The Awakening Of The Shadows
Chapter 42: The Forge of Mind and Body

Chapter 42: The Forge of Mind and Body

Time at the Red Hollow base seemed to move differently. Days passed as if they were weeks, and each dawn brought new brutal challenges. Lian had lost count of how many days he had been there, subjected to training that tested not only his body but also his mind. His body was covered in bruises and fresh bandages, his clothes no longer had the clean shine they did when he arrived, and exhaustion had become a constant presence.

But at the same time, he was changing. His body was more resilient, his reflexes sharper. He no longer collapsed at the end of each training session, and his gaze, once filled with frustration, was now focused, determined.

However, Viktor did not seem satisfied.

"You’re still far from what I want to see," said the base captain, watching Lian with his sharp eyes.

Lian was breathing heavily, his hands dirty with dust after an intense hand-to-hand combat training session. Even after days of insane training, Viktor kept raising the difficulty level.

"I’ve improved a lot since I got here," Lian retorted, feeling a slight irritation mix with his fatigue.

"Improving doesn’t mean you’re good," Viktor replied, crossing his arms. "If you were good enough, you wouldn’t have been taken down like a dog in your last fight."

Lian gritted his teeth. Viktor knew exactly how to hit his weak spots. Even so, Lian liked having someone like him as his trainer. He had been too comfortable in the academy, even though Lena’s training was difficult, Viktor’s was on another level.

"Let’s see if your tongue is still sharp after the next training session," Viktor continued, pointing to an area of the training field.

Lian turned and saw a group of soldiers waiting for him. They looked at him with impassive expressions. None of them seemed impressed by his presence.

"Time to test your reflexes," Viktor said. "And before you ask, no, you can’t use your shadows."

Lian sighed. He had already expected that.

"The test is simple," Viktor said, tossing a piece of cloth at Lian. "Cover your eyes."

Lian obeyed without argument. As soon as he tied the blindfold, he felt a chill run down his spine. He was completely in the dark, and he knew Viktor was preparing something bad for him to handle.

"You have to dodge the attacks without seeing anything. Trust your instincts. If you fail... you’ll get hurt. So don’t fail."

Before he could respond, the first strike came.

Lian didn’t even realize it, but he felt an impact directly on his shoulder. He stumbled backward, surprised. Another hit struck his ribs, forcing him to bend over.

"Forget the pain and focus on your senses, sharpen your instincts," Viktor said from somewhere nearby. "Your body needs to react before your mind does."

Lian took a deep breath. He tried to ignore his thoughts and focus only on the sounds around him, the footsteps on the dirt, the slight change in his attackers’ breathing.

Another strike came. This time, Lian managed to move his body to the side, barely dodging it.

"Better," Viktor murmured. "But not good enough... yet."

The training continued. The attacks came from all directions. Lian dodged some, but others hit his body. He started noticing small patterns in the attacks, and as the minutes passed, he felt he was adapting.

Until suddenly, the attacks stopped.

Lian remained still, still focused, but the silence was absolute. For a brief moment, he lost concentration, thinking it was over.

That was when an unexpected kick struck his leg, knocking him to his knees.

"Never lower your guard," Viktor said with a grin. Lian couldn’t see it, but he imagined Viktor was smiling at his suffering. "Danger doesn’t always come when you expect it."

After the reflex training, Viktor led Lian to a new challenge.

"Now, let’s see how you do against real opponents."

Lian looked at the three soldiers standing before him. Unlike the previous training sessions, where the blows were more "controlled," these men seemed ready to hurt him for real.

"Your goal is simple... Survive."

Lian barely had time to process the words before the first soldier charged.

He ducked at the last second, avoiding a direct punch to the face. But another attacker came from behind and hit him with a strong kick to the back, sending him to the ground.

Lian rolled away before another blow could land. He quickly got back on his feet and tried to counterattack, but was met with a punch to the stomach.

The pain was intense, but he didn’t fall.

The soldiers kept attacking, and little by little, Lian began to understand their movements. He moved more precisely, dodging, absorbing the impacts where he could.

But it was still not enough.

After several minutes of fighting, Lian collapsed, exhausted.

"That was a joke," one of the soldiers muttered.

Viktor approached, looking down at Lian.

"Again," he ordered.

Lian clenched his fists and, even with his body screaming in protest, got back up.

To finish the day, Viktor gave Lian one last test.

"Take this bucket," Viktor ordered, tossing a metal container at Lian.

"What do I do with this?" Lian asked, confused.

"Hold it above your head. And don’t let it fall."

Lian lifted the bucket and immediately felt the extra weight inside. Water.

"This is a test of patience. Let’s see if your mind can endure as much as your body."

At first, it seemed easy. But then the soldiers started provoking him.

Small stones were thrown at his legs.

Someone gave him a light shove, just enough to unbalance him.

Time passed. His arms began to tremble.

Lian felt frustration rising. He wanted to react, to knock down the ones laughing at him.

But then he remembered Viktor’s words.

"If you lose to anger, you’ve already lost the fight."

He took a deep breath. Focused on the bucket. On the weight, the balance.

And he remained firm. The soldiers stopped laughing.

Viktor just smiled.

"Good," Viktor murmured, showing a small smirk.

When the day ended, Lian was on the ground again, exhausted. But something felt different.

He didn’t just feel pain.

He felt progress.

Viktor looked at him, his eyes analyzing every detail.

"You’re still weak."

Lian gave a faint smile, even with his battered body.

"Then I just have to get stronger."

For the first time, Viktor didn’t respond with sarcasm or mockery. He simply gave a slight nod.

And for Lian, that was enough.

The training was far from over. But now, he knew he was on the right path.