Chương 2: Chapter 2 : Fluctuation
Every breath feels like a dagger piercing my chest. The cold has dug into my skin, leaving a bitter frostbite that gnaws at my bones, and my body aches from the endless climb up the mountain. My eyes are blurry, and my legs tremble, struggling to keep me standing.
"Keep up!" The commander's sharp voice cuts through the howling wind as we trudge through snow that reaches our knees. Some recruits have already collapsed, and others are sobbing, too weak to continue. We are ordered to carry the fallen. I knew this training would be tough, but this—this is hell.
"How are you holding up?" a recruit beside me asks, his voice strained.
"I'm holding up…" I reply, panting. "How about you?"
"I'm trying," he says, though his voice betrays the effort. A weak smile spreads across his face. "There's not much distance left. We can make it."
"Recruits!" the commander roars. "If you have the time and energy to talk, pick up your pace!"
The chatter dies immediately, and we push forward. As we walk, I begin to feel the warmth of the base ahead. It's close. The dome-like barrier that surrounds it glows faintly in the dark, casting an inviting light. The second I cross the threshold, I crumple to my knees, too exhausted to move. Every breath comes with a fresh wave of pain, as though my muscles are slowly being torn apart.
"Attention!" The vice commander's order is a sudden, jarring interruption to my fleeting moment of rest. Every recruit groans in discomfort, struggling to rise to our feet.
I let out a frustrated sigh, and the commander's sharp gaze turns to me.
"Do you have something to say, recruit?"
"No, sir," I reply, quickly composing myself.
"Recruits, gather yourselves and rest for an hour," the commander commands, his tone cold and relentless. "We descend after your rest is over."
An hour's rest. Then we descend. I feel the weight of the words settle on me. Can I survive this? My body has never been tested like this before. Others are already dragging themselves to their camps, preparing for what little rest we're allowed. I try to move, but my legs feel like they're made of straw. I collapse again, and with every ounce of strength I have left, I crawl to my camp. It's excruciating, but the thought of lying in bed keeps me going. When I finally make it, I don't bother cleaning up. I pull myself onto the bed and immediately pass out, the day's trials catching up with me.
An Hour Later
"Rise and shine, recruits!" the vice commander's voice is as loud as ever. "Let's get down that mountain!"
An hour? It felt like a minute. My legs still ache, but I can at least stand. Slowly, I rise from my bed, grab my equipment, and make my way outside. The other recruits look just as drained as I feel. The sky is still dark, and we make our descent with only torches to guide us.
"Is everyone here?" the commander calls out, turning to his vice who had just finished the headcount.
"Yes, sir. All recruits accounted for."
"Good. Let us descend," he commands, leading us onward.
As we begin to move, I feel a tap on my back. I turn to see the recruit who walked beside me during the climb up.
"Hey, how are you holding up?" he whispers, his voice barely audible over the crunch of snow.
"Thanks for asking," I reply, offering a tired smile. "I'm fine. And you?"
"I'm trying to survive," he says, and a faint smile creeps onto his face, though it looks more like a desperate attempt to keep his spirits up. "It's not much further, right?"
"I think so," I reply.
"Drefan Hull," he introduces himself, stretching out his hand for a handshake.
"Kairos Valorin," I reply, shaking his hand. The name seems to catch him off guard.
"Valorin?" His eyes widen. "Are you related to Archeon Valorin?"
I nod, and he looks at me with a mix of awe and nervousness. Before he can speak further, the commander turns back, sending a glare that chills us both. We fall silent, the rest of the descent continuing in awkward tension.
Finally, We Made It
By the time we reach the bottom, I can barely feel my legs. They're like lead beneath me. I glance at Drefan, who has collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
"We made it," he says, a wide smile spreading across his face. I can't help but return it. The climb and descent were grueling, but we made it through. In the battlefield, I'll face worse. At least, now I feel a little stronger for it.
"Attention!" The commander's voice cuts through the air, and we all snap to attention.
