"South Jaka City…. it really has been a while haven't it?" Thalamik said.
"It does…" I replied as we look towards the city from afar.
We are currently aboard a bus provided by the military association. Looking South Jaka City from the window really made me feel nostalgic it's been a few years since I set foot here.
We arrived in South Jaka City exactly after spending two weeks respiting in South Tang. Despite the peace there, we couldn't stay forever. The looming threat of demons drew closer, and Hale's orders were clear: relocate to South Jaka City, reinforce the military presence, and—above all—train.
Instructor Hale, now fully recovered, wasted no time making our lives difficult once again.
The woman never changed. Stern gaze, tight ponytail, eyes sharp enough to pierce steel.
As soon as we arrived we received orders to once again begin trainning at dawn. Carmilla, Thal, and Hale was already there when I arrived.
"You made it Ray. You finally made it on time!" Thalamik said sarcastically.
"Shut it Thal." I replied groggily.
She stood in front of us at dawn, hands clasped firmly behind her back, scrutinizing each of us with cold intensity.
"I hope you enjoyed your little vacation," she began coolly. "Because starting today, you'll wish you never stepped foot in South Jaka."
Thalamik, standing beside me, muttered quietly, "Isn't it already too late for that? Besides isn't it her that forced us to come here?"
I hid a smile, straightening up when Hale's eyes narrowed on us suspiciously.
"Something funny you would like to share, Thalamik?" she snapped.
"No, Instructor," he replied evenly, his expression carefully blank.
Hale gave him one final glare before nodding sharply. "Good. Let's begin."
Our days quickly returned to their grueling rhythm.
Morning training began at sunrise. Instructor Hale's idea of a "warm-up" was running an entire lap around the circumference of South Jaka City. You know, she was always this kind of crazy when it came to training. Just to paint a picture, the distance we had to get through was around 45km. Basically, we had to do a marathon even before we expected to start training. It was also like this back in L'arc Academy.
It's just that back at L'arc we actually have proper roads to do the running. Yet, in South Jaka City, the roads aren't equally maintained. On top of that, the contour of the land is also different from one town to the other. So this is really not supposed to be a warm up. But I digress, this kinda routine is easy for me.
"Instructor, do you have any idea how crazy that is? South Jaka City's contour isn't even at an equal value..." Thalamik said, asking for mercy.
"Talking back, eh? You think just because you managed to go toe-to-toe with a Demon Lord Envoy, you got a chance to talk back?" Hale asked. "Do I need to remind you that I also go toe-to-toe with 2 Demon Lord Envoys and survived?"
Thalamik instinctively shut his mouth with a nervous smile as he looked at me.
"C'mon, it'll be fine. You'll get through it. I know mana control is your thing, but doing exercises like this with Mana is my thing. So I'll help you get through it." I said sarcastically to Thalamik.
"Oh, I forgot. It's prohibited to use Mana. If I see any of you emitting mana, I'll smack your head once." Hale said.
"Oh, C'mon!" I blurted.
"BWAHAHAHAHA," Thalamik laughed.
Yeah, I am dead. No way I can do this run without emitting any Mana.
The only one who didn't complain that day was Carmilla, of course.
As we started running, Hale's voice echoed behind us as she effortlessly jogged alongside, reminding us of every weakness she'd observed.
SMACK!
"Ouch!" I blurted.
"Raymed, your mana's still as subtle as a wild storm! Didn't I tell you not to emit mana?!"
"Yes, Instructor!" I replied, trying my best to control my mana.
"Thalamik, why are you the furthest back!? Don't think you can do this by preserving your stamina alone. You'll get left behind!"
"Yes, Instructor!" Thalamik replied.
"Carmilla, you might be in the middle, but if you slow down one more time thinking you can relax, I'll have you start again from the beginning!"
"Yes, Instructor Hale!" She replied, groaning softly.
