Another three days of intense training followed. Today was the day that the monthly field test hosted by the Association would begin. Arden, Sya, and Vera knew what it meant. They now had only a month to improve themselves as much as they could. They didn’t have to be the best, but that wouldn’t stop them from pushing themselves as much as they could.

  Wake up, run, eat, exercise, eat, spar, eat, aura, relax.

  This was how the days since returning from the restricted zone had been. Every day, they would throw themselves headfirst into intense training.

  In the beginning, Arden and Sya didn’t think they’d survive, but only a few days later, they had changed their tune. The Status boosted recovery rate and helped with healing. They were already showing results.

  Everyday, they felt their stamina pool deepen. It wasn’t by any staggering degree, but it was enough to show that they were getting healthier. Stronger.

  Currently, they were on stage four of their daily routine, and the part that quickly became more hated than their runs: rudimentary exercises.

  “It’s not enough for you guys to be able to do pushups or situps or whatever,” Vera said. “You have to do all of that while maintaining perfect form. I'm rebuilding your habits from the ground up. From the way you stand, to the way you walk, everything. And for that, balance is key.”

  She looked up at her students who were trying to keep their balance from on top of poles a couple meters above the ground on either side of a larger pole that they had to climb up when they fell to get back up. Thankfully, the ground wasn’t as hard as it looked, which Arden and Sya discovered very early on.

  When they did these exercises, it was pretty much the only time they made use of Miasma’s training facilities. During these exercises, and when sparring. They didn’t think going around the city swinging weapons at each other or making exercise equipment on the streets would be looked upon favorably.

  A few days ago, the poles that Arden and Sya stood on were a bit wider. Now, they were thinner, and Arden and Sya both had an arm tied to their side to make it harder.

  “Change poses!’ Vera ordered. “Move your arm across your body and stick one of your legs out behind you.”

  Arden groaned and did his best to execute the orders he was given, but a few seconds after, he fell off and fell to the ground.

  “Damn…” he muttered, getting up from the ground.

  “You’re breaking your body line,” Vera said, pulling him to his feet. “Anyone who has better balance and simple skills would put you in the ground in half a second.”

  “I know,” he said, starting to climb the poll to get back up. “It still feels awkward though.”

  “That’s because your foundations are still wrong. Walking, standing, even sitting. That’s what this is in aid of. When it stops feeling awkward, that’s how you know you’re there.”

  “What if I lie and say it feels fine? Can we move on?” Sya asked, still barely maintaining her balance.

  Vera kicked her pole, sending her tumbling to the ground. Arden felt satisfaction at the sight.

  “It’ll only hurt you in the future.”

  They continued balance training for another hour before Vera called it off. Now came the portion that they truly detested. It was easier than balance, but it was much more tedious. Vera forced them to walk or run around with a forced gait that felt off. Anytime their posture was off, Vera would sweep their legs out from under them.

  This was tedious, but it was also the feeling of making yourself deliberately uncomfortable that really rubbed the siblings up the wrong way. They understood feeling sore after a run because that was actually pushing yourself, but this just felt constantly wrong. That was why they were filled with such antipathy whenever this time came. But it also drove them further to get better just to avoid doing this in the future.

  The thing that saddened them the most was that they knew they wouldn’t just wake up and understand true equilibrium one day. It was a gradual process. And while they weren’t improving that fast with their balance and posture, they were improving nonetheless.

  “You guys are getting there,” Vera praised them. “You’re getting more and more limber. It probably doesn’t feel like it, but you’ve already come a long way.”

  “You’re right,” Sya said. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

  Vera threw a jab towards her, but Sya sprung back immediately, avoiding it.

  “How about now?” Vera asked. “You were able to react immediately because your body line has improved. Previously, you would have wasted an extra moment or two getting ready to avoid it. With how you are moving now, you can react much faster.”

  Sya smiled to herself.

  “Damn. This is actually working.”

  *****

  A few hours later, they were back in the training facility, with bellies full of food that was thankfully given enough time to digest. Vera pulled many different training weapons made of wood out of her inventory that she had gotten from who knows where.

  There were many different types of swords and spears, along with some more eclectic weapon types, like axes, hammers and even what looked like a great scythe. Arden thought it looked a bit silly for Vera to pull a weapon the size of her out of her inventory. There were other weapon types that Arden kind of recognized, but the one that was calling out to him the most was a set of gauntlets that reminded him of the Bone Talons. They were some of the only ones that weren’t wholly made of wood to allow them flexibility.

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  Vera picked up one of the wooden swords that resembled the ones from the Mausoleum.

  “Alright, we’ve done this before, so you know what to do. These are most of the training weapon types that Miasma has. According to the armory proprietor, they are also the most commonly used weapons among the Starborn here.”

  Arden pointed to the scythe.

  “That wasn’t there yesterday.”

  “The armory was out of them. Apparently they are some of the most popular. So they're rarely in stock.”

  “Do people actually use them?” Sya asked. “Aren’t they gardening tools?”

