Aika stirred awake, Zara Blitz's sharp voice cutting through her groggy haze like a slap.
"Get up, recruit!" Zara barked, her commanding tone bouncing off the stark walls.
Aika jolted upright, her breath catching as her heart raced. She blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The room was simple and unwelcoming, its plain walls and cold floors a stark reminder that this wasn't home. Her soft brown eyes darted to the imposing figure standing at the foot of her bed.
"I—I'm sorry! I didn't mean to oversleep!" Aika blurted, scrambling to smooth her messy silver hair. She fidgeted with the hem of her uniform, bowing quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush. She looked so flustered it was almost comedic, her hands nervously smoothing imaginary wrinkles as if that would undo her mistake.
Zara thudded her staff against the floor, the sound echoing like a hammer striking metal. "Apologies won't save you when Lionel's forces are at your doorstep. You're here to train, not sleep!"
The mention of Lionel's name froze Aika in place. Her chest tightened, and her vision blurred as flashes of that horrible day filled her mind. She saw flames swallowing entire streets, people screaming, and the overwhelming shadow of Lionel towering over everything. Her fists clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms. Don't cry. Not here.
"I—I'll do better," she whispered, her voice trembling as she bowed again. "I promise." Her silver hair fell forward, shielding her teary eyes.
Zara frowned slightly, but her tone remained sharp. "What's with you? You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you even cut out for this?"
Aika straightened, though her legs felt shaky. She forced herself to speak, her voice soft but steady. "Yes, ma'am. I'll work hard. I promise."
Zara grunted, muttering to herself, "This girl… apologizing won't get her anywhere." She turned sharply, motioning toward the door. "Follow me. Training starts now."
Aika hurried to slip into her boots, nearly tripping over herself as she scrambled to follow Zara. The training area they entered was massive, with walls lined in glowing crystals that pulsed faintly, casting an eerie glow. Magical equipment of all shapes and sizes was scattered throughout the space, and the air felt charged, humming faintly with unseen energy. Aika took it all in with wide eyes, her nerves doubling with each step.
"You've got a lot of magical potential," Zara said as she stopped in the center of the room, turning to face Aika. "But potential doesn't mean anything if you can't use it. So, tell me—what's driving you? Revenge? Do you want Lionel to pay? To destroy those who've hurt you?"
The question hit Aika like a blow. She faltered, her breath catching in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked down, struggling to find her voice. She swallowed hard, pushing the memories back.
"No," she said softly at first, then looked up, her voice firmer despite the tears spilling down her cheeks. "No, I don't want revenge."
Her hands pressed against her chest as she continued, her words rushing out. "I want to help my friends. I hate the thought of them getting hurt. If there's anything I can do to protect them, I'll do it. That's all I want—to be strong enough to keep them safe."
Zara watched her, a flicker of something unreadable in her sharp gaze. "You're not like most recruits," she said, her tone slightly softer. "But that doesn't mean you'll get special treatment."
Aika nodded quickly, brushing away her tears. "I don't expect it to be easy. I'll work hard."
Zara smirked faintly and motioned toward a door behind her. "Good. If that's true, let's start with something real."
She swung the door open, revealing a room packed with magical beasts in various states of injury. The creatures emitted soft whimpers and growls, their glowing forms dimmed by sickness or pain. Aika hesitated as she took in the scene, her heart aching at the sight.
"I spent the better part of my morning gathering these beasts," Zara said, leaning on her staff. "And believe me, hauling them here wasn't fun." She shot Aika a pointed look. "While you were snoozing, I was doing all the heavy lifting."
Aika's face burned with embarrassment. She bowed deeply. "I'm so sorry! Thank you for going to all that effort!"
"Don't thank me yet," Zara said, tossing a sleek, glowing glove into Aika's hands. The device buzzed faintly as she caught it. "Your job is to heal them. Every single one."
Aika blinked at the glove, turning it over nervously. "I've never done anything like this before."
"It's not complicated," Zara said, folding her arms. "Picture the beast healthy. Imagine its pain gone. Then let the magic flow."
Aika knelt beside a wolf-like creature whose shimmering fur was dull and patchy. She gently placed her hand on its side, hesitating before closing her eyes. She tried to focus, imagining the creature whole again. A faint silver glow appeared, spreading from her hand to the wolf. Its fur brightened, its eyes opening as it stirred. The wolf stood on unsteady legs, then nuzzled her hand affectionately.
"I… I did it," Aika whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.
Zara arched a brow. "Not bad for your first attempt," she said, her tone neutral. Then she gestured to the rest of the room. "Now do that 300 more times."
"Three hundred?" Aika's jaw dropped as she looked around. Her arms already felt heavy from the first spell.
"You said you'd work hard, didn't you?" Zara said, smirking. "Better get to it. And don't think you're done after this—we're moving straight into combat training."
Aika's stomach sank as she stared at the line of creatures waiting for her help. She sighed, the weight of exhaustion already creeping in. I'm not getting any sleep, am I?
Shaking her head to clear the thought, she adjusted the glove and knelt beside the next creature. "Alright. Let's do this," she murmured, determination flickering despite her nerves.