Morning came without mercy.
The sun rose gently over the town, casting golden rays over rooftops and fields, but for Sora, there was no kindness in its light. Lucy's shadow stretched across him like a blade.
"Up."
That single word hit harder than any demon punch he had ever taken.
Sora groaned, his face buried in the dirt. "I was literally unconscious for a month… Isn't there, like… recovery time?"
Lucy's arms were crossed, her eyes unblinking. "You recovered. Now you train."
Rin, standing a few meters back, whispered, "Good luck, brother."
Sora lifted his head weakly, squinting at the rising sun. "Why do you sound like you're attending a funeral?"
Lucy pointed toward the forest. "Run."
"…Run where?"
She pointed farther this time. Farther than he thought he could see. Much farther.
Sora's jaw dropped. "…Is that a mountain?"
"Yes."
"…Why is it moving?"
"It isn't."
Sora stared at her, blinking. "…I hate this."
DAY ONE
By noon, Sora had learned three undeniable truths:
Lucy did not believe in mercy.
Lucy did not believe in breaks.
Lucy did not believe in weakness.
"Again," she said flatly.
Sora's arms shook violently as he pushed himself up for what felt like the thousandth time. His muscles screamed. His lungs burned. Every movement felt like molten fire running through him.
"I—I can use mantra," he gasped. "Just a little—"
Lucy's boot slammed down beside his head.
"No."
The ground cracked.
Sora froze.
"You don't deserve mantra yet," she said calmly. "Right now, it would kill you faster than any demon."
Rin swallowed audibly. "She's… nicer than usual today."
Sora collapsed face-first into the dirt. "I think my soul just left my body."
Lucy turned away, her tone sharp. "Good. Greet your ancestors for me."
DAY TWO
Sora woke up sore.
His bones ached, his muscles felt shredded and poorly reassembled, and even blinking required effort.
Lucy tossed him a water flask. "Drink."
He caught it weakly. "You're trying to kill me."
"No," she replied smoothly. "If I wanted you dead, I'd let you use mantra."
That shut him up.
Training continued. Running. Striking. Dodging. Falling. Getting up.
Again. Again and again.
At one point, Sora laughed through the pain.
Rin blinked. "Did he… lose his brain or something?"
Sora wiped sweat from his face, grinning through the agony. "No. I just realized something."
Lucy glanced at him, skeptical. "Speak."
"…This is worse than demon hunting."
She smirked just slightly. "Good answer."
DAY THREE
Night fell, heavy and oppressive. Sora sat alone near the river, hands trembling.
His body felt stronger. Subtle, but undeniable. And beneath that strength… something else. A pressure coiling inside him like a serpent.
He closed his eyes. Just a little, he thought. Just to feel it.
The moment he reached inward—
PAIN.
Sora screamed. His veins burned like molten iron, his lungs refused air, his vision blurred into a crimson haze.
"IDIOT!"
Lucy appeared instantly, grabbing him and slamming him onto his back. Her palm pressed against his chest, steady and firm.
"Breathe," she commanded. "NOW."
"I—I can't—"
"Then you die."
Her words were cold, not cruel, but absolute.
Sora forced air into his lungs, each gasp shattering his chest. Slowly, the pain receded, leaving him shaking violently, trembling like a leaf in a storm.
Lucy stood tall, hair swaying behind her in the moonlight. "That," she said, "is why we start with the body."
Rin rushed over, panic written across his face. "Is he okay?!"
Sora laughed weakly, sitting up. "…Define okay."
Lucy's gaze bore into him. "Listen carefully. Mantra is not a power you use. It is power you carry. A river flows through your body. You can control it—or it will control you."
That evening, Sora sat by the river, practicing.
Each attempt brought pain—raging, consuming pain—but he fought through it. The mantra in his body began to circulate properly. Slowly, delicately, he felt the energy flow harmoniously, as if the river inside him had finally found its channel.
"Looks like you've done well, Sora," Lucy said, emerging from the shadows, her eyes glowing faintly blue.
Sora turned toward her, exhausted but triumphant.
"So… what's next?" he asked.
Lucy's smile was sharp, almost predatory. "Now we move to face two."
Her hair swayed behind her, catching the last light of the sun. The forest seemed to hold its breath. Somewhere in the shadows, Sora could feel the world watching, waiting.
And deep down, he knew—the real trials had only just begun.