Chapter 59: Ch59 – Academy, Day One

It was 4:30 in the morning.

Ryan sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, breathing slow and steady. He’d been awake since two, pulled from his sleep by that vivid nightmare.

He’d tried to go back to sleep, he simply could not.

So he’d given up and started meditating instead.

The room was dark and silent. James and Jared’s breathing was the only sound, slow and even.

Ryan tried to focus on his mana, but couldn’t fully concentrate.

There was a creak from across the room.

Ryan opened his eyes.

James was sitting up, rubbing his face with both hands. A moment later, Jared shifted, groaning softly as he stretched.

“Morning,” James muttered, his voice rough with sleep.

“Morning,” Ryan replied quietly.

Jared swung his legs out of bed and stood, moving toward the small basin near the window. He splashed water on his face, the sound sharp in the stillness.

James followed suit, then turned to Ryan. “You’ve been up a while?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Ryan said.

“Nervous about training?”

Ryan hesitated. “Something like that.”

James grinned. “Don’t worry. First day’s always the worst. After that, your body just goes numb.”

“Encouraging,” Ryan said dryly.

Jared pulled on his training gear, thick leather trousers and a padded vest. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t pass out. Instructors hate that.”

Ryan stood and moved to the small table beside his bed. The bracelet sat there, black iron dull in the dim light. He’d taken it off before sleeping, too unsettled by the dream to keep it on.

Now, looking at it, he felt the pull again. That quiet insistence.

He picked it up.

The metal was cold against his skin at first, but as it settled on his wrist, the cold feeling faded.

The yellow engravings glowed once again.

Ryan grabbed his training clothes and headed toward the small bathroom attached to their room.

The bathroom was cramped, barely large enough for one person. A basin, a mirror, and a narrow shelf. Ryan stripped off his tunic and pulled on the new training gear he’d bought the night before.

Leather trousers, reinforced at the knees. A padded vest that would absorb some of the impact from sparring. A simple undershirt beneath it all.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

Aren’t I handsome. Ryan admired his looks for a moment, but realised time was passing quickly.

Ryan exhaled slowly and stepped back into the main room.

James and Jared were already dressed, adjusting their gear. While Eleanor was still fast asleep.

“Ready?” James asked.

“Let’s get going,” Ryan said.

They left the room and headed down the corridor, boots echoing softly against the stone floor. Other students were already moving through the halls, some heading toward the training grounds, others toward the dining hall for an early meal.

Ryan’s stomach growled, but there was no time. Training started at five. If they were late… well, Ryan didn’t want to find out.

Ryan had a quick peek at his schedule to remind himself of how the day was going to go.

KNIGHT TRAINING (Mandatory Attendance)

Dawn (05:00) – Body Conditioning – Training Grounds East

06:00 – Combat Forms & Techniques – Training Hall Alpha

07:30 – Mana Internalisation – Training Grounds East

09:00 – Sparring & Dueling – Arena Three

MAGE CLASSES (Flexible Attendance, The times at which a lesson will end or finish can change dramatically depending on your teacher. Please speak with the Administration office in the Main Building if you are confused.)

11:30 – Elemental Theory – Main Tower, Floor 3, Room 12

13:00 – Mana Control & Meditation – Main Tower, Floor 5, Room 8

15:00 – Spell Construction – Main Tower, Floor 3, Room 15

16:00 – Combat Casting – Training Grounds West

17:30 – Advanced Incantations – Main Tower, Floor 4, Room 6

Depending on how difficult these knight classes are, I might need to skip a couple mage classes.

They descended the stairs and stepped out into the academy grounds.

The air was cold, sharp enough to sting. The sky was still dark, stars fading as the first hint of dawn touched the horizon. Torches lined the pathways, their flames flickering in the pre dawn breeze.

James led the way toward the eastern side of the grounds, where the knight training areas were located. Ryan could already hear the sounds of activity.

They passed through a gate and into the Training Grounds East.

It was a wide, open space, the ground packed dirt worn smooth by countless hours of use. Wooden dummies lined one side, their surfaces scarred and splintered. There were training weapons like wooden swords, staffs, shields. They were stacked in neat rows near the edge. A raised platform stood at the far end, where an instructor would oversee the sessions.

And there were people. Maybe a hundred of them. Students in training gear, already warming up, stretching, running drills.

A man stood near the platform, arms crossed, watching the students with a critical eye. He was older, maybe in his fifties, with greying hair and a build that suggested he’d been a knight for most of his life. His uniform was plain but well-maintained, and he carried himself with the quiet authority of someone who didn’t need to shout to be heard.

James approached him directly. “Good morning, sir. We’re late arrivals. Me and my brother were a last minute transfer to the Academy, so we just arrived last night.”

The instructor looked them over, his gaze sharp but not unkind. “Names?”

“James Bracken. Jared Bracken,” James said, gesturing to his brother. “And this is Ryan.”

The instructor’s eyes settled on Ryan for a moment longer than the others. “Ryan,” he repeated. “First time in formal knight training?”

“Yes, sir,” Ryan said.

The instructor nodded slowly. “You’ll struggle. Don’t quit and don’t be stupid. That’s all I ask.” He gestured toward the other students. “Fall in with the others. We start in five minutes.”

“Thank you, sir,” James said.

They went over to the group, finding a spot near the edge. Ryan’s heart was pounding now, adrenaline starting to kick in.

The instructor raised his voice. “Listen up! We’re starting with conditioning. Two laps around the grounds, then strength drills. After that, sparring. If you fall behind, you stay late. If you quit, you’re out. Clear?”

A chorus of voices answered. “Yes, sir!”

“Then move!”

The group erupted into motion, students breaking into a run.

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