Chapter 21: Physical Conditioning
Asher followed Harold with measured steps, his demeanor calm and composed. Upon reaching the gathered trainees, Harold gestured silently to a spot on the ground, indicating where Asher should sit.
"The Tenth Sun will now be joining the First Training Ground," Harold announced curtly before turning away. He had granted the trainees a brief respite, five minutes to catch their breath. Once that time passed, training would resume without delay.
The trainees murmured among themselves. There was no need to introduce Asher, his reputation had long preceded him. The disgrace of the Duke’s family was a well-known tale within the estate.
Everyone present knew he shouldn’t be here. By all rights, Asher belonged in the Third Training Ground. Yet, not a single voice rose to question his presence.
And why would they? No one was foolish enough to speak out. Asher might be a disgrace, his awakening delayed until the third attempt, but none of that changed the fact that he was a Sun. A direct descendant of the Wargrave bloodline. The son of a Duke. With a single word, he could make their lives far more difficult than they dared imagine.
They cast fleeting glances at him from the corners of their eyes, breaths still labored, their gazes drawn to his flawless features. Some didn’t bother to look at all, opting instead to sit cross-legged in a lotus position, using every second of the five-minute reprieve to recover their strength.
Asher remained silent. He knew none of them, and his gaze seemed distant, unfocused. But, through his Omni Perception, he observed some of them without turning his head.
They were uniformly dressed in form-fitting compressed black shirts and trousers, men and women alike, just like the one he wore.
As the final moments of rest slipped away, Harold’s voice rang out from the sidelines.