CHAPTER 105: TRAINING DAY 1

AN: Happy turkey day. I am thankful for all of you and appreciate you so much. Happy reading.

Next morning at the ring of the alarm, Jian Ci’s eyes opened. They were hazy with sleep, unfocused, but they found Yu Xi’s in the near-darkness. There was no surprise in them. No withdrawal. Just a slow, lazy blink. His fingers on Yu Xi’s arm twitched, the lightest squeeze.

Jian Ci’s gaze lingered on Yu Xi, his voice low but curious. "What happened to your lip?"

Yu Xi rose from the bed, slipping his feet into his slippers with practiced ease. "It’s a cold sore," he replied casually, though Jian Ci’s eyes followed him with quiet concern.

Stretching out on his back, Jian Ci let his arms fall loosely beside him before asking, "How did I end up here?"

Yu Xi, pulling at the hem of his t-shirt, smirked faintly. "I went into your room in the middle of the night and carried you here to sleep with me."

Jian Ci’s eyes widened in shock, his body stiffening. Yu Xi tilted his head, sarcasm dripping from his next words. "What do you think?"

The realization hit Jian Ci immediately. He had stumbled in here on his own two legs. Shame washed over him, and he sat up quickly. "I am so sorry about that. I don’t know what happened."

Yu Xi glanced at him while tugging his t-shirt off, his tone calm and steady. "Do I look like I am complaining?"

Relief spread across Jian Ci’s face. He stood up, moving behind Yu Xi, and draped his arms around his collarbone, resting his chin lightly against his shoulder. "Little Xi, you are truly good to me."

Yu Xi froze for a moment, his breath catching. He remembered how Jian Ci had murmured Little Xi in his sleep, the words soft and vulnerable. The memory sent shivers down his spine, recalling everything that had happened the night before... moments that felt too close, too raw, and too unforgettable.

"Stop calling me Little Xi," Yu Xi snapped, his brow furrowing. "I am only younger than you by a few months."

Jian Ci loosened his grip, but his grin didn’t fade. "Sorry, that’s not negotiable, Little Xi."

Yu Xi grabbed his slipper and hurled it across the room. Jian Ci dodged effortlessly, laughing as he bolted out the door. "Your aim is shit, Little Xi!" he shouted down the hall.

Finally, he yelled back, "You are lucky we have to go, otherwise I would show you how good my aim really is!"

He washed up quickly, irritation simmering beneath his calm exterior. Ten minutes later, both of them were at the training grounds.

***

Before the sun had even touched the horizon, sirens wailed across the academy grounds—sharp, piercing, impossible to ignore.

The new cadets jolted awake, scrambling into their stiff training clothes, garments designed for sweat and strain. Breathless, they rushed through the corridors, boots pounding against the floors, before spilling out into the vast training field. The chill of dawn clung to their skin, their breaths visible in the cold air.

Jian Ci and Yu Xi were already there, standing tall, their composure unshaken amidst the chaos. Jian Ci’s gaze swept the crowd until it locked onto Vigil. Their eyes met, and the tension between them sparked instantly, silent but unmistakable.

Vigil’s glare was sharp enough to cut steel, but Jian Ci only sneered back, raising his middle finger with deliberate insolence. The gesture made Vigil’s jaw tighten, his teeth grinding as he stepped forward, intent on closing the distance. Before he could reach Jian Ci, however, his friends grabbed his arms, pulling him back with urgent whispers.

Jian Ci chuckled, the sound mocking and unrestrained. Yu Xi, standing beside him, caught sight of the raised finger and quickly pulled Jian Ci’s hand down. "Don’t make trouble," Yu Xi muttered firmly.

Jian Ci’s grin softened into obedience. "Yes, sir," he said, almost playfully, though his eyes still gleamed with defiance.

The tension was broken by the arrival of the instructors. They marched in formation, their presence heavy and menacing, faces carved with authority. At their center strode the captain, a towering figure whose very steps seemed to shake the ground. His voice thundered across the training field, commanding absolute silence.

"Stand at attention!" he roared.

The cadets scrambled into formation, some fumbling, others confused, earning sharp reprimands that cut like blades.

"From now on," the captain bellowed, "you respond to everything I say as yes, Captain. Do you understand me?"

The cadets shouted back, but their voices were weak, uncertain.

"That was fucking weak!" the captain snarled. "Fifty push-ups. No psychic power. If I catch you cheating, you are going to the Dark Pit."

The mention of the Dark Pit sent a shiver through the ranks. Fear rippled like a current, and without hesitation, they dropped to the ground, hands pressed to the cold earth, bodies straining as they began their push-ups, the chill of dawn biting into their skin.

The captain’s boots struck the dirt with deliberate weight as he paced among the cadets, his glare fierce enough to ignite panic in even the most confident faces. Every falter, every tremor of weakness was met with his piercing eyes, and those who wavered instantly found new strength, desperate to avoid being singled out. By the time they neared fifty push-ups, sweat dripped steadily onto the ground, breaths ragged, arms shaking.

"You stand when I tell you to. Do you understand?" the captain barked, his voice slicing through the dawn air.

"Yes, Captain!" the cadets roared back, louder this time, their voices fueled by fear and determination.

"Hold the plank!" he commanded. Instantly, bodies froze, muscles trembling, arms locked straight. The strain was unbearable, but none dared collapse.

The captain turned to his instructors. "Introduce yourselves."

Still locked in plank position, the cadets lifted their eyes forward. One by one, ten instructors stepped out, their voices carrying authority as they announced their names, specialties, and roles in shaping the cadets into soldiers.

When the last instructor stepped back, the captain’s voice thundered once more. "Get up! Each of you has been divided into teams—five Espers, five Guides. Check your communicators and rearrange yourselves."

The cadets scrambled to obey, swiping their vibrating devices to check their assigned teams. The training grounds buzzed with movement as they ran around looking for their teams.