The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the rugged training grounds. The scent of damp earth from the previous challenge still clung to the air, a reminder of their grueling climb just a day before.
Ari, Isla, and Rory stood before Valeria once again, their muscles still tight and sore from the last ordeal.
Valeria's gaze swept over them, sharp and calculating. She planted her feet firmly, arms crossed, her presence radiating control.
"Well done on completing the first phase of training," Valeria said, her eyes sweeping over them with sharp precision. "Climbing is no longer the challenge. Your endurance will be tested next."
The three recruits exchanged weary glances, shoulders hunched and breaths shallow. If the first challenge had been this brutal, what awaited them next?
"For this exercise," Valeria continued, her gaze unwavering, "you will travel along one of our training routes to a designated checkpoint. Under normal conditions, it would take two days to reach the location and return to the colony."
Isla exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "That… doesn't sound so bad," she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Valeria's sharp gaze flicked toward Isla, her eyes narrowing. "Except you will not just be running."
Isla's shoulders sagged, and her lips pressed into a thin line, the color draining from her face.
"You will be pushing boulders the entire way," Valeria finished, her voice steady and uncompromising.
A tense silence settled over the training ground. The only sound was the faint scrape of dirt shifting under their armored feet.
"Wait," Rory said, narrowing his eyes and shifting his weight from foot to foot. "You want us to push these boulders all the way there and back?"
"Yes," Valeria said simply, her antennae flicking once in measured acknowledgment. "This exercise is designed to build stamina and strength—two traits every military ant must possess. If you cannot maintain endurance while carrying heavy loads, you will be useless in combat."
Valeria motioned sharply to her side, where several large, round stones rested against the dirt, each at least twice their size. The sunlight glinted off their rough surfaces.
"You will be assigned boulders according to your current strength," Valeria explained, her voice firm and precise. "Isla, yours will be the smallest. Rory, yours is medium-sized. Ari, since you have demonstrated exceptional speed but lack muscle endurance, you will push the heaviest one."
Ari's eyes scanned the stones lined up against the dirt. Valeria assigned me the slightly larger boulder on purpose. She wants to test my limits, to see if I'm more than just speed. I'll have to pace myself… conserve energy… and hope my endurance holds.
"I assume we'll be timed?" Rory asked, his brows knitting together as he shifted his weight uneasily.
Valeria's lips curved into a faint, controlled smirk. "Speed is not the goal this time. It is about maintaining your pace and surviving the journey. I will be monitoring your progress closely."
Isla let out a low groan, her shoulders slumping. "This is going to be awful."
Valeria ignored her complaints, her eyes sharp and unyielding. "The goal is simple: reach the checkpoint and return to the colony while pushing your boulders. You will be on your own for most of the journey. Do not expect assistance. This test will last several days, and you must fend for yourselves at night. That includes finding food, staying alert for threats, and managing your exhaustion."
The mention of nighttime sent a chill down Isla's spine. She swallowed hard, her fingers curling into fists as her mind flashed back to the termite attack that had nearly cost them their lives.
Valeria's eyes flickered with the slightest softness, just enough to acknowledge Isla's fear. "You will face both physical and mental challenges. This training is designed to prepare you for the battlefield. If you cannot handle the wilderness, you will not survive in real combat."
The weight of her words pressed down on them. Isla clenched her fists, her body tense as hesitation warred with determination.
Ari simply nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Let's do this."
Rory exhaled deeply, planting himself firmly behind his assigned boulder. Don't have to tell me twice, he thought, muscles tensing.
Isla hesitated, her hands brushing the rough surface of her stone, before finally following suit.
Valeria's sharp gaze swept over them as they braced themselves. With a firm nod, she commanded, "Begin."
The moment Ari pressed against his boulder, he realized just how much heavier it was than he expected. His muscles protested immediately, straining under the weight, but he dug his feet into the earth and pushed with all his strength.
This is heavy… but Valeria wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle… probably. I can't give up now. I have to finish this training.
Rory gritted his teeth, straining against his own rock. His movements were slow but steady. This is nothing compared to what Ari is pushing. Valeria accepted him as stronger than me… I can't let that slide, he thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Isla barely budged her boulder at first, a soft whimper escaping her throat. She pressed her hands against its rough surface, muscles trembling, and finally managed to get it rolling forward, every ounce of effort draining her.
