?" the trainer snapped. "Pick up the pace, or I'll double the weight."
Kaidan's chest heaved as he forced his legs to move faster. His vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges of his sight. Each breath felt like a knife in his lungs, sharp and unforgiving.
"Come on, boy," the trainer growled. "You're barely moving. You think you'll survive in the ring like this?"
Kaidan's mind was a whirl of pain and frustration. I can't stop. If I stop, he'll make it worse.
He stumbled but caught himself, his hands clenching into fists as he forced his legs forward. The weights dug into his shoulders, the strain radiating down his spine. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he gritted his teeth, his mismatched eyes burning with determination.
I survived the wilderness, he thought, pushing through the pain. I survived the raiders. I can survive this.
The Breaking Point
After what felt like hours, the trainer finally called for him to stop. Kaidan collapsed to his knees, the weights slipping from his shoulders and hitting the ground with a dull thud. His arms trembled as he braced himself, his sweat-soaked hair plastered to his forehead.
"Get up," the trainer said coldly. "We're not done."
Kaidan groaned, his body screaming in protest. He pushed himself to his feet, swaying unsteadily.
"Hold this," the trainer said, thrusting a thick iron bar into Kaidan's hands. "Over your head. Arms straight. Don't let it drop."
The weight of the bar was immense, digging into Kaidan's palms as he lifted it above his head. His arms quaked under the strain, his shoulders burning as he struggled to keep the bar steady.
"Higher," the trainer growled, circling him like a predator. "You drop that bar, and you're running again."
Kaidan's teeth clenched as he adjusted his grip, forcing the bar higher. Sweat dripped down his arms, pooling at his feet. The seconds stretched into eternity, each one an excruciating test of his endurance.
"Why am I even doing this?" Kaidan muttered under his breath, his voice raw from exertion. "What's the point of any of this?"
The trainer's sharp ears caught the whisper. He stepped closer, his stormy eyes locking onto Kaidan's. "The point?" he said, his voice low and menacing. "The point is survival. You think anyone's going to pity you in the ring? You think your enemies will wait for you to catch your breath? Weakness gets you killed, boy. And right now, you're drowning in it."
Kaidan's jaw tightened. Weakness? The word cut deeper than any blow. He forced his arms higher, his entire body trembling with the effort. The pain was unbearable, but he refused to let the bar fall.
Finally, the trainer stepped back, his expression unreadable. "Enough. Drop it."
Kaidan let the bar fall, his arms dropping limply to his sides. Pain radiated through his shoulders and back, every nerve alight with agony. But there was no time to rest. The trainer motioned toward the sparring ring.
A Lesson in Pain
The sparring session was brutal. The trainer didn't hold back, his strikes precise and punishing. Kaidan tried to defend himself, but his movements were sluggish, his body too battered to keep up. Every punch, every kick sent waves of pain through him, but he refused to fall.
"You're slowing down," the trainer taunted, landing a sharp jab to Kaidan's ribs. "What happened to that fire? Did it burn out already?"
Kaidan's mismatched eyes blazed with defiance. He lashed out, his fist connecting with the trainer's jaw. The blow was weak, but it wiped the smirk from the trainer's face.
"Good," the trainer said, his tone laced with approval. "But not good enough."
The next strike sent Kaidan sprawling to the ground. He lay there for a moment, gasping for breath, before forcing himself back up. His body felt like it was on the verge of collapse, but his mind refused to yield.
I'll survive this, he thought. I'll get stronger.
The trainer watched him struggle to his feet, a flicker of something like respect in his stormy eyes. "Maybe you're not completely hopeless after all," he muttered.
Watching from Above
As the session dragged on, Kaidan felt a strange sensation creeping over him. Despite the pain, the training was starting to feel… manageable. His movements became sharper, his strikes more precise. The trainer noticed too, his eyes narrowing as he barked out new orders.
"You think this is easy now?" he snarled. "Fine. Let's make it harder. You're not leaving until you collapse."
The drills became more intense, each one designed to push Kaidan to his absolute limit. But he kept going, driven by a stubborn resolve that burned brighter with every step, every punch, every breath.
High above, in the shadowed confines of her quarters, Seris watched the scene unfold. Her violet eyes gleamed with interest as she leaned