The next morning, Lucas woke before dawn, well before the sun had even touched the horizon. The first thing he did was head straight to the training ground.
To his surprise, the once-empty grounds—quiet like a ghost town the day before—were now alive with activity. Grown men filled the space, each absorbed in their own routine. Some were deep in meditation, others locked in sparring matches. A few practiced their sword techniques with precision, while others were fully engaged in brawls, wrestling and grappling with raw aggression.
No one paid him much attention at first, which allowed Lucas to wander freely, taking in the chaos with awe. Voices rang out through the yard—some cheering for a fighter to win, others shouting encouragement to a man caught in a submission hold. The atmosphere was electric, every soldier too consumed by the intensity of the moment to notice a young boy quietly watching from the sidelines.
That was, until one young soldier finally spotted him and pointed him out to the others.
Seeing Lucas, the soldiers—who had already been informed of his arrival—turned with a mix of curiosity and surprise. The boy, now under their attention, stood tall, straightened his back into a military posture, and shouted loudly:
"Good morning, seniors! Lucas here, reporting for duty!"
The men broke into laughter, grinning at his boldness. One of the older soldiers approached, placing a heavy hand on Lucas's shoulder and speaking with a teasing tone.
"I like your spirit, kid, but no need to be that formal. You've got a solid frame for your age. Tell me, ever been in a brawl?"
Relaxing just slightly, Lucas replied,
"A little bit, sir. My grandpa used to train me for fun."
Intrigued, the soldier raised an eyebrow, then called over another boy—perhaps two years older than Lucas but with a similarly compact, athletic build. Without hesitation, the older boy jogged over and stood at attention as the soldier gave instructions.
"We've got a good match here," the soldier said, turning back to Lucas. "You may be younger, but you two are pretty evenly matched in size. Don't worry about getting hurt—we've got healers around. But make no mistake: this is military life. It's not as easy as you think."
Lucas nodded with quiet determination. His eyes were focused and fierce. He stepped forward toward the sparring ground, resolve written all over his face.
The two boys faced each other. The older one gave a respectful nod.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Dante, and I'll be your opponent today."
Lucas gave a faint smile and responded,
"Nice to meet you too. I'm Lucas, and I'll be yours."
Without another word, Dante lunged forward, arms up in a grappling stance. Lucas reacted quickly, mirroring the position and aiming low for Dante's legs. They clashed in a tangle of limbs, both boys straining for dominance.
Lucas tried to unbalance Dante, inching closer to an advantage. Dante, quick to respond, grabbed Lucas around the waist and dug in his feet, attempting to topple him instead. Neither was willing to back down. The match had quickly become a raw test of will and strength.
Around them, the soldiers roared in excitement.
"Come on, Dante! Show the newbie who's boss!"
"Let's go, newbie! Show 'em what you're made of!"
The voices were like war drums, raising the stakes. Neither boy gave an inch. Sweat glistened on their brows as fatigue began to set in. They had reached the brink of exhaustion—but neither would let go. This was no longer a simple test. It had become a battle of pride, endurance, and grit.
Then, something changed.
As Lucas strained to lift Dante off the ground, something inside him ignited. His body heated up, his muscles suddenly felt like molten iron, and his bones like unbreakable steel. The strength flooding through him was unlike anything he'd ever experienced—raw, primal, otherworldly.
Dante, once a heavy and stubborn opponent, now felt as light as a feather.
But Lucas wasn't the only one who felt it.
As he was lifted, Dante's eyes widened. Something stirred within him too—something powerful, something unfamiliar but real. It pulsed like a heartbeat, deep inside his core.
Their moment of awakening had begun.