CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The mornings always started the same. The boys, Al and Shin, would wake up to the sound of their training bells and immediately begin their grueling routines—push-ups, running laps, and constant drills that pushed their bodies to the brink of exhaustion. The night would fall, and with it came the final punishment—being beaten senseless by Alexandri’s brutal methods, only to be revived in the large drum of healing water. It was a cycle, a relentless rhythm, one that they had grown numb to.

  But today? Today felt different.

  “Get up. We leave in an hour,” Alexandri’s cold voice echoed through the small room Al and Shin shared in the extension behind his mansion. No warning, no explanation. Just the command that had become all too familiar, but there was something in the air. A sense of foreboding.

  Al rubbed his eyes, his muscles already sore from the previous day's training. “What now? Another day of brutal drills?” he muttered, only half awake.

  “No. Pack what you need. We’re leaving the training ground. We’re going to the marsh.”

  Shin, who had been sitting cross-legged on his cot, turned to Al with a raised eyebrow. “The marsh? What's that place—” He trailed off, knowing that questioning Alexandri was never a good idea. Still, he had to ask. “Why? What are we going there for?”

  “I don’t have time to explain. Get ready,” Alexandri snapped, his tone leaving no room for debate.

  Al and Shin exchanged a look. There was no time to prepare a full strategy or even ask more questions. They grabbed their supplies—rations, water flasks, and the bare essentials—and met Alexandri by the front gate.

  As they approached, Alexandri was waiting, his usual stoic expression masking whatever thoughts might have been running through his mind. They had already kept him waiting "What happened, were you stalling for time or you were trying to make me impatient." "We have no time to waste." He held two heavy sacks in his hands and tossed them toward the boys.

  “Put these on. You’ll wear them until we reach the marsh. And don’t slow down,” Alexandri ordered.

  The sacks were heavier than they expected, the weight pressing down on their shoulders as they adjusted the straps. The air felt thicker than usual, a mix of tension and unease hanging between them.

  “Move out,” Alexandri barked, turning toward the distant road that led out of the city.

  At first, the run was manageable. Their training had prepared them for endurance, and for the first few kilometers, they felt confident. The road was smooth, the rhythm of their footsteps steady.

  But then, Alexandri’s voice cut through the air, as cold and commanding as ever. “Release your aura. Put it up and don’t stop running until we reach the marsh.”

  Al’s stomach dropped. He glanced at Shin, whose face had turned pale. “This monster is going to kill us before the arena does. How are we supposed to keep our auras up for the entire run?” Shin whispered, his voice tinged with panic.

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  Al didn’t have an answer. The idea of running 100 kilometers while pushing their aura to its limits felt impossible, for someone that was a mage this was uncharted territory for him, never had he once imagined he would be going through this sort of training program. But they couldn’t afford to fail—not with the consequences Alexandri had threatened. It genuinely felt like most times Alexandri enjoyed torturing the boys and he made them do things that weren't even related to training or would help them grow, like the time he had ambushed them all in the name of a surprise attack and they couldn't even fight back or when he ordered them to fetch things from the city within a specific time frame; like getting a sack of garlic and potatoes or flowers for the garden.

  And so, they pushed on.

  As they reached the outskirts of the city, the smooth road gave way to a bumpy, uneven path. The terrain became challenging, and every step felt like a battle against gravity. Their legs burned, and their lungs screamed for air, but Alexandri’s words echoed in their minds like a lash: **Failure would not be tolerated.**

  The hours dragged on. At times, it felt like they were running through a haze, their bodies moving on pure instinct. Al’s vision blurred, and his muscles screamed for respite, but the thought of failing, of what would happen if they gave in, kept them going. The idea of what Alexandri might do to them if they couldn’t keep up was worse than their exhaustion.

  The marsh was a thing of beauty covered by greenery and large tall trees, with water flowing through it. They could feel eyes locked on them as they passed through but none were hostile, their distant sound echoed deep in the woods. Which meant there were creatures here and monsters. By the time they finally reached the part of the marsh that was their destination, their bodies were on the verge of collapse. They couldn’t even collapse onto the ground, too exhausted to move. They simply stood there, gasping for breath, every muscle in their body trembling with the strain.

  Alexandri didn’t seem the least bit concerned by their condition. He tossed them two small water sacks, and they eagerly gulped down the liquid. Al nearly choked as the cool water hit his parched throat.

  “Careful,” Alexandri warned with a glint of amusement in his eyes. “You might think I’m being harsh, but you’ll come to thank me later. The marsh is not for sightseeing. It’s a place where you can grow, where you can truly unlock your aura attribute and go all out in your training.”

  Shin groaned, barely able to comprehend what he was hearing. “Unlock our aura attribute? We’re barely able to move as it is…”

  Alexandri continued, unfazed. “This place is rich in mana. The air, the water, the earth—it all holds an immense power. Your auras will take shape here, and if you’re serious about surviving the arena, this is where you’ll begin your true training.” He had been here in his younger days after he stumbled upon it, this place and its terrain also helped him grow into the man he was now and it was going to be useful once more in shaping the boys.

  Al, still trying to catch his breath, glanced around. The area of the marsh they were in was an open space thick with greenery and towering trees. The air was humid, and heavy with the scent of moss and earth.

  Alexandri’s eyes narrowed. “Now, take off those sacks.”

  As they dropped the bags, a loud thud echoed through the air. The sacks had been filled with weights. Al and Shin exchanged a look of disbelief. They’d been carrying the equivalent of rocks on their backs for the entire journey.

  “Now, go soak in the pond over there,” Alexandri ordered, pointing toward a small, crystal-clear pool fed by a stream that wound its way through the marsh.

  Both boys stumbled toward the water, too exhausted to protest. They stood at the edge of the pond, the cool water beckoning them to dip in and ease the burning in their muscles.

  But just as they were about to step in, they noticed Alexandri getting in the water after them their gaze fixed on him—sharp and skeptical fearing something worse was going to follow. His scars on his neck, which they had never dared to question, were clearly visible now. His body had been marked with signs of a battle, they knew the scar had a story behind it a story of survival, of pain, and of strength.

  Shin’s eyes lingered on the deep, jagged scar that ran down Alexandri’s neck to his chest, a permanent reminder of whatever horrors the man had faced. Al felt a surge of curiosity, one he couldn’t suppress.

  “How did you get those scars?” Al asked, his voice hesitant. “I mean, with your defenses...”

  Alexandri’s gaze shifted, cold and unreadable. “Maybe one day, when you can land a blow on me, I’ll tell you the story behind them. Until then, focus on your training. The waters here are also rich with healing properties because of the mana that flows through them. Let the water engulf you, and get acquainted with it. Let it seep into you and become one with your aura.”

  With that, Alexandri turned away, his eyes closing in a brief moment of silence. Al and Shin, still too exhausted to argue, dived into the pond as instructed, the cool water soothing their aching bodies.

  As they began to meditate, their minds stretching out to the water, intertwining their auras with the pure mana of the marsh, Alexandri watched them with a single, half-smiling expression.

  He didn’t speak aloud, but in his mind, he knew. With their intense focus and concentration, they would get used to this environment within a short period of time. He also didn’t bring them to train alone, he needed to work on himself, he needed to be stronger. He wanted to get attuned with nature, with the marsh. He emptied his mind and steadied his breathing as he could feel the energy of the marsh surging towards him.