Chapter 32 A TOUGH DRILL
In the vast rocky landscape filled rocks and boulders, hills and mountains, swamps and deep canyon, the first year students powered through, the ferocious wind made it hard to see at times.
Yet they slowly built their resolves.
The race was rough and wild. They would jump over mud swamps, climb over boulders, and avoided being pushed by their fellow students.
Lunar had just overtaken Anya and he kept on going, widening the gap between them.
Lunar had always been fast, speed was his forte, and he had great stamina. It only got upgraded after the awakened, so this was no problem for him.
Except one thing...
The rapid wind suddenly blew sand into his face, causing him to groan
"Arghhh"
He then tripped and fell, rolling over mud.
"Oh shit!!"
Lunar was quick to get up.
He looked at himself with disgust.
"I hate dirt!!!"
He yelled.
He then tied his hair upwards in a ponytail, and looked behind him.
Anya was close.
"I am getting a long bath after this"
He complained and resumed running.
Soon, he came to a sudden pause and drifted.
"Oh damn "
Before him was a great canyon which split the land in half.
He slowly walked to the edge and glanced over. But no matter how much he looked, he could not see the bottom.
"Damn. There's no way I'm falling down there"
He said.
"Unless you wanna be the first one to die "
Sir Brock's voice suddenly bombard.
Lunar flinched to see the man standing by the side with arms folded.
"You are a strange man sir"
Lunar said
Sir Brock growled.
Anya suddenly drifted, arriving before them. She ignored their presence and looked over the edge of the canyon with tilted eyes, then she saw it.
There were five lines of ropes that stretch from the edge to the other side of the canyon.
Without wasting time, she placed one leg on the rope, testing the durability. Then she placed her other leg and began to walk on the line slowly with her arms spread apart.
"How come I didn't noticed that?"
Lunar complained as he proceeded to step step on another.
Roman and Sylver suddenly appeared behind them and looked over the edge.
They both looked at each other and nodded.
They stepped on each rope, balancing themselves on it.
Sir Brock watched them for a while before disappearing in a flash of white light.
Anya was in the lead as she took slow steps on the rope. She would take quick steps on occasions, but slow down when the passing wind increases it's fury.
Lunar balanced his body on the rope. Slowly, step by step, almost tripping multiple times.
"I hate this!"
He yelled.
"Since when did you start complaining "
Roman voiced from behind.
"Look at me, the I m dirty!"
Lunar faced him
"And you know how I get when I become dirty"
"So he really is a clean freak"
Slyver said.
"I told you so"
Roman replied.
Another furious wind washed over them, causing them to almost loose their balance.
Roman looked down, the canyon's depth was not something to laugh at. They were almost at the middle, so falling was not an option .
As if it was ever an option.
Roman suddenly paused.
"There was never a rule that says we have to walk on the rope"
An idea strucked him.
Roman smirked.
He suddenly did a backflip, jumping off the rope, and letting himself fall. Before he could fall, he grabbed the rope with his hands, released a breath, the began to move forward with his hands.
His grip strength was top notch due to years of swinging a sword.
He increased his motion, going ahead of the others in no time.
The others paused, looked at him, then looked at each other.
Smart..
They had the same thought.
They let their selves dropped, gripped the rope, then followed suit.
Soon, Roman reached the other side of the canyon.
Using the spring force of the rope, pulled himself upward, flipped and landed on the rocky ground.
He looked behind him to see the others closed by.
Anya was in the lead, but Sylver was gaining speed.
Roman waved, turned around and continued running.
Anya and Sylver were the first to climb up.
They looked at each other, frown then rushed forward.
Lunar followed behind.
Soon, Roman reached the foot of the mountain then leaped high, grabbed the rough mountain wall and began to scale upward.
"Just like old times"
From behind, Anya rushed forward and jumped, stepping on the mountain wall with one foot, the force from the jump still propelling her forward.
One step... two steps.....three steps....
It ended.
She quickly gripped an edge before she could fall, reaching the same spot as Roman.
