Sai walked down the dormitory corridor, not yet fully awake.
His thoughts revolved around yesterday's announcement: "North-3. First training session with the mentor."
He quickly gathered his things and headed to the training hall.
As soon as he entered, Aella was already waiting for him, hands on her hips, her gaze cold and assessing.
"Well, rookie," she said without any greeting. "You're so scrawny, you should hit the weights first."
"Uh… understood," Sai mumbled, feeling a slight blush.
"First lesson is simple: running. In the morning, right in the fresh air," she added. "Skip morning exercise—you lose your chance."
Sai exhaled but nodded. He understood arguing was pointless.
They went out to the Academy's running track.
Aella took a starting position at the line.
"Let's go," she said shortly, and they set off.
Sai ran, feeling every muscle scream with fatigue.
"Don't think," Aella shouted from behind. "Just move!"
He tried to keep up, but after a couple of minutes, his lungs felt constricted, his legs buckling.
"Breathe deeper!" she commanded. "You want to get stronger, right?"
"Yes!" he replied, though his voice trembled.
After several laps, she abruptly stopped him:
"You're on a three-minute pause. Rest. And don't feel sorry for yourself."
Sai dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.
"How… can anyone… handle this… every day?" he exhaled.
"If you want to be strong," Aella said calmly, "this is only the beginning."
He got up, his hands shaking, but his gaze was firm.
"I'm ready."
"Good," she nodded. "After running—strength training and weapon work. A sword in your hands is not a toy."
Sai felt something stir inside him.
He understood: today wasn't just a training session.
Today, for the first time, he would truly feel what it meant to be a student, not just an observer.
And somewhere deep down, in his bag, the revolver quietly reminded him of its presence.
"Be ready, Sai. It all starts small, but this is only the beginning."
He took a deep breath and moved on to the next part of the lesson.
---
After the run, Sai had barely caught his breath when Aella placed him in front of a rack of dumbbells and weights.
"Strength work," she said shortly. "Ten reps for each exercise, and if you can do more—great."
Sai grabbed the dumbbells. A slight tremor ran through his arms.
"I… I'm not sure I can…"
"Not 'not sure'. Do it," she interrupted. "Strength is in the mind, not the arms."
He began squeezing and releasing the weights, feeling every muscle scream under the strain.
Aella watched, sometimes correcting his grip, sometimes giving short, sharp commands.
"Step left! Turn!" Her voice was strict but precise. "Faster!"
After the strength session, she handed him a sword.
"Weapon work," she said. "A sword isn't a toy, not just metal. It feels your thoughts, your uncertainty, your intent."
Sai took the blade. The lightness and sturdiness of it surprised him. He made a few practice swings. Aella watched intently.
"Don't hold the sword like a stick," she said. "Think of it as an extension of your body. Every movement must be conscious."
He made a few more swings, noticing his breathing and footwork now had to synchronize with the strikes.
"Good," she said quietly after a minute of observation. "But look, your reflexes are weak. You need to work on speed."
Sai nodded. He felt fatigue filling every cell, but something inside whispered: "You can handle this. Even if it hurts."
When the training session came to an end, Aella placed the sword on its stand and looked at him.
"That's enough for today. But remember, Sai, everything starts small."
He nodded and wearily sat down.
"And… this thing…" he pointed to the revolver in his bag. "What is this… terrible thing?"
Aella glanced at it with a hint of mockery.
"That?" she nodded towards the revolver. "Not a toy, but not your sword either. You'll have to figure out what to do with it when you have time. For now, just keep it with you."
Sai sighed, feeling the weapon's weight in his bag.
"Understood…"
He stood up, pulled on his jacket, and headed for the hall exit, feeling that every day with Aella was gradually changing him.
The training session was over, but the lessons were only just beginning.