The First Trial – Endurance
The instant the command rang out, the recruits surged forward. The cold morning air bit at their skin, but it was quickly drowned out by the thunder of feet against dirt, the rhythmic heaving of breath forming a desperate, unsteady melody.
Reika gritted her teeth, forcing herself into a steady pace, despite the fire in her lungs and the aching of her legs. This wasn't going to be easy. She could hear the strained gasps of those around her, the occasional grunt or stumble as the terrain grew more unforgiving.
"Faster!" the trainers barked.
Nobody dared to disobey.
The ground shifted beneath their feet, dipping into uneven earth filled with hidden roots and loose stones. A sharp cry rang out as a boy beside her tripped, his body hitting the dirt with a sickening crunch. He groaned, struggling to rise, but the stampede of bodies kept moving, their focus locked ahead. Nobody slowed down.
Reika clenched her jaw. She wanted to help, but stopping? Hell no. Stopping meant failure. And failure meant death.
Move. Keep moving.
Another sharp command. "No slowing down!"
Her breath came out ragged as she wove through the pack, dodging flailing arms and reckless elbows. A sudden shove hit her ribs—someone trying to knock her off balance. She staggered, pain flaring up along her side, but she caught herself just in time. She spun around, locking eyes with the asshole who'd shoved her, her glare as cold as ice.
Then—a steep incline loomed ahead.
The trainers sprinted past them effortlessly, their black robes barely shifting as they reached the top.
"Get moving!"
Reika gritted her teeth. Her calves screamed in protest, but she pushed herself up the slope, each step feeling like a damn punishment. The weight of exhaustion bore down on her, whispering for her to stop, to rest.
No. You stop, you fail. You fail, you die.
Ahead, two recruits lost their footing. One tumbled backward, colliding into another, their cries lost in the stampede of feet that refused to stop.
This wasn't just about running. This was survival.
Reika pushed harder.
She would not be left behind.
The Second Trial – The Ascent
The mountain loomed ahead, its jagged edges shrouded in mist. The stone staircase stretched endlessly toward the heavens, each step steep and uneven.
"Climb!"
Reika surged forward, slamming her foot onto the first step.
Step. Step. Step.
The higher she climbed, the heavier her body became. Sweat poured down Reika's temples, stinging her eyes. Her breathing was uneven, her heart pounding so hard she swore it might break through her ribs.
A scream sliced through the air.
Reika didn't turn, but she knew exactly what had happened. A girl had misstepped. The sickening sound of her body crashing against stone sent a chill down Reika's spine. The trainers didn't even flinch.
Nobody did.
Her hands clenched into fists as she forced herself forward.
This is the reality. If you fall, you're forgotten. Nobody's gonna save you.
The wind howled as they climbed higher, whipping through her damp hair. The steps grew slick, worn down by years of desperate feet. A boy near her slipped, barely catching himself, his knuckles scraping against the sharp stone. Blood smeared the steps.
Reika's legs felt like lead, each step more excruciating than the last.
Higher. Faster.
Don't stop. Don't fall. Don't be weak.
The summit was within reach. The morning sky had darkened into a cruel, merciless gray.
With one final push, Reika reached the top. Her knees nearly buckled, her breath ragged as she fought to stay on her feet.
But there was no time to rest.
The Final Trial – The Burden Run
The sacks lay before them, heavy with an unforgiving weight.
"Choose your burden," the trainer commanded.
Some recruits hesitated, grabbing the smallest, the lightest.
Reika didn't hesitate.
She reached for one of the heaviest, the rough fabric scraping against her fingers. Lifting it onto her shoulders, the weight slammed into her spine like a goddamn wrecking ball. Her knees almost buckled, but she steadied herself.
A few recruits scoffed. One muttered under his breath, "She's insane."
She didn't give a damn.
"Run,"the trainer barked. "And don't stop until sunrise!"
The recruits scattered, the weight of their burdens pulling them down, but they didn't stop. The moment Reika moved, the weight pressed down like an iron cage, each step jarring her bones. The cold night air bit at her throat. The terrain was merciless—uneven, shifting, designed to break them.
Darkness swallowed the sky. The wind howled like a beast.
A boy beside her collapsed, his burden pinning him to the ground. He gasped for air, his fingers clawing at the dirt, but no one stopped. A girl screamed in frustration, tossing her sack aside. But the trainers didn't even blink.
Reika's thoughts flickered between exhaustion and a single, burning thought:
You're not just fighting your body. You're fighting your mind.
Pain coiled through her muscles, tightening its grip, urging her to fall. Her lungs burned with each gasping breath.
Keep moving. If you stop, you're nothing.
And then—
A sudden movement.
A figure lunged at her.
Reika barely reacted in time, twisting as a hand grabbed for her burden. A recruit—desperate, his eyes wild—tried to steal her sack, hoping to lighten his load.
She didn't hesitate.
With a growl, she used the sack's momentum, slamming it into his gut. He crumpled with a choked gasp, his fingers digging into the dirt.
Reika stared down at him, her breath coming out in sharp, uneven bursts.
"Survival's not fair," she muttered, and then she ran.
The Longest Night
Her body screamed for rest. Her shoulders felt like they might just give out. Every single part of her burned with exhaustion.
The darkness stretched on, the night feeling endless.
She ran.
One step.
Another.
Another.
Her vision blurred. The weight crushed her bones. But she didn't stop.
And then—
A flicker of gold.
The first rays of dawn touched the horizon.
Reika staggered to a halt, her breath ragged, her legs barely holding her up.
But she was still standing.
She had survived.
The First Step
The lead trainer surveyed them. Less than half remained.
"You've taken the first step," he declared. "But this is only the beginning."
Reika barely heard him.
Her body was broken. Her mind was on fire.
But deep inside, buried beneath the pain, the exhaustion, the blood, and the sweat—
There was pride.
She had endured.
She had fought.
And she would keep fighting.
No matter what.