Free Web NovelChapter 121: Morning Training
The morning air around the waterfall carried a crisp coolness.
Fine mist drifted endlessly from the cascading waters, catching the crimson light filtering through the blood-red sky and scattering it into countless shimmering droplets that danced lazily through the air.
The steady roar of the waterfall echoed throughout the clearing, drowning out the distant cries of beasts hidden deep within the Crimson Forest.
Every so often, a gentle breeze swept across the lake, disturbing its glass-like surface into widening ripples before continuing onward, carrying with it the earthy scent of damp soil, moss, and fresh leaves.
The waterfall remained as picturesque as ever. Over the past week, however, its surroundings had changed considerably.
After nearly seven days of relentless training within the Crimson Forest, the group had gradually transformed the once ordinary clearing into a temporary training ground.
Near the edge of the lake stood several practice dummies fashioned from thick tree trunks driven firmly into the earth. Heavy branches protruded from either side to resemble crude arms, while tightly woven bundles of vines wrapped around their centers served as makeshift torsos.
Every single dummy bore the marks of countless training sessions; deep sword cuts, jagged punctures and scorch marks left behind by flames.
Some had even lost entire sections of their wooden bodies after enduring days of relentless abuse.
Honestly, building them had been far from easy.
Finding suitable trees without attracting nearby beasts had already proven difficult. And dragging the enormous trunks back to the waterfall had been an even greater ordeal.
Yet after hours of exhausting labor, the effort had finally paid off. And truthfully, it had been worth every drop of sweat.
After all, surviving within the Nether Lands required far more than simply awakening a Soul Essence or an Essence Rune.
Every passing day had taught them that strength was something that demanded constant refinement.
One careless mistake or even a fleeting moment of complacency could easily become the difference between life and death.
And because of that, whenever the cohort weren’t hunting or gathering supplies, they trained...
Standing before one of the battered wooden dummies was Sylveris.
Sweat soaked through her clothes, causing strands of silver hair to cling to her forehead and neck.
Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as she gripped the pair of ivory fangs tightly in both hands.
Tiny droplets of perspiration rolled down her temples before falling quietly onto the grass below.
Even so, she refused to lower her weapons...
Several paces away stood Aureleah. Unlike her younger sister, there wasn’t the slightest trace of exhaustion upon the silver-haired Assassin’s face.
Instead, she stood with both arms folded across her chest, silver eyes calmly observing every movement Sylveris made.
The breeze gently stirred her long silver hair and dark cloak. Even so, her expression remained perfectly composed.
For several long moments, neither of them spoke and only the repeated sound of blades striking wood echoed throughout the clearing.
THUD! THUD!! THUD!!!
It was only when Sylveris finally lowered her arms to catch her breath that Aureleah’s calm voice broke the silence. "Again."
Sylveris slowly turned around. Disbelief was written all over her face as she asked. "...Again?"
She pointed one ivory fang toward the thoroughly battered dummy. "Sister, i’ve been attacking that thing since the morning began..."
Her silver eyes drifted toward the countless cuts already carved into the wooden target.
"And by now, I’m pretty sure that I’ve hit it over three hundred times already."
She looked back hopefully. "Isn’t there... I don’t know... something else you’re supposed to teach me?"
Aureleah’s expression didn’t change despite the pleading gaze shown by her sister.
"Again." The word came out once more, calm and merciless.
Sylveris stared blankly. "...That’s it?"
She let out a long, defeated groan. "I swear that’s the only word you know by this point. Can’t you at least allow me to do something else."
Aureleah remained unmoved as she spoke once more. "Sylveris, the dummy won’t defeat itself."
Sylveris puffed out her cheeks. "And neither will my exhaustion..."
Silence followed her words as no response but Aureleah’s unwavering gaze answered her.
By now, Sylveris had already learned that trying to change her elder sister’s mind was about as difficult as convincing a mountain to walk.
So after another dramatic sigh, she reluctantly turned back toward the dummy.
"You’re impossible..."
Then she lowered her center of gravity before lunging forward. The twin ivory fangs blurred through the air...
THUD!
A slash...
THUD!
Another thrust...
THUD!
Another cut...
