"Perfect your swinging, Horacio. Concentrate. Think of the dummy as the people you hate—Good, good. Now channel that rage into your hands and strike it." I hit the wooden dummy, obliterating its torso. "YES! Well done, Horacio!" Exclaimed the old man. "Now keep hitting it, softer this time though, we don't have many training dummies. And you wouldn't want to be instantly killing your enemies with one strike, now would you?" he said with a laugh.
***
I groaned as my eyelids rose open, welcoming the light from the bulb planted into the ceiling above. That was the most uncomfortable sleep I've ever had. 'What was that dream? Why was I using a wooden sword? And who was that old man exactly? This place is driving me mentally insane, I'm sure of it.'
'Plus, couldn't I get a large bed, instead of sleeping on this plank of wood?!' Unfortunately, I couldn't even use my "Time technique: creation" skill. Because—I WAS WEAK…
The doors of the Medical ward screeched open as Lefty came into the room, along with Draco trailing behind a few steps.
"Ah! If it isn't our sleeping prince! Awake! You'd be surprised if you learnt that you slept for quite a while! Four days!" he exclaimed.
"Two days more than what my twin assumed," mumbled Lefty as he leaned closer to me, staring into my eyes like I was some unique creature.
Draco was next to Lefty. His leather boots squeaked on the marble floor, and his white hair flowed backwards. The emerald green eyes looked directly at me. 'I envy his looks. Handsome and Intelligent?! Tch.'
"Hora! How are you?" he inquired in quite an uplifted tone.
"Quite alright."
"Good, good. So! Now let's talk about your training. And since you've snoozed longer, that means even more training!"
"Eh?! Training?! For what?!"
"I'd love to tell you, but the information on why you have to train is classified. Dr. Quibs will fill you in, though!" Draco said with an irritating grin.
'WHERE IS ALL OF HIS SERIOUSNESS GONE TO?! WHY IS HE ACTING SO CHILL ALL OF A SUDDEN?'
I sighed:
"Alright, so what's this 'Training' I have to do?"
"Easy! You have to do: 500 pushups, 500 squats, 500 sit-ups, 500 pull-ups—each day, of course. Then, after two weeks, you'll begin training the abilities that you have. For now, though, get out of this bed, you're more than alright. Take a shower and put on some clothes. I'll be waiting."
'WHAT, HUH?! EASY?! YOU CALL THIS CRAP "EASY"?!' I stared blankly at Draco, in utter shock with a little bit of: "DO YOU WANT ME TO DIE?!", 'IS THAT WHY HE'S HAPPY, BECAUSE HE CAN TORTURE HIS HOSTAGE?!' I yelled inside my thoughts.
"Enough staring, you've seen enough of me already, now get out of bed and take a damn bath already, boy."
I got out of bed, still fazed by what I heard. Is this how Draco became so hellishly strong?! With this training?! He could've taken out that Aberrant-rank spider then! I wonder why he didn't…
Lefty produced a towel from his extremely small pockets and handed it over to me.
"Thank you, Lefty."
"Lefty? My name isn't Lefty. It's Arlen Miren, Dr. Arlen Miren to be precise!"
'Oh crap, I forgot! That wasn't his name; I didn't even ask his name before! GAHHH, WHAT AN EMBARASSMENT!!!'
"Indeed, what an embarrassment", said Azura from the depths of my mind.
'When did you wake up, sleeping beauty?' I questioned, with an eye roll.
No response.
Dr. Arlen shouted behind me, just as I was about to step into the rather incredibly high-tech bathroom. "OH YES! I ALMOST FORGOT! HORACIO, TAKE THESE CLOTHES!!"
The clothes were thrown onto my towel. After setting aside the clothes and towel onto the marble platform near the basin, I proceeded into the shower. A few minutes later, after a lovely, warm bath. I trailed out of the shower, wearing my black fitted compression t-shirt along with slim-tight dark grey training pants. Such kind-nappers, giving me clothes for FREE. It's almost as if they got my exact measurements while I was asleep (which was most likely what had happened for them to get such perfect fittings).
I looked at myself in the mirror in front of me. My blue eyes shone back at me. My pale face, looking almost lifeless as always. My hair, a big mess of black.
I took the toothbrush, along with the toothpaste. I twisted the cap around and squeezed the toothpaste onto the toothbrush.
'Azura, I know what I'll do.'
"Hm? Oh, my question. Of course, go ahead, child."
'I'll try saving everyone—or at least everyone.'
"A little too hard, don't you think so, child? And anyway, it's nearly impossible to take all the lives of the Timebenders; they are far more powerful than you."
'Yeah, yeah, whatever.'
"Oh yes! I forgot to tell you! There are six rulers! Time, Fate, Creation, Destruction, Life, and Death. If a ruler is killed, it destroys the balance between all six rulers."
'Isn't the prize of killing the ruler of Time taking its place right after? Also, what are the pronouns of the Rulers? I don't think 'it' is a formal way of referring to someone so powerful.'
After thoroughly brushing my pearly whites. I picked up the comb, brushing my black hair, eventually achieving my straight black hair once again, as always.
"Yes, the prize is taking the stead of THEIR role. Though the other rulers would have to trust you. In the past, the rulers would fight battles of death, all just to be the most powerful, destroying the multiverse multiple times. It's been a while since a ruler has been killed and a new one has ascended. You may refer to them as: they, their, or them, like I have many times. Killing the ruler of Time also means the end of all Timelines. Since pretty much everything is related to Time. Have I mentioned the catch if no one ascends to the throne of Time?"
Just before Azura could tell me. Draco hit the door, probably creating a tiny tremor.
"HORA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GET OUT OF THERE. WE NEED TO START YOUR TRAINING."
The bang from the door, along with the shouting, sent shivers down my spine.
"Sorry, sir!" I replied as loudly as I could while I opened the door.
Draco picked me up and put me on his shoulder.
"Light as a feather. Tch tch. Don't worry, though! This training will make you a beast soon enough!"