Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Chapter 21: Training

The classroom of the first military course was massive… it probably could fit around one hundred kids, there were seven others around, but Rain didn't have to check them.

Although he arrived earlier, Rain wasn't one of the first kids to enter. Although all of those on that course should be of his age, they still were sons of nobles, and they more or less knew each other since their parents went to the same events. They didn't know Rain; it would take a while for them to realize his origins because Leiah made sure to buy him some fashionable clothes for a boy of his age.

"Surprisingly enough, Mom knows that a kid that stands out in a bad way thanks to his clothes is also an easy target for bullying," Rain thought. At the same time, he sat in one of the chairs in the back of the room.

The chairs were made of wood, and they also had a table for the kids to use and write. It seemed that not all the lessons of the military courses would be physical. Regardless, most of the kids were in the front, and soon, a man in his thirties, while wearing light brown armor and a sword on his waist, appeared. It seemed that only forty kids were the newcomers of the year that wanted to get involved somehow in military affairs.

"My name is Leion, and I will be your Military instructor, change your clothes and be in the training camps in five minutes; those who are late will have ten fewer minutes to do the tests from now on," The man declared.

The kids seemed surprised, but soon they began to move as soon as Leion left the room. That guy sure was direct… in any case, Rain hurried with the change of clothes and quickly followed the instructor.

Rain quickly found a massive training ground in the middle of the building. It probably had enough room to store hundreds of people training at the same time since it had four smaller grass fields that were fifty meters long and one hundred meters wide as well.

The kids arrived in a hurry while wondering if they had been on time; it was hard to say based on the expressionless face of the instructor.

"From today onwards, you will run around the training grounds for two hours before my lessons. I won't oversee you all doing that, but I will know if you did or not," Leion declared. "If you fail for that for any reason, you will lose ten minutes for each failure. If you fail six times, you are done with my course. Start."

Leion moved from the field, and then the kids began to run… considering their origins, it was quite surprising that noble kids would be that quick to follow orders… then again, most of their parents probably were guards, knights, or soldiers, so they received the instructions to follow the orders as quickly as possible and without hesitation.

"I suppose before learning how to lead, you have to learn how to follow," Rain thought while he was running to the back of the group.

The first lesson was supposed to last three hours, but they will run for one hour… it was hard to imagine that they would have to clean themselves, so it seemed that Leion was planning to make them endure a lot of things.

In any case, Rain was used to running, roadwork was part of his daily training routine, but he didn't have time lately to run for two hours, so he felt a bit tired after two hours… as for the other kids, they were breathing roughly while trying to keep walking since they couldn't run anymore.

"Maybe their parents, who work in the same field of vision, didn't train or prepare them for this," Rain thought. "There is no better teacher than life, huh. Let me tell you something you already know. Life is tough, and it's not always easy. No matter how strong you are, it can knock you down and keep you down if you allow that. Nobody can hit as hard as life can. But it's not just about how hard life hits you; it's about how you respond. You have the power to get back up and keep going. Don't blame others or make excuses for where you are right now. Don't be a coward and give up. You have to be willing to take the hits and keep moving forward no matter what. Believe in yourself and your worth. Don't let life's challenges define you. Stand up, face the struggles, deal with it, and keep fighting for what you want. That's how you can overcome the tough times and find your way to success."

I guess the soldiers around here know that."

Rain wondered if Roan also followed the same principle since he never trained him or anything. Then again, he seemed like the type who would let his children grow naturally and freely.

Regardless, Leion was already in the room waiting for everyone when they returned. Since they kind of took their time, they had to endure his cold gaze. Facing it directly was quite difficult.

"After running for two hours, you all will have to return in five minutes; if you fail, you already know the punishment," Leion declared. "Now, you all will copy my movements."

As he prepared to showcase a series of defensive maneuvers, he gracefully lowered his stance, ensuring a stable and balanced foundation. His left foot moved forward, creating a firm base, while his right hand closed into a tight fist, held close to his chest.

With precise control, Leion executed a slow but powerful punch with his right hand, channeling his strength and technique into the strike. The controlled movement displayed the culmination of years of training and experience. After delivering the punch, he swiftly transitioned, positioning his left arm in a protective stance, guarding his left side against any potential attacks.

Leion's defensive posture mirrored his initial stance, exhibiting his ability to seamlessly flow from one defensive position to another. The fluidity of his movements showcased his mastery of defensive techniques and readiness to counter any incoming threats.

"Do what I just did and alternate between punching and defending with both of your arms," Leion declared. "You will do that for one hour, and you have to do it at least once every five seconds."