Intro to Regalia
I hadn't noticed before, but as we walked into our training area, it became clear that our program had its own special zone within Zenith. The facility seemed devoid of people except for the high school students enrolled in this program. I began to understand the layout: our program was designed with specific zones dedicated to our training. This was why we were given strict instructions about which areas we were allowed to access and which were off-limits.
We had our own special cafeteria, training area, and dorm rooms. The dormitory buildings were segregated by gender, with boys in one building and girls in another. Each dormitory was equipped with comfortable living spaces and study areas, making it clear that Zenith prioritized both our physical and mental development.
The training area was outside, a sprawling open field. Despite having read about Zenith's top-of-the-line training facilities designed to simulate various combat scenarios and train different types of Regalia, I realized that for new recruits still learning about their abilities, nothing beat the simplicity and raw potential of an open field.
The sun had not yet risen, and the field was illuminated by powerful floodlights that cast long shadows on the ground. The cold morning air bit at our skin, making us shiver slightly as we stood in formation.
All cohorts had gathered in the central training area, but each was divided into their respective groups, each with its own training instructor. The vastness of the field allowed us to spread out, giving each cohort ample room to conduct their activities without interference. Most cohorts had already begun their training, starting with what seemed like warm-ups. At least that was my guess, since I didn't see any flashy Regalia use yet.
Standing in front of our cohort was none other than Ms. Hawthorne. She scanned the group, assessing each of us as we stood in formation.
"Good morning, recruits," Ms. Hawthorne began, her voice firm and commanding. "Starting today, we will hone your bodies to be able to keep up with your Regalia. For the next three months, we will focus solely on increasing your endurance and strength. Of course, if you wish, you can train your Regalia in your spare time in this very field. However, do not destroy anything."
Early morning training consisted of various endurance exercises designed to push our limits. We started with a long-distance run, covering several miles through the open fields surrounding the academy. The cold morning air hit our faces, making each breath feel sharp and invigorating. After the run, we engaged in high-intensity interval training, including sprints, burpees, and jumping jacks, to build our cardiovascular strength. Next, we performed a series of bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, and planks to improve our core strength and overall stability. The regimen was grueling, leaving us drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.
After the morning training, we had about an hour to quickly shower and eat breakfast before going to our classes. The cold air lingered, making the hot shower afterward feel like a blessing.
Our classes consisted mostly of the same subjects we were learning in high school. However, since I was a bit older than the rest of the group, I was placed in different courses. Along with me was Takeshi, so I wasn't completely alone. The way classes worked was quite interesting. Given that they took students from multiple age ranges throughout the year, students were placed in classes they needed in order to obtain their GRE/high school education. It honestly seemed more efficient than normal high schools as they encouraged obtaining your GRE faster than usual so you could focus on training.
Of particular interest to me was a class focused on Regalia. It was specially designed for us young recruits to learn more about the latest research done on our powers. Although I tended to be a mediocre student before, coming here made me want to focus, so I was paying attention most of the time.
It was fascinating. They mentioned that the energy required for a Regalia was correlated to a new molecule everyone is said to have, called a Regalia Associated Molecule (RAM). Everyone is said to possess different amounts of RAMs in their bodies, and through training, it can be increased. However, the range varied widely between individuals, so there was no normal range. Apparently, these RAMs flowed to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the activation of an individual's Regalia. It is believed that Regalia manifestation is expressed in the prefrontal cortex because of this. Moreover, these RAMs are said to degrade once they flow into the PFC, explaining why constant use of Regalia causes burnout of energy, making individuals unable to use it for a while. Sleep is said to be the major contributor to replenishing RAMs, which made me want to keep a consistent sleep schedule to stay healthy. One person asked a question regarding RAMs, wondering why people don't donate RAMs so users serving in combat can simply inject themselves to replenish them. The answer was that the molecule seems to be unique to each individual, which is also believed to cause unique Regalia expressions. It was a very interesting course, a bit intensive but intriguing, especially since I wanted to learn more to push my abilities further.
We ended our day by doing some strength training, which involved lifting weights and performing resistance exercises to build muscle mass and improve our physical power. This included deadlifts, squats, bench presses, and other compound movements designed to target multiple muscle groups. Following strength training, we returned to endurance training, focusing on longer runs and stamina-building exercises. However, our endurance training was cut short by the rain. It seemed odd to me that they cut it short, but the way they were treating us from the very beginning seemed different from what I had heard the military was like. They were too lenient, more patient, more understanding. The very fact we didn't run through the rain was proof enough. We were not considered soldiers; we were high school students in a special government program to improve our Regalia and potentially become soldiers.
