Chapter 191: Ground One Rebuilt!
Without a word, they started. Jin fetched wood and tools, hammering together training dummies.
Veyla used her healing energy to mend cracked stones and reinforce weak points. Kael dug his hands into the dirt, replanting grass, reshaping the field, and lifting heavy beams with sheer grit.
The work was slow and grueling. The sun set, the moon rose, and still they kept going. Sweat soaked their clothes.
Dirt clung to their hands. They didn’t laugh, didn’t complain, didn’t even talk. Only the sound of tools, hammering, digging, and quiet breathing filled the night.
Even Jin, who was a dayscholar, stayed behind. He grumbled under his breath a few times but never left.
By morning, Ground One looked nearly restored. The grass wasn’t perfect, the dummies a little uneven, but the battlefield no longer looked like a warzone.
When the sun rose high and the academy filled with life again, students from every year passed by.
Third-years paused, arms crossed, watching the exhausted trio. Some nodded in respect, impressed by their determination.
"Not bad for first-years," one said.
But others scoffed. "Pathetic. They caused the mess and now they’re just cleaning up after themselves. Nothing admirable about that."
The second-years whispered among themselves, some proud, some mocking. And the first-years... they stared wide-eyed at Kael, Jin, and Veyla, as if trying to decide whether to look up to them or avoid their path.
Kael stood, his shirt torn and stained, his hands blistered and dirty.
He forced himself to remain upright while Jin and Veyla, utterly spent, collapsed right there on the grass, asleep before they could even say a word.
That was when he saw her—Selena. She approached gracefully.
Kael didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward her, still breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"Selena," he said urgently.
"Do you... do you know anything about the Lost Land? Or anything about the Ancient Coin?"
Her brows furrowed slightly. "The Lost Land? Ancient Coin?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I’ve heard whispers of such things... but nothing concrete. Still, if it’s important to you, I’ll research it."
Relief washed over Kael. "Thank you."
But Selena wasn’t finished. Her eyes narrowed just a little, searching his face. "But tell me, Kael... yesterday, during the fight... why did your eyes turn so red? It wasn’t normal. I saw you. Everyone did."
Kael froze for a moment
Then, forcing a calm expression, he replied, "I got dust in my eyes while I was fighting... that’s all."
Selena didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she offered a small smile.
"Very well.... Then I will be going."
Kael’s chest tightened at her words, but he only nodded.
Behind him, Jin and Veyla slept soundly on the grass, their bodies sprawled like they had fought another battle. Around them, the murmurs of the academy continued, but for Kael, the world had narrowed to a single thought:
Kael came back after talking with Selena, stretching his stiff back.
His hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat, and his hands were coated in dirt.
He glanced at the horizon, it was almost time. The morning bell would ring soon, signaling the dreaded laps Sylvia had assigned.
His gaze fell on Jin, sprawled on the ground, snoring like a log. Veyla had fallen asleep sitting upright, her head tilted slightly.
Kael frowned. He couldn’t let them miss the start.
Without hesitation, he grabbed a nearby bucket of water, filled from last night’s repair work, and dumped it straight onto Jin’s face.
"HUAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jin screamed, bolting upright as if lightning had struck him.
Water dripped from his hair and splashed onto the freshly repaired ground.
"What the hell, Kael?!" he shouted, pointing a finger at him.
"Do you want to die?! To wake me up, you could’ve shaken my shoulder, tapped my arm, sung me a lullaby—ANYTHING but drowning me alive!"
Kael didn’t even look at him. He crouched beside Veyla and gently shook her shoulder.
"Veyla, wake up. It’s almost time to run the laps."
She stirred, rubbing her eyes with one hand, her voice groggy.
"Mmm... already...?"
"Yes," Kael said firmly. "If we’re late, Sylvia will double it and that will be 400 laps."
Meanwhile, Jin was still fuming, flapping his soaked sleeves dramatically.
"Do you even understand the words that are coming out of my mouth.... Oyyyeel?!"
Kael gave him a flat look. "You were snoring so loud."
Veyla stifled a giggle, covering her mouth.
Jin gasped, clutching his chest. "You too, Veyla?!"
"Stop whining," Kael muttered, standing up and dusting his hands.
"Let’s go."
By the time they reached Ground One, the sun had risen, bathing the training fields in pale light.
All the first year students were already assembling, stretching and preparing for the brutal run.
When Kael, Jin, and Veyla stepped into view, all eyes turned to them.
They looked utterly drained. Their clothes were stained from dirt and ash, their eyes heavy, and their movements sluggish. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Look at them... they look half-dead."
"They stayed up all night fixing the field, didn’t they?"
Some students shook their heads with disapproval, others smirked, but a few watched with something like respect.
Among the crowd, Cecelia stood quietly. Her eyes lingered on Kael. His face was pale, and his steps faltered slightly.
(Kael... if you keep pushing yourself like this, you’ll collapse before even finishing the laps and madam will double it.)
Her hand dipped into her sleeve, pulling out a small vial—the Elixir of Strength. a concoction meant to restore stamina instantly. She glanced at Elysia, who was nearby, and waited until her friend turned her head.
Then, carefully, she stepped close to Kael and slipped the vial into his hand without anyone noticing.
"Here," she whispered.
Kael blinked at her. For a moment, his heart softened. Without hesitation, he uncorked it and drank it down.
Warmth spread through his body, his muscles easing, his strength trickling back as if he’d just woken from a full night’s rest.
He exhaled and gave Cecelia a faint smile. "Thank you, Cece."
Her lips curved into the smallest smile, but she quickly looked away before Elysia could notice.
Beside them, Jin caught sight of the exchange and leaned closer, whispering loudly.
"What’s this, Kael? Secret admirers already feeding you potions? Should I pour water on you every morning too? Maybe I’ll get an elixir from someone."
Kael ignored him.
"Oi, I don’t like your attitude!" Jin said. "Now you’re stealing all the attention. Unbelievable. Truly, I am the tragic hero in this story."
(No, you are a real and strong hero), Kael thought.
The bell rang. The laps were about to begin. Kael tightened his grip on his sword belt, Cecelia’s worried gaze still following him.
Inside, he thought only one thing:
(I have to endure.)
The elixirs of strength began to work and the time has start.
Everyone started to run.