The next day, each of the three woke up to the sound of knocking on their doors. Ki opened his door to find Kenji standing there. Septh opened hers to find Hannah. Zephyr opened his door to find one of the soldiers. They all said the same thing: "It's time for your training."
Kenji led Ki to a dense forest. Hannah led Septh to the grand library. Zephyr was led to the soldiers' camp. As they walked, each of them felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
In the forest, Ki followed Kenji closely, his eyes scanning their surroundings. Suddenly, Kenji vanished into a cloud of smoke. Ki's senses went on high alert. He spun around, searching for any sign of Kenji. Without warning, Kenji appeared behind him, launching a surprise attack. Ki managed to dodge just in time, only for Kenji to disappear again.
At the camp, Zephyr received a hard punch from Clayman, who stood waiting. "What was that for?" Zephyr demanded, clutching his bleeding nose.
"You're late and slow-moving. Now, follow me," Clayman barked, turning on his heel.
Zephyr, still rubbing his nose, followed the general deeper into the camp. The sound of wooden swords clashing grew louder with every step. They reached a clearing where soldiers were dueling. Some were overpowering their opponents, while others matched them blow for blow.
"This, kid, is where you will learn hell," Clayman said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
In the library, illuminated by the warm glow of torches, Hannah offered Septh a seat. Septh sat down as Hannah retrieved a chessboard.
"Do you know how to play this game?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, it's my favorite game," Septh replied, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Then show me your skills," Hannah challenged.
They arranged the pieces and began to play. Septh concentrated hard but eventually lost to Hannah. It was the first time in a long while that Septh had been defeated. She had won many chess competitions, but Hannah proved to be a formidable opponent.
"Hmm, it seems your vision is still lacking, but that's okay. I can help you improve," Hannah said with a smile, noticing Septh's astonishment.
Meanwhile, in the forest, Kenji continued his hit-and-run tactics, testing Ki's reflexes and endurance. Ki was frustrated but determined, his mind racing with questions. He recalled the dark creature that had swallowed them into this world but shook off the thoughts to focus on the training.
At the camp, Clayman pushed Zephyr hard, making him spar with several soldiers. Each blow and block tested his limits, but Zephyr's athletic background helped him endure.
In the library, Hannah taught Septh advanced strategies and tactics, explaining each move and its implications. Septh listened intently, absorbing every bit of knowledge.
By the end of the day, Ki, Zephyr, and Septh were exhausted but had faced new challenges that pushed them beyond their limits. They had taken the first steps on their paths to becoming stronger.