No matter how much it hurt.

My training sessions at the Demon Center had become an outlet for my frustrations. The clashing of swords and the crackle of magic filled the air as I pushed my soldiers harder than usual. Each swing of my blade carried the weight of my pent-up emotions, each spell cast was a release of the anger and sadness I had been harboring.

"Keep your guard up!" I barked at a young demon soldier, his eyes wide with fear and determination. "If you let it drop even for a second, you're dead!"

The soldier nodded, sweat dripping from his brow as he raised his shield higher. I lunged forward, my blade meeting his shield with a resounding clang. "Good! Now counter!"

He swung his sword clumsily, and I easily sidestepped, tapping his shoulder with the flat of my blade. "Faster, more precise. You need to anticipate your opponent's moves."