I regretted it by sunrise.
"Run," Maya said.
I blinked at the long stretch of dirt road ahead of me. "Run? As in… how far?"
"As far as you can," she said with a sweet smile. "Then keep running."
By the time I made it halfway, my lungs were on fire. My legs felt like jelly, and I was fairly certain my soul had left my body three times.
"Keep going!" she shouted from behind, jogging effortlessly beside me. "You wanted to train, didn't you? Then move!"
I stumbled forward, panting like a dying mule. "You're… killing me!"
"That's the point," she said.
The next few days blurred into one long torture session.
Morning — running.
Afternoon — push-ups, squats, sit-ups, until my arms refused to lift.
Evening — balance drills and basic stretches.
Maya watched everything with a hawk's eye. The moment I tried to catch my breath longer than allowed, whack! — her wooden sword met my shoulder.
"Up!"
"Five more!"
"No excuses!"
By the fourth day, I was convinced she was taking revenge for every bad thing my predecessor had ever done to her.
And honestly? I wasn't wrong.
Every time I groaned, she smirked like she was enjoying it. "What's wrong, dear brother? Tired already?"
I glared at her between breaths. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Maybe," she said, crouching beside me as I lay half-dead on the ground. "But I need to see if you're serious — or if this is another of your empty promises."
That shut me up.
So I pushed harder. Even when my arms shook, even when the blisters burned, even when my legs screamed for mercy.
If she wanted proof, I'd give it to her.
By the end of the first week, I was barely walking straight. My entire body felt like a collection of bruises held together by sheer stubbornness.
Mother almost fainted when she saw me at dinner.
"Kael! You look pale as a ghost!" she cried, rushing to fill my plate. "You're overworking yourself again!"
I managed a weak smile. "I'm fine, Mother. Just… training."
"Training?" she repeated, as if the word didn't fit me. "With Maya?"
Lena, standing nearby, tried not to smirk. "He's been quite… dedicated, my lady. Though I'm not sure his body agrees."
Mother sighed and reached out, placing a gentle hand on my forehead like she used to when I was a child. "At least eat well. I'll have the cook prepare something hearty."
That small gesture — the warmth in her voice — made my chest ache. I couldn't remember the last time someone cared whether I was taking care of myself.
"Thanks, Mother," I said softly.
When I returned to my room that night, my whole body throbbed with pain.
But as I stared at my trembling hands, a strange sense of satisfaction settled in.
I was actually doing it.
It wasn't easy. It wasn't glorious.
But it was real.
[Progress Update: Beginner Knight Training — 18%.]
[Note: Host's stamina has improved by 14%.]
"Only 18%?" I groaned. "I feel like I've died three times already."
[Progress takes time. At least you didn't actually die this time.]
"...Thanks, System. Truly inspirational."
Still, as I lay back in bed, exhaustion washing over me, I couldn't help but grin faintly.
For the first time since coming to this world, I wasn't just reacting — I was moving forward.
Tomorrow, I'd run farther.
Tomorrow, I'd fall less.
Tomorrow, I'd earn that strength with my own two hands.
Even if Maya trained me like a dog…
I'd become a wolf before she knew it.
~~~~
Another week passed in what could only be described as beautiful agony.
My body still screamed every morning, but at least now it waited until I got out of bed before doing so. The endless running, squats, push-ups, and all of Maya's "fun little tortures" were paying off.
My breathing no longer felt like someone stabbing my lungs with a spoon.
Progress.
That morning, as I stretched my still-sore shoulders in the training yard, the familiar metallic voice chimed in.
[Mission Completed: Acquire a Trainer.]
Reward: Basic Swordsmanship Manual.]
A glowing blue panel materialized before me.
"Oh? Guess the System approves of Maya's sadism."
[Acknowledgment: Efficient instruction yields results.]
"Yeah, if by results you mean 'muscle pain in new places every day.'"
The light condensed into a small orb before sinking into my chest. Instantly, my mind filled with sharp flashes — movements, grips, stances — countless repetitions of sword drills etched into my memory.
When the rush faded, I exhaled sharply. "...That felt weird. Like binge-watching a hundred tutorials in two seconds."
[Knowledge implanted: Basic Swordsmanship Forms I–III unlocked.]
"Well," I muttered, stretching my wrist, "guess it's time to put it to use."
Maya was already waiting at the center of the courtyard, wooden sword resting on her shoulder.
Her expression was, as always, equal parts calm and intimidating.
"Good," she said as I approached. "You're early. Maybe you're starting to take this seriously."
"Or maybe I'm just scared of what happens if I'm late," I said under my breath.
Her eyes narrowed. "What was that?"
"Nothing, sister dearest!"
She smirked, clearly amused. "We'll see how cheerful you are in an hour. Pick a training sword."
I grabbed one of the practice blades leaning against the rack. The wood felt heavy in my grip — heavier than it looked.
Maya circled me once, evaluating. "Show me your stance."
I hesitated, then instinctively shifted into one of the postures from the manual. Feet apart, knees bent, blade at an angle.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Looks like you've been reading."
"Let's just say I've had some... help."
"Hmm." She didn't press. "Let's see if that 'help' can stop a strike."
She moved before I could even blink — a blur of motion, her wooden sword cutting a clean arc through the air.
I barely managed to block, the impact sending a jolt up my arms.
"Too slow," she said flatly, stepping back.
"I noticed," I groaned, shaking my wrists.
"Again."
And so began my real training.
She drilled me endlessly — stance, grip, balance, repetition after repetition until my body felt like it was made of splinters.
Every time I swung too wide or dropped my guard, her blade smacked me across the ribs.
"Keep your center low!" Smack!
"Don't stare at the sword — look at me!" Thwack!
"Too slow again!" Whack!
By the end of the morning, I was drenched in sweat, chest heaving, arms trembling.
Maya, of course, wasn't even winded.
"You're improving," she said casually, twirling her sword. "You lasted ten minutes longer before collapsing today."
"Yay," I panted. "Maybe in another week, I'll survive a full spar before dying."
She gave a rare chuckle. "I'll hold you to that."