Grit and Determination

The next two days were a blur of sweat, sore muscles, and constant determination. I kept telling myself that I had to push harder, that I couldn't afford to waste any more time. With every push-up, every run, every moment spent pushing my limits, I could feel my body slowly getting stronger, though it was a far cry from what it used to be. But at least I could see some improvement, which was better than nothing.

I spent the mornings running, doing push-ups, and focusing on building my endurance. My body screamed in protest, but I kept going. Every time I thought I couldn't do it anymore, the memories of my past life fueled me. The long hours in the Colosseum, the battles, the fights to survive—it was all so clear in my mind, but it didn't make the present any easier.

By the end of the second day, I could run a full 30 minutes without feeling like I was about to collapse. My arms were still sore, but I could push myself to do more. The magic in me, though weak, seemed to flow better with each movement. It wasn't much, but I felt it—my body was slowly adapting to this new form. I noted from the night before, after working my body a bit, I had slowly started to feel the magic inside me. I guessed it was from the gem having to give me some in order to function properly in this new life. It made sense—if I was going to be stronger than my past self, this was a necessary boost. Not only would I be able to receive better teaching on sword styles, but I'd also have access to magic, something I couldn't even dream of in my past life. This was already a much better start.

The next morning, I could barely get out of bed, my muscles protesting every move. But today, there was no room for weakness. Today was the day I'd step foot into the Academy of Aetherion.

After breakfast, I took one last look at the house, my mother still sleeping peacefully. I left without making a sound, determined to make this life count.

Arriving at the academy felt surreal. The towering gates, the sprawling campus—everything about it screamed prestige. This was where legends were made, where warriors and mages alike honed their skills, where I would either rise to the top or fall short.

I walked through the gates, the sounds of students laughing and chatting around me, most of them my age, all excited for the new school year. I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. This wasn't my first time walking into a new life. In a way, it was just like starting over from scratch—again.

"Hey, you!" A voice called out from behind me, snapping me from my thoughts.

I turned to find a group of students—three in total—walking toward me, smiles on their faces. They were around my age, maybe a little older, but they carried themselves with a certain confidence. The girl in the front had long black hair, tied into a high ponytail, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"You're new, right?" she asked, tilting her head. "I haven't seen you around before."

"Yeah," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "Just signed up yesterday."

"Nice, same here!" she grinned. "I'm Lyra, and these are my friends, Alden and Briar."

I nodded in greeting, though I couldn't help but notice the look they exchanged, like they were sizing me up.

"Are you nervous?" Alden asked, his tone light but with a hint of challenge.

I shrugged, pretending not to care. "I'll manage."

"We'll see about that," Briar said, her smile a little too sharp for my liking. "Aetherion isn't a place for the faint-hearted. But hey, good luck, anyway."

With that, they walked off, leaving me to wonder if this was going to be just another group of students to avoid or if they'd end up being useful allies. One thing was certain, though—survival in this place wasn't going to be as easy as it seemed.

I took a deep breath and headed toward the main hall, where the orientation was set to begin. It was time to face the unknown. To meet the people I'd have to outlast, the ones I'd have to trust, and the ones I'd have to avoid at all costs.

The Academy of Aetherion was about to begin its next chapter, and so was I.