Warrior Training System

The day had been fulfilling for Cassian. From spending the evening massaging Katherine to sneaking in some cherished alone time with Lucy, it felt like a day well spent. To top it off, he returned to his room to find a surprise—a delicious bowl of fruit waiting for him.

Relaxing as he savored the treat, Cassian eventually drifted off to sleep. But his morning started abruptly. He was jolted awake by Julius's voice cutting through his dreams. "Cassian, get up. There's been a change in plans," Julius said, standing at the door with an smile, as he entered the room.

Cassian blinked his eyes open, the haze of sleep quickly clearing as he registered Julius's words.

"What's going on?" he asked, sitting up and running a hand through his disheveled hair.

Julius approached and handed Cassian his clothes, saying, "The recruitment process has been moved up. You're leaving sooner than we expected."

Cassian glanced at the clothes in his hands, still looking confused. "How much sooner?" he asked.

"Two days," Julius replied.

Cassian nodded, processing the information without a hint of dramatics. "Alright. What do I need to do?"

Julius smirked faintly. "I figured you'd take it like that. Get dressed and meet me in the study. We'll go over the new details."

Cassian stretched his arms briefly, his mind already shifting into gear. "I'll be there in a minute."

Julius gave a curt nod and walked off, leaving Cassian to prepare. Though the change in plans was sudden, he wasn't rattled.

As he was prepared mostly and was just now repating the usal things to get more better at them now, thinking over the things he dressed up and left to julius study.

The study room was filled with the faint scent of old parchment and ink, the soft glow of candlelight casting long shadows on the stone walls. Julius and Rowena were deep in conversation, their voices steady but serious, though Rowena's expression was tinged with worry, which confused Cassian. As he entered the room, he paused at the door, taking in the weight of their expressions before stepping in fully.

Julius glanced up and gestured toward a chair. "Take a seat, Cassian."

Cassian obeyed, settling into the sturdy wooden chair, his gaze shifting between Rowena and Julius. Rowena's expression was a mixture of concern and something softer, her tone casual but laced with care as she spoke. "We've just received news," she began, her voice steady yet warm. "The Valtross recruitment is happening sooner than we thought. It's being held at a different location than usual. You'll need to travel for a full day to reach it."

Cassian furrowed his brow, trying to absorb the information. "So, I leave today?"

Rowena nodded, her eyes not leaving him. "Yes, everything you need to know will be explained when you arrive. Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just... be careful, alright?"

Cassian's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his mind racing with questions. Before Cassian could ask further, Julius leaned forward, a question already forming on his lips. "What's going on—" he began, but his words were cut short.

Cassian felt a sharp tingle crawl up his spine, an instinctive warning. His body tensed, and he spun around just in time to see a masked figure emerging from the shadows.

but before he could react, the man's hand struck the base of his neck with pinpoint accuracy. A sharp, dull sound radiated from the impact, and his vision blurred almost instantly.

His body went limp as he crumpled to the floor, the world around him fading into darkness. In those fleeting moments before unconsciousness claimed him, he caught a glimpse of Rowena and Julius's expressions. They looked worried—but not shocked or surprised.

That realization hit him harder than the strike to his neck. 'They knew?' The thought flickered in his mind, confusion and disbelief swirling together. 'Why would they let this happen? Why would they know and not stop it?'

But before he could piece it all together, the darkness consumed him entirely.

Cassian stirred, his body stiff and aching. His head throbbed slightly, a reminder of the blow that had knocked him unconscious. As he became more aware of his surroundings, he realized he was sitting on a smooth, slightly slippery surface—leather. The faint creak of wood and the rhythmic clatter of horses' hooves confirmed it: he was in a moving carriage.

The memory of being struck from behind flashed through his mind, making his jaw tighten. Someone had knocked him out cold, and now he was here.

Still seated, he tried to assess his situation without giving away that he was awake. His body wasn't restrained, which was odd. 'Why would they leave me unbound?' The only answer that made sense was unsettling—the person responsible was confident they could stop him if he tried to escape.

As Cassian's mind raced, he extended his Domain subtly, trying to gauge his surroundings. His heart skipped a beat when he sensed another presence in the carriage, sitting directly across from him.

