Jake took the boys to the training ground, and the brothers were ecstatic the whole time, thinking about what kind of training they would undergo. Their minds raced with possibilities—swordplay, magic, strategy. Then, Jake finally spoke.
"Alright, welcome to the guild's training grounds. To begin, I will conduct some tests to assess your current abilities. Based on that, I'll create a training regimen for you. So, get ready. The first test will be a stamina test. Now, get to running!" Jake said excitedly.
"YES, SIR!" the boys shouted in unison before dashing forward.
The training grounds were vast, with a large open field surrounded by tall wooden barriers. The ground was packed dirt, worn down from years of warriors training relentlessly. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of sweat and determination. Other adventurers were scattered around, practicing with swords, casting spells, and wrestling each other to the ground in combat drills. Some of them paused their own training to watch the two young boys sprinting across the field.
"Those kids sure are energetic," one adventurer chuckled, crossing his arms as he observed them.
"I heard they're training under Jake. That's gonna be rough for them," another added, shaking her head with amusement.
Allen and James ran side by side, their short legs pumping as fast as they could. At first, it was exhilarating. The wind brushed against their faces, and they imagined themselves as mighty warriors charging into battle. But after a few minutes, their breaths grew heavy, and their legs ached.
Jake watched them with arms crossed. "Come on, boys! Keep it up! This is just the warm-up. A true adventurer needs endurance!"
James huffed, "Easy... for you to say..." he panted, sweat trickling down his forehead.
Allen shot his brother a determined glance. "No... way... I'm stopping first."
The competition between them pushed them forward, even as their bodies begged them to stop. But after several laps around the field, their bodies could take no more. James collapsed onto the dirt first, gasping for air, and Allen followed shortly after, his arms spread out as he lay on his back.
Some of the adventurers watching laughed. "They've got guts, I'll give them that."
Jake chuckled. "Not bad for a couple of kids. But we've got a long way to go. Now, up you go! We're not done yet."
The brothers groaned but obeyed, standing up on shaky legs.
"Next up, we test your strength," Jake announced. He led them to a series of wooden logs embedded into the ground, along with weighted training weapons.
"For this test, I want you to pick up these practice swords and strike these logs as hard as you can. Keep going until you can't swing anymore."
James eagerly grabbed one of the wooden swords, but as soon as he lifted it, his arms trembled. "This is heavier than I thought!" he said in surprise.
Allen lifted his own and nodded in agreement. "No kidding."
Jake smirked. "That's because real weapons aren't toys. Now, get to swinging!"
The boys gritted their teeth and started striking the logs. The first few swings were easy, but as the minutes passed, their arms burned from exhaustion. Jake watched carefully, nodding in approval as they pushed through their limits. Nearby, some adventurers noticed their efforts and commented among themselves.
"They're struggling, but they're not giving up. That's a good sign."
"If they survive Jake's training, they might turn into real fighters one day."
"Alright, that's enough," Jake finally said after what felt like an eternity. "Shake out those arms."
Allen let out a breath of relief, rolling his sore shoulders. "That... was brutal."
James nodded, rubbing his aching arms. "How do adventurers do this every day?"
Jake laughed. "Years of training, discipline, and sometimes just sheer stubbornness. Now, the last test—combat awareness."
He walked to the center of the training ground and gestured for the boys to follow. Several adventurers gathered nearby, sensing something interesting was about to happen.
"For this test, your goal is simple—land a single hit on me."
Allen and James blinked. "Wait... seriously?" James asked.
Jake grinned. "I won't attack, but I will dodge. If you can land even a single hit on me, I'll treat you both to a feast tonight."
Some of the adventurers laughed. "They don't stand a chance!"
"This'll be fun to watch."
Allen and James exchanged a look before nodding. They spread out, trying to approach Jake from different angles. Allen dashed forward first, swinging his wooden sword with all his might. Jake casually sidestepped, avoiding the strike with ease.
James took the opportunity to attack from behind, but Jake spun, narrowly avoiding the blow. "Good teamwork," he praised. "But you're too slow."
The boys kept attacking, trying to outmaneuver Jake, but no matter how hard they swung, he was always a step ahead. The onlooking adventurers chuckled and shouted playful encouragement.
"Come on, kids! Use your heads!"
"Think about your movements!"
Allen gritted his teeth. "We need a strategy."
James nodded, panting. "What if I distract him, and you go for the strike?"
Allen smirked. "Let's try it."
James lunged at Jake, swinging wildly to keep him occupied. Jake dodged effortlessly, chuckling. "You'll need more than that."
But at that moment, Allen, who had been circling around, suddenly leaped forward and thrust his sword toward Jake's back. Just when it seemed like he might land a hit, Jake twisted at the last second, grabbing Allen's wrist mid-swing.
"Almost," Jake said with a grin before releasing him. "You're getting better at thinking on your feet."
Allen sighed in defeat. "So close..."
James groaned. "I really wanted that feast..."
Jake laughed. "Tell you what, since you both showed good effort, I'll still treat you to something small. But no feast until you actually land a hit."
The boys' eyes lit up. "Deal!"
Jake clapped his hands. "That's it for today. Get some rest, because tomorrow's going to be even tougher."
The boys nodded eagerly, their exhaustion fading as excitement took over. As they left the training grounds and walked back toward the guild, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the city.
James looked at Allen. "Do you think we'll ever be strong enough to protect everyone?"
Allen thought for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. We just have to keep pushing forward. No matter how hard it gets."
James smiled. "Then let's do our best."
Little did they know, their journey was only beginning. Unbeknownst to them, the strange old man who had given them the masks watched from the shadows, his eyes filled with intrigue.
"Let's see if you boys are truly ready for the trials ahead," he murmured before vanishing into the darkness.