Valeria watched them until the three recruits disappeared over the ridge, their figures small against the rugged terrain. Her posture remained rigid, arms crossed, but a faint crease appeared between her brows as she assessed their progress. Good. Now then… time to attend that meeting, she muttered, stepping forward. Dirt and stone crunched beneath her armored feet with each measured stride, echoing in the quiet air of the late afternoon.
Not far from the training grounds, Princess Tanya sat near the side entrance of the colony—one only she could access—surrounded by flowers. Her antennae quivered as she watched the tiny figures of the recruits pushing their boulders across the distant terrain.
Her wings remained folded neatly along her back, and the faint sheen of her exoskeleton caught the last rays of the sun. She shifted her weight slightly, legs tense, her fingers trembling in her lap, and drew a slow breath. Winter is approaching, huh? The cool evening air brushed across her body, sharpening her senses and reminding her of the challenges the season would bring.
The recruits trudged forward at an agonizing pace, the evening sun pressing against their exoskeletons, each push of the boulders sapping more of their strength. Beads of sweat formed along their foreheads, and their legs trembled under the weight of the stones.
After ten hours, Isla's strength finally gave out. Her boulder rolled to a halt, grinding softly against the dirt. She stumbled forward before collapsing to her knees, sobbing. "I can't… I can't do this!" Her arms and legs trembled uncontrollably, antennae drooping low. Beads of sweat clung to her exoskeleton, catching what little light remained from the fading sun.
Rory's chest heaved with every breath, sweat dripping from his brow as he forced himself to stop pushing his boulder. He turned toward Isla, lips parting as he drew in a sharp inhale. "Keep moving. You'll just have to suck it up. Besides, we don't have a choice."
"I won't!" Isla shouted back, her voice cracking. "I'm not strong like you two! I was a worker ant my whole life. I never had soldier training as a child! I was never meant to do things like this!" Her fists trembled as fresh tears streaked her dirt-stained cheeks.
Rory exhaled heavily, dragging a hand across his damp brow. "Come on, Isla. We have to keep moving. It's getting dark."
Isla's head snapped up, her antennae twitching sharply. "You say that, Rory, but you didn't stop for me. You stopped because you needed to rest—and now you're using me as an excuse."
Rory's antennae twitched nervously as he faltered under her accusation, his eyes widening for a moment. "W-What? That's not true," he stammered, his voice uneven. His jaw then tightened, frustration replacing the hesitation. With a sharp exhale, he shoved himself back against his boulder, gripping the stone with renewed, angry force. "Fine. Stay out here then—see if I care."
Ari, who had been silent until now, pushed a few meters ahead despite the massive boulder grinding beneath his weight. His voice cut through the night air, low and steady. "Complaining won't make the boulder lighter."
Isla shot him a glare, her antennae twitching in irritation. But Ari didn't meet her eyes—his gaze stayed locked on the stone before him, his expression neutral, though the strain in his voice betrayed the effort.
"Every second you spend crying is another second you could be pushing forward," he went on, his lips pressing into a thin line. "You're already behind. We have to get through this—for the colony. Remember why we're here."
Isla bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the ground. The words stung, but deep down she knew he was right.
By nightfall, the recruits were still on the move, the path ahead barely visible under the faint glow of the stars. Shadows stretched across the rugged terrain, and the air had cooled, chilling their sweat-slicked exoskeletons. Each push of their boulders scraped against uneven ground, stones clinking against loose rocks and roots. Legs trembled from exhaustion, antennae drooping with fatigue, and every misstep threatened to send a boulder veering off course.
Ari led the way, muscles straining with each push. Even with his speed, the darkness made every step treacherous; he could barely see small dips in the terrain, feeling each with careful, calculated pressure of his feet.
Rory followed, deliberate and cautious, sweat dripping into his eyes and blurring his vision. Isla lagged behind, struggling to keep her stone moving, exposed roots brushing uncomfortably against her sides, her hands trembling with effort.
The forest around them was alive with night sounds: the scrape of the boulder, their strained voices, leaves rustling, and distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Every noise set Isla's antennae quivering, her heart racing.
