The next morning, Kofi's arms felt like they were made of stone.
Every muscle burned from swinging the practice sword the night before. His hands were blistered, his shoulders ached, and he could barely lift his weapon from its rack in the barracks.
"You're hopeless," a gruff voice muttered.
Kofi turned to see a knight leaning against the wall. His armor was worn and dented, a far cry from the shining suits the others wore. His hair was short, his expression tired, and his arms were folded like he had better things to do than babysit.
"Who… who are you?" Kofi asked, still panting from trying to lift the blade.
"Darius," the knight said flatly. "They told me to train you. Personally, I think this is a waste of time. You don't even know how to hold a sword."
Kofi flushed, gripping the hilt tighter. "I'll learn."
Darius snorted. "We'll see."
The training yard was merciless. The sun beat down, and the clang of steel echoed as soldiers sparred around them. Darius barked orders at Kofi, correcting his stance, forcing him to swing again and again. Each mistake was punished with another repetition.
Kofi's arms screamed. His lungs begged for rest. But he clenched his teeth and pushed forward.
By midday, his tunic was soaked through, his knees wobbled, and his vision blurred. Yet when Darius finally called for a break, Kofi didn't sit down. He kept swinging.
The knight raised an eyebrow. "You'll break your arms off at this rate."
Kofi shook his head, breathless. "If I can't even swing a sword properly… how can I face the Demon King?"
For a moment, Darius said nothing. Then, slowly, the corner of his mouth twitched—not quite a smile, but close. "Hmph. At least you've got guts."
That night, Kofi collapsed into bed, too tired to even eat. His hands throbbed, but when he stared at them, faint sparks of holy light flickered across his skin.
The warmth soothed the pain, just a little.
Maybe… just maybe, he could do this.
But deep in the back of his mind, a whisper lingered. A fear he couldn't place.
Something told him that the Demon King wasn't the only enemy he would face.