As our distance began closing in, Thalamik ran faster, Carmilla kept the pace, and I slowed my pace due to controlling my mana. Carmilla finally said, "She wasn't kidding about regretting this... I am starting to regret not complaining. Huee..."
"Less talking, more running!" Hale shouted, seemingly reading our minds.
***
Combat drills followed immediately after.
Hale always seemed to find ways to push our limits further.
Sometimes, she'd have us sparring against each other. Other times, she'd toss us into impossible scenarios against multiple opponents from the local garrison. Once, she even challenged all three of us herself—armed only with a single wooden sword.
It didn't end well.
"Again," Hale demanded calmly, as she stands over us while we lay bruised and exhausted on the dusty training ground. Her breath was steady, composed. She had barely broken a sweat.
"Are you serious...?" Thalamik gasped, struggling to rise.
"Perfectly serious," she replied firmly. "Stand up."
"Can we at least have five minutes?" Carmilla pleaded softly.
"No. Get up." Hale replied, unyielding.
I sighed heavily, pushing myself up again, feeling muscles scream in protest.
"If you three really hoped to defeat the Demon Lord Envoys, then fighting me shouldn't be a problem."
The midday finally brought us a short reprieve. We'd eat quietly in the city square, exhausted but grateful for the break. Our conversations were usually brief—focused primarily on our various bruises, aching muscles, and newfound disdain for Instructor Hale's training methods.
"I'm starting to think she genuinely hates us," Carmilla murmured softly one afternoon, staring blankly at her sandwich. "Maybe she actually enjoyed bedrest and she's mad we disturbed her recovery?"
Thalamik nodded slowly. "That… would explain a lot."
I chuckled despite myself. "Either way, we're definitely improving, even if it hurts like hell."
Thalamik snorted dryly. "I'd prefer improvements without broken bones."
Carmilla smiled softly, "I hate to admit it, but Ray is right. We're stronger than we were a month ago."
He sighed heavily, reluctantly nodding. "You're probably right. I just hope we survive to see the results."
Afternoons brought mana-focused training. Hale paired us in various combinations, emphasizing the need for teamwork and synergy—something she constantly criticized us for lacking.
"Raymed, stop relying on brute force! Coordinate your attacks!" she barked sharply one afternoon as Thalamik and I sparred. "Thalamik, stop overthinking every detail!"
Carmilla watched from the sidelines, carefully maintaining a healing spell that kept our stamina steady.
After yet another failed attempt at coordination, Thalamik turned to me, frustration clear on his face. "Can you at least try communicating before blindly charging in?"
"Maybe if you'd improvise a little, we'd actually do a bit better!" I shot back irritably.
"Less arguing, more fighting!" Hale snapped from nearby. "Or you'd prefer discussing strategy with a demon envoy mid-battle?"
I grumbled quietly under my breath.
Thalamik merely shook his head in annoyance, adjusting his stance again.
Hale rarely praised us outright, but occasionally, a flicker of grudging approval appeared in her eyes, brief but unmistakable. It felt oddly rewarding.
Evenings offered some precious respite. South Jaka City bustled peacefully, filled with markets, shops, and lively places. After Hale dismissed us for the night, we'd wander the city, letting ourselves briefly forget training, battles, and demons.
We visited food stalls, sampling dishes we'd tasted in high school. Carmilla developed a fondness for spicy dumplings and curry, her face turning red as she laughed through the pain.
"Hey, do you think M-Block changed any bit?" Thalamik asked.
I look around the M-Block area only to see street food curry stalls that have been there since our high school days back in 2019, which was 9 years ago.
"You both used to go to school here?" Carmilla asked.
"Yeah, we do. It's called Sevental." Thalamik said.
"Oh! What was public high school like?"
It made me remember Carmilla's previous confession that she was homeschooled. So the concept of public school must seem very new to her.
"Actually... our school was filled to the brim with delinquents., Raymed here was one of them. Known as Joy Joker, the Sevental's Agent of Chaos." Thalamik lied.
