The sun had beat down mercilessly on the training grounds, a relentless hammer against Aletha's already taxed body.
The rocky grassy expanse, devoid of any comforting shade, stretched endlessly before her, its harsh beauty a stark reflection of the life she led.
Alai, her face grim with concentration, stood beside Aletha, a watchful guardian amidst the vivid landscape. The air, thick with dust and the faint metallic tang of blood, seemed to vibrate with the unspoken tension between them.
"Five more sets," Alai's voice cut through the silence, her words sharp and precise, devoid of any sentimentality. "Focus on your form. Precision is as crucial as strength."
Aletha grunted, her muscles screaming in protest. Each repetition of the arm exercises was a battle, a grueling test of endurance and will. She hefted the heavy training weights, their cold, unforgiving metal a stark contrast to the burning heat that bloomed in her muscles.
Sweat stung her eyes, blurring the harsh lines of the rocky terrain, but she refused to falter. Her breath came in ragged gasps, each intake a sharp, painful reminder of her physical limitations. Yet, she pressed on, fueled by a stubborn determination that bordered on defiance.
Alai watched with hawk-like precision, her eyes scanning every movement, every subtle shift in Aletha's posture.
She offered no encouragement, no words of comfort; her presence was a silent affirmation of Aletha's strength, a testament to the unwavering belief in her potential.
This was not merely physical training; it was a forging of character, a shaping of spirit, a relentless pursuit of excellence.
The intensity of the training was relentless, designed to push Aletha to the very brink of her capabilities. As she watched on with crossed arms, Alai said.
"From now on, I will talk no more. It is up to you to determine your weaknesses and faults. That goes for you and Ubel."
Alai and Ubel didn't just test Aletha's physical strength; they tested her mental fortitude, her resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
"Don't look back!"
When Aletha passed with having sprinted four laps straight, she had all of a suddenly carried a green energy that struck across the floor. This energy, for whatever reason, spread across every corner of the house before trembling it in one foul swoop.
There were no shortcuts, no easy paths.
"Your next lesson for today."
Alas, Aletha moved from the weights to a series of increasingly difficult calisthenics, her arms burning, her muscles quivering with fatigue in the span of a day. Pull-ups, push-ups, dips – each repetition was a victory, a small triumph over her own limitations. The rocky ground, unforgiving and unyielding, became her silent ally, a constant reminder of the harshness of the world they inhabited.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds, Aletha found herself grappling with a new set of challenges.
She had to navigate obstacles, dodge imaginary foes, her movements fluid and precise, a dance of death played out in the fading light.
Her long white haired pony tail swayed in the wind with sweat dripping down from all corners. After having spoken, after hours of incredulity, Aletha finally was given rest. She felt her muscles bulge and her abs solidified at such a short time span. It made her all the more glad that it was almost over.
"I… I DID IT! I…it hurts. It hurts. It hurts."
After such a long training session, it was only natural for Aletha to collapse.
"Good work Aletha." Ubel yelled as he raced to grab water for her. "Let's ge…
Alai snapped her fingers and interrupted, kicking Aletha's face gently.
"Not yet. One final challenge."
After she brought Aletha from the weights to the bottom of a cliff, where the shores push against, she ordered without any sense of leisure.
"I want you to climb this cliff with your bare feet."
The final exercise was a brutal test of coordination and strength. She never expected Alai to go this hard on her. But Alas, she stood on top of the cliff waiting for Aletha to scale this clif
"Why is she being so harsh…?"
However, what remained unseen were the tears flowing down her crimson eyes and falling onto the shore. Alai spoke internally as she saw Aletha's bare feet press up against the shore
(Aletha… don't be me. Don't fail this climb.)
Taking a deep breath, Aletha planted her feet, gathering her strength. This was it, the ultimate test.
(Remember)
She pushed off the ground, her muscles straining to their limits, attempting to lift her body high enough to reach the pole's top. She grunted, every sinew in her body taut, but still she wasn't high enough. A wave of despair washed over her. She was going to fail.
Alai muttered. "I remember... fondly. When I lost my dad… to a dangerous rock climb. He was only harsh to me because he had cared for me all these years. His training, brutal as it was, led me to become the young woman he wanted me to be today."
But then, something unexpected happened. A surge of green energy, hot and vibrant, coursed through Aletha's veins, a power she had felt before. It wasn't just physical strength; it was something more.
With a renewed burst of energy that defied her physical limitations, Aletha propelled herself upwards, her hands grasping the cliff with surprising ease. She swung, her body moving with an agility and grace that astonished Alai. She moved through the remaining obstacles with an almost supernatural lightness, completing the hill with an effortless fluidity that left even Alai speechless.
"Not even I can use the Sealed Beatific like that." Alai mumbled.
The surge of power subsided as quickly as it had arrived, leaving Aletha breathless but exhilarated. The feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced, a potent mix of raw power and exquisite control, a sense of potential unleashed. She stood there, panting, her heart pounding, but her eyes shining with an inner light.
"I… I DID IT!"
As she completed her final exercise, a sense of profound exhaustion washed over her. She collapsed onto the unforgiving ground, her body trembling with the effort. But there was a different kind of exhaustion this time, one intertwined with a deep sense of satisfaction.
"I did it!" Aletha exclaimed as she collapsed to the ground, tears of pain welling up in her eyes. "I did it!"
She watched, her face a mask of controlled surprise. She'd seen Aletha push her limits before, but this… this was different.
