Chapter 53: Noticeable Improvement
The morning sun had barely crested the horizon, casting a pale golden glow over the Academy’s training grounds, when Adrian found himself running again with the rest of the Knights.
His legs burned, each step a grueling effort as sweat dripped down his brow. The air did little to ease the weariness that clung to him like a heavy cloak.
He had just pushed past his seventh lap around the expansive field, a feat that shocked him given how drained he felt the last time.
’My resilience is holding up better than I thought,’ Adrian mused, though the thought brought little comfort. Ahead of him, the other Knights were faring better — many had already hit their fifteenth lap.
But even they were faltering, their breaths ragged, their feet dragging through the dirt with visible exhaustion. Adrian’s own condition was still worse though; his muscles screamed for rest and his chest heaved as he fought to keep pace.
As they rounded the field once more, passing Master Von, he clapped his hands sharply, the sound cutting through the haze of fatigue.
"Enough!"
The Knights stumbled to a halt immediately they heard his voice, many collapsing onto the grass in a heap of exhaustion, their chests rising and falling rapidly.
Adrian dropped to one knee, his hands braced on the ground, gulping air as the world spun around him.
The silence was heavy, broken only by the collective panting of the group.
After a few moments, everyone grabbed a water containers, the cool liquid a balm to Adrian’s parched throat.