"I wasn't! If anything, Thalamik was known as the Pharaoh with Phytagoras Chin!"
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK RAY!" Thalamik charged at me as we started fighting.
Carmilla just laughed at our antics. We later told stories about our high school times.
***
Only after a few weeks did I finally get what it is she's trying to do. Hale saw our reliance on rest and mana as a probable weakness. Hence, we should use mana more efficiently or perhaps learn of a way not to rely on Mana. We can be much more agile. If we don't rely on trying to find time to rest, we can be much more adaptable in long-running battles.
Our usual, 'Are you serious?' questions soon died out. As we all understood what is it we are trying to achieve is impossible without enduring this kind of training.
"Again," Hale demanded calmly. Now, she too was panting, and sweat covered her face.
"Let's go..." Thalamik rose instantly.
"Heal." Carmilla cast her spell on me and Thalamik softly.
I sighed and stood up again, gripping my wooden sword. Releasing the remaining energy that I have.
Thalamik shot me glance. "Ray, this time be sure to land that damn punch."
"I'll work on it, This time it will hit." I grumbled, forcing myself into a fighting stance again.
A telepathic link started as we began our Mana Trinity.
"Mana Trinity, Formation One: Twin Side Attack," We said in unison inside our telepathic link.
"I admire that look on all of your faces. Now, come at me!" Hale said with amusement.
That day we finally won against her.
That evening, we found ourselves a new secret spot that overlooked South Jaka, illuminated in a warm glow. Thalamik leaned quietly beside me, his expression contemplative. Carmilla stood a few steps away, gazing thoughtfully into the night sky.
"I think we're finally making progress," Thalamik said quietly, surprising me.
I glanced at him in amusement. "You said it!"
Carmilla chuckled softly, turning back toward us. "We are getting stronger. I can see the instructor smiling every now and then after our combat practices."
I smiled faintly, nodding slowly. "We have to keep pushing. Even if Hale's training now no longer feels like torture."
Thalamik sighed wearily, though a small, reluctant smile appeared. "As long we can defeat more Demon Lord Envoys." He said while reaching his hand towards me and Carmilla.
The three of us clenched our fists and bumped it together.
Late at night, long after everyone had gone to sleep, I'd often find myself still awake, reflecting quietly in the hotel corridors.
The city felt peaceful, yet I knew it was temporary. Training was grueling, and sometimes I wondered if Hale was pushing us too hard. But now... I no longer feel that. Yet what I thought about now was the contrary.
Will this be enough?
If I remember the time Baal held the blade I am using....
I feel as if our distance is so far apart.
Footsteps sounded as I stood alone in the corridor.
Hale herself appeared, catching me by surprise. "Couldn't sleep, Raymed?"
I nodded quietly, glancing at her. "Thinking about… everything."
It's rare for me to see Hale in the non-formal outfit that she usually wears. She stepped closer, eyes softening slightly, a rare glimpse behind her stern exterior. "I know my training seems harsh. But it's because I see potential. In you, Thalamik, Carmilla… You're our best chance."
I smiled faintly. "On the contrary, Miss Hale. I used to think it was too harsh. Yet now I began to think if it's enough or not."
She shook her head, expression grave yet gentle. "Even in doubt. Never let that doubt seep into your heart. All you need to keep in mind is what you're fighting for. Your friends trust you to protect them, and you can have their backs. So do I. Just remember that and don't focus on these feelings of doubt."
With that, she starts to walk away, about to leave me standing alone under the moonlight.
"What if I lost again?" I desperately asked her.
She turned back and said, "Then rise up again and again. Until you break it down!"
A simple...
Naive answer...
But perhaps that's just the way it is.
We can not be too realistic.
Yet, we can never be too idealistic either.
If keep on fighting is the way I can help. Then, I will keep fighting.
It's as simple as that. Isn't it Instructor?
Because at the end of it all, there was still something worth fighting for.
Something worth protecting.
Anyone will do their best to try and protect it.