The journey to the city of Valmeria was long and exhausting. Ragnar rode in silence most of the way, but every so often he would ask Kael direct questions.
Kael responded with short sentences. He didn't want to talk too much. His only goal was to find evidence about the one who had taken his family away from him and to become strong in case whoever he faced in the future would be a problem, and that was all that really mattered. He had no intention of wasting time with his questions, unnecessary training, or absurd tests. He had found the fastest way to join the Order, and nothing else mattered.
When they arrived at the elite Order, the heart of the city, Kael was impressed. The city was imposing, with polished stone streets and large fortified buildings. In the center stood the Order's headquarters, a marble structure with huge banners waving in the wind. Here trained the best warriors and magicians in the kingdom, those who had passed rigorous tests to prove their worth. But Kael hadn't had to go through any of that. And they knew it.
From the moment he set foot in the Order, Kael noticed the stares of the others.
He was not welcome. Rumors spread quickly: a nobody, with no formal training, had been brought in personally by Ragnar. Some looked at him with suspicion, others with contempt. To them, he had not earned the right to be there.
—So you're the kid everyone's talking about— said a young man with brown hair and a sharp gaze. He crossed his arms, analyzing Kael from head to toe. —You don't look like much.
—I don't need to look like much — Kael replied.
The young man smiled sidelong.
—My name is Gale. What's yours?— he said with a smile on his face.
Kael did not answer his question.
Gale began to follow him. Not because he trusted him right away, but because he was intrigued by him. Unlike the others, Gale did not seem to feel contempt for Kael, but he did not blindly support him either. He simply observed and analyzed.
The first day of training was hell. The Order showed no mercy to the new recruits. They were required to have extreme physical endurance, hand-to-hand combat skills, and knowledge of magic and battle tactics. Kael, despite his willpower, quickly fell behind. He didn't have the training that the others had, and that made him vulnerable.
The climax came during combat training. Kael was paired with a girl with dark hair and eyes sparkling with amusement: Amara.
—Are you sure you want to do this, rookie?— she asked with a mocking smile.
—Get on with it — Kael replied, preparing himself.
The fight began, and Kael lunged forward, but Amara was quick. She moved gracefully and fluidly, effortlessly dodging each of his blows. Then, with a simple movement of her hand, a burst of fire exploded in front of him. Kael barely had time to react, rolling on the ground to avoid being burned.
He tried to counterattack, but he couldn't land a single blow. Amara was faster, more skilled. Kael felt the difference between someone with training and someone who had only learned to fight by instinct and desperation.
Before he could recover, Amara appeared at his side and delivered a powerful kick to his stomach, knocking him down completely.
—Too easy — she taunted. —Did Ragnar really bring you?
Kael got up slowly, his stomach aching. He was breathing heavily, but his gaze remained steady. Some recruits laughed, others simply ignored him. Many were jealous that Ragnar had brought him into the Order without passing the official tests, and seeing him lose gave them a certain pleasure.
—I didn't come here to lose to a girl who only knows how to shoot fire — he snapped, wiping the blood from his lip.
Amara laughed out loud.
—I don't like your attitude — she said, crossing her arms. —If you're going to keep losing, at least do it with some dignity.
Gale, who had been watching from a distance, came over and helped Kael to his feet.
—It wasn't so bad... for someone with no training — he said in a tone that was somewhere between mockery and encouragement.
Kael snorted, not looking at him.
—I don't need your consolation.
—It's not consolation.— It's a fact. You fought without a clear plan. Amara plays to the advantage of her magic, but if you had read her movements better, you would have found an opening. Don't rely solely on brute force.
Kael remained silent. He knew Gale was right. He still had a long way to go.
Later, Ragnar found him alone.
—Is that how you plan to become strong?— asked the legendary Hero, arms crossed.
Kael did not respond.
—Don't lose your head just because you lost. It's part of the process. Everyone falls before they learn to get back up. Don't give up like you did in that fight. Learn from this.
Ragnar's words echoed in his mind. His defeat wasn't the problem.
Later, he was assigned a room within the Order's facilities. It was small, barely enough for a bed and a trunk for his belongings. Kael couldn't stand such a confined space. Instead of accepting his accommodation, he decided to find another place in the city to stay.
As he walked away from the barracks, his mind kept replaying everything that had happened. The Order, full of warriors and mages trained since childhood. No one here was weak. Here he had to prove his worth. Not because he wanted the recognition of others, but because this was a necessary step on his path.
He looked at his own hand, still trembling from the effort of combat. He clenched his fist.
He was still weak.
He wasn't ready yet.
But he would be.
This wasn't over. This was only the beginning.