The sky glowed with the golden hues of dawn as the first light of morning stretched across the horizon. Birds chirped their early songs, fluttering between the trees. Everything was still and peaceful inside the orphanage—until the door to Werf and Jil's room burst open.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Hild stood in the doorway, wielding a pot and ladle like weapons, striking them together with deafening clangs. "WAKE UP, YOU BRATS!" she bellowed.
Werf and Jil jolted upright, their eyes wide with shock. Fenr yelped, startled, his fur standing on end. In their panic, the three tumbled off the bed, landing in a tangled heap on the wooden floor.
"Ow!" Jil groaned, rubbing her elbow. "What was that for?!"
Hild grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "Rise and shine, little warriors. Today's the day we start training."
Werf groaned, pushing himself up. "Did you have to use the pot?"
Hild smirked. "You'll thank me later."
Jil scowled. "I doubt it."
Still chuckling, Hild crossed her arms. "Get dressed and eat quickly. Backyard. Now."
Breakfast was quick and simple—a bowl of warm porridge with honey and nuts alongside fresh bread. Werf and Jil ate swiftly, still marveling at the enhanced taste of food after the medicine bath. The sweetness of the honey, the texture of the grains—everything was richer, more vivid.
Fenr had his meal—some leftover scraps from the night before, which he devoured eagerly, tail wagging.
"Eat faster," Hild ordered, leaning against the counter. "You'll need the energy."
Werf and Jil exchanged wary glances but obeyed.
The backyard was waiting for them.
The morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of dew-covered grass. The moment they stepped outside, however, Hild was already barking orders.
"Drop down. Push-ups. Now."
Werf and Jil blinked. "Already?" Jil whined.
Hild crossed her arms. "Would you rather run first?"
They hurriedly dropped into push-up position.
The first few were easy. Their bodies felt lighter, their movements more precise. Werf could feel the tension in his muscles, the way his arms tensed and released with each push-up. Jil, beside him, grinned. "Hey, this isn't so—"
"Faster."
Hild's voice carried no room for argument.
Werf and Jil pushed harder, their arms beginning to burn. Nearby, Fenr wasn't idle. The small wolf cub mimicked them in his way, moving in slow, deliberate lunges—his body low to the ground, muscles flexing like a predator stalking prey.
Hild chuckled at the sight. "At least someone here is taking this seriously."
Once push-ups were done, they moved to sit-ups, then running. Sweat poured down their faces as Hild spoke between exercises.
"Each stage of body cultivation is separated into three sections: Low, Middle, and High. Right now, after the medicine bath, you've barely scratched the Low Nervous System stage. That means you're at the very beginning. Weak. Pathetic."
Jil groaned. "We get it!"
Hild smirked. "Then tell me—what's the next stage after the Nervous System?"
Werf hesitated. "Uh… Bones?"
"Wrong." Hild snapped her fingers. "Drop and give me ten push-ups. Both of you."
Jil groaned. "Great going, Werf."
Grumbling, they dropped and pushed.
Once they finished, Hild continued. "You're still in the Nervous System stage, and you won't leave it for a long time. The goal of this stage is to enhance your senses and control over your own body. You've already seen the effects—clearer sight, sharper smell, better balance. But those improvements are still weak."
She paused, watching their exhausted forms. "The High Nervous System stage is where things truly change. Once you reach it, your perception of the world will shift completely."
Jil looked up, panting. "What do you mean?"
Hild smirked. "Whenever your body is under intense stress—during combat, when you're wounded, or when your adrenaline surges—the world will feel slowed down. Your reaction time will increase, and you'll be able to move before your opponent can even process it. It won't be actual time slowing down, but your mind and senses processing everything faster than normal."
Werf's tired eyes widened. "That sounds… amazing."
Hild folded her arms. "It is. But don't get ahead of yourselves. You won't reach the Middle Nervous System for a long time, let alone High."
She let them sit for a moment longer, then clapped her hands together. "Rest is over. Get up."
Werf groaned. "You just said to rest!"
Hild grinned. "I changed my mind. It's time to spar."
Both children's heads snapped up, exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"Spar?!" Werf gasped.
Hild grinned. "That's right. I need to see your potential. See what I'm working with."
Jil paled. "You mean… we have to fight you?"
Hild cracked her knuckles. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."
She turned, walking back toward the center of the yard. "Rest up. You're going to need it."
The training wasn't over yet.