"Congratulations, recruits. You've completed physical training," he announces. "You deserve a good rest. By order of the council, you are granted a week's rest before your magic and combat training begins. You may leave the base, but you must sign out and return on time. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" we all yell, unable to hide the excitement in our voices. The second the commander leaves, a wave of celebration erupts. Finally, I can go home and see my parents again. It's been over two years since they saw me off. Suddenly, I feel lighter, no longer weighed down by exhaustion. I rush to my camp to pack my things, ready to leave for home.
"Hey, Kairos," Drefan calls from my camp's entrance. "Can I stay with you? I'm from Nepo, and it's too far to travel in a week."
Nepo is in the far eastern region of Orai. I think about it for a moment before nodding. "Sure, why not? I'll just let my parents know I'm bringing someone."
"Really? Thanks, man!" Drefan's face lights up with relief and gratitude.
"We leave at dawn tomorrow."
The Next Day (2:00 AM)
I wake far too early, my excitement too great to let me sleep. I step outside my camp, hoping to clear my mind with a walk before the journey home. The base is alive with activity as several recruits are awake, drinking, talking, and walking around. I head towards the gates, wondering how things are at home. I hope my parents are well.
As I walk, I sense a strange fluctuation in the mana around me. I stop in my tracks, searching the darkness, and I see it—a dark silhouette standing near the gates. Its glowing eyes lock with mine for a brief moment before it vanishes, leaving me bewildered.
What was that? I try to rationalize it—am I hallucinating from the exhaustion? I don't know, but I feel strangely unthreatened. It didn't feel malicious. I shake my head and head back to camp, deciding to get more rest before we leave.
Noon
After a long journey, Drefan and I finally reach my family's mansion. The gates open, and we are greeted by my parents and the staff. My mother rushes to embrace me.
"Kairos, my lovely boy," she exclaims, holding me tightly.
"Hi, mother," I say, struggling to breathe. "I missed you, too."
My father steps forward, his face breaking into a proud smile. "There's my little knight." He pats my head affectionately, and we share a quiet laugh.
"Who's your friend, Kairos?" my mother asks, noticing Drefan.
"Mother, Father, this is Drefan Hull. He's a fellow recruit."
"Nice to meet you, young man," my father says, offering a firm handshake.
"The pleasure is mine, sir," Drefan says, excitement barely contained in his voice.
My mother laughs softly, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Nice to meet you, Drefan."
"Shall we make our way into the mansion? You must be exhausted," my mother says, ushering us inside.
The afternoon passes with Drefan asking questions about my father's battles, and we all enjoy a quiet lunch together.
Night
Later that night, I lie in bed, exhausted but content. The familiarity of home, the comfort of my own room, and the quiet peace of being with family are all I need. But as I close my eyes, I see it again—the mana fluctuates, this time forming a trail. I follow it out to the balcony and then beyond the gate. There, I see it again—a dark figure with glowing eyes, staring at me before vanishing into the night. I'm too tired to think much of it. It doesn't feel dangerous, so I let it go.
I return to my bed, too weary to consider it further, and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The Next Morning
I wake up feeling better than I have in days. The warmth of the mansion and the comfort of my family have done wonders. I head to breakfast, eager for my mother's cooking, which I've missed more than I realized.
As I step out of my room, I bump into Drefan. I almost forgot he was staying here, too.
"Good morning, Kairos," he greets me cheerfully.
"Good morning, Drefan," I smile back. "Ready for breakfast?"
"Not yet. I was told to meet in the dining hall."
"Alright, let's go." I lead the way, and Drefan marvels at the mansion, clearly in awe of the place.
"Your home is amazing. I wish I lived here," he says, his voice filled with admiration.
"It's a bit grand, but I wouldn't trade it for anything," I reply with a slight grin. "You're always welcome to visit, you know."
Drefan's smile widens at my offer, and we make our way to the dining hall.
The rest of breakfast is calm, with the occasional conversation about training. My father informs me that a new teacher will arrive soon to prepare me for magic and combat training. Drefan is invited to join as well, much to his delight.
I feel the weight of the days ahead settle
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