The morning sun began to rise high, its rays falling onto the vast training grounds of the Solaris kingdom. A fine dust rose, mingling with the sound of clashing metal from the soldiers training on the other side. In the center of the field, only Kael and Ardyn stood facing each other.
"Listen carefully, Kael," Ardyn said, his voice firm. "The foundation of a knight is not the swing of a sword. The foundation of a knight is his own body. Without a strong body, a sword is just a burden."
Kael was confused. "So… I won't learn to fight right away?"
Ardyn grinned faintly. "You will learn to fight. But start with the basics."
He pointed to the ground. "One hundred push-ups."
"W-what?!" Kael glared.
"If you want to be a knight, then do it."
Kael sighed heavily and began to sink to the ground. His hands were still weak, his body still not fully recovered. After only twenty times, Kael's arms were starting to shake.
"Straighten your back!" Ardyn admonished him sternly. "Don't cheat yourself. The monster won't care if you're tired."
Kael growled, pushing himself. His breath was ragged, sweat dripping profusely onto the ground. At the count of 87, his hands nearly gave out. But Ardyn's sharp gaze made him push again.
"One hundred!" Kael fell to the ground, his face pressed against the ground.
Ardyn approached, patting his shoulder. "Good. Remember this exercise. Tomorrow will be harder."
Kael could only nod weakly.
After a short rest, the next exercise began.
"Now, you'll learn to stand," Ardyn said.
"Stand?" Kael was confused. "I already know how to stand…"
Ardyn raised an eyebrow. "Really? Try standing like you did when you faced the monster."
Kael raised his wooden sword, his stance stiff. Ardyn snorted, then with a flick of his wooden stick, he hit Kael in the knee, nearly knocking him over.
"Your position is fragile. The monster could knock you over with just a gust of wind." He then adjusted Kael's foot position: one forward, one backward, knees slightly bent, body leaning forward. "Now, try moving."
Kael took a step. After only three steps, he stumbled.
"Again," Ardyn insisted.
Kael gritted his teeth and tried again. And again. He fell repeatedly, but Ardyn never stopped correcting him.
"Your weight is too much on your heels."
"Your arms are stiff, your sword is a burden."
"Breathe, don't hold back."
Finally, after almost an hour, Kael began to find a rhythm. His body moved more evenly, his wooden sword felt a little lighter.
Noon approached. Kael nearly collapsed from exhaustion, but Ardyn didn't stop.
"Now, it's time for another spar. Show me the results of your training."
Kael raised his sword, his footing more steady than before. He attacked. Ardyn parried, but this time Kael didn't fall immediately. He held on, though he was pushed back.
"Good. Repeat."
Kael attacked again, sweating, his breathing heavy. Ardyn still easily dodged, but his eyes showed satisfaction.
Finally, Kael managed to graze Ardyn's arm once with the tip of his wooden sword. It was only a small graze, but enough to make Kael smile proudly.
Ardyn held his sword back and chuckled. "That's it. See? You can do it, as long as you don't give up."
Kael fell to his knees, panting, his face covered in sweat. But deep inside, he felt happy. For the first time, he felt like he was truly learning to be a fighter.
Ardyn patted him on the shoulder. "Remember this day well. A knight's first day is always the hardest. But if you persevere, the path ahead will open."
Kael nodded, though his body was trembling with exhaustion. In his heart, the small fire burned even brighter.
That afternoon, after a training session that nearly broke his body, Kael was finally given time to rest. He sat leaning against the stone wall near the armory, sweat still dripping from his forehead. His hands trembled, his muscles aching as if on fire.
"It feels like all my bones are broken," Kael muttered softly, picking up the cup of water the guard had given him.
Ardyn arrived shortly after, carrying a loaf of bread and dried meat. He placed it beside Kael. "Eat. Your body needs energy for tomorrow."
Kael accepted the food, biting greedily despite his stiff jaw. After a few bites, he looked up at Ardyn. "Master…" he hesitated for a moment. "Actually, what is the state of the world outside the kingdom? Since my village was destroyed, I haven't known anything."
Ardyn paused for a moment, then sat down next to Kael. His voice was deep and thoughtful. "That gate… since it opened, the world has never been the same. Five great kingdoms have tried to hold back the monster invasion, but their strength is unequal. Some territories have already fallen. Villages burned, cities vanished without a trace."
Kael fell silent, looking down. The image of his own destroyed village suddenly came to mind.
"Are… all the kingdoms still holding out?" he asked cautiously.
Ardyn nodded slowly. "Still. But the situation is precarious. The Solaris Kingdom from the south is busy guarding the sea routes to prevent the monsters from spreading further. In the north, the Kingdom of Ardelia has lost three border fortresses. The Kingdom of Nerathis is fending off an attack from the east, where the gate first opened. The kingdoms of Eryndor and Valoria… they are reportedly beginning to strengthen their forces, but both are more concerned with distrusting each other than cooperating."
"So… they're fighting, even though the world is on the verge of collapse?" Kael growled in annoyance.
Ardyn looked up at the reddening sky. "Humans are always like that, Kael. Even on the brink of destruction, rulers think of their thrones and territories first. That's why so many people suffer without protection."
Kael fell silent. His heart was restless, but he also increasingly understood why the Astralis sword he had found was so important.
"Then… have monsters already taken over most of the world?"
Ardyn looked at him seriously. "Not yet. But they keep moving. The gate won't stop spewing out armies of darkness. If no one stops the source, sooner or later, yes… this world will be taken over by them."
A silence fell between them. Kael held the remaining bread in his hand, unaware that he was crushing it to pieces.
Ardyn patted his shoulder. "You want to know why I train you so hard? Because sooner or later, you will face the truth. You are no longer an ordinary village boy, Kael. You carry a sword that even kings cannot wield. You cannot escape your destiny."
Kael lowered his head, feeling the weight of those words. In his chest, feelings of fear and responsibility mingled. Yet, beneath it all, a small strength began to grow within him.