Morning belonged to silence.
Rudra reached the school ground before sunrise, shoes in hand, the grass still damp beneath his feet. The world felt paused—no whistles, no shouts, no competition.
Only movement.
He placed a tennis ball against the wall of the old storage shed and stepped back two paces.
Throw.
Catch.
Throw.
Catch.
The ball rebounded unpredictably, angles changing, speed inconsistent. His eyes tracked it, hands responding a fraction faster each time.
Miss.
Reset.
Again.
Reflex
Lv 04 (15 / 100 EXP) → (19 / 100 EXP)
He increased the pace.
Throw. Catch. Throw. Catch.
His breathing stayed steady. His feet adjusted unconsciously.
Reflex
Lv 04 (19 / 100 EXP) → (24 / 100 EXP)
A drop. A stumble.
He stopped immediately.
Not frustration—assessment.
Fatigue dulled reaction. Pushing further would turn training into noise.
He slowed, finishing with controlled repetitions instead of speed.
Reflex
Lv 04 (24 / 100 EXP) → (28 / 100 EXP)
Satisfied, Rudra wiped his hands and left the ground before the sun fully rose.
Evenings belonged to chaos.
The same ground filled with voices, dust, and running feet. Friendly matches formed without planning, rules bending with every argument.
Rudra joined them.
This time, he didn't chase every ball. He waited. Read angles. Moved only when necessary.
A sharp edge flew toward him.
His body reacted before thought.
Hands closed.
Catch.
Reflex
Lv 04 (28 / 100 EXP) → (36 / 100 EXP)
Another ball skimmed low.
He dove instinctively, stopping it clean.
Reflex
Lv 04 (36 / 100 EXP) → (44 / 100 EXP)
The game flowed faster than before, but his world felt slower. Clearer.
Not effort.
Efficiency.
When the final play ended and boys scattered toward home, Rudra stood still for a moment, listening to his heartbeat settle.
Something shifted.
Reflex
Lv 04 (44 / 100 EXP) → (100 / 100 EXP)
Reflex Level Up!
Lv 04 → Lv 05
He didn't smile.
He simply nodded.
Morning had trained the body.
Evening had tested it.
And for the first time, the numbers reflected not just effort—
But adaptation.