This wasn't just a matter of improved stamina or refined technique. This was something far more profound. It was as though a dormant power had awakened within Aletha, a force waiting to be tapped.
"I haven't seen it act like this before." Alai finally commented, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes wide with a mixture of astonishment and guarded excitement. "It never happened to me before."
Ubel crossed his arms and nodded, showing a confident smile with a sweat on his face. "That's the Sealed Beatfic."
As the winds gathered, as the waves crashed down on the shore near the emerald green cliffs, Ubel exclaimed abruptly, his voice echoing across the mountains.
"The only time I've seen this happen is with no other than the King of Linuxinia himself."
Alai snickered and sneered at Aletha while tapping her foot to the ground.
"Okay you don't have to exaggerate it that way… but…"
"I'm being honest. I never seen it act that way before."
After all the trials and tribulations, Alai comfortably asked the two.
"Well... isn't this the best time to have a feast?!"
* * * * * * *
The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of roasting boar, its rich, gamy aroma mingling with the sweetness of baked bread and the earthy fragrance of simmering root vegetables. The flickering torchlight danced across the rough-hewn tables, casting long, dancing shadows that mimicked the flames leaping in the massive hearths.
A symphony of smells, a culinary testament to a fleeting moment of peace. Aletha, her face etched with the map of Linuxinia, sat at the head of the table and commented.
"I never knew you were such a cartographer." She replied " Or even a cooker."
"Hey, I already cooked for you before." Alai replied with a pouty face. "It's not like I care honestly. Okay screw it,, I love cooking for you guys."
Deep in her eyes, held a fire that burned brighter than any hearth, reflecting a spirit unbroken.
Aletha, who had looked to be completely exhausted, made Ubel laugh awkwardly, saying to Alai.
"You almost trained her to death. Give the poor girl a break."
"I will.. if you just shut it." Alai said exasperatively.
The weight of leadership pressed heavily upon her, the responsibility taxing her. "And besides, with that power she demonstrated she can cook stuff for herself for a change."
The boar, succulent and dripping with juices, was a testament to the bounty of their land, a counterpoint to the hills they often traversed. Aletha devoured it and gulped it down by sight.
The vegetables, roasted to perfection, offered a burst of color and flavor, providing a moment of respite from the grim realities that painted the landscape around them.
Each dish was carefully chosen and prepared, representing not just sustenance but also a deliberate attempt to create a sense of tranquility..
Afterward, Alai rushed to sleep. Then Ubel, who had looked like he had drank too much. And finally, Aletha who felt as though every limb in her body has been torn and reformed. The desperate urge to sleep climbed onto her brain and just before she knew it, after hearing the crickets for a time, Aletha nestled on a comfy bed.
* * * * * * *
Suddenly, Aletha picked up an uneasy chill.
The wind, a rasping, mournful cry, carried the scent of ash and decay across the war ravaged landscape covered in molten hues.
From atop a fortress, a structure cobbled together from salvaged stones and twisted metal, an illusive man with light green hair and purple eyes surveyed the valley of devastation.
Lightning bolts were everywhere, followed by scorched earth. It was the definition of chaos.
The man's face, etched with lines of weariness and grim determination, was a mask of stoic resolve through years of relentless struggle against the elements, from monstrous creatures born from The Wish, against the ever-present threat of starvation and disease.
"Leave no trace of ruin among this place." The man said with certainty. "I will handle the rest."
One came out from a crowd, a teenager saying… "B-But sir, you shall surely die if you form a mountain in–
"I got a pet and a sister. So be it." The King replied. "If it's for the future of this land, and it's for everyone to get this miracle-growing power, I shall sacrifice it all."
"But Mr. Zargon."
"Ever seen the prophecies from Alaunus? For it is written, The Adtraic shall return to this world and all life will be sustained."
"But Zargon, it's a prophecy…"
"Prophecies don't lie. Now be gone. Or I shall move thee thyself."
Deep in his emerald golden eyes, a flicker of defiance remained, a stubborn refusal to surrender to despair. The remnants of his people huddled below, a patchwork of humanity clinging to life.
Hardened warriors, their faces grim and lined, stood guard, their weapons worn but their spirits unbroken. Desperate refugees, their clothes tattered and their eyes haunted, clung to their meager possessions, whispering prayers to gods that may or may not have survived the cataclysm. Amd the children, their innocence tainted by the harsh realities of their world, clung to the hope that a better tomorrow might yet dawn.
It was at this time, Zargon glimpsed at the corpses dotted about the field and clenched his fists.
"Shall I believe that His wish shall be ungranted?" He said softly, "So that this curse I bear can spread to everyone besides myself?"
Suddenly a circle of thunderstorms encircled the king as his hands illuminated with green and violet. His figure enveloped together in frigid winds as he looked up to the skies and below.
"Kali Leila, I shall put all my trust in you."
"...And I shall look forward to the reawakening of my favorite dragon."
The children's faces, etched with hunger and fear, mixed with the green light, were a constant reminder of the innocence lost after The Wish. The women, their eyes filled with a weary resilience, carried the burden of survival upon their shoulders as they saw a giant mountain rise from the earth below.
And the men, their bodies scarred and their hands calloused, displayed the unwavering strength needed to defend their families from both the elements and the creatures of the ravaged world.
Immediately sunlight breached through the clouds as the mountain rose and pierced the earth. It's as if the entire nation had been lit up in light.
Following two final words, Zargon mumbled with a painful smile.
"My Linuxinia."