Before he could decide on a course of action, a low, gravelly voice cut through the silence. "I know you're awake. Stop pretending."

Cassian's eyes snapped open, his worry barely concealed. His gaze locked onto the masked figure sitting across from him—the same one who had struck him unconscious. The figure's posture was relaxed, almost casual, as if the situation was entirely under their control.

Cassian swallowed hard, his mind working quickly. He studied the masked figure, trying to glean any information, but their expression and intent were hidden behind the cold, impassive mask. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Cassian finally asked, his tone cautious but firm, masking the unease swirling in his chest.

The masked figure glanced out of the carriage window, his eyes scanning the landscape briefly before turning back to Cassian. There was an unsettling calmness in his voice when he spoke again.

The masked figure shifted slightly, turning their head to glance out of the carriage window. The rhythmic sound of hooves and the steady motion of the carriage continued as if the world outside was unaffected by the tension within.

"Relax," the man said, his tone calm but firm. "I'm not your enemy. Knocking you out was... necessary."

Cassian raised an eyebrow, still tense. "Necessary? For what exactly?"

The masked figure didn't immediately respond. Instead, they tilted their head as if considering how much to reveal. "You're part of something bigger now. The Academy of Valtross has its own ways of doing things. This—" he gestured vaguely around the carriage, "—was part of the recruitment process. You weren't meant to know where you were being taken."

Cassian's eyes narrowed as he processed the words. "So you're telling me I was knocked unconscious and dragged here as part of some elaborate test?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The figure let out a low chuckle, though it carried no warmth or amusement. "Not dragged—transported. There's a distinction." He shifted his masked face toward Cassian, his tone calm yet firm. "The academy thrives on secrecy, and it's my responsibility to ensure that secrecy remains intact. I'm also the one tasked with guiding you to the recruitment grounds."

Seeing the lingering worry etched on Cassian's face, the man leaned back slightly and spoke in a more reassuring tone. "Relax. Like I said, I'm not your enemy. In fact, I'm on the same investigative team as you," he explained, his voice steady. "I've already infiltrated the Valtross Academy and established myself there. Now, my job is to help you do the same."

He paused, letting the information sink in before adding, "Everything happening right now is part of the plan. Trust me—this is the only way to ensure you make it inside without raising suspicion."

The man's tone shifted slightly, becoming firm but not unkind. "I can't share any more details right now," he said, his masked face turning toward Cassian. "I'll help you here and there when the situation calls for it, but for now, you need to stop asking questions."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp even through the mask. "If I tell you too much, the academy will grow suspicious. They monitor new recruits carefully, and if you seem to know things you shouldn't before you've officially joined, it'll blow your cover—and mine."

Leaning back into his seat, the man continued, "Just focus on doing what's expected of you and trust the process. You'll make it through. Honestly, I wasn't even supposed to tell you I'm part of the same investigative team, but I did. So, keep that to yourself, understood?"

Cassian couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The man's words didn't sit right with him, and the worried expressions on Julius and Rowena's faces before he'd been knocked out lingered in his mind. A seed of doubt began to sprout, making him wary.

With a cautious yet scared expression, he asked, "What investigating team?"

The man tilted his head slightly, his mask obscuring any readable reaction. "The same one you've been a part of, or at least thought you were." His voice was calm, but there was a faint edge to it that Cassian couldn't ignore.

Cassian's unease turned to frustration as he clenched his fists, his voice firm despite the growing tension in the carriage. "I'm not part of any team investigating team. Who are you? I was just in Magisteria City, doing what I was supposed to. Where are you taking me?"

As his emotions surged, his body began to emit a faint red glow, a sign of his domain stirring to life. The air in the carriage grew tense, and the masked man leaned back slightly, clearly caught off guard by the display.

The man's tone shifted, excitement and amusement lacing his words. "Stop the act, guys. This one aren't a spy," he said, as though speaking to someone else.

Cassian's glare intensified, the glow around him pulsing brighter. "What are you talking about? Who are you even speaking to?"

The man chuckled, his voice calm but edged with intrigue. "Relax, boy. I was just confirming something. It seems you're as clueless as you claim. That makes things... more straightforward."