The afternoon sun burned overhead.
The training yard behind Brannic's forge was no longer pristine. Footprints crisscrossed the dirt. Wooden barricades were scuffed and cracked. Rope lines sagged where bodies had collided with them.
The evidence of effort was everywhere.
Jax stood at the center, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"New scenario," he said. "Two members only."
Nyxian and Bunny stepped forward.
"Bunny leads," Jax continued. "Nyxian covers rear."
Nyxian blinked. "Walking backward?"
"Yes," Jax replied. "Use Bunny's body as your reference. Eyes behind. You protect the flank she can't see."
They moved.
Three steps in, Bunny hesitated.
"Again."
They reset.
Five steps. Nyxian stumbled slightly on uneven ground.
"Again."
Bunny groaned. "Jax—"
"Again."
They ran it until Bunny stopped thinking about her feet and Nyxian stopped thinking about direction. When they finally moved smoothly, Jax nodded once.
"Good. Now switch."
Nyxian took point. Bunny moved to the rear.
They failed immediately.
Bunny overcorrected. Nyxian drifted left.
"Again."
Sweat began to form. Breathing deepened.
Jax didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
"Now Bunny is out," he said. "Zee, you're in."
Zee straightened, nerves flickering across her face.
"Same drill," Jax said. "But this time, you're the weak point. Everyone protects you."
Nyxian frowned. "That seems inefficient."
"That's reality," Jax replied. "Not everyone is a frontliner."
They moved.
Zee stayed too far back.
"Again."
Zee stepped closer—too close.
"Again."
Nyxian snapped her fingers in frustration. "She's going to get hit either way!"
"Yes," Jax agreed calmly. "Unless you move better."
They tried again.
This time, Bunny adjusted her stride. Nyxian shifted half a step wider. Zee stayed centered, mana ready.
They made it ten steps.
Jax raised a hand.
"Good. Stop there."
Zee exhaled shakily. "That was harder than fighting."
Jax nodded. "Because fighting is reactive. This is preventative."
He gestured to Llandra. "You're up."
Nyxian stepped out. Llandra took her place.
"Rear coverage," Jax instructed. "Bow ready. You don't shoot unless something gets past Bunny."
Llandra frowned slightly. "I can see everything from here."
"That's why you're here," Jax said. "Now prove it."
They moved.
Llandra called out obstacles before Bunny noticed them. Zee adjusted positioning instinctively.
Then Bunny tripped.
Llandra reacted too slowly.
"Again."
They reset.
Again.
Again.
By mid-afternoon, tempers were flaring.
Nyxian dropped onto a crate, wiping sweat from her brow. "We're strong. We're fast. Why are we doing this over and over?"
Jax didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he changed the drill.
"Full rotation," he said. "Four members. I'm out."
They stared at him.
"You don't get me today," Jax continued. "You get each other."
They formed up without him.
It fell apart in seconds.
Zee drifted too wide. Bunny overcompensated. Llandra hesitated, unsure whether to lead or support.
"Again."
They tried adjusting on the fly.
Nyxian surged ahead.
"Again."
Zee stumbled, mana flaring.
"Again."
Eventually, Zee dropped to her knees, breathing shallow, mana completely drained.
Jax was at her side instantly.
"Drink," he said, uncorking a healing elixir and pressing it into her hands.
She drank, trembling.
He helped her stand.
"No apologies," he said gently. "You pushed your limit. That's the point."
Nyxian finally snapped.
"Why is this so important?" she demanded. "You're here. You're unstoppable."
Jax stood slowly.
"Because I don't know what happens tomorrow."
The yard went quiet.
"I don't know when we'll be separated," he continued. "Or ambushed. Or targeted because of me."
He looked at each of them.
"I can't imagine continuing in this world without any of you."
Silence settled heavy and real.
"I need to know," Jax said, voice steady, "that no matter what happens… you're prepared to survive anything."
Bunny's ears drooped.
Zee swallowed hard.
Llandra straightened, resolve hardening in her eyes.
Nyxian exhaled slowly.
"…Again," Jax said.
This time, they moved differently.
Not faster.
Cleaner.
Llandra trusted her instincts. Bunny trusted her strength. Zee trusted her positioning. Nyxian flowed where pressure formed.
They adjusted without speaking.
By sunset, they stood in formation—exhausted, scraped, and quietly proud.
Jax nodded once.
"That's enough for today."
They exhaled as one.
Nyxian leaned against him. "You're cruel."
Jax smiled faintly. "You'll thank me."
Llandra met his gaze. "We already do."
As they walked back toward the city, tired and close, Bunny smiled softly.
"So… another round of training tonight?"
Nyxian smirked. "Absolutely. Can we start in a bath? Together?"
Jax sighed—doomed, loved, and determined.
"I'll order dinner to the room."
Tomorrow, they would be stronger.
Again.