Roman looked at her and smirked.
Anya looked at him and frown.
They began to advance.
Sylver trailed behind them.
Lunar had just began to climb.
Roman was quicker, he climbed the mountain with flawless grace, not minding the rough and sharp edges.
He had been scaling the most dangerous mountain in the whole of Avalon, for five years. This one was a simple chore.
Anya was surprised as Roman kept advancing, he was quickly widening the gap between them.
How is he doing that..
He was like a lizard in its natural habitat.
In a short while, Lunar had reached her.
He waved, then advanced.
Another lizard.
Lunar had over took Sylver in no time and now, he was widening the gap between him and Anya.
Try living in a mountain for eighteen years.
Lunar smirked.
Soon, he reached Roman.
"Hey there rival"
He smiled.
Roman chuckled.
"I forgot you were a lizard yourself"
"Don't compare me to those scaley things. I prefer, the handsome wolf of the devil's mountain"
He replied.
"That's lame, try again"
"Crazy.."
Lunar rolled his eyes then increased his pace.
Roman followed suit.
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WRITTEN BY PRIDE CHRONICLES
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The second group in the lead were Sarah, Lan, Billy, Carl and Bryon.
Sarah had crossed the canyon and was about to start climbing.
Lan was walking slow on the rope, step by step.
Billy was right behind him on another rope.
Carl and Bryon followed behind.
"Is this awesome or what!"
Lan exclaimed.
"Awesome, you mean divine punishment!!"
Carl yelled from behind.
"I can't believe we're going to be doing this everyday"
Billy growled.
Sometime later, Roman and Lunar had made it to the top of the mountain.
They stood and observed the view below them.
There was a large lake below filled with strange clear water.
It was obvious that they would have to swim across the lake to get to the other side.
"Yes, clean water"
Lunar exclaimed
"The heavens are finally gazing up me"
Roman shuddered.
"I'm not a fan of water"
"Well we better hurry, the girls are almost here"
Lunar said, looking at the other side of the mountain.
He waved at them.
Roman nodded and they began to descend in a reverse crawl .
"Hey, remember when I chased you down the devil's mountain?"
Roman asked.
"Nope, I was giving you your first lesson in speed"
Lunar defended.
Roman laughed.
Roman pushed himself of the mountain, letting is body drop.
He quickly gripped another edge before he could drop further.
"Heyy that's cheating!"
Lunar yelled.
Roman looked up.
"Says who"
Lunar smirked and followed suit.
Sylver and Anya finally arrived at the top.
They rushed towards the other edge and looked down. The boys were quick in their descent.
Anya frowned, then jumped off the mountain without thinking.
She let her body drop for a while, then quickly grabbed an edge. Her body hit the mountain wall causing her to groan, as her legs dangled freely.
The mountain wall large, any little mistake can cause death.
Still standing on the mountain top, Sylver observed the large water below.
The water was clear, but was it deep enough cushion her fall.
She had a crazy idea.
"I can do this"
She looked at the water again, then rushed backwards to the other side of the edge.
Sylver took deep breaths, then ran forward with enough speed she could muster.
She reached the edge... then leaped as far as she could of the mountain.
Anya continued her descent, then something whooshed past her. She looked below and her eyes widened.
"Is she stupid..."
By now Roman and Lunar had reached the center, when something suddenly whooshed past them.
"Huh.."
They both looked down and their eyes widened.
"Is she stupid?..."
Lunar exclaimed.
"Damn it. I forgot Sylver is at her best under water!"
Roman said.
"She could hurt herself with that stunt you know. What if the water is not deep enough?"
Lunar explain
Roman thought for a while.
"She'll be fine. Let's go"
Sylver had just done something crazy and dangerous. But to her, it was thrilling..
Sylver had a dark smile on her face as her body dropped .
It was a gamble , but she was going to win this.
As she near the foot of the mountain, the river became larger.
Sylver straightened her body with arms forward. It was going to be a huge dive.
She braced herself..
SPLASH...
The water rose into the air as if accepting one of their own.
