Shattered Sanity

(Next Day, Training Grounds)

Mary and Stacy were the first ones to arrive at the training grounds the next morning, as after being beaten black and blue by Lydia and her gang the previous evening, and spending an entire night exposed to the freezing wilderness with nothing but a small fire for warmth, both sisters looked utterly miserable.

Dark bruises covered large portions of their bodies.

Their clothes remained torn and stained with dried blood.

While Stacy walked with visible difficulty because of the injuries she had suffered.

Still, despite everything they had endured, the two sisters had arrived before sunrise once again.

Because they knew that training was their only chance at a better future.

And perhaps, if fortune favored them, Garron might be willing to show them a small amount of mercy.

However, unfortunately for them, mercy was not a word usually associated with the Imperial recruiter.

Which was why both girls remained standing silently near the edge of the training grounds while nervously waiting for his arrival.

Meanwhile, not long afterward, Garron himself appeared from the distant road.

Unlike usual, he had arrived noticeably earlier today, as after having his sleep interrupted by Torak’s late night visit, he had found it difficult to fall asleep again, prompting him to decide to come early to training today.

However, the moment his eyes landed on the two battered girls waiting near the field, he immediately let out a long sigh through his nose.

’Of course it had to be them.’

He thought as he immediately recognized the sisters.

Not only were they the two most talented recruits in the entire batch, they were also the exact girls Torak had spent half the night complaining about.

The moment Mary noticed him approaching, she immediately stepped forward despite the pain visibly written across her face.

”Master, we were ambushed yesterday....

We haven’t eaten since yesterday morning, and Stacy has several broken ribs.

Can you please help us?”

Mary pleaded while lowering her head respectfully.

Garron said nothing immediately.

Instead, he walked directly toward the sisters before crouching beside Stacy and beginning a brief examination of her injuries.

His fingers pressed lightly against her ribs.

Stacy immediately winced.

Then he checked the bruising around her eye, the swelling on her jaw, and several other visible injuries scattered across both girls.

After a few moments, Garron finally stood again.

”You’re both in no condition to train today.”

He concluded while reaching into a pouch hanging from his belt.

”Take these.”

He said before handing each sister a familiar red pill.

”Place them inside your mouths exactly like yesterday.

Do not swallow them.

Endure the pain and focus on directing the warmth toward your injuries.”

Garron instructed while folding his arms behind his back.

”The Aether will accelerate the natural healing process of your bodies.

If everything goes smoothly, most of the damage should recover within one or two weeks.”

Both sisters immediately accepted the pills as though receiving priceless treasures.

Then together, they bowed deeply.

”Thank you, Master.”

Mary said sincerely.

”Thank you.”

Stacy echoed while clutching the pill carefully inside her hand.

Garron simply nodded before releasing another quiet sigh.

”I’m assuming neither of you has a home to return to anymore.”

He muttered while studying their reactions.

For a brief moment, the sisters glanced toward one another.

Then both nodded silently.

The answer was obvious.

After yesterday’s incident, returning to Lydia’s household would be no different from willingly walking back into another beating.

”Very well.”

Garron replied.

”You may stay at my residence for the next two weeks.

Use my food rations and focus entirely on recovery.”

He offered, as the sisters immediately froze.

Neither had expected that answer.

However, before either of them could express their gratitude, Garron raised one finger.

”Do not misunderstand my intentions.”

He warned coldly.

”I am not doing this out of kindness.”

Both girls immediately straightened.

”Once your injuries heal, the two of you will train twice as hard as everyone else in order to recover the time you’ve lost.”

He explained while staring directly at them.

”If I am going to invest food, medicine, and shelter into the two of you, then I expect results.”

Both sisters nodded almost immediately.

”We understand.”

Mary replied.

”We’ll work twice as hard.”

Stacy added without hesitation.

Only then did Garron seem satisfied.

”Good.”

He said while pointing toward the distant cluster of houses where he currently lived.

”My residence is the third hut from the eastern well.

Go there and stay inside until I return.”

The two sisters bowed once more.

”Thank you for this grace, Master.”

They said together, as Garron merely waved one hand dismissively before turning his attention toward the road where the rest of the recruits would soon begin arriving, while Mary and Stacy carefully made their way toward his residence carrying the precious pills like lifelines in their hands.

