Theo's Training Regime (1/2)

Theo slowly made his way back to the garden.

The selection took place there less than an hour ago… but given how many different things happened since then, Theo felt as if there was a barrier that separated him from this recent event.

For the five children that he ended up accepting as disciples, however, everything changed.

All ninety-five of their former colleagues got escorted out of the area, only for the sect officials to instruct them about their next possible steps.

Some could become servants in training, dedicating their lives to working around the sect for a generous wage and acceptable treatment. Others could become the seeds of connection between the sect and their families, establishing bonds that those families would otherwise be unable to create and the sect profit from.

Lastly, there would be those who would completely cut themselves out of this unsavory experience, refocusing their efforts on a more civilian sphere of the world. Some would turn to craft, others to artistry. Part of the rejects would join some sort of military while the poorer of the bunch would either return to farming or even outright go back to the streets.

Not the five that remained, though.

Their lives were about to change the most, whether they liked it or not.

Or, to be more precise, their fate was strictly in Theo's hands from the second they first wore the sect's robes and accepted their status as the disciple candidates.

"I will watch from the side, so as to not disturb you," Veila informed.

In the short time since they concluded their talk, she somehow managed to sneak her name into the discussion, in exchange for extorting Theo's credentials back.

"Thank you for your consideration, Senior," Theo replied while cupping his hands and bowing his head to the young woman.

Regardless of how beautiful and charming she could be at times, her presence still posed a lethal threat to Theo. And now that he was aware of just how different his common sense and local one were, Theo couldn't help but grow conscious of the mistakes he could end up making.

'One slip and the party's over,' Theo thought, watching how the girl quickly acted upon her words and stepped to the side of the garden, resting her back against the hedge at its border as she sat down on the ground.

'I really can't go all in with her here,' Theo thought as he moved his eyes from his senior to the five stars of the hour.

"Line up!" Theo ordered in a voice as casual as he could produce.

The five disciples… barely twitched, as they all stood at attention in a neat row the second Theo appeared in the garden… with an inner sect disciple trailing every step of his.

"It's inevitable for you to find out about certain rumors. It's only a matter of time before it happens," Theo started in a way that likely no one expected. Not his new disciples nor his senior.

"I will let you all learn about them on your own, in the meantime, though…"

Theo put a long pause at the end of his open sentence, stalling for time for a moment to build up the atmosphere of his first lesson.

Theo put on a devilish smile on his face, a mix of amusement, irony, and vileness.

It was the same expression that he showed early on during the selection.

Tiana and Luo twitched when they noticed the change on Theo's face.

"I want all of you to…" Theo suddenly turned silent, cutting his sentence right in its middle.

Everyone could tell that he was about to reveal the most important point of the entire lesson so far…

But instead, Theo shut his mouth and froze in place. Not even his eyes dared to twitch, staring right ahead for a good few seconds.

[System installation completed.]

A message appeared in the corner of Theo's vision… but somehow, it made it to the center of his attention in the same second.

'Wait…'

The sudden change, the unexpected arrival of the one thing Theo waited for with all himself…

It was all too damn shocking for the young man to be able to process it on the spot.

Theo forget what he was about to say in an instant.

And then, his smile deepened.

This time, only Kaya managed to notice the change, instinctively raising her eyes to her newfound master.

Her eyes twitched only for her face to follow Theo's example and freeze completely.

"I want all of you," Theo repeated his words after some time, shaking himself out of his daze.

His eyes regained clarity and his aura filled with a strange sense of confidence. The touch of an aura of superiority filled all those who dared to have their eyes directed toward the young man.

Veila twitched.

Even though she stood a considerable distance away, she could feel the pressure that emanated from the man she was interested in.

Then, Theo's smile turned simple, right as the corners of his eyes filled with amusement.

"I want all of you to run laps around this place until you lose all of your strength!"

Theo's smile brightened as if some sort of fairy dropped a drop of sunshine on his lips.

"And then some more!"