Soren arrived at the Inner Division training grounds with the same enthusiasm as someone walking into a dentist appointment where the dentist is also a dragon.
The courtyard was already buzzing — students sparring, beasts roaring, instructors shouting commands that sounded like threats.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
Kael adjusted his grip on his spear. "Stay focused."
"I CAN'T."
"You can."
"I WON'T."
"You will."
Aldric rolled his eyes. "Both of you stop."
Lira smiled gently. "Just breathe."
"I CAN'T."
The fox nuzzled his cheek.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I'm breathing. I hate it."
Instructor Veylan Returns (Soren's Day Gets Worse Instantly)
Veylan stepped into the center of the courtyard, his nightmare‑wolf beast at his side. The air around him felt heavier, sharper, like gravity itself was afraid of him.
Soren whispered, "Why is he here again."
Kael replied, "He's your assigned mentor."
"I DIDN'T AGREE TO THAT."
"You don't get to agree."
"I HATE THIS PLACE."
The fox chirped.
Veylan's voice cut through the courtyard like a blade. "Form up."
Everyone snapped into formation.
Soren snapped into panic.
Veylan continued, "Today's lesson is combat adaptability. You will learn to react, adjust, and survive under unpredictable conditions."
Soren raised his hand. "Can I learn something predictable instead."
"No."
Soren lowered his hand. "I hate this place."
The First Exercise: "Don't Die"
Veylan pointed to a series of stone pillars arranged in a circle.
"Your task is simple," he said. "Avoid being hit."
Soren blinked. "Avoid being hit by what."
Veylan snapped his fingers.
The pillars lit up.
And began firing blasts of energy.
Soren screamed. "WHY IS EVERYTHING HERE TRYING TO KILL ME."
Kael dodged gracefully.
Lira slid between blasts with icy precision.
Aldric punched one of the pillars.
Soren tripped over his own feet and rolled across the ground like a panicked tumbleweed.
The fox flickered beside him, chirping encouragement.
Soren yelled, "STOP ENCOURAGING ME AND HELP ME."
The fox flickered again — this time pulling him out of the path of a blast.
Soren gasped. "THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU. I'M STILL TERRIFIED."
Veylan watched him with the expression of a man grading a disaster.
The Second Exercise: "Don't Die, But Harder"
The pillars stopped.
Soren collapsed. "I'm alive. Barely. I hate this place."
Veylan said, "Next phase."
Soren screamed. "WHY IS THERE A NEXT PHASE."
Veylan snapped his fingers again.
The ground shifted.
Stone platforms rose and fell.
Wind gusts blasted across the arena.
Illusionary beasts appeared — snarling, lunging, flickering.
Soren stared. "This is a nightmare."
Kael leapt onto a rising platform.
Lira froze an illusion mid‑lunge.
Aldric punched another illusion so hard it shattered.
Soren ran in circles. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."
The fox flickered onto a platform and chirped.
Soren yelled, "I CAN'T DO THAT."
The fox flickered back and nudged him.
Soren groaned. "Fine. Fine. I'll try."
He jumped onto a platform.
It wobbled.
He wobbled.
He screamed.
But he didn't fall.
He jumped to another.
Then another.
Then another.
He was doing it.
He was actually—
A gust of wind hit him.
He flew off the platform.
He screamed the entire way down.
The fox flickered beside him mid‑fall, chirping sympathetically.
The barrier caught him.
Soren lay there. "I hate this place."
Veylan said, "Better."
Soren stared at him. "HOW WAS THAT BETTER."
"You lasted longer."
"I LASTED THREE SECONDS."
"Four."
"That's not comforting."
"It wasn't meant to be."
The Final Exercise: "Team Coordination"
Veylan raised a hand.
The arena reset.
"Final task," he said. "Work as a team."
Soren perked up. "Teamwork? I can do teamwork. I can hide behind people."
Kael sighed. "That's not teamwork."
"It is for me."
Aldric muttered, "Pathetic."
Lira smiled. "We'll help you."
The fox chirped.
Veylan snapped his fingers.
Four illusionary beasts appeared — one for each of them.
A thunder wolf.
A stone boar.
A flame serpent.
A shadow cat.
Soren screamed. "WHY IS MINE THE SHADOW ONE."
Kael shouted, "Left flank!"
Lira called, "Freeze the ground!"
Aldric roared, "Hit it harder!"
Soren yelled, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."
The fox flickered in front of him, tails glowing.
Soren pointed shakily. "Buddy… flare?"
The fox's tails crossed.
Light burst.
The shadow cat recoiled.
Kael struck.
Lira froze.
Aldric smashed.
The illusions shattered.
Silence.
Soren blinked. "Did… did we win."
Kael nodded. "We did."
Lira smiled. "Yes."
Aldric smirked. "Barely."
Soren collapsed. "I hate this place."
The fox hopped onto his chest and chirped.
Veylan said, "Acceptable."
Soren stared at him. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"It won't happen again."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped louder.
And Soren survived his first practical class.
Barely.