The sunlight streamed through the castle's windows, bathing the room in a warm glow. Septh woke to the sound of shouting from the courtyard below. Stepping onto the balcony, she saw Zephyr swinging a wooden sword with vigorous precision, beads of sweat rolling down his face from the exertion.
A knock on her door drew her attention. Hannah stood there, smiling brightly. "Good morning, Septh. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did," Septh replied.
"Excellent! Now change into your dress and head to the library," Hannah instructed before leaving.
Septh quickly dressed in a ruby-colored gown and made her way to the library. Hannah was waiting, stacks of books neatly piled on the table. "Today, we'll focus on this world's history," she announced.
Septh picked up a book titled The Art of War. Hannah glanced approvingly. "Good choice. It covers tactics and strategies from our ancestors."
Next, Septh chose The King of the Rings. The title seemed oddly familiar, and she pondered where she might have heard it before. Her thoughts were interrupted as Hannah guided her to a seat. "If you have questions, ask me," she said, leaving Septh to her studies.
Meanwhile, in a dense forest, Ki moved cautiously, alert to every flicker of shadow. Tall trees cast long, twisting shadows, and the rustle of leaves filled the air. Suddenly, an attack came from the darkness. Ki blocked and grabbed what he thought was Kenji's arm—but it was only a branch. Frustration flashed across his face, but he stayed alert, knowing Kenji was testing him.
The ground cracked beneath him as a shadow lunged with a punch. Ki barely dodged and retreated. "Your reaction is too slow," a voice called—it was Kenji stepping into the sunlight.
Ki, drenched in sweat, lowered his guard. "Let's stop for now. I've determined your strengths and weaknesses. You have speed, but your reaction time needs work," Kenji said. "We'll fix it, but first, a different kind of training."
"Different?" Ki asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Endurance," Kenji replied. "Basic exercises—push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, jogging. Familiar with them?"
"I know what they are," Ki said.
"Good. Now start," Kenji instructed.
Ki dropped to the ground, beginning push-ups and sit-ups. "Your goal is 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups without stopping," Kenji said, pushing him to the limit.
In the castle courtyard, Zephyr struggled under Clayman's relentless training. "Faster! Stronger! No breaks!" the general barked. Zephyr's muscles burned as the sun moved across the sky. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, gasping. Maids giggled from a distance until Sophie waved them back to work, concern flickering in her eyes.
Back in the forest, Ki forced himself up, drenched in sweat and fatigue. "Sprinting next," Kenji instructed, pointing toward a tall building visible through the trees. "Run to that building as fast as you can. Thirty minutes. No breakfast if you fail."
Kenji disappeared, leaving Ki alone with the challenge. Exhausted, his mind swirled with thoughts—but he ran, driven by a desire to improve rather than hunger.
In the library, Septh's attention shifted to a new discovery: The Lore of Summons. She opened the book eagerly, hoping to uncover clues about how they had arrived in this strange world.