Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm
by Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 11: A Day of Sharpening
The morning continued with its usual harshness, marked by the resounding commands of the instructor calling the novices to assembly. Rae and her comrades lined up in the vast training hall, the air filled with the echo of heavy footsteps and the muffled voices repeating commands. Discipline was rigid, and the sense of competition hung over the crowd like a heavy veil.
Physical Trial
The first part of the day was an intense physical trial. The novices were tasked with completing an obstacle course designed to test their endurance, strength, and agility. Standing at the starting line, Rae let her gaze sweep over the various challenges ahead—rickety bridges, towering walls, and narrow climbing passages that seemed like an open invitation to failure.
“Ready?” Alric asked quietly beside her, rubbing his hands on the fabric of his uniform.
“Always,” Rae replied curtly, focusing on the starting signal.
The bell rang, and she dashed forward. Her legs moved instinctively, each step precise. She cleared the first obstacles quickly but could already feel the strain in her muscles. Reaching the towering wall, she saw Celestine nimbly scale it, while Marcus helped another novice secure a foothold at the base.
Rae pulled herself up with a powerful heave, landing on the other side just in time to see Tyren struggling through a narrow climbing passage with a mix of effort and frustration.
“You’ve got this!” she called out, her voice an anchor for him. Tyren gave a small nod, determination flashing in his eyes.
Tactical Training
After the physical trial, the novices were divided into groups to tackle tactical scenarios. Rae found herself with her roommates and Soren in a simulation room, where a hologram displayed an enemy position they were tasked with defending.
“Alright,” Rae said, studying the map. “We’ll spread out here and here. Celestine, you handle ranged defense. Tyren, monitor enemy movements and alert us to any formations. Marcus, you’re the central point—no one gets through.”
Soren glanced at her nervously. “What about me?”
“Stay with me,” Rae said calmly. “I’ll show you how to use your strengths.”
The scenario began, and Rae felt her tension transform into sharp focus. The holographic enemies moved quickly, but her group held their ground. Tyren quietly relayed updates, Celestine’s shots were precise, and Marcus stood firm like an unshakable wall. Soren slowly began to find his rhythm, integrating into the team.
At the end of the exercise, Instructor Parval gave a curt nod. “Improvement noted,” he said. “But you need to think faster. A team is only as strong as its weakest link.”
The words stung, but Rae kept her composure. She knew it was true—and they needed to get better.
Observations and Plans
During the midday break, Celestine and Marcus executed their plan to observe the older novices. Sitting off to the side of the hall, they feigned casual conversation while their eyes tracked the movements of others.
“There,” Celestine murmured, nodding toward a group of older students gathered at the edge of the hall. Their leader, Varren, often carried himself with arrogance and authority. “He has influence. If anyone knows something, it’s him.”
“But he won’t share without gaining something in return,” Marcus said calmly. “He seems like the type to hoard power.”
Celestine shrugged. “Then we find his weakness.”
Meanwhile, Tyren worked quietly at an old console in the back of the hall, his fingers tapping softly as his eyes scanned the symbols on the screen. Rae approached him, her movements silent. “Have you found anything?”
“Not yet,” he murmured without looking up. “But I think I can access part of the internal network. It’ll take time, but it might give us more information about the depths.”
“Keep at it,” Rae said. “But be careful.”
The Afternoon: A Confrontation
In the afternoon, close combat training began. Instructor Parval paired the novices to spar, testing their technique and resilience. Rae was matched against an older rival—a burly novice who had provoked her during breakfast.
“This should be interesting,” Alric commented from the sidelines.
“Not for him,” Rae replied with a faint smile.
The match began, and her opponent charged at her with raw power but clumsy movements. Rae dodged effortlessly, her steps quick and precise. She let him attack, studying his patterns and waiting for an opening. With a smooth maneuver, she brought him to the ground, her knee pressed to his chest before he could react.
“Enough,” Instructor Parval said. “Good control. But never underestimate your opponent.”
Rae stepped back, her breathing steady, though a spark of pride burned within her. She knew she was improving—and that her group was getting closer to achieving their goal.
A Moment of Unity
At the end of the day, the group sat together in their chamber. The exhaustion was palpable, but so was a quiet sense of confidence. Soren managed a faint smile as Alric told a joke, and even Celestine seemed slightly more at ease.
“We’ve gotten better,” Marcus said quietly. “But there’s still a long way to go.”
“Tomorrow night, we take the next step,” Rae said. “It’ll be tougher, but we need to be ready.”
The others nodded, and for a brief moment, the unity within the group was tangible. The day had brought them closer to their goal—but the shadows of the Scola still loomed, waiting to be unraveled.
