Bam!!
Bam!!
In a training room different from the one he had used the previous evening, this one much bigger, Hulio's arms shot out at a section of the wall which had been painted red.
His hands weren't tightened in a fist but rather held straight, fingers pointed out and striking the wall like spears.
Every strike Hulio made on the wall tore a hole through it, half his hand disappearing in, and when he withdrew his arm, the damage to the wall rapidly healed.
Having been engaged in the exercise for more than half an hour, after striking out a few more times, Hulio stood up.
From his head, sweat streaked down his body forming mini rivers, dropping to the ground and adding to a pool that had formed around his feet.
Turning from the red wall, Hulio moved to his left, approaching an area filled with several training equipment.
He went underneath a power rack, the bar atop already loaded with three thick-looking discs on each side.
Gripping onto the bar, ready to take it off its hook, he stirred the essence within him.
This time he wasn't looking to push the energy out of him, but rather have it travel in a loop within his body, pushing the energy to move faster after each loop.
Hulio took more than a minute accelerating the movement of energy in him, his face scrunched in concentration.
He waited till a biting heat began spreading through him, this a product of the friction from the movement within him, then he began his squats.
"Argghh!!"
His teeth clamped as he groaned, legs trembling and eyes bulging as he went down.
At this time, the double doors of the training room slid open, Lilith, dressed once more in a black gown, stepped in.
She looked okay, except for the wheeled walker she rested her entire frame on, taking measured steps as she moved.
Hulio hadn't been joking, he had shown her no mercy the previous night.
The experience was something Lily loved, the sensations unique only to her lord, but at the same time she hated it.
No matter how much she prepared herself, it always broke her mind, making her powerless, her existence wishing to please him in whatever way, and then there was the pain that came after.
Lilith was no ordinary woman, to be degraded in such a way, her pride...
There were several academies in the Gorath Empire, but only three really mattered, at least for someone like her.
The Ingrad Academy, Blackcrop Academy and Geggty Academy.
Nine years ago, despite her best efforts pushing her body to the limits, she had failed to gain admission into any of the above schools.
Her failure had spoken to her lacking talent, but Lily had refused to believe that.
Detecting essence when she was just twelve, awakening it at fourteen, Lily was sure she was born for greatness.
Four years after being rejected by the academies, her conscience awakened, her soul avatar coming into existence.
To awaken a soul avatar at just 21, how many could claim that feat? The best of geniuses were recorded to awaken it after 27, most in their thirties.
This feat was what had qualified her to step into Blackcrop Academy.
To her, she was a genius by every definition, but archaic rules of the academies still persevered.
Way past the age limit, she could not be admitted as a student, lacking in theoretical knowledge she could not become a teacher.
Desperate for sponsorship from the academy, she applied to be a servant, a servant to not just any student, but a student of the academy's imperial class.
Normal people didn't serve these people, geniuses were the only ones fit to serve these abnormalities, 100 individuals who had distinguished themselves within an application pool of over 10 million.
As a servant, one of the goals was to rise by hugging the dragon's thighs.
Her lord was meant to be her dragon, but how unlucky of her that she ended up with a tiger playing dragon.
None of Lily's thoughts showed on her face as she moved, but when she came to a stop, watching Hulio perform his squats, her lips could not help but twitch.
Hulio was a fraud, but at the same time a beast.
Standing nearly 10 meters away from him, she could feel the heat emanating from his body.
Forget the weight he was lifting, just thinking of the tension he was overcoming with each rep he completed, Lilly shuddered, doubts on her assessment popping up.
"What is it?" Hulio's voice came out gruff, the strain he had to go through to speak clear.
"I have a report to make."
Hulio didn't reply, but his expression soured.
"I know this isn't the best time, but when I came to report yesterday you took things off track and I have to report to the special workers council.
I'll be gone for the rest of today."
"Speak."
Lily nodded, then waited, her eyes expectant, seconds passing, Hulio's grunts echoing within the room.
"I said speak."
Lily's eyes widened, her expectation for Hulio to take a break shattering.
She couldn't fathom how he could keep training while listening to her, but then she felt a piercing gaze fall on her, Hulio's annoyance at her silence rising and her lips quickly parted.
"Two towns in Darkota rebelled, all your influence in the region has been effectively expelled including tax gains.
Lionk village is experiencing a drought, the district officer wrote a letter to the governor requesting a delay in tax.
The request was approved but rather than just let your cut drop, the governor has sanctioned that your fee be eliminated.
The effects of the prolonged drought have spread through the region, affecting much of Fehran state.
Prices have drastically risen in Minerva and the prefect you put in charge there has sent a letter begging that you hold off on the requested tax increase."
Lily took a pause, and it looked like she had finished delivering the bad news, but then she continued.
"Outside the Ferhan state, in Astlas state, the Munipocal region, six of the seven towns under your banner have renounced their allegiance.
I don't know who they have turned to, but the suspects are currently trying to swindle favour from your hometown and mother's town.
And the last, Gon Brak, the governor of Yee province hosted Karl Drake, ranked 42nd on Blackcrop Academy's supreme list last week."
Lily's lips finally stopped moving, just the sound of Hulio grunting and moving the weight on his shoulder up and down sounding.
He hadn't paused since she began speaking and didn't even as his lips moved.
"What is my current rank?"
"Your failure to procure adequate merits and current absence have caused it to nominally drop from 33 to 47."
Hulio's brow immediately furrowed, he knew the academy, being ruthless was part of their secret motto.
"Why nominal?"
"The student council ranks you at 47 but the school official list still keeps you at 33.
For some reason the senate is interfering and have made no comment despite the mass appeal around the school."