—--------

About half an hour later, the recruits started arriving one after another at the training grounds, as while a few came alone, most arrived in small groups while rubbing their sore arms and swollen knuckles from the previous day’s training.

A new day of training had officially begun.

However, before anyone could begin lining up for their medicine, Garron suddenly stepped forward with both hands clasped behind his back.

”Before we start today’s training, I have something important to declare.”

He muttered calmly, as almost immediately, the entire field fell silent.

Even the children who had been whispering among themselves moments earlier instinctively straightened upon hearing his voice.

Because after yesterday’s training, nobody present still viewed Garron as merely an instructor.

He was now firmly categorized as someone dangerous.

”It has come to my attention that yesterday, two children belonging to this camp attacked other children belonging to this camp outside the training grounds.”

Garron said while slowly sweeping his gaze across the gathered recruits.

”Now, I do not know who started the fight.

Nor do I know who was right and who was wrong.”

He paused briefly.

”And frankly, neither do I care.”

The children listened silently.

”However, if there is one thing I do care about, it is discipline.”

Garron continued.

”Students under my supervision will not attack one another outside of training sessions and controlled sparring exercises.”

His voice remained calm.

Yet somehow, that calmness felt more threatening than shouting.

”So listen carefully.”

He said while narrowing his eyes slightly.

”If an incident like this ever happens again, regardless of who attacked whom, regardless of whose fault it was, and regardless of what excuse either side gives me afterward, I will personally break all four limbs of every child involved.”

A visible shiver ran through portions of the crowd.

”It does not matter if it was one against one.”

Garron continued.

”It does not matter if it was one against five.”

His gaze slowly moved across the gathered recruits.

”As long as a fight occurs outside these training grounds, I will break the arms and legs of every participant.”

Then he nodded once.

”And that decision is final.”

Many children immediately swallowed nervously upon hearing those words.

Especially those belonging to the privileged families.

Because unlike the slaves and servants, most of them had never truly experienced consequences they could not escape through family influence.

”You can’t do that!”

One voice suddenly protested.

”My father would never allow it!”

The speaker was none other than the village chief’s eldest son, as the moment those words left his mouth, Garron slowly turned his head toward the boy.

”Oh?”

He muttered.

”The chief already approved.”

Garron replied while staring directly at him.

”We had a lengthy conversation last night.”

The boy’s expression immediately changed.

”So if you would like to test whether I’m serious or not, then I suggest you come forward first.”

Garron continued while extending one hand toward the open field before him.

”Come on.”

He beckoned.

”Step out here and see for yourself if I have the courage to break your limbs or not.”

He invited, as the invitation immediately caused the boy’s confidence to evaporate.

After all, everyone present had witnessed Garron explode a wooden dummy with a single punch yesterday, which meant that confronting him directly was about as appealing as voluntarily stepping into a fire pit.

”No... no, I’m sorry.”

The boy muttered, while instinctively taking a half step backward, as Garron nodded in approval.

”I thought so.”

He muttered, before returning his gaze back to the crowd.

”Then I assume the matter is settled.”

He concluded, before suddenly clapping his hands loudly.

*CLAP*

”Alright, form a line and receive your pills quickly, we have already wasted a few precious moments of today’s training time talking.”

Garron ordered, as the children immediately shuffled into a single queue.

”We train exactly the same way as yesterday.

Take the pill but don’t swallow, then start hitting the dummies.”

He instructed, as almost immediately, the children began moving.

Long lines quickly formed across the training grounds as everyone shuffled into position.

However, unlike yesterday, the emotions visible on their faces varied dramatically.

Many still looked terrified.

The mere sight of Garron reaching into the sack of red pills caused several children to visibly pale as memories of yesterday’s agony resurfaced inside their minds.

A few even rubbed their throats unconsciously.

Meanwhile, others looked strangely excited.

Especially those who had already learned how to sense and channel Aether.

Because unlike the children who only remembered the pain, they also remembered something else.

The power.

The feeling of directing Aether through their limbs.

The sensation of striking harder than their bodies should have been capable of.

The intoxicating realization that they were becoming stronger.

And now, standing before the line of pills once again, many of them found themselves eager to experience that feeling for a second time.

As slowly, one by one, the children stepped forward to receive their medicine while the second day of training officially began.