Lucian followed Amelia through the labyrinthine halls of the Shadow Citadel, his footsteps echoing against the polished black floors. The faint hum of energy in the walls seemed to pulse in time with his quickening heartbeat. His body still bore traces of soreness from the past few days, a constant reminder of his recent trials, but something deeper had begun to stir within him. Beneath the fatigue and uncertainty, a faint ember of curiosity burned. Whatever this training entailed, it had to be better than sitting around feeling helpless—or so he told himself.
When they entered the training room, Lucian stopped in his tracks. The space was enormous, its walls lined with sleek, high-tech equipment that looked both futuristic and foreboding. Overhead, a web of glowing lights cast an eerie purple hue, reflecting off the polished metallic surfaces. The centerpiece of the room was a circular platform surrounded by hovering drones, their smooth, black exteriors interrupted only by glowing orbs that pulsed faintly like watchful eyes.
Amelia strode ahead, her presence as commanding as ever, and gestured toward the platform. "Step onto it," she ordered. "This is a reflex-training simulator. The drones will fire small, non-lethal projectiles at random intervals. Your job is to dodge, deflect, or block them."
Lucian raised an eyebrow, eyeing the drones with suspicion. "Non-lethal, huh? Define 'non-lethal.'"
"They won't kill you," Amelia replied, her tone dry. "But they'll sting. Badly."
He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "Of course. Why not?" With a reluctant shrug, he stepped onto the platform, his sneakers making a faint scuffing sound against the glowing surface.
Before the training began, Amelia handed him a sleek bottle filled with a strange, shimmering liquid. The iridescent colors swirled hypnotically, and Lucian frowned as he held it up to the light.
"What's in this?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "It looks like something that would turn me into a mutant."
Amelia's gaze sharpened, a flicker of impatience crossing her features. "It's a replenishment shake. Packed with nutrients and energy. Drink it, Lucian."
With a dramatic sigh, he tipped the bottle back and took a cautious gulp. To his surprise, the taste was sweet, with a hint of citrus, and he found himself taking another, larger sip. Almost immediately, a wave of warmth coursed through his body, spreading from his core to his limbs. His muscles seemed to relax, the fatigue in his bones easing as a surge of energy replaced it.
"Not bad," he admitted, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Do I get a refill?"
Amelia ignored the comment, her fingers dancing across the console. The drones buzzed to life, spreading out in a semi-circle around him. Their glowing orbs brightened as they took aim, the low hum of their motors filling the air.
"Training begins now," she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Before Lucian could react, one of the drones fired a small, glowing projectile directly at him. He yelped, ducking just in time to avoid it. His heart raced as another shot came toward him, forcing him to sidestep clumsily.
"Focus," Amelia called out, her voice stern. "The drones will accelerate as the session progresses. Use your instincts."
Lucian muttered a curse under his breath, narrowly dodging a third shot. The fourth grazed his shoulder, sending a sharp sting through his arm. He winced, glaring at Amelia. "Seriously? These things hurt!"
"They're supposed to," she replied coolly, her arms crossed. "Pain is an excellent teacher."
As the session continued, Lucian's initial complaints gave way to concentration. The drones moved faster, their attacks becoming more erratic and difficult to predict. Each dodge and sidestep came with growing effort, his breath hitching with every narrow miss. Despite the challenge, he couldn't help but crack a few jokes between dodges.
"You know," he said, ducking under a particularly fast shot, "this is starting to feel personal. Did you program these things to hate me?"
Amelia smirked faintly. "You're not important enough for them to hate."
The drones didn't relent in their relentless assault. Forcing Lucian to stay on his toes. His movements grew more fluid, his reflexes sharpening with each attempt. Yet the stinging impacts of missed dodges left his body trembling, sweat pouring down his face and neck. His muscles screamed in protest, but a flicker of pride burned within him. He was surviving.
"Focus, Lucian," Amelia barked as another shot whizzed past his ear. "You can't afford to get sloppy."
By the time Amelia called for a halt, Lucian was drenched in sweat, his legs trembling from exertion. The drones powered down, retreating silently to their charging stations. He collapsed onto the edge of the platform, panting heavily, his hands braced against his knees.
"That was… horrible," he managed between gasps.
Amelia approached, handing him another bottle filled with a light green liquid. "Energy replenisher. Drink it. Lunch is next."
He took the bottle gratefully, chugging it down in a few gulps. The refreshing taste was a welcome reprieve, and the immediate boost of energy left him feeling slightly more human.
"Not bad," he said, wiping his mouth. "But next time, maybe don't set the drones to 'sadist.'"
Amelia ignored the comment, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "That was a baseline session. The real work begins tomorrow."
Lucian groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. Despite the exhaustion, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't running from his weaknesses—he was confronting them head-on. One step at a time, he thought, rising to his feet. I'll get stronger. No matter what it takes.