Chapter 37 - The Path Of Redemption Pt 2
Phyro didn't react, but inside, his emotions were coiling like a tightened spring. He had expected these anger management sessions to be frustrating, but he hadn't expected her.
Kaela Voss wasn't like the other instructors. She wasn't here to guide them with patience or sympathy. She was here to break them down until there was nothing left but control—or failure.
Kaela tapped her fingers against the desk. "Let's not waste time. Since this is your first real session, we'll start with something simple."
She walked toward a wooden crate at the side of the room, flipped open the lid, and pulled out a pair of weighted training cuffs—thick, black iron bands meant to suppress mana and physical abilities.
Phyro narrowed his eyes. He had trained with weighted equipment before, but these were different. They didn't just restrain movement. They restrained power.
Kaela smirked at the unspoken recognition in his eyes. "You know what these are, don't you, Nishiki?"
"…Yeah."
Jerek scoffed. "What, are we supposed to spar with those on?"
Kaela tossed the cuffs onto the desk with a loud thud. "Not exactly."
She turned to the rest of the students. "Control isn't just about holding back. It's about knowing exactly how much force to use—whether it's a battle, a conversation, or a simple task."
She gestured toward a row of wooden dummies lined up against the far wall. "You will each wear a pair of these and attempt to break the dummy's core—without shattering the entire body."
Phyro frowned. "If we hold back too much, we won't do any damage at all."
Kaela nodded. "And if you go even slightly overboard, you'll destroy the entire thing. That's the point."
Jerek groaned. "So it's a balance test? Tch. Sounds boring."
Kaela's eyes gleamed. "Oh, I doubt you'll think that for long."
She moved behind her desk, pulling out a small hourglass filled with silver sand. "You'll each have three attempts. If you fail all three, you'll receive… additional lessons."
Something about the way she said it sent a chill down Phyro's spine.
One by one, the students stepped forward.
Jerek went first, rolling his shoulders as he fastened the cuffs around his wrists. He cracked his knuckles before stepping up to the dummy, confidence practically oozing off him.
With a cocky grin, he raised his fist and swung.
CRACK!
The dummy exploded into splinters.
Jerek blinked. "Huh."
Kaela sighed. "And that's exactly why you're here."
Jerek scowled. "Tch. Fine. Next attempt."
The second time, he hesitated, clearly trying to restrain himself. His punch barely left a dent.
Kaela smirked. "And now you're pulling back too much."
Jerek gritted his teeth. By his third attempt, frustration was etched into his face. He swung again, managing to crack the dummy's core, but the entire structure still fell apart.
Kaela sighed. "Failure. Three times."
Jerek's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
The other students tried next, some doing better than others, but no one truly succeeded.
Then, it was Phyro's turn.
He fastened the cuffs and stepped up to the dummy, inhaling deeply. His body still felt tense from everything that had happened this past week. He had lost control once. He wouldn't let it happen again.
He raised his fist.
Steady…
Calm…
He exhaled and struck.
CRACK.
A single, sharp fracture split through the core of the dummy—but the structure remained standing.
Silence.
Then—Kaela smiled. "Well. Looks like someone understands the lesson."
Jerek scowled. "Tch. Lucky hit."
Kaela ignored him. "Good work, Nishiki. But let's see if you can do it again."
Phyro nodded. He tried again—and succeeded a second time.
On his third attempt, he overcorrected, making the damage too weak, but Kaela still looked pleased.
"You've got instinct," she said. "But instincts alone won't save you when emotions take over."
Her expression turned sharp. "For the next lesson, we'll put you under real pressure. Let's see if you can keep that control when it actually matters."
Phyro remained silent.
Because deep down, he wasn't sure he could.
After class, Phyro made his way through the dim academy halls, his body still adjusting to the lingering effect of the cuffs.
He heard footsteps behind him.
"Oi, Nishiki."
He turned to see Jerek leaning against a pillar, arms crossed.
Jerek studied him for a long moment before smirking. "You're better than I thought."
Phyro narrowed his eyes. "That supposed to be a compliment?"
Jerek shrugged. "More like an observation." His smirk widened. "But don't think you're better than me just 'cause you pulled it off first."
Phyro sighed, already exhausted. "I don't care about being better than you."
Jerek chuckled. "Yeah, you say that now."
Before Phyro could respond, a familiar voice cut in.
"You shouldn't be picking fights right after class, Jerek."
Lana stepped into view, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
Jerek raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, princess. We're just talking."
Lana scoffed. "Sure you were."
Jerek grinned. "Well, this has been fun, but I'll be going now. See you next session, Nishiki."
With that, he walked off, leaving Phyro and Lana alone in the hallway.
Lana turned to him, concern flickering in her eyes. "You alright?"
"…Yeah."
She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. Instead, she sighed. "I don't trust him."
Phyro smirked slightly. "Neither do I."
Lana studied him for a second before shaking her head. "Come on. Let's get something to eat before you pass out."
For the first time that day, Phyro felt just a little lighter.
Even if the weight of control still rested on his shoulders, at least he wasn't carrying it alone.
End Of Chapter