Fresh splinters burst from the scarred wooden dummy with every strike...
And Aureleah continued watching all these without blinking.
At this point, Sylveris was beginning to suspect that she, and not the training dummy, was the one slowly being destroyed...
Just then, a deep chuckle suddenly drifted across the clearing...
Sylveris immediately stopped attacking and both sisters turned toward the source.
Several meters away stood Valmyr.
The failed Vanguard was completely shirtless, revealing a broad chest and heavily muscled frame glistening beneath the morning light.
Sweat streamed freely across his bronze skin.
Resting across his shoulders was an enormous tree trunk. And compared to ordinary logs, this one was monstrous as it was nearly twice as thick as the torso of a grown man.
Thick veins bulged across Valmyr’s powerful arms as he effortlessly supported the tremendous weight. Despite the burden upon him, he was still laughing...
Aureleah regarded him with the same indifferent expression as before as she asked. "Is there something funny?"
Valmyr lowered the massive log onto the ground.
BOOM!
The impact sent a faint tremor through the clearing...
He rolled one shoulder before smiling wryly.
"Actually, nothing’s funny. I just think you’re being a little too hard on her."
His gaze shifted toward the exhausted Sylveris.
"I mean, the poor girl has been attacking that dummy since morning." He scratched the back of his head before speaking further. "At this point, I think she’s earned herself at least a small break."
Aureleah’s expression remained perfectly impassive.
"A break?"
She looked directly at him.
"Danger never takes a break. Especially not in our situation."
Then her silver eyes briefly shifted toward Sylveris. "Also, if she truly wishes to survive; and if she truly wishes to become strong enough to help us then she must endure the process that comes with such responsibilities. So it doesn’t matter whether she’s a young girl or not."
Valmyr pursed his lips. He had already expected the silver-haired Assassin to say something like that.
As a matter of fact, trying to convince Aureleah otherwise had always been a losing battle. And sure enough, she continued speaking but this time, she berated him.
"Besides..." Her gaze settled upon the massive tree trunk lying beside him. Shouldn’t you be focusing on your own training instead of interfering with ours?"
Valmyr opened his mouth... Then closed it again. He was completely speechless as he didn’t know what to reply.
Several meters away, a soft laugh suddenly rang out...
Unlike Sylveris, who was relentlessly attacking wooden dummies; or Valmyr, who was strengthening his body by lifting gigantic logs... Caelestra had chosen a different method of training.
She stood beside a collection of makeshift wooden balance beams, suspended ropes, and horizontal climbing poles the group had constructed from fallen trees and thick vines.
Using them, she continuously stretched her body, improving her flexibility, agility, and balance.
It was only after overhearing the conversation that she finally stopped mid-stretch before glancing toward Valmyr with an amused smile.
"You know, if I were you, I’d stop talking while I still could." She said, her teasing tone only making Valmyr’s expression sour further.
He shot her an exaggerated glare before letting out a scoff. "I don’t know how this concerns you."
Caelestra didn’t reply. Instead, she simply giggled before returning to her exercise.
Without another word, Valmyr also bent down, hoisted the enormous tree trunk back onto his shoulders, and resumed his training.
Satisfied that the distraction had ended, Aureleah calmly looked back toward her younger sister and uttered a single word that sealed the fourteen-years-old fate.
"Continue."
Sylveris stared at her elder sister for several seconds.
At that moment, she genuinely wondered if surviving the Crimson Forest would somehow be easier than surviving Aureleah’s training.
Also, it was at this point that she was starting to understand why Veyrath would rather go hunting with Regaleon than train with her sister.
Then with another pitiful sigh, she slowly raised her twin ivory fangs once more. However, just as she prepared to strike, a distant voice suddenly echoed throughout the clearing.
"They’re back!"
Everyone instinctively turned.
Kaeloris came sprinting through the trees, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his face after what appeared to be a full-speed run from the forest’s edge...
The failed Gnost had been positioned there intentionally. His job had been to stand guard and inform them of any wandering Anima coming to the lake for a drink or something. They wouldn’t want to be caught unprepared now.
Also, he was to inform them of when the hunting trio returned from their hunt. And judging by the words he has spoken, it seems like the trio have finally returned from their hunting...