"…What if termites attack again?" she whispered, voice small and tense.
"They won't," Rory replied, though his voice was rough with fatigue. He forced himself to push his boulder forward again, jaw tight, every muscle protesting.
"You don't know that," Isla said, her movements hesitant, body stiff with anxiety.
Rory drew a deep, shaky breath. "Listen… if they do, we'll handle it. You're not alone." His eyes flicked toward her briefly, then back to the darkened path ahead, antennae twitching with constant alertness.
The path became increasingly uneven as the night wore on. Loose stones and tree roots forced constant adjustments in footing, and every push demanded renewed strength. Isla's breathing was ragged, her antennae drooping low as she forced herself forward, while Rory's movements remained steady but labored. Ari's body trembled with fatigue, yet he refused to stop, knowing that pausing too long would only make the journey back even harder.
Ari pressed onward, a few meters ahead, his boulder scraping along roots and loose soil. His legs burned, muscles screaming with every exertion, and he winced sharply as each step jolted through his joints. Sweat dripped into his eyes, stinging as he forced himself to keep moving, eyes locked on the faint outline of the checkpoint in the distance. Even in darkness, the stars above give me a small sense of orientation, he thought, the night sky a quiet, distant reminder of the world beyond the training grounds.
The next morning, the three recruits pressed on, the first light of dawn casting pale gold across the rugged terrain. The chill clung to their damp exoskeletons, stiffening sore muscles as they adjusted their grips on the heavy stones. Each push was exhausting—feet slipping on loose dirt, roots catching their boulders—but they pressed forward, push after push.
By midday, Ari's legs felt like lead, muscles aching with every step. Sweat ran into his eyes, stinging as he blinked through the haze of fatigue. Still, he forced himself onward, wincing with each movement but refusing to stop. After thirty-six hours of near-constant effort, he finally reached the checkpoint, collapsing beside his boulder with a shaky breath and trembling legs.
Rory moved steadily along the path, legs quivering and antennae twitching as he navigated the uneven terrain. Each push of his boulder left marks in the dirt, and he paused only to catch his breath. Isla lagged far behind, sweat-soaked and trembling, antennae drooping as she forced her stone forward inch by inch.
Ari allowed himself only a few minutes to rest before hoisting his boulder again for the return trip. The path felt longer and darker, loose soil shifting beneath his legs and roots catching his feet. Every step was a battle, muscles trembling, vision blurred, but he pressed on.
After nearly three days of constant effort, Ari staggered back to the colony and collapsed near the entrance, legs buckling and body shaking. Valeria's shadow fell across him, antennae twitching as she looked down at him.
"Not bad," she said, her voice sharp and precise.
Ari barely managed a nod, sweat dripping from his thorax, muscles stiff and sore. Not only had I carried the heaviest boulder… I had also made it back first.
This ant is… special, Valeria thought, her antennae twitching in measured appraisal as she observed him.
"You can rest until the others return," Valeria added, stepping away with her usual cold efficiency.
By the end of the fourth day, Rory finally returned. His legs quivered under the weight of exhaustion, his antennae flicking with tension, but his posture remained resolute. "I won't pass out. The training I had as a warden made me strong," he muttered, forcing his tired body forward despite every aching muscle.
Isla came last, barely able to stand, exoskeleton streaked with dirt and sweat, antennae drooping low. She collapsed at the finish line, trembling violently. Tears streaked her face as relief washed over her. "I did it… I actually did it…"
Valeria approached, observing each of them carefully. Her eyes swept over Ari, Rory, and Isla, noting the sweat, grime, and trembling limbs, but also the endurance etched in their movements.
"You've all proven yourselves over these past few days. You can endure pain, exhaustion, and fear. But do not assume this is the end of your trials."
Isla groaned softly, body quivering against the ground. "You're joking…"
Valeria's antennae twitched, and a faint smirk touched her lips. "Welcome to military training. Lesson number two: Pain is temporary. Strength is forever."
Ari let out a dry chuckle, limbs trembling but refusing to fully relax against the rough ground. Somehow, I doubt that, he thought, muscles aching but mind already bracing for whatever came next.