Nora clapped her hands, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Nora: "Good. Now that the basics are set, grab your respective weapons and head to the training hall."
The apprentices stirred, some grabbing swords, spears, or staffs stacked against the walls.
Rehann, taking advantage of the noise, whispered to his new companion:
Rehann: "We have a training hall just for us?"
Cassian stifled a grin.
Cassian: "Oh right, you're new. Weapon masters train separately from the others. It's a matter of discipline and… prestige."
Rehann: "Ah okay… bah azy hein."
Cassian frowned, puzzled.
Cassian: "What does 'Azy' mean? Never heard that before."
Rehann grimaced, scratching the back of his neck.
Rehann: "Uuh… it's kinda like saying 'okay'. Anyway, let's go."
A brief, knowing smile crossed their faces before the duo joined the others.
The small group of apprentice weapon masters left the room and headed toward their designated area.
— Outside — Sandy training grounds —
Under the blazing sun, Matheo staggered, breath ragged. His massive axe hung from his hand, and his shield felt as heavy as stone. His body already bore the marks of countless blows.
Facing him, Thorak breathed calmly. His muscular frame, covered in golden tattoos, glistened with sweat. His sharp gaze never left Matheo.
Thorak: "Tss… not bad. You're standing longer than I expected. But…"
He charged forward, his fist slamming into Matheo's shield with the force of a battering ram. The impact sent the young hero skidding backward, his feet digging trenches into the dusty ground.
Matheo (panting): "Damn… he's a monster…"
Thorak approached calmly, towering over him.
Thorak: "You want to be a tank? Then remember this… Your role is to endure. Always. Again. Without bending. As long as you stay standing… your allies can breathe."
He grabbed a massive shield fixed to the wall behind him and tossed it at Matheo's feet.
Thorak: "Lift it."
Matheo, already exhausted, looked up.
Matheo: "But… I already have a shield…"
Thorak snapped his fingers.
Thorak: "That one weighs twice as much."
The young hero hesitated, then clenched his teeth and grabbed it. His arms trembled instantly.
Thorak crossed his arms, satisfied.
Thorak: "Good. Now remember my words. A tank's strength isn't in his muscles… it's in his will. Every blow you take, every fall… none of it is for you. You endure for them. You're their wall. Their bastion."
Without warning, Thorak lunged forward and struck Matheo's new shield with a violent blow. The impact echoed like thunder.
Matheo was thrown to the ground, coughing up dust, but his hands never let go.
Thorak, a nearly sadistic smile curling his lips, tilted his head slightly.
Thorak: "Good… That's what I want to see. Fall a hundred times if you must. But stand up a hundred and one."
Matheo, trembling all over, planted his shield in the sand and rose again.
Matheo (through gritted teeth): "Go easy… please…"
Thorak chuckled, eyes gleaming with cruel delight.
Thorak: "Not yet…"
Matheo, gasping, dropped to one knee, his shield the only thing keeping him upright. Sweat dripped from his forehead; his arms still shook from the last strike. Thorak remained impassive, leaning closer, eyes burning with unsettling intensity.
Thorak: "You take hits well… but don't just take them blindly. Do you really think tanks only exist to receive blows?"
He straightened, puffing out his tattooed chest. His voice carried across the training ground.
Thorak: "The truth is, a tank doesn't need ten flashy powers. Usually… he only has one. A single ability that makes him both a wall… and a weapon."
Matheo, panting, lifted his head.
Matheo: "One… single ability?"
Thorak placed his palm on his own chest, then slammed it against his shield with monstrous force. The sound thundered like a war drum.
Thorak: "Gluttony."
He let the word hang in the air, heavy and ominous.
Thorak: "This ability lets you absorb the damage you take. Every impact, every strike meant to crush you… you devour it. And when the time comes…"
He slammed his fist into the ground, sending a cloud of dust flying.
Thorak: "…you release it all. A counterattack powerful enough to shatter entire ranks."
Matheo's eyes widened, gripping his shield tighter.
Matheo: "So… the more hits I take… the stronger I get? How do I learn that??!"
A carnivorous smile spread across Thorak's face.
Thorak: "Train with me every single day without rest, and you'll see—it's within anyone's reach. But remember this, brat: a tank who can't endure is just a useless corpse. Your body must be a vault. Your mind, an anvil. You'll fall, yes… but you'll never have the right to stay down. Ever."
He stepped back, resuming his stance.
Thorak: "Now show me. Take it. Endure it. And most of all… learn to hit back."
Matheo drew a deep breath, dug his feet into the sand, and raised his heavy shield once more. His legs shook, but a new spark burned in his eyes.
And the training resumed—more brutal than ever.
The rest of the day was a hellish blur of punches, charges, and mock assaults. Matheo rarely managed to counterattack. But despite the bruises, despite his shaking knees, he stood up. Again. And again.
And every time, Thorak murmured the same phrase, almost like a twisted prayer:
Thorak: "Endure… just a little longer…"
The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of red and violet.
The camp bell rang, marking the end of training.
At the center of the field, the four heroes met again.
They walked like wounded soldiers returning from the front.
Matheo still had huge bruises on his arms and torso, his shield dragging behind him with a metallic screech.
