The morning sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon when the students of Elderglow Academy returned to the training field.
Though their bodies ached from the previous day’s grueling race, none of them uttered a word of complaint. They moved with a grim determination, every step driven by the knowledge that their trainers were no ordinary instructors.
Lord Terrace stood at the edge of the field, his arms crossed as he watched the students push themselves forward. He nodded in satisfaction; the fire of resilience was starting to burn brightly in them. “Good, good! You all are adapting fast and I am proud of you.” He said with a roar, his voice reaching the ears of every student present.
His words were like dried woods being added to their dying flames, pushing the students to push further even more.
Beside him, Lord Acheon approached with an amused expression. “Terrace,” he said, casting a glance at the weary students, “why drag them out here so early again? I’m sure even they deserve a few hours of rest.”
Lord Terrace’s eyes didn’t leave the runners as he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “This is Terrace Style,” he said simply. “A type of experience training. We gather a week’s worth of lessons into a single day.”
Lord Acheon chuckled softly. “You’re relentless.”
Terrace’s smile faded as his expression turned serious. “We’re leaving tomorrow,” he said. “I want to make sure every moment counts. They’ll be trained by me for most of today, so if you’d like to spend some time with your son, take the opportunity. When you return, we’ll switch, and I’ll do the same with Damon.”
Acheon considered this for a moment and nodded. “A reasonable plan. Spending time with our sons is a luxury we don’t often have.” He looked over the field one last time before clapping Terrace on the shoulder. “Good luck, Terrace Style.”
As the first light of dawn painted the sky, Lord Acheon stepped away, leaving the students in Lord Terrace’s hands. The students continued their relentless pace, each stride driven by grit and sheer willpower.
Terrace pushed them hard, watching for signs of weakness or fatigue. When one stumbled, he would shout words of encouragement or command them to rise. It was a brutal routine, but Terrace’s keen eyes recognized when a student truly reached their breaking point. He knew when to push and when to pull back.
“Yes! Keep at it this way, and you’ll probably become as powerful as me or even better.” Lord Terrace’s words was a drive to the students who continued to push.
Hours passed, the sun climbing higher in the sky. The students moved on from running to intensive combat drills.
“Now that way, swing from the left but make sure you’re balanced before swinging as that is the most effective way to do it.” Lord Terrace walked among them, correcting stances, demonstrating techniques, and testing their limits.
Lord Terrace wielded a wooden blade with precision, showing them how to channel their magic into their strikes, how to combine raw power with refined skill. The atmosphere was both tense and exciting, and the students gave it their all, sweat pouring down their faces as they pushed themselves beyond their limits once more.
By the time their first training session came to an end, Terrace called for a break. “You have fifteen minutes,” he announced. “Use them wisely.” The students collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, some clutching their sides or wiping sweat from their eyes.
Water and food were distributed, and for a brief moment, the training ground became a scene of quiet rest. The Dean wasn’t present but Lord Terrace knew his old teacher had to be watching some how.
Lord Terrace kept a watchful eye onthe students, and when the break ended, they rose to continue. The cycle repeated, pushing them further each time but allowing just enough rest to recover and keep going.
~~~~~
Nine hours later, as the sun dipped low in the sky, Lord Acheon returned to the field with a satisfied smirk that refused to leave his face. He walked with an easy stride, clearly having enjoyed his time away.
Lord Acheon’s smile faltered slightly when he saw the students still hard at work, albeit no longer running. They were sparring and practicing spellcasting, their movements slower but still determined.
Acheon raised an eyebrow as he approached Terrace. “Have they been at this all day?” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Terrace shook his head. “I gave them two breaks. Fifteen minutes each.”
Acheon let out a low whistle. “That’s generous of you.”
“More than generous,” Terrace replied, a small grin breaking through his stern demeanor. “You know me—I could have kept them running.”
Acheon nodded knowingly. He had seen firsthand how rigorous Terrace’s training could be. He glanced at the students, noting the fatigue etched into their faces but also the flickers of determination that had not been there before. “They’re growing stronger,” he remarked.
Terrace’s gaze softened slightly. “They need to be.”
Acheon’s expression turned thoughtful. “While you were molding the next generation of warriors, I took a different approach.”
Lord Acheon leaned against a nearby post, recounting his day with Daveon. “We visited the market district, explored shops, and picked up some supplies. The boy has an eye for fine weaponry.” His smile widened. “Then we stumbled upon a live play. The actors were awful, but the laughter was worth it.”
Terrace listened with a faint smile. “Sounds like you both had a good time.”
“More than I expected,” Acheon admitted. “I’ve been away too long.”
Terrace nodded, understanding the sentiment. As the final training session of the day drew to a close, he called the students to attention. They lined up, weary but focused, and he addressed them once more, offering words of encouragement and advice. Then, with a final nod, he handed the training over to Lord Acheon.
“It’s your turn,” Terrace said. “I’ll be back.”
Acheon clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Enjoy yourself.”
Terrace departed to find his son, leaving the training ground in Acheon’s capable hands. The students watched as their next challenge began, knowing there would be no rest until they had learned all they could from these legendary figures who would be leaving the next day.