The morning air was already thick with exhaustion, sweat, and silent suffering as Sir William's voice rang across the training grounds, commanding all attention.
"80 kilograms. 20 laps."
A ripple of groans and murmurs spread through the recruits, but none dared to complain out loud. The weight of the task alone felt suffocating.
Then William's sharp gaze landed on Seraphina, who stood at ease, her posture relaxed and expression unreadable. "Since you were late, Sera, you'll be doing 40 laps. And let me make this clear—if you stop, for every break you take, one lap will be added to your punishment."
A hushed silence fell over the recruits. Eyes darted toward Seraphina, whose lips twitched into the faintest smirk.
"Sounds fun," she said, her voice calm and collected, as though this were merely a game.
Mia's jaw dropped. "What?! That's insane!"
William didn't wait for further reaction. "Good. Then get moving."
The recruits shouldered their bags and began their grueling march around the massive training grounds.
The weight of the 80kg bags was brutal, digging into their shoulders like sharp claws. The first few laps were manageable—adrenaline keeping them going. But as the laps stretched on, exhaustion seeped into their muscles like poison.
By the tenth lap, bodies began to falter. Recruits stumbled, their legs wobbling like jelly. A few collapsed, clutching their knees as their breaths turned shallow.
By the twentieth lap, only a handful managed to complete the exercise, and those who did practically crawled across the finish line before flopping onto the ground, drenched in sweat and dead tired. Everyone was starving.
Mia dragged herself toward the sidelines, flopping ungracefully onto the dirt. "I think I saw my ancestors halfway through lap fifteen…" she wheezed, clutching her stomach.
But her exhaustion turned to concern as her gaze shifted toward Seraphina.
She was still running.
Her pace hadn't slowed, her stride steady and focused, her breathing controlled. Mia's worry deepened as she watched her defy all logic.
Around the training grounds, whispers and murmurs grew louder as recruits noticed her persistence.
"She's still going?"
"How is she even standing?"
"She's insane."
Kiana Wren, sitting nearby after failing her own laps, scoffed loudly. "Hmph. She's just an arrogant bitch. Deserves this punishment for acting so high and mighty."
Mia's head snapped toward her, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Kiana smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "She's just a pretty face. She should be in a damn movie, not the army. I mean, does she really think she belongs here?"
Mia shot up so fast it startled the surrounding recruits. Marching straight toward Kiana, her hands planted on her hips, she glared down at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, do you mean the same 'pretty face' who left you looking like a bruised tomato back in the forest? Or maybe the one who's still running while you couldn't even handle twenty laps? Is that who you're talking about?"
Kiana flushed red in an instant. "Y-you—!"
Mia leaned in closer, her grin sharpening into something wicked. "Maybe if you ran your mouth less and trained more, you wouldn't be sitting here sulking like a sore loser."
Laughter erupted around them, the recruits clearly enjoying Kiana's humiliation. She clenched her fists, unable to muster a response.
Not far away, Arthur Monroe leaned lazily against a tree, his gaze flickering between Mia and Seraphina. "She's… interesting," he mused aloud, clearly entertained.
Beside him, Cathleen Lansor didn't look away from Seraphina's steady stride.
"What do you think?" Arthur asked, smirking. "Daring or reckless?"
Cathleen's sharp eyes narrowed slightly. "Time will tell."
Before Mia and Kiana could escalate into an all-out brawl, William returned, his presence slicing through the tension like a blade.
"Enough," he barked, his tone carrying authority.
The recruits fell silent instantly. Mia took a step back, though her expression remained defiant.
William turned his glare toward Kiana, his voice sharp and unforgiving. "Watch what you say, Wren. You're still standing because I allow it. Think carefully before you speak next time—or better yet, don't speak at all."
Kiana stiffened, retreating without a word.
Turning back to the group, William's voice rang out once more. "You have thirty minutes. Go eat breakfast. And let me be clear—if even one of you is a second late…" His smirk was dark. "You'll be the perfect example of why no one should be late."
The recruits didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled toward the mess hall, desperate to fill their empty stomachs.
When the crowd cleared, William lingered on the training ground. His gaze drifted toward Seraphina, who continued to run without pause.
He tilted his head back, his eyes flickering briefly toward the sky. His voice dropped to a thoughtful murmur. "You're just like him…"
For a moment, his expression softened.
But then the silence returned, his thoughts remaining unspoken, as Seraphina ran on, relentless and unyielding.