Morning sunlight spilled through the cracks of the worn-out wooden shutters, painting faint golden streaks across the dusty floor.A faint chirping of birds echoed outside as the city of Valmor slowly came to life.
Aryan stirred in bed, eyes still half-closed, until his gaze landed on the window mounted crookedly on the wall.
His eyes widened in shock."Wait—what?! SHIT! I'm late!"
He threw off his blanket, nearly tripping over his boots as he scrambled to get dressed. His shirt was half-tucked, his hair a chaotic mess, and his heart pounded faster than ever.
"Officer Roy's gonna kill me!" he muttered, shoving the door open and bolting out of the inn.
The streets were already buzzing with merchants setting up stalls and children running around. Aryan dashed through the crowd, earning annoyed glares and curses as he bumped into people left and right.
"If I run like this, I'll definitely be late on my first day of training!" he said through gritted teeth. "I can't screw this up!"
His breath was already uneven, sweat beginning to form on his forehead. He glanced around, eyes darting across the busy street, and then his gaze landed on a narrow path disappearing into the forest beyond the city wall.
"The main route will take too long…" he whispered. "Guess I'll have to take the shortcut."
Without hesitation, Aryan vaulted over a low fence and sprinted into the thick forest trail. Branches whipped past his face, roots snagged his boots, and birds flew off as he dashed through the dense greenery.
He leapt over fallen logs, slid under hanging vines, and at one point, even splashed through a small stream, his reflection rippling in the water as he passed.
His heart pounded like a war drum. The cool forest air brushed against his skin, but his lungs burned. Yet, beneath the exhaustion, something inside him stirred — a faint, pulsing rhythm deep within his chest.
That strange sensation again.The New Soul he awakened in the void… was resonating.
After almost half an hour of sprinting through the jungle, he burst out into an open plain. Ahead, a massive stone wall surrounded a vast field — the Central Training Grounds.
Aryan stopped for a brief second, gasping for air. "Finally… made it."
He wiped his sweat and looked ahead. A tall figure stood alone in the center of the training field — arms crossed, posture firm, eyes sharp as steel.
Officer Roy.
Even from afar, the man's presence felt heavy, like a boulder pressing against Aryan's chest.
Aryan jogged toward him, still panting. "S-Sorry, sir! I'm late! Please… start the training."
Roy turned, his expression unreadable. Then, with a faint smirk, he said, "You're on time, kid. Barely. A minute later, and I would've dismissed you on the spot."
Aryan exhaled in relief. "Thank the gods…"
Roy's tone hardened. "Don't thank anyone yet. Training hasn't even started."He gestured toward the vast city beyond the walls. "We begin with stamina. I need to see your limit — and how far you can push past it."
Aryan frowned slightly. "My… limit?"
Roy nodded. "You're going to run. Across the entire city. Every street, every corner. You don't stop until sunset."
Aryan froze. "Wait, the entire city?! That's impossible to finish in one day!"
Roy gave him a cold stare. "Then you're free to leave. Weak ones always have excuses."
Aryan's fists tightened. Roy turned slightly, as if ready to walk away, when Aryan's mind suddenly flashed back to that voice in the eternal darkness.
"Your parents' deaths were not an accident… it was murder."
The words echoed through his skull. His body trembled — not in fear, but in rage.
He couldn't quit. Not now.Not when vengeance awaited.
"Wait!" Aryan shouted, straightening his back. "I'll do it, Officer Roy. Let's start."
Roy's lips curved into a faint grin. "Good. Let's see how much fire you've got, kid."
And with that, the brutal training began.
The streets of Ardent Vale echoed with the sound of heavy footsteps. Aryan sprinted through the cobbled roads, weaving through the crowds. Roy ran beside him effortlessly, his breathing calm and measured, as if this was nothing but a light jog.
"Keep your pace steady," Roy instructed. "Don't waste energy too early."
Aryan nodded, but his lungs already screamed for air. They crossed the market district, then the residential sector, and moved toward the southern gate. The city was enormous — far bigger than Aryan had imagined.
Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, burning through the sky. Sweat soaked Aryan's clothes, and his legs felt like lead.
"Sir," he gasped, "how… how are you not tired?"
Roy glanced sideways. "Experience. You'll get there — if you survive."
Aryan forced a breathless chuckle. "If… I survive, huh…"
At noon, they stopped briefly near a water fountain. Aryan collapsed to his knees, gulping water like a man lost in a desert.
Roy leaned against the fountain wall, arms crossed. "You've got decent stamina. But your breathing technique's all over the place."
He knelt down beside Aryan and tapped his chest. "You're still running like a civilian. You need to let your energy flow through your core — from here. The soul inside you… feel it?"
Aryan closed his eyes. That faint pulse again. The same energy that resonated when he was in the void.
"I feel it," he said softly.
"Good," Roy replied. "Then stop fighting it. Let it guide your rhythm. Your soul's not just for combat — it's part of your life now."
They resumed running again.
The afternoon heat turned the streets into ovens. Aryan's body screamed for rest, but every time he stumbled, Roy's voice echoed behind him — firm and commanding.
"Don't stop, Aryan!""Pain is weakness leaving your body!""Run until your soul burns brighter than your limits!"
By sunset, Aryan could barely see straight. His legs trembled with every step, and his vision blurred. The city lights flickered to life as darkness crept in, and the streets emptied one by one.
Yet he kept running.
Even when his lungs burned, even when his knees ached, even when his heart felt like it would burst — he didn't stop.
Father… Mother… I'll find who killed you.I'll make them pay.
The last rays of sunlight vanished behind the horizon as Aryan crossed the city gate — the final checkpoint of his run. His entire body collapsed the moment he stopped.
He hit the ground hard, gasping, every muscle screaming in agony.
Roy arrived seconds later, barely out of breath. He looked down at Aryan and gave a small nod of approval.
"You did well, kid. Most trainees quit before sundown."
Aryan could only manage a weak smile. "That's… encouraging…"
Roy chuckled softly. "Rest now. Tomorrow, we start real training."
He turned to leave, his cloak swaying slightly in the night breeze. "And Aryan…"
"Huh?" Aryan murmured, still lying on the ground.
"Remember this — strength isn't measured by how much pain you can endure. It's measured by what keeps you moving through that pain. Don't forget why you started."
Aryan nodded faintly, his eyes heavy. "Yes… sir…"
Roy walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the city.
Aryan lay there beneath the stars, unable to lift a single muscle. The wind brushed against his face, cool and soothing, carrying the faint scent of the forest he'd crossed that morning.
He smiled faintly, eyes half-closed. "Father… Mother… I'll get stronger. I promise."
The night sky shimmered above, and somewhere deep within his soul, the Copy Soul pulsed softly — as if responding to his vow.
Slowly, exhaustion claimed him, and he drifted into sleep right there on the training ground.