Chapter 17: Iron and Flame

Lekan followed Prince Leo in silence, their footsteps echoing lightly through the sunlit corridors of the palace. The afternoon air was warm but not stifling. He'd been to the training grounds before, but today felt different, more exciting.

Leo didn't say a word as they stepped into the familiar yard. Without pause, he moved to a small chest near the edge and pulled out a silver ring etched with faint runes.

"Here," he said, tossing it to Lekan. "Put this on."

Lekan caught the ring and turned it over in his hand. "What is this?"

"Just a small magical item," Leo replied. "It adds weight to the wearer. It'll help with your training."

Lekan hesitated, then slipped it onto his finger.

The effect was instant.

His knees buckled slightly, and his arms began to tremble under an invisible force. His whole body sagged like someone had placed a massive stone on his shoulders. A gasp came out of him as he struggled to stay upright.

"H-How much weight is this?" he asked, eyes wide.

Leo smirked. "Eighty pounds. That's just for warm-up."

Lekan gawked. "Eighty?!"

"We'll increase it once