It had been three days since Cadogan had encased himself in the glowing ice crystal to heal. The cave had become a temporary sanctuary, offering them much-needed rest from the chaos.
Thankfully, Cadogan had deactivated the ice door before falling asleep, allowing them to come and go as needed. Atlas had taken up the task of hunting, frequently leaving and returning with food, while Ned and Dune rested inside.
As they sat near a small fire, Dune broke the silence. "Ned, what do you think happened to Daniel? Why didn't he come back?"
Ned sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Dune. I'd like to believe he's okay, but… if what Cadogan said is true, then the King probably doesn't want to cause any more trouble by opposing Matiane."
Dune nodded slowly, his thoughts racing. It made sense for King Aramir to avoid provoking Matiane, but something didn't sit right. "But why?" he asked after a pause. "Why would the King sacrifice an entire city just to send us three into the trials? He can't be that cruel, can he?"
Before Ned could respond, a low, raspy voice interrupted them. "Because the King has no choice."
Dune and Ned turned sharply to see Cadogan standing near his shattered crystal prison, frost still clinging to his skin. His body emanated a faint, icy mist, and his voice carried a weary strength.
"You're awake?" Dune asked, surprised.
Cadogan stepped forward, his movements slow but deliberate. He was completely naked, though within seconds, frost and snow swirled around him, forming a pristine white robe, shirt, and pants. Fully clothed, he exhaled a deep breath of cold air, his posture still a bit unsteady.
"I couldn't sleep forever," he said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Besides, we don't have time to waste. We need to move soon, but I'll explain." He took a seat on the ground, gesturing for them to sit with him.
Dune wasted no time. "So, Matiane… is he really working under the King?"
Cadogan shook his head. "Yes and No. Matiane doesn't answer to King Aramir. He's the apostle of Atreus, the God of War. The King's hands are tied. Even as a ruler, Aramir is still below the gods in the hierarchy. Apostles are an extension of their gods. If the King defied Matiane, it would be as if he defied Atreus himself."
Dune's eyes narrowed as the implications sunk in. "So Matiane can do whatever he wants? Destroy entire cities? All because he serves a god?"
"Exactly," Cadogan replied grimly. "Apostles like Matiane gave up their free will in exchange for power. They let the gods use them as tools, puppets for their will. That's what makes them different from you."
"Different how?" Dune pressed.
Cadogan leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "You're blessed, Dune. You your brother and Atlas were chosen by gods, but you still have a free will.
Your gods don't control you unless you willingly reach out to them. Pray to your god, and they may see you, speak to you, or help you, but that's the extent of it. Apostles, on the other hand, have a permanent and deep connection to their gods. They exist to serve them and nothing else."
"I see," Dune murmured, though his brow furrowed with unease. The idea of giving up free will for power unsettled him, even if Matiane's strength was undeniable.
Before they could discuss further, Atlas returned, stepping through the cave's entrance with a small haul of freshly caught rabbits. He set it down near the fire, nodding to Cadogan as he noticed the man was awake.
"You're up," Atlas said. "Good. We'll need you if we run into trouble on the road."
Cadogan smiled faintly. "I'm not at full strength yet, but I'll manage. More importantly, it's time to prepare you for what lies ahead."
"Prepare us?" Ned asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Yes," Cadogan replied, settling himself on the ground. "Come here, all three of you. If you're going to survive at Bloodrose Academy, you need to be ready for what's to come."
The three exchanged glances, then moved closer, forming a loose circle around Cadogan.
"Bloodrose Academy isn't just a school," Cadogan began, his tone growing serious. "It's a place where the strong thrive, and the weak are crushed. If you go in as you are now, you won't last long. But with my guidance, you'll be prepared."
Dune clenched his fists, his jaw set with determination. "What do we need to do?"
Cadogan's icy blue eyes gleamed. "First, I'll conceal your Zeten marks. If anyone finds out what you truly are, That's a death sentence.
The group emerged from the cave into a dense forest, sunlight filtering through the towering trees. Cadogan led the way, his stride confident, while Dune, Ned, and Atlas followed closely behind. The air was fresh, but the atmosphere remained tense as Cadogan suddenly spoke.