The speed from the drop still pushed her deep even though the water cushioned her fall.
Just as she was about to reach the riverbed, she spun her body, letting her back hit the soft floor.
It wasn't hard , in fact, it was comforting.
Sylver opened her eyes as she looked around. The water was clear in her sight.
She smiled, then swam upwards. She arrived above the water in no time, then looked towards the mountain.
At that point she saw three figures dropping from the mountain and into the water with a splash.
The others had decided to jump also.
Sylver smirked.
"Let's see how fast they can swim then..
She sunk back into the water and dove forward with strange speed.
Even though she couldn't access her spirit energy, she swam like a fish in its natural habitat.
Even before Sylver had awakened, she had always felt one with the water, and unknowingly taught herself to swim.
She felt free.
Sylver was at her best when under water.
She could even feel her spirit beast trying to come out, but something kept restricting it.
"Don't worry boy, we'll go swimming later "
Soon, she reached the shore.
Sylver burst out from the water did a front flip and landed. She parted water from her hair and looked ahead.
Sir Brock was standing some meters away with arms folded... with a red squirrel on his shoulder.
Fury also stood with arms folded, trying to copy sir Brock s frown.
Sylver smiled as she walked towards them.
"First place goes to me"
She said staring at sir Brock in the face.
He smirked and nodded.
Fury squealed and leaped towards her shoulder and began tapping water of her hair.
They heard the sound of the lake and turned to see Anya dragging herself out of it.
Sylver raised her brow
"Her?.."
Anya climbed out of the river then shivered slightly.
"Bunnys don't do water"
She muttered, dragging herself forward.
"Second place"
Brock said.
Fury squealed and waved it's tiny paws at her.
Anya and Sylver stared at each other for a while, then turned to see the boys walking out of the lake with smiles on their handsome face.
"That was a nice bath"
Lunar said as he squeezed water from his hair.
Roman chuckled.
Earlier, Roman and Lunar had slowed down on purpose so Anya could swim past them.
Reason for her coming second.
"So we let her win"
Lunar glanced at Roman.
"You thought me to be cool, so I did just that"
Roman replied.
They both looked at each other, then flicked their long hair backward at the same time with a laugh.
The two girls heart skipped a beat.
Weird..
Anya suppressed a cough.
"So we both came in second"
Roman said as he approached them.
Sir Brock nodded.
Fury squealed as he jumped unto Romans shoulder.
"Hey buddy. I guess you came in first "
Fury nodded with arms folded.
Roman turned towards Slyver.
"And you"
He walked towards her and began to inspect her body.
"Why would you pull such dangerous stunt. You're not hurt are you?"
Sylver smiled.
"I'm fine. Just a little sprain in the shoulder. But it'll be fine "
"What about you?"
Roman turned to face Anya
"You hurt your knee during the climb, are you alright?
He said softly.
Anya looked at him, then walked away from them.
They watched her sat some distance away with legs crossed.
"She's... interesting..
Roman said.
Lunar smiled
"If you want some advice on ladies, I can help you some advice"
He put his arms around Roman s shoulder.
"Yeah, says the guy who's seeing ladies for the first time in his life.. yesterday "
Roman rolled his eyes.
"Hey , I learned a lot from just yesterday "
Lunar said.
"I like her, she's cool "
Slyver said.
Sir Brock suddenly cleared his throat.
They looked at him.
"I forgot he was there "
Lunar whispered
"Teenagers "
Sir Brock groaned.
From where she sat, Anya's long ears perked. She had been listening to their conversation.
Anya could detect and listen to sounds from far distance.
Her hard gaze softened.
A lot of people had said so many curd things about her, due to her hybrid nature.
She commands respect from others with her hard earned strength, yet they still talk behind her back. The ones who were nice to her only pretends to be cause of her beauty and body.
Yet these guys, were different. Even the squirrel.
Fury squeaked then towards her direction.
Anya rolled her eyes.
Stupid squirrel..
Fury suddenly frown, staring daggers at her back.
TBC