Chapter 23 - Training Days, Trouble Nights

It turned out that probation under the system was basically just a fancy word for "we're going to drown you in mandatory training until you break."

Elren and I were assigned to double our drills, our field simulations, and our tactical reviews. Elliot, despite his minor involvement, somehow wormed his way into every single session.

"You have no idea how bored I was before you two showed up," he said, grinning as we met in the training hall the next morning.

"Oh, I have some idea. I just don't care."

"Princess, that hurts."

"Stop calling me that."

"Never."

Elren arrived behind us, silent as always, blade already in hand.

"Let's begin."

...

The training simulations were brutal.

The system operators were clearly testing me, throwing increasingly difficult Grave scenarios my way. Larger threats, complex environments, and unpredictable variables.

Elren adapted instantly, as if the simulations bored him. Elliot laughed his way through most of it, his dual blades moving with deceptive ease.

Me? I sweated. I tripped. I panicked.

But I didn't quit.

"You're improving," Elren said after our fifth failed run.

"Wow, that sounds fake."

"Obviously."

"Stop that."

"Correct."

Elliot leaned against the wall, grinning. "He's not wrong. You're getting sharper."

"I'm still slow."

"So we train until you're not."

"Oh, is that how it works? Wow, revolutionary."

Elren tossed me a water bottle. "Again."

He's going to kill me with drills. I can feel it.

-----

We trained relentlessly for three days.

Every morning started with live combat exercises. Every afternoon was tactical simulations. Every evening, I found myself sitting with Elren and Elliot, devouring questionable cafeteria food while pretending not to feel like collapsing.

"Is it always like this?" I groaned, stabbing at the suspicious stew on my tray.

"For you? Probably worse," Elliot said cheerfully.

"Great. Love that for me."

"But you're not backing out, right?"

"Obviously."

Elren's lips twitched faintly. "Good."

"Do you enjoy watching me suffer?"

"Obviously."

Elliot smirked. "Careful. That almost sounded affectionate."

"It is not."

"Sure it isn't."

I let my head thunk dramatically onto the table. "Why are you both like this?"

"Obviously."

"Stop."

"Correct."

"I will throw this tray at you."

"Obviously."

He's doing it on purpose now. He enjoys this. And the worst part is… I think I enjoy it too.

-----

The system didn't let us off probation easily.

Every mission was monitored. Every movement tracked. Operators whispered through Elren's comms, micromanaging every step we took.

Elren ignored them. Always.

"You're going to get locked up one day for this," I said after he blatantly disregarded their route order during a patrol.

"Obviously."

"And you're okay with that?"

"I'll protect you regardless of where they place me."

Stop. Stop saying things like that. It makes my heart do things.

Elliot chimed in through the comms. "Oh, am I interrupting something?"

"You always are."

"That's my specialty."

I sighed. "I need new friends."

"Obviously."

-----

One night, after a particularly brutal mission, I sat outside the barracks, letting the cold air bite at my skin.

Elren found me there, as he always did.

"You're still awake."

"Obviously."

He sat beside me, silent for a long moment.

"You're improving."

"I know."

"But you're reckless."

"I know."

"You push yourself too hard."

"I know."

"You should rest."

"Obviously."

His gaze flicked toward me, faintly amused. "You are impossible."

"Obviously."

The quiet settled between us, comfortable in a way I hadn't expected.

"Do you regret it?" I asked softly. "Choosing to stay with me?"

"Obviously not."

I smiled, letting my head fall against his shoulder.

"Good."

"Stay alive."

"Obviously."

-----

Elliot found us the next morning, already grinning like he knew exactly what I'd been thinking the night before.

"You two are so predictable."

"Obviously."

"Ugh. I give up."

"Correct."

Elliot groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "I swear I'm going to start charging you every time you use that word."

"Obviously."

"You are both exhausting."

"Obviously."

He stalked ahead, muttering about needing better teammates.

Elren and I fell into step behind him, perfectly in sync.

Maybe this is the cage they meant for me. But maybe… maybe it's not as bad as I thought.