"If I'm being honest," he began, his tone calm but firm, "you guys would probably fail the first test at Bloodrose Academy."
Ned sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, yeah… It is the best academy on the continent. I imagine only the best of the best make it in."
Cadogan nodded. "True. Even the weakest student at Bloodrose Academy could give you a tough time in a fight. So, I'm going to train you all on our journey. Starting now."
The trio glanced at each other nervously, sensing what was coming. Cadogan continued, his sharp gaze scanning them.
"First, we need to address your bodies. They're weak. No real muscle." His eyes lingered on Dune, who looked particularly wiry. "Ned is fine, he's got more natural strength than you two. Dune, you're relying too much on your ability. Ned, your red zeten is powerful, but you need to balance it out with a strong healing animal for your Neba. That way, you'll protect yourself from the damage your ability causes.
"But that's only part of the solution. Atlas, Dune, you both need to build some physical strength. So, here's how we're starting."
With a wave of his hand, thick ice cuffs materialized around Dune, Ned, and Atlas's legs. The weight was immediate and overwhelming, dragging their feet to the ground.
"This will make every step exhausting," Cadogan explained with a smirk. "Your stamina will be tested constantly. And remember, you'll need to eat more to keep up with the energy you're burning."
Dune tried to take a step and nearly fell over. Every muscle in his legs screamed in protest. "This is insane," he muttered under his breath, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.
Atlas wasn't faring much better, and even Ned, physically stronger than the others, looked strained. They trudged forward at a painfully slow pace, struggling under the weight.
As they moved, Cadogan kept talking. "At Bloodrose Academy, they'll evaluate your stats as soon as you arrive. Strength is one of the most important. You'll need to punch a Neba circle as hard as you can. First, they'll measure your base strength, then your strength combined with Neba. The combined number will be your max strength stat."
He smiled slyly, stopping in his tracks. "Let's see where you stand now."
Cadogan formed a glowing blue circle of hardened Neba energy and placed it on an icy platform. "This circle will absorb the force of your punches and i will display a number that represents your strength. Ned, you're up first."
Ned stepped forward hesitantly, positioning himself in front of the glowing circle. He took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and threw a punch. The circle pulsed, glowing faintly before displaying the number: *28*
"25?" Ned's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's it? I thought I'd get at least… I don't know, hundreds or something."
Cadogan chuckled. "Relax. 25 is really good. The average person has a base strength of 10. You're already above that. Now, focus your Neba into your fist and punch again."
Ned nodded, his green Neba glowing faintly around his hand. This time, when he punched, the circle glowed brighter. The number displayed: *80.*
"Whoa… 80! That's a huge jump!" Ned exclaimed, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Not bad," Cadogan said. "Alright, Dune. You're next."
Dune stepped up nervously, shaking his hands out before punching the circle. Without Neba, his number came up as *15.*
Cadogan nodded. "Better than I expected. Now, with Neba."
Dune focused, letting his green Neba flow into his fist. He punched the circle again, harder this time. The new number appeared: *130.*
Dune blinked, stunned. "130? That's… not bad, right?"
Atlas stepped up next, his expression calm and focused. Without Neba, his punch registered at *19.* When he used his green Neba, the number skyrocketed to *145.*
Atlas stepped back wordlessly, his composure unshaken.
"How are we doing, Cadogan?" Dune asked, his voice laced with hope. "We're above average, right?"
Cadogan's expression darkened slightly, and he let out a long sigh. "You're above the average for regular people, sure. But for Bloodrose Academy? You're nowhere near the mark. The minimum strength to pass the first test is 25 without Neba and 250 with it."
Dune, Ned, and Atlas all froze, their faces falling as the harsh reality sank in.
"250?" Ned repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No way…" Dune muttered, shaking his head.
Cadogan smirked, clapping them on the shoulders. "Don't worry. By the time we reach Rendely, you'll be much, much stronger. Trust me."
Though his words were meant to reassure them, the weight of their task ahead loomed heavy in their minds as they continued their slow, grueling march through the forest.