Aryan walked back home slowly, his body still aching from the hit he took earlier. It wasn't just pain—it was his first real defeat, and the impact of it stayed in his mind more than anything else.
He clenched his fists as he walked. Roy was on a completely different level, and there was no denying it. For a moment, Aryan thought about refusing the training, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
Training alone would only waste time. If he wanted to survive the exam, he needed someone stronger to guide him, even if it meant swallowing his pride.
"…I'll go," he muttered. "Velmora Ground."
The next morning, Aryan woke up to sunlight already filling his room. He stared at the ceiling for a second before realization hit him all at once.
"I'm late."
He jumped out of bed, grabbed his clothes, and rushed outside without wasting a moment.
The streets of Velmora were already busy, filled with people moving through their daily routines. Aryan ran through the crowd, bumping into a vendor and nearly knocking over his goods.
"Watch it!" the vendor shouted.
"Sorry!" Aryan replied quickly, not slowing down as he continued running toward the training ground.
Roy was already there, standing still with his arms crossed and a slightly annoyed expression on his face. He glanced around as if waiting for someone who was clearly late.
"Where is that idiot…" he muttered under his breath.
"I'm here!" Aryan called out as he finally reached him, slightly out of breath. "Sorry, I'm late. I didn't wake up on time."
Before he could say anything else, Roy punched him lightly on the head. Aryan winced immediately, holding the spot.
"Ow—that hurts!"
"From today," Roy said calmly, "I'll make you strong enough to survive the exam."
He stepped closer, his gaze firm. "And from now on, you will call me Master. No 'sir,' no 'Roy.' Only Master."
Aryan frowned instantly. "What? Master? No way, I'm not calling you that."
Roy raised his fist again.
Aryan reacted immediately. "Master. Yes, Master. I'll call you Master—from now on."
Roy lowered his hand. "Good."
Aryan exhaled slightly before asking, "So what are we doing first?"
Roy turned and pointed ahead. "First, we test your body's limits. We're going to run across the entire city."
Aryan froze. "The whole city…?"
Roy had already started running.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Aryan muttered before chasing after him.
They ran through the streets of Velmora, moving past shops, houses, and crowded roads. Aryan struggled to keep up as Roy maintained a steady pace, not slowing down even once.
People began to notice them as they passed.
"Isn't that Officer Roy?"
"Yeah… who's the kid with him?"
A vendor laughed. "Looks like he's training someone. That kid won't survive day one."
Aryan heard the comments but ignored them, focusing only on moving forward.
Hours passed as the sun climbed higher in the sky and slowly began to descend. Aryan's legs burned with every step, and his breathing became heavier, but he refused to stop.
Sweat soaked his clothes, and his vision blurred slightly, yet he kept running. No matter how much his body protested, he pushed through it.
By the time they returned to the starting point, Aryan could barely stand. Roy, on the other hand, looked completely fine, as if he hadn't exerted any effort at all.
"Day one is complete," Roy said calmly.
Aryan staggered forward a few steps before collapsing onto the ground. "I… can't walk anymore, Master…"
Roy looked down at him briefly. "Good. That means you reached your limit."
Aryan lay there, breathing heavily, unable to move.
"We're done for today," Roy continued. "Go home."
He paused for a moment before adding, "You'll walk back. Be here at the same time tomorrow, and don't try to avoid training—or you'll regret it."
With that, Roy turned and walked away toward the Council Office.
Aryan stayed on the ground for a few seconds before forcing himself up slowly. Every part of his body ached, and even standing felt difficult.
"…This is insane," he muttered.
Still, he began walking back home, one slow step at a time, his body heavy but his resolve stronger than before.
....
A/N: I hope you like this novel, Support by adding to your library and giving power stone one or two. Thankyou.