Chapter 52 - The Calm Before the Storm - V
** Two days before the challenge
The humid air of the training room clung to my skin as I moved at high speed, navigating through the obstacles of the mobility course. This section of the training was designed to simulate difficult natural terrains: tall, twisted trees, moss, uneven rocks, wet soil, and fallen leaves. Each step required precision and control, and I pushed myself to maintain the pace, using my warrior abilities to advance toward the finish line.
It was then that the metallic sound of a dagger cutting through the air alerted me. I dodged to the side, feeling the cold blade graze my neck.
"Faster!" Lesley's sharp, firm voice echoed through the room.
She was somewhere in the shadows, invisible and unpredictable. Her footsteps made no sound, and I could barely distinguish her from the trees around me. Another dagger appeared, this time from above. I rolled forward, feeling the impact of the blade embedding itself into the ground behind me. My heart raced, but I forced myself to take a deep breath and focus.
In a burst of internal energy, I accelerated my steps again. The sound of my movements echoed like thunder, too loud, announcing my position.
"If your goal is to announce your arrival wherever you go, you're succeeding!" Lesley corrected me, her voice cutting.
Balancing the energy flowing through my veins, I slowed down, trying to reduce the noise my footsteps made. I leaped over a large rock and, with a quick kick, launched myself to the top. A small trail between the trees separated me from the finish line.
'The energy must explode within the muscles, but in the feet, it must be controlled!' I repeated mentally, trying to find the speed and smoothness Lesley had shown me earlier.