As I headed to our program's designated cafeteria, I noticed a single individual who stayed out in the rain. At first, I thought it was just a person from a different cohort, but it was Takeshi. He was standing there, letting himself get soaked by the rain, looking off into the distance alone. I felt a sense of camaraderie with him since we were about the same age (I think; we were taking the same courses). I stayed back as everyone else left, just looking at him. The cold rain hit my face, and I wondered what was going through his mind as he stood there, seemingly lost in thought.
Before too long, I moved under cover but continued observing him. Everyone was gone now, the sole exceptions being Takeshi and me. Suddenly, Takeshi began exuding an immense amount of pressure. The air around him seemed to grow denser, and the raindrops appeared to avoid him. He then started moving at an incredible speed, and I instinctively activated my Regalia to see now what I couldn't before.
Takeshi was training his Regalia and his body, shadow boxing at an incredible pace. His movements were a blur of punches and kicks, each one executed with precision and power. The swiftness of his strikes and the fluidity of his movements suggested a mastery of martial arts. His technique was flawless, and the sheer intensity of his training was mesmerizing. The way he combined strength, speed, and agility was a clear indication of his exceptional fighting skills.
I was exhausted, completely drained from the day's training. My legs, arms, and chest were trembling from overuse. The fact that Takeshi still had the will and endurance to keep going shocked me. His dedication and relentless pursuit of improvement were evident. What drove him to work so hard?
After a while, Takeshi stopped and began walking towards me. I guess he had noticed me watching him.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice flat and expressionless.
"Oh, nothing. I was just watching you train," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.
"I'd rather you not," he said, turning away.
"You're right. I'm sorry. It was a bit weird, huh?" I said honestly. "I'll go." With that, Takeshi seemed satisfied and began to return to his training. But something was bothering me. He was training hard, yes, but he didn't seem happy or focused. There was a sadness in his eyes, as if he were training out of obligation rather than passion. Maybe it was a byproduct of my Regalia, but I felt like I had an enhanced ability to read emotions better than the average person.
"Why?" I asked, stopping him in his tracks. He partially turned back to me, his expression unreadable. "Why are you training so hard?" I asked nervously (He was an intense guy, and honestly, he kind of scared me).
"Unlike you, I was not born lucky," Takeshi replied, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness.
"What do you mean? You have the Super Regalia. Power and speed I could never dream of having," I exclaimed, frustration bubbling up inside me.
"My 'super' Regalia is nothing short of ordinary. I was not blessed like you all. That is why I have nothing left but this," he said.
"How can it be ordinary?" I said, my voice rising. "Your power is amazing, Takeshi! I wish I had your Regalia." His claim that his power was ordinary bothered me. Especially because his power, compared to mine, seemed far superior.
Instead of reacting with anger to my harsh tone, his expression turned almost melancholic. A smirk appeared on his face, but it wasn't one of joy or mockery. "They'll probably teach you here. The extent of my ability," he said, his voice softening.
Before I could respond, I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, and I jumped a bit in shock. I had been so engrossed in my conversation with Takeshi that I hadn't noticed anyone behind me. I turned to see Yukiko standing there.
"What are you doing here? I was looking for you," she said. I was a bit confused by her statement. Why me?
"I was just talking to Takeshi," I replied. Yukiko looked over my shoulder, and I turned around to see Takeshi already walking away back to his training. "Or I was," I corrected myself. "What's up?" I asked, inviting her to tell me what she needed.
"It's dinner time. Come eat with us. Leave Takeshi; he's a loner." She then grabbed my wrist and pulled me along to the cafeteria. What was going on?
"Um... may I ask why you wanted me to join you guys?" I know it was a bit forward, but I was not used to someone taking such an interest in me.
"You are strong. Probably the only person here who can challenge me here, so I want to get to know you better." she said nonchalantly, as if her statement was factual, when in reality, it was the most blatant lie I had ever heard.
"You do realize I am a Tier 3, right?"
"No, you're a Tier 1."
"Yeah, no, I was scaled a-"
"Those scalings are stupid. They are completely subjective. And if they are subjective, then just listen to my subjective opinion. You are Tier 1. You breached my attack and actually landed a hit on me... so Tier 1."
She had a point, not about me being a Tier 1, but about the subjective nature of the scaling system. After that, she made conversation with me, asking me where I was from and other small talk. She asked about my family, my hobbies, and what I thought about Zenith so far. It was surreal to have such a casual conversation with someone who had initially seemed so intimidating.
Once we reached the cafeteria, we joined the cohort, and everyone began talking about the training and classes and how exhausted everyone was. It was clear how exceptional Takeshi was if he had the endurance to keep going. The cafeteria was brightly lit, with a variety of food stations offering everything from salads to hearty meals. The atmosphere was lively, filled with chatter and the clinking of cutlery. By the time we all finished, we headed back to the dorms.
On the way, I passed by to see if Takeshi was still training, but he was no longer there. It made sense, though; it was already late, and we had an early morning tomorrow.