  “Yeah, I don’t get it either,” Vera said. “I think they just use them to look cool. Regardless, pick up a weapon and give it a spin. Satellites will come in all sorts of shapes. Most of them will be weapons, despite what we’ve experienced, so it's best to get a feel for most of the weapons here. Choose one you haven't used before, and fight each other.”

  The sibling looked over each of the weapons, as they have the previous few days. Each day was the same. They would pick one, then fight each other for a bit before fighting against Vera. Every time they would lose, but they didn’t mind. They learned more from one loss than they would a thousand victories.

  Arden already chose both the sword and the gauntlets on the days prior, and Sya had gone with a bow and sword. Today, Arden picked a staff, while Sya chose a guandao.

  “I want a good clean fight,” Vera said. “No powers. Only your raw skills. Fight!”

  *****

  Almost an hour passed since the beginning of the fight, and despite both siblings being covered in bruises and panting heavily, neither of them had fallen yet.

  Arden chose the staff on a whim, but it actually turned out to be a great weapon. It was incredibly simple, but that also made it incredibly versatile. It could be used like a sword, a club, or a spear on top of its original function.

  He held the staff in front of him with both hands, mirroring Sya’s form. With little hesitation, Sya rushed towards her with the guandao overhead. Something that he learned about the fang-shaped polearm was that it wasn’t meant for stabbing like most others. It was all about cutting.

  Mindful that this was a simulated battle, he brought his staff up to block the attack by holding it against the shaft of Sya’s weapon. Her blade wasn’t real, but for the purpose of training, they acted like it was, and taking a strike against a weapon was a good way to get it damaged or broken.

  Arden was surprised by the strength of his sister. She wasn't overpowering him, but he could feel that the pressure was on. If she trained anymore without him, he'd be in danger of losing a strength test with her.

  He shoved the guandao higher in the air to try to close the distance. And while he managed to knock Sya’s weapon higher, she changed tactics, jumping back while swiping inwards.

  Arden paused his advance just in time for the edge of her mock weapon to only reach right before his nose. He grinned as cold sweat rolled down his face. If he didn't stop, he'd have lost right there.

  “For someone so new to this, you’re pretty damn good,” he said, jabbing his staff toward the wooden edge of Sya’s weapon.

  “I have a good teacher,” she said in response.

  Her guandao collided with his staff. For the next several minutes, the training facility was filled with the sounds of wooden weapons smashing against each other. Neither one of them gave any quarter, and neither of them was able to land a finishing blow.

  There was little finesse in their strikes at the beginning, but as time continued with the fight, they started growing in real time. Especially Sya. Her rigid movements at the beginning were now almost a constant motion.

  Arden was finding it harder and harder to keep up with his sister's attacks. He might have had the advantage in terms of strength, but her skill was tough to match.

  Their weapons crossed once more, and Arden tried forcing the guandao down closer to the ground, and she did the same to him. The shafts of the weapons were smooth, so they could only rely on their own strength to disarm each other.

  Just as Sya’s weapon started to lower, Arden released his weapon in a move that surprised Sya, and threw her off balance thanks to the sudden weight that disappeared.

  Arden lost his weapon, but he was dominating the moment.

  He lowered himself closer to the ground and rushed in close to Sya now that her momentum was cut.

  Just before his staff dropped to the ground, his fingers found the edge of it, and he grabbed it and swung upwards as hard as he could, striking the shaft of Sya’s weapon, sending it flying.

  Arden panted as he held his staff towards his sister with a lopsided smile. She looked back at him with a smile as well.

  “It's my win,” he said.

  “Nice one,” she complimented. “That makes this, what, one win for you and two for me?”

  He nodded.

  “It's the beginning of my comeback.”

  “Probably the end of it too,” she looked at her guandao that landed on the floor a short distance away. “That one felt really good.”

  Vera approached them, all smiles.

  “Good job, both of you. How were the weapons?”

  “That spear felt really good,” Sya said. “What is it?”

  “It's a guandao,” Vera explained. “From old China. All about fluid, connected motions.”

  “I think I'm a guandao main now.”

  Vera turned to Arden.

  “How'd the staff feel?”

  “Intuitive. It was so simple I felt like I could do whatever I wanted with it.”

  Vera nodded.

  “Thats one of the staff's strong points. Its functionality is limited by the user's skill and imagination. If you think you can use it a certain way, and you have the skills to do so, it is a monstrous weapon.”

  “I can imagine. Just a shame I lack the skills to use it like every other weapon.”

  Sya rubbed her arm.

  “Doesn't feel like you lack the skill.’

  “He does,” Vera assured her.

  “Thanks for that,” Arden said dryly.

  “With everything I've seen of him so far, the gauntlets do set him the best. Do-or-die maneuvers are his bread and butter. And with the life steal that is actually his, it will actually work. Unfortunately-”

  Arden cut her off.

  “Gauntlets are a rare weapon to find.”

  “Right,” she said with a nod. “Rest up for a few minutes. Then, you will fight me.”

  After five minutes, Arden and Sya were ready to fight Vera. A plan had formed in their minds.

  In six minutes, the siblings were sprawled out on the floor, defeated yet again.