The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the mountain path. Njuwa and Jengo lay sprawled at the base, their chests rising and falling in ragged breaths. Their bodies ached beyond anything they had ever known, yet they were still expected to continue.
Nyoka stood above them, her sharp eyes betraying no sympathy. "Rest is for the weak. Get up."
Jengo groaned. "I think my spirit left my body halfway down the mountain."
Nyoka smirked. "Then go find it. You'll need it for what comes next."
Njuwa didn't complain. His exhaustion was immense, but he had already learned that complaining changed nothing. He forced himself to his feet, his muscles screaming in protest.
Jengo reluctantly followed, muttering curses under his breath.
Nyoka gestured towards the training ground. "Now that your bodies are adjusting, it's time to test something new."
Njuwa straightened, curiosity flickering in his tired eyes. "What now?"
She pointed to a set of iron weights, each shaped like a thick bracelet. "Wear these."
Jengo eyed them warily. "They look heavy."
"They are." Nyoka picked up one and tossed it towards him. "But a warrior does not fight in comfort. Strength comes from burden. Endurance comes from struggle."
Njuwa caught his own set, grunting at the weight. Each bracelet was solid iron, and when he clasped them onto his wrists and ankles, the additional pressure made his legs feel like they were sinking into the earth.
Jengo groaned as he fastened his. "I swear, Nyoka, one day—"
"One day what?" she asked, amused.
Jengo sighed. "One day I'll find a way to get revenge for all this."
Nyoka chuckled. "You'll have to survive first."
The Weighted Struggle
"Your task is simple," Nyoka said. "Run to the far side of the valley and return."
Jengo's face twisted. "That's not simple at all."
Njuwa tested his movements, flexing his arms and legs. The weight was unnatural, pulling him down with every motion. His balance was off.
Nyoka crossed her arms. "If you can't move properly under pressure, you'll die in battle."
Njuwa exhaled and started forward. The first step nearly sent him to the ground. His muscles, already strained from climbing the mountain, protested against the extra weight.
Jengo staggered beside him. "This is ridiculous."
They moved slowly, each step a battle against the pull of the weights. The valley stretched ahead, seeming endless.
Njuwa adjusted his stance, spreading his weight evenly. He tried to move naturally, to let his body adapt. Step by step, he forced himself forward.
Jengo, on the other hand, was struggling. "Nyoka! I think I'm dying!"
"You'll be fine," she called back.
Jengo groaned. "You're a demon."
The ground beneath them was uneven, filled with small rocks and loose soil. Each step sent pain jolting through their legs, but stopping wasn't an option.
They pressed on.
By the time they reached the far end of the valley, both were drenched in sweat. Njuwa's legs trembled, but he forced himself to remain standing.
Jengo flopped onto the ground. "I need… a moment."
Nyoka arrived seconds later, her pace unfazed by the heat or terrain. "No rest. Back to the starting point."
Jengo let out a strangled cry. "You're a monster."
Nyoka smirked. "Move."
Njuwa took a deep breath and turned back. The return journey felt longer. His limbs burned, his lungs screamed for relief, but he clenched his jaw and kept moving.
Jengo cursed beside him, each step a battle of will.
They finally reached the starting point. Jengo collapsed. Njuwa barely remained standing.
Nyoka studied them with an approving nod. "Better. But not enough."
Jengo groaned. "Why do you always say that?"
"Because there is no 'enough' in war," she replied.
Breaking the Limits
The sun dipped lower, and Nyoka finally allowed them a short break. Njuwa sat in silence, staring at the iron bracelets still clasped around his wrists.
Jengo rubbed his sore legs. "How long are we supposed to wear these?"
Nyoka shrugged. "Until they no longer slow you down."
Jengo groaned. "So forever."
Njuwa flexed his fingers, testing the weight. He understood now. The goal wasn't just endurance. It was transformation.
Nyoka crouched beside them. "Tell me. What have you learned?"
Jengo wiped sweat from his forehead. "That I hate you."
She smirked. "Good. What about you, Njuwa?"
He thought for a moment before answering. "That the body adapts to what it endures."
Nyoka nodded approvingly. "Exactly."
She stood. "Now, again."
Jengo let out an exaggerated groan. "I should've been born a noble."
But he got up.
And so did Njuwa.
Because there was no other choice.