Chapter 17: Back to the Grind

Helios arrived at the Solara complex, feeling refreshed and determined. The week of rest had given him the energy and motivation to push forward, and he was ready to dive back into training. As he walked through the gates, he noticed a lot of familiar faces, all of whom looked a little more relaxed and refreshed.

"Hey, Helios!" Livy called out, waving him over. She was standing with a few other contestants, all of them chatting about their time off.

"Hey, Livy," Helios greeted, smiling. "How was your break?"

"It was good," Livy said, nodding. "I went home, saw my family. It's been a long time since I had a break like that."

Helios nodded in agreement. "Same here. It felt good to just relax for a bit."

They spent a few minutes catching up before the call came for everyone to gather in the training area. The contestants were excited, their energy renewed after the week off. The instructors stood at the front, waiting for everyone to quiet down.

"Welcome back, everyone," the lead instructor said, his voice booming over the crowd. "I trust you all had a good break, but now it's time to get back to work."

The crowd murmured in response, the excitement palpable. Helios could feel the anticipation in the air; everyone was ready to get back to training.

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The first day back was focused on regaining strength and endurance. The instructors wanted to ease everyone back into the intense training, so they started with light exercises and drills. For Helios, it felt good to stretch his muscles again. The light jogging, weightlifting, and Sun Qi exercises were a good way to get back into the rhythm.

As they trained, Helios noticed a few contestants struggling to get back into the flow. Some had taken their break a little too seriously and were finding it difficult to keep up with the drills. But Helios, Livy, and a few others had maintained a good balance between resting and staying in shape. It showed in their performance during the exercises.

As the hours passed, the drills became more intense, and the contestants began to sweat and pant. The instructors pushed them harder, reminding them that the Solar Games were still on the horizon, and that there was no time to slack off.

"Remember," the lead instructor shouted, "the real Solar Games may still be years away, but your training begins now! The stronger you are, the better your chances of making it to the top."

Helios gritted his teeth and pushed through the exercises. His mind was set on one goal: becoming the Sun Holder. He wasn't going to let anything stand in his way.

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That evening, after a long day of training, Helios sat with Livy and a few other contestants in the dining hall. They were all exhausted, but the atmosphere was relaxed and light-hearted. The contestants shared stories about their breaks, laughing and joking about their experiences.

"I almost didn't come back," one contestant joked, wiping sweat from his brow. "The food at home was too good!"

The others laughed, nodding in agreement. "I feel you," another said. "But we've got to stay focused. The Solar Games are no joke."

Helios smiled but stayed quiet, listening to the conversations around him. His mind was focused on what was coming next. He knew the training would only get harder from here, and he needed to be ready.

Livy noticed his silence and nudged him. "What's on your mind?"

"Just thinking about the next phase of training," Helios replied, shrugging. "I want to make sure I'm ready."

"You've got this," Livy said confidently. "We all do. We've been through a lot already, and we're just getting started."

Helios nodded, appreciating her optimism. "Yeah, you're right. We've come this far."

They finished their meal, and as the night wore on, the contestants slowly made their way back to their rooms. Helios lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts racing. The week of rest had been great, but now it was time to focus on the bigger picture. The Solar Games were still years away, but the journey to becoming the Sun Holder had already begun. He had to stay focused, stay strong, and continue pushing himself beyond his limits.

With that thought, he closed his eyes, letting sleep take over.

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