Max, covered in sand and dust, had dry lips, short breath, and trembling legs.
Rehann looked the least injured… but his eyes betrayed the exhaustion of hours of intense lessons.
And Anthony… Anthony was a walking corpse. His sweat-soaked clothes clung to his skin, his face was caked with dirt and dust, and an indescribable smell began to linger around him.
Matheo immediately pinched his nose.
Matheo: "Damn, bro… you smell like you spent a week in the sewers of India, please."
Anthony (panting): "…I just… ran… all day… let me die."
Max (laughing through his fatigue): "I swear this ain't normal, man."
Rehann (snickering): "Move away, I can't breathe."
Anthony raised a trembling finger as if to protest, then collapsed backward in a cloud of dust.
At that moment, a figure approached the field.
One of the apprentice weapon masters — the same who had spent the day with Rehann — stepped forward timidly.
???: (quietly, scratching his neck) "…yo."
Rehann raised his hand, a tired smile on his face.
Rehann: "Ah! Guys, this is… uh… wait… what was your name again?"
???: "Cassian."
Rehann: "Right, Cassian. He's a weapon master apprentice, like me."
Cassian gave an awkward nod.
Cassian: "Nice to meet you."
Matheo stared at him for a second, still half-dazed.
Matheo: "WOW! Bro wants to add diversity to the group already."
Rehann: "Shut up, man, what's that supposed to mean? He's cool. A guy from the slums. We talked a bit during training."
Max (confused): "Bro what the hell, Matheo? You're so weird."
Cassian gave a slightly nervous smile.
Cassian: "Yeah… I'm not exactly from the noble side like you guys. But hey, as long as we survive, we're all in the same mess, right?"
Max nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Max: "Welcome to the mess."
Anthony, still lying on the ground, weakly raised his hand.
Anthony: "If… someone could carry me… that'd be nice."
Max: "Yeah yeah, sure, King Kong."
Rehann: "Keep dreaming, bro."
Matheo: "Deal with it yourself, my guy."
Everyone burst out laughing, even Cassian, who instantly felt a little more at ease.
The heroes, reeking of sweat and covered in dust, eventually headed toward the camp's communal baths.
Anthony shuffled along, arms dangling like a zombie.
Anthony: "I can't do this… I'd rather die dirty."
Matheo (grabbing him by the neck): "You stink too much, bro, you're coming with us."
Max (smiling): "This is actually insane."
They passed through the large wooden gate and were greeted by the humid warmth of the baths. The air smelled of soap and hot stone. After such a day, the steam felt like paradise.
They each slid into the hot water, and a collective sigh of relief filled the room.
Rehann: "Damn… feels like my body's melting."
Anthony (eyes closed, trembling): "Truly… a masterpiece."
Matheo (smirking): "Yeah, masterpiece — but you're polluting the water, dirty pig."
A bit further away, Cassian was also washing up with a few other apprentice weapon masters. Before leaving the baths, his group teased him with mocking laughter:
Apprentice 1??: "Hey, peasant! How's it feel to finally have hot water, AHAHAHA!"
Apprentice 2?? (patting his shoulder): "See you tomorrow, pleb! You'd better head back to your shack!"
They left laughing, leaving Cassian alone with the four heroes.
He walked over, looking a bit awkward.
Cassian: "Well… see you tomorrow, I guess."
Rehann: "Azy, see you."
Cassian waved goodbye and left the baths.
Max: "Uh… guys…??"
Matheo: "What?"
Max: "Where's Anthony??!"
Bubbles rose from the water — the heroes looked down and saw Anthony sinking. Panic filled the bath.
Max: "AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! He's drowning!!!"
Matheo: "Get him out, quick!"
Max: "Help me, you idiot!!"
The heroes pulled Anthony out of the water and started slapping him to wake him up.
Anthony: "Aaaah! Stop it, let me sleep!"
Rehann: "Are you stupid or what?! You fell asleep in the water, you were about to die!"
Anthony (half-conscious): "Nah nah, don't worry… let me cook…"
Matheo: "I swear this idiot's too dumb to live."
Later, the four heroes returned to their shared room.
They collapsed onto their beds, muscles shattered but spirits lighter.
Matheo (dropping heavily): "I think my trainer's a sadist… I want a new one."
Max: "Speaking of training, what'd you guys do today?"
Rehann (exhaling): "I spent the whole day listening to Nora talk about weapon techniques… feels like my brain took more hits than your bodies."
Anthony (groaning): "I ran… and ran… I can still see the dirt moving under my eyes…"
Matheo: "That's all? Weakling. Don't complain."
Anthony: "Man, you go run all day non-stop… no breaks, no water, nothing! Then we'll talk."
Matheo: "I don't care, mine was worse… I got beaten all day by a two-meter-tall muscle demon."
Max: "Damn, that's rough. My training was just fighting in sand… couldn't do anything."
Silence fell.
Matheo: "I'm already done for…"
Rehann: "Yeah, but it's only the beginning. Imagine tomorrow."
Anthony (paling): "…Tomorrow?"
Max: "Yeah, count me out."
They laughed again, despite their exhaustion.
That first day of training had broken their bodies…