The Daily Grind

It had been fifteen years since Kareal found Avon in the forest, and the boy had grown into a striking young man. His deep blue hair fell just above his shoulders, framing his chiseled face, while his emerald-green eyes still held a curious glimmer of the innocence he once had as a child.

Avon stood tall and strong, his muscular frame a testament to years of rigorous training with Kareal. His strength wasn't just physical—Kareal had ensured Avon developed a sharp mind, teaching him combat strategy and the rich history of the legendary Blazers.

Kareal, however, had changed in those years. Once a vibrant warrior, he was now frail and pale. He stood quietly in the corner of the dojo, absorbing mana from the air, his breathing steady and focused.

Avon often watched his master cultivate and practice his magic and elemental attacks marveling at the glowing aura that surrounded him.

Kareal's magic and elemental attacks were unmatched, and Avon secretly dreamed of wielding that kind of power.

But he knew that such a dream came at a cost—the power of a Blazer was only passed on through the demise of its bearer where so few were chosen for such a destiny.

Their training sessions followed a strict routine, one Kareal insisted on maintaining discipline. Despite the repetition, Avon's skills improved daily, a source of pride for both master and student.

The day began with strength training. Avon approached a corner of the dojo where a series of boulders sat, each larger than the last.

He walked up to the second-largest rock, which he had been lifting for weeks. With a deep breath, he crouched and lifted it with ease, his muscles flexing as he raised it above his head.

But his eyes wandered to the largest boulder.

"Finally, It's your turn," he said with a grin, speaking as if the rock could hear him.

Avon crouched, searching for a good grip. After a few failed attempts, his fingers found a solid hold. He exhaled sharply and began to lift.

The boulder rose a few centimeters off the ground before his strength gave out after some seconds, and it thudded back to the earth. Avon sat down, panting and shaking his head.

"One day," he muttered with a mixture of frustration and determination.

Kareal watched silently from across the dojo, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Ambition is good, but remember to pace yourself," Kareal called out. "Strength without control is like a sword with no edge."

Avon nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow before moving to the agility section.

Kareal had designed a complex obstacle course, challenging Avon to push his limits.

It was something he pulled together using his crafting skill and was aimed at improving agility, speed and flexibility.

Kareal always made sure to rearrange and restructure the course everyday to avoid Avon's familiarity grow on it. He some times even changes the course entirely and unfortunately for Avon, this was one of those times.

"I see you upgraded the obstacle course," Avon said, narrowing his eyes at his master.

"Good eye," Kareal replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "Let's see how you do with my little surprises."

"Little surprises?" Avon repeated, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing important," Kareal said with a sly grin. "Just persevere till the death. I still need you alive to make my tea."

"Till the death?" Avon shivered. "What kind of training is this?"

But Kareal offered no further explanation, simply gesturing for Avon to begin.

Avon sighed and stepped onto the wooden platform where the course began, taking a moment to warm up and mentally prepare for the challenges ahead.

He recalled Kareal's cryptic warning about "little surprises," a phrase that hinted at unexpected trials. With a deep breath, he readied himself for the first obstacle.

The massive wooden logs swung across his path with some other behind, each timed to create a relentless rhythm swinging with dissimilar period.

He glanced at the logs and noticed that the gaps between consecutive swings were much narrower than the distance between him and the first log.

"That old man," he muttered under his breath, frustration creeping in.

The new arrangement made it significantly more challenging than before, and he realized that if he wanted to breeze through this section flawlessly, he would need to synchronize his movements with the logs' rhythm.

After a moment of analysis, he felt ready. He had memorized the precise movements required to dodge each log.

"Okay, ready," he said, a mix of eagerness and determination in his voice.

With a burst of speed, he launched himself forward, relying on his instincts to navigate the swinging obstacles.

The initial logs were manageable, and he deftly avoided them, but as he progressed, the logs swung faster, leaving him little time to think.

He had to rely on pure instinct, reacting to the unpredictable swings.

Some logs moved so quickly that he had no choice but to absorb a glancing blow rather than risk being knocked off the elevated track.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed through the pain, finally emerging from the first section, breathless but victorious.

"I made it," he exclaimed, exhilarated yet exhausted.

As he caught his breath, he faced the next challenge- a series of tall pillars of varying heights that dotted the path to the final obstacle.

This task was designed to test his balance and jumping skills.

The pillars, made of sturdy bamboo, each had a radius of about 30 centimeters, with some towering two meters above the ground while others were significantly lower.

Avon studied the pillars, calculating the best path to take. He leapt onto the first one, his balance steady as he prepared for the next jump. Scanning for the nearest pillar that matched his height, he carefully stepped onto another, feeling the thrill of the challenge.

But as he completed his second step, the pillar behind him began to fade, along with the ground below. "What the—?" Avon screamed, panic rising as he realized he was on his own.

"Help!, Help!", Avon shouted for rescue.

Kareal's silence echoed in his ears, a reminder that he would not be rescued.

The pillar he stood on began to vanish as well.

"Help! Help!" he shouted again, desperation creeping into his voice.

Knowing he had to act quickly, he raced across the pillars, fear propelling him forward.

"What the hell is up with this course? Is this the little surprise he meant? This is totally insane!"

One by one, he leapt from pillar to pillar, the void creeping closer with each passing moment.

He could feel the ground beneath him disappearing, and he had no time to look back.

Finally, he reached a dead end—a sheer cliff loomed before him, the only way forward was to climb the tallest pillar of all.

He turned back, glancing at the void that had chased him relentlessly. It was closer than he had anticipated.

With no other choice, Avon steeled himself for the climb, adrenaline coursing through his veins.