The next morning, Zenith woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the faint rustling of leaves. For a moment, he thought he might have dreamed everything—the war, Nyra, Selene, and his so-called powers.
Then he opened his eyes and saw Nyra standing over him, arms crossed, her dark armor gleaming in the sunlight.
"Get up," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Can I at least pretend to be asleep for five more minutes?" Zenith groaned, pulling his blanket over his head.
Nyra smirked and yanked the blanket away. "Nope. Training starts now."
Erya stood nearby, sharpening her sword. "Don't baby him, Nyra. The sooner he gets knocked around, the sooner he'll toughen up."
Zenith sighed, dragging himself to his feet. "Great. Can't wait to be everyone's punching bag."
The First Lesson:
The clearing Nyra led them to was spacious, with soft grass underfoot and a stream trickling nearby. It looked peaceful—too peaceful for what Zenith suspected was about to happen.
Mimi, the second woman who had arrived with Nyra, was already waiting there. Her fiery red hair was tied back in a braid, and her figure-hugging training outfit left little to the imagination. Zenith found his eyes lingering for a moment too long before quickly looking away, his face turning crimson.
Nyra noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Distracted already? This is going to be a long day."
"I wasn't—" Zenith started, but Mimi cut him off with a grin.
"It's fine. Let's see how long he can keep up before he collapses."
Erya leaned against a tree, clearly enjoying the show. "This is going to be good."
Nyra clapped her hands. "Alright, Zenith. First, we need to gauge your control over this power of yours. Try to summon the energy you used in the valley."
Zenith scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah… about that. I don't really know how I did it. It just… happened."
Mimi rolled her eyes. "Of course it did. Alright, close your eyes and focus. Imagine the energy within you, like a flame waiting to ignite."
Zenith sighed and did as she said, closing his eyes and trying to concentrate. But the faint sound of Mimi's voice—along with the occasional bounce of her figure as she demonstrated a technique—made it almost impossible.
"Focus, Zenith," Nyra said sharply.
"I am focusing!" he protested, opening one eye. "It's just… hard."
"Noticed," Erya muttered under her breath, earning a smirk from Mimi.
The Physical Training:
After several failed attempts to summon his power, Nyra and Mimi switched tactics.
"Your body isn't prepared for the strain of controlling your energy," Nyra explained. "We'll build your strength and stamina first."
Mimi led him through a grueling series of exercises—push-ups, squats, and sprints around the clearing. Nyra supervised with her arms crossed, occasionally correcting his form.
By the third lap, Zenith was gasping for air, sweat dripping down his face.
"You're doing great!" Mimi said cheerfully, jogging beside him with infuriating ease. Her bright smile and bouncing… enthusiasm didn't help his concentration.
"This… is… torture," Zenith wheezed, his legs threatening to give out.
Nyra smirked. "You wanted to be part of this, didn't you? Welcome to the real work."
Zenith collapsed onto the grass, staring up at the sky. "I didn't sign up for this. I just wanted to survive, not become some magical war hero."
Mimi crouched beside him, her expression surprisingly gentle. "You can do this, Zenith. The power inside you is real—we just need to bring it out. But you've got to put in the effort."
The Breakthrough:
Hours later, with every muscle in his body aching, Zenith stood in the clearing, facing Nyra and Mimi.
"Alright," Nyra said, her tone softer now. "Let's try again. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and focus on the energy within you."
This time, Zenith pushed past the exhaustion and distractions. He took a deep breath and visualized a glowing light in his chest, growing brighter with each heartbeat.
He felt a warmth spread through his body, followed by a faint hum of energy.
"There it is," Nyra said softly. "Good. Now direct it outward—slowly."
Zenith extended his hand, and a faint, shimmering glow surrounded his fingers. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Not bad," Mimi said, genuinely impressed. "For someone who spent most of the day drooling over us."
Zenith's face turned red. "I wasn't—okay, maybe a little. But in my defense, you're both very distracting."
Erya laughed loudly from the sidelines. "Honesty! That's a first."
Nyra shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're hopeless. But at least you're making progress."
Zenith grinned, the glow in his hand flickering slightly. "Does this mean I get a break now?"
Mimi patted his shoulder. "You've earned it, hero. But don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow's going to be even tougher."
Zenith groaned, collapsing onto the grass again. As he stared up at the sky, he couldn't help but feel a small flicker of pride. For the first time, he believed he might actually have a chance.