Life in royal academy (3)

After everyone finished lunch, Zoser and the other students headed to the combat training arena, a spacious area surrounded by stone walls, filled with wooden training dummies, weapons for exercises, and small combat rings. The weather was slightly hot, but everyone was eager to begin.

Coach Adel stood in the middle of the arena, a tall man with a strong build and sharp eyes, as if watching everything at once. He wore light leather armor and carried a long training staff on his shoulder. However, contrary to expectations, he did not announce the start of the training, but instead posed a question that surprised everyone:

"What is the difference between a trainee with good fitness and one with a weak body? Does physical strength play a role in dealing with the ether? And does the ether enhance physical strength?"

The students looked at each other, unsure of the answer. One of them raised their hand and said:

"The difference is that a person with good fitness can endure longer in battle, while the weak one might tire quickly."

Adel nodded, then pointed to another student, who responded:

"I think the ether can compensate for a weak body, because there are people with weak builds but they possess great powers thanks to the ether."

The coach smiled slightly, then said clearly:

"All of your answers contain part of the truth, but they are not complete."

He raised his staff and waved it in the air, then continued:

"The main difference between a physically strong person and a weak one is not just in endurance, but in how well their bodies can absorb the ether."

He moved slowly, then added:

"The ether is not just random energy; it is a force that interacts with the body in a complex way. The stronger and more prepared the body, the better it can absorb the ether. Do you know why?"

A brief silence fell before one student raised their hand hesitantly:

"Because the strong body is not easily damaged by the flow of ether?"

Adel chuckled softly, then said:

"Exactly! Imagine trying to fill a fragile glass with boiling liquid, what would happen?"

"It would break!" the students answered in unison.

"That's how the body is! If it is weak and fragile, a strong flow of ether could cause it to collapse or even suffer fatal internal injuries. That's why physical strength and fitness are not optional; they are fundamental for understanding and using the ether."

He raised his staff and waved it again, causing some dust to rise from the ground due to an invisible gust of air, then said:

"As for the last question: Does the ether enhance physical strength? The answer is yes, but not in the way you think."

The students focused intensely on him, and he continued:

"The ether can enhance the strength of muscles and bones, but it does not create them from nothing. If the body is not strong in the first place, the ether will only give it a temporary boost, but it will not make it a super warrior."

He suddenly dropped the staff on the ground and said firmly:

"Therefore, before you learn to control the ether, you must prove that your bodies can withstand it!"

He looked at the students, then pointed to the circular track around the arena:

"First round: Ten laps around the arena! After that, we'll begin strength training. Let's see who is truly ready to be a fighter!"

The students started running, while Zoser thought about the coach's words...

After the physical and combat training ended, Zoser was panting from exhaustion, but he felt a slight improvement in his endurance. Sweat was dripping down his forehead, but he wasn't the only one; most of the students were sitting on the ground, catching their breath after the tough exercises.

In the midst of this fatigue and exhaustion, Jibran approached Zoser, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his shirt sleeve, and then said with a smile: "Hey Zoser, we're thinking of going to the library. Would you like to join us?"

Zoser remembered the information he had read in the pamphlet about the library. According to what he read, the library was not just a place for books, but one of the most important educational centers in the academy. It contained rare manuscripts about the ether, the history of ancient civilizations, combat strategies, and theories of spiritual energy, among many other important pieces of knowledge.

However, students were allowed a limited number of hours, which they must not exceed, and there were sections of the library that could only be accessed by paying merit points.

"Okay, let's go after dinner," Zoser replied.

After dinner, Zoser, Jibran, Yuro, and Hanji walked towards the library, located at the edge of the academy, slightly distant from the other buildings. The sky above them was dark, filled with twinkling stars, as if signaling the beginning of a new chapter in their adventure. They were all exhausted after a long day of training and physical exercises, but their excitement to explore the library they had heard so much about kept them motivated.

When they reached the large library gate, made of dark oak wood and intricately carved, Jibran gently pushed the door open. It creaked softly, revealing a spacious, somewhat dim hallway, lit by faint light emanating from candles mounted on the walls. The place was eerily quiet, with shelves of books scattered around the room, reaching up to the ceiling, and narrow pathways between the shelves filled with ancient manuscripts and rare books.

In the midst of this mysterious atmosphere, "The Knight," the librarian, sat behind his old, dark wood desk. He seemed like part of the place itself, his grayish eyes glowing as they observed them without moving. His white hair was tightly wrapped under his black turban, and his ornate wooden staff rested beside him. He wore a black robe embroidered with golden threads, adding to his imposing and mysterious presence.

As the students entered, the knight lifted his gaze from his ancient book, its pages filled with strange engravings, and spoke in his calm, deep voice: "Greetings. What brings you to our library at this late hour?"

The group stood still for a moment, looking uncertain. Then Zoser, feeling an odd sensation since entering, spoke: "We're here to benefit from the knowledge available in the library."

"Very well. Stick to the rules. No noise. Take care of the books and manuscripts. Return the books to their places after you're done. You are not allowed to ascend to the second floor without spending points of merit. Anyone who violates the rules will be banned from the library, and may be expelled from the academy if they damage a rare book."

Zoser responded to the knight's warnings calmly, feeling the weight of the words. The atmosphere in the library was filled with mystery, as if every book and manuscript held ancient secrets waiting to be discovered. The students exchanged glances, then nodded in understanding of the rules.

Jibran said with a calm smile, "There's no need to worry, we're here to learn."

The knight smiled, but his smile carried a hint of mystery, as if he was reading their thoughts without speaking a word. "I hope so. The library is not a place for amusement or frivolity. We are here to protect ancient knowledge."

He then gestured towards the shelves filling the room, saying: "Choose whatever suits you, but remember, time is precious. And be cautious in your selections."