Ethan's new position in the Special Studies program came with benefits.
Access to restricted training facilities. Personal instruction from senior professors. And most importantly, resources that F-Rank students could never dream of.
Professor Marcus Ironheart became his combat instructor.
"Your problem," Marcus said during their first session, "is that you fight like someone who's read about fighting. Technical knowledge without instinct."
"How do I fix that?"
"Pain." Marcus's metal fist crashed into Ethan's guard, sending him flying. "Lots of pain."
[TRAINING MONTAGE - WEEK 1-4]
Physical Training with Professor Marcus:
Strength: 18 → 24 Agility: 22 → 29 Learned: Basic Swordsmanship (Common) Learned: Combat Reflexes (Uncommon)
Magical Training with Professor Celeste:
Intelligence: 67 → 73 Mana Capacity: 45 → 58 Learned: Intermediate Barrier Magic (Uncommon) Learned: Mana Thread Control (Rare)
Special Training - Unlocked Ironheart Breathing Method
Passive HP regeneration Increased physical attribute growth Foundation for advanced techniques
But Ethan didn't train alone.
Lucien joined him in the mornings, pushing both of them to improve. The protagonist's growth rate was monstrous—what took Ethan weeks, Lucien accomplished in days.
"You're not frustrated?" Lucien asked one morning, after easily defeating Ethan in their hundredth spar.
"Should I be?"
"Most people would be. I can see how hard you work, but I always stay ahead."
Ethan wiped blood from his lip. "You're the chosen hero. Of course you're ahead. But being second-best to the strongest person alive isn't shameful."
Lucien's expression shifted—something complicated flickered across his perfect features.
"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like," he said quietly, "to be normal. To struggle. To earn things through effort instead of destiny."
"Careful," Ethan said. "That sounds dangerously like self-awareness."
Lucien laughed, and they continued training.