Once everyone had finished their evening meal, several gray-robed attendants moved in with quiet efficiency, collecting the used trays and utensils. One by one, the disciples drifted off in pairs or small groups, their hushed voices mingling with the soft hush of night. Aziel and Yi Chen rose to their feet, stretching their stiff muscles before stepping out through the pavilion's open sides, where a gentle, cooling breeze greeted them.
They walked side by side along the wooden walkway leading to the dormitory, their footsteps resonating on the polished planks. Somewhere in the distance, the clang of metal rang out through the darkness—a reminder that advanced disciples were still honing their swordsmanship, undeterred by the late hour. Soft lantern light spilled across the courtyard, casting long shadows on the walls.
Aziel let his gaze wander to the mist-shrouded mountaintop rising behind the courtyard. In the dim glow, the structures perched atop that lofty peak looked simultaneously grand and foreboding, as though guarding untold secrets.
"I suppose we ought to get some rest," Yi Chen said, stifling a yawn as he rubbed his tired eyes. "Tomorrow's bound to be just as tough. Maybe we'll get a chance to redeem ourselves in the sparring sessions—though, honestly, I'm still sore from today…"
His voice trailed off when he noticed Aziel's distracted stare. "Hey, are you listening?"
Aziel nodded without speaking. His attention was fixed elsewhere, his mind already drifting toward other concerns.
They soon returned to their cramped dormitory room, where Hui Feng—the stocky youth who had earlier glared at Aziel—lay sprawled on a bunk across from theirs. Next to Hui Feng, a hardened-looking boy with a split lip sat on the lower bunk, carefully wrapping a bandage around his forearm.
At the sound of the door, Kang Wei straightened from his place against the wall, his eyes narrowing at Aziel. For a moment, it looked like he was about to say something, but he merely snorted and went back to fiddling with his robe.
Aziel ignored him and turned to Yi Chen, who let out a weary sigh as he collapsed onto his bunk.
"Hey," Yi Chen murmured, waving Aziel closer. "W-whatever you do, don't look Kang Wei in the eye… I-I'm exhausted, so I'm just going to sleep."
"Yeah, sure," Aziel said in an offhand manner. "Get some rest. I'm heading out to get in more practice. I still need to figure out how to sense Qi."
Alarmed, Yi Chen suddenly sat upright. He glanced anxiously at Aziel before cautioning him. "You should really rest. Morning drills are tough and exhausting—you won't be able to keep up if you're dead on your feet. You could also practice in here—"
"I'll be fine," Aziel replied, waving away the concern. "It's too cramped in here. I need open space to focus."
"But—"
"Goodnight, Yi Chen. And thanks for your help today."
Without waiting for a response, Aziel slipped out of the dormitory and made his way back to the training grounds. Rows of wooden dummies stood in silent lines beneath a bright moon, which cast pale light over the entire field.
Inhaling deeply, Aziel lowered himself to a cross-legged position on the packed earth, then closed his eyes. Once more, he tried to visualize the elusive flow of Qi, summoning every ounce of concentration he could muster. Slowly exhaling, he attuned each of his senses to the faintest disturbance in the air. It was a frigid night, and his thin robe did little to ward off the biting cold.
But Aziel had known worse. In the slums, he had survived colder nights with far less clothing. Though he was tired now, he remembered the countless nights he had stayed awake, guarding his meager possessions so they wouldn't be stolen while he and Anais had no place to call home.
No matter what it took, Aziel would return to her. He had a quest to complete, and he would see it through. That thought fueled his determination as he remained motionless, eyes shut, doing everything in his power to sense Qi.
Minutes bled into hours, the stillness of the night broken only by the sound of his calm, even breathing. The moon glided across the sky, and eventually, the first hints of dawn began to brighten the horizon.
***
Aziel's eyes fluttered open as the sun began its slow ascent, painting the eastern sky in pale gold. He realized that several hours had slipped by since he had first taken his seat.
Yet he had felt nothing—no familiar current, no surge of energy. Occasionally, he thought he sensed something stirring, but each time he dismissed it as wishful thinking. Could it be that he had no gift for sensing Qi? Was it just like his inability to awaken Mana in his previous world and body?
He had no answers. Still, he refused to let disappointment consume him. He continued to sit there, stubbornly trying again and again, until the morning calm gave way to the sound of disciples pouring out of their dormitories behind him.
Whispers of surprise reached his ears, unsettling his fragile concentration. Irritated, he opened his eyes and discovered that the other disciples had formed rows on the training field.
Before he could stand and ask what was happening, a trembling hand came to rest on his shoulder. Turning around, he found Yi Chen standing there, his expression a mixture of worry and disbelief.
"A-Aziel, did you really spend the whole night out here?" Yi Chen asked, his voice trembling.
Aziel glanced at the brightening sky, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the glare. Then he stood and answered, "Morning drills already, huh…"
"They're starting in a few minutes," Yi Chen said. "But that's not important right now. You—"
"Yeah, I was here all night and couldn't sense anything," Aziel muttered. He rubbed the dark circles under his eyes. "I feel like shit."
Yi Chen fell silent for a moment, then exhaled in exasperation. "...Come with me."
Saying nothing more, he guided Aziel to the communal washing area so he could rinse off, brush his teeth, and otherwise prepare himself for the new day.
***
Once they had cleaned up and grabbed their belongings, they hurried back to the training grounds. There, they found Instructor Wu stationed before ten rows of assembled disciples. The lines were uneven, and Aziel couldn't tell exactly how many disciples had gathered.
It looked as if Aziel and Yi Chen were the last to arrive, but it seemed they had made it in time, as Instructor Wu didn't reprimand them.
"Since everyone is here, let's not waste any time," Instructor Wu announced, his tone clipped and commanding. "Run ten laps around the training field. Pace yourselves, but I don't want to see anyone lag behind. Afterward, drop down and give me one hundred push-ups. Strength begins with discipline. Now—begin!"
Immediately, the rows of disciples sprang into motion, jogging around the perimeter of the field in a steady flow of green robes. Aziel fell in step beside Yi Chen, determined not to lag behind.
He wasn't entirely sure what this day's training would entail, but he planned to push through it as efficiently as possible so he could return to his cultivation attempts. He might have failed at sensing Qi through the long hours of the previous night, but his resolve was even stronger now. Today, he vowed, would be different.