thief of fate-Chapter 67: Everyone is getting ready

Zenith stood in the empty training yard, isolated from the rest of the trainees. He held his staff in his right hand, looking at it for a moment before slowly raising it, as if the movement itself required thought. He didn’t want anything to distract him, but the thought wouldn’t leave him.

"You’re ready, aren’t you?" he whispered to himself, but the answer he heard in his mind was empty. In reality, he felt something deeper than mere readiness. He felt the weight of pressure.

He had the ability to understand, the skill, but nothing guaranteed success in the upcoming battle. All he knew was that danger was approaching.

He raised the staff again, this time faster than before, executing a precise motion through the air, imagining an enemy before him. His movements were quick, calculated, but something was missing.

"Things have changed." He said to himself, running his hand through his sweat-drenched hair. "It’s not the same as it used to be. Can I face them?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the creeping fear trying to seize him from within, but he pushed it away. No time for this. He had to prove himself.

On the other side, Valerian was training with Kyle in dagger combat. The heavy air pressed against his chest, his eyes focusing on every movement Kyle made, trying to mimic every step, but there was always something lacking.

"You’re good, but you need more focus." Kyle said in his calm voice as he slowly raised his dagger before him, watching Valerian intently.

"I don’t need you to remind me of that." Valerian replied in a low voice, then pushed his foot forward and launched a quick dagger strike. He felt his hand meet the dagger at the point of contact, but Kyle simply retreated, pressing his dagger with more force, causing Valerian to back off.

"You strike with power, but you lack control." Kyle said, his eyes steady on Valerian. "What are you thinking?"

Valerian paused for a moment, unable to answer, but it was clear his mind was filled with many thoughts.

"Everything seems more serious now." Valerian finally said, trying to catch his breath.

"Of course." Kyle responded calmly as he returned his dagger to its place. "This isn’t just training, Valerian. The real goal is survival. If you feel like everything is heavy now, know that’s what real combat means."

Valerian turned to Kyle, his eyes heavy with concern.

"Do you think I’ll survive?" he asked anxiously.

"I don’t think it’s about surviving." Kyle answered in a low voice. "It’s about what you do before you die."

Elsewhere, Selena was training under Raphael’s watchful eye. Raphael stood behind her, closely observing as she tried to improve her movements. He guided her every time she made a mistake, and each time she regained her balance. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"You’re stumbling." Raphael said seriously as he watched her next move. "You know how to fight, but you don’t know how to improve your performance."

Selena was lost in thought, trying to understand his words. Her heart screamed within her, as many questions collided in her mind. "What if I can’t win? What if I lose those I love?"

"You shouldn’t occupy your mind with ’what ifs.’" Raphael said, extending his hand to stop her. "In combat, if you think about ’what if,’ you’ll lose. You have to live in the moment."

Selena didn’t answer but continued with her training. Yet the feeling of fear filled her chest. Raphael knew what she was going through, but he didn’t have time to pity her. He expected more from her, and he knew she could do more.

"You’re strong, Selena, but you have to trust in your strength." Raphael finally said in a firm tone. "If you’re scared now, how will you fight when the time comes?"

Meanwhile, Alister was training with his sword. The movements were harsh, and he struck with all his might, completely ignoring the fatigue beginning to assail his body. His eyes were filled with focus, and his hand kept pushing the sword through the air with force.

But deep inside, he felt something deeper. He felt that every strike he made wasn’t enough. There was an internal feeling that made everything seem meaningless, and all the pressure he felt was growing inside him, weighing heavily on his heart.

"I need something stronger." He whispered to himself as he swung the sword in a wider arc.

"Alister, stop!" His trainer’s voice was harsh as he approached him quickly. "You won’t solve your problems this way. You can’t be violent with yourself just to prove your strength."

Alister stopped his strikes and turned to his trainer with a confused look. "Do I need something other than strength?"

The voice that came from Alister wavered between sadness and anger, as if he was screaming inside, but no one could hear.

"You can’t fight with fear." Raphael said seriously. "Don’t be afraid of failing. Learn from your mistakes, that’s what matters."

As everyone continued their training, there was a moment of collective tension. Each of them was facing their personal fears, each one trying to overcome the doubts inside them. It was the academy.

Each of them was in their place, facing an internal battle larger than any physical battle they would ever fight. And with each passing moment, the pressure on their nerves grew, and everyone knew that the coming days would put them to a real test, one with no room for error.

Meanwhile, in the mountains of Arinfall, King Yaram stood in the center of the arena, where the ring had been prepared perfectly. Tall walls surrounded the field, and tight barriers had been placed carefully along its edges to ensure that the fighters couldn’t cross the boundaries. The place was quiet.

Before the king, Orin approached him with steady steps, his eyes shining with confidence. This moment was important, and everyone knew there was no room for error here.

"We’ve tested it thoroughly, my lord." Orin said, raising his hand to gesture toward the arena. "We’ve examined it from every angle, and ensuring its strength and resilience was our priority."

Yaram nodded his head as he glanced at the ring once more, his eyes scrutinizing every corner carefully. "Is it completely ready?"

"Yes, my lord." Orin answered confidently. "I delivered my strongest strike myself, and the result was excellent. The ring won’t collapse easily."

Yaram paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. He always admired Orin’s persistence and attention to detail. But he knew that physical toughness didn’t always guarantee success. There were other factors to consider.

He stared at the arena for some time, diving deeper into his thoughts. There was something in his heart telling him he needed something more than just a solid arena. The upcoming battle was only days away, and he knew it wouldn’t be an easy challenge. The arena was empty today, but in the days ahead, it would be crowded with fighters. He wanted to see them all in their best form, facing each other in a contest where there would be no room for error.

"Everything must be perfect." He whispered to himself as he watched the ground before him. "In war, there is no room for mistakes."

He thought of the soldiers, the commanders, those who would fight under his banner. His heart was filled with expectations. The solid arena was just the beginning. He wanted to see them fight with resolve, he wanted to see them face their fate with strength, hoping that something greater than expected would emerge from them.

"I hope I see something good... for what is to come." He whispered to himself as he looked up at the sky, as though it were watching the hope living in his heart.

He took a step back and looked at the arena once more. Then, in silence, he nodded his head. He knew the coming battle would be harsh. But if the arena was strong enough, perhaps he had prepared everyone to meet the coming war with unparalleled courage.

King Yaram stood in silence for a long moment, his daughter Evelyn’s words echoing in his ears: "You don’t have much time left." Time was passing quickly, and each moment had become more important than the last.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then raised his hand slowly. He used his illusion, and an invisible force covered the battlefield, transforming the place into invisible barriers that prevented any intruders from sneaking through.

He remained in silence for another moment, staring at the empty arena before him, then whispered, "No place for error now."

But he knew that in war, even a small mistake could have dire consequences. Yaram was facing a challenge not just on the level of strategy, but on the level of heart and mind, as he tried to balance the rigors of war with his responsibilities.

"I will not allow humanity to fall"His gaze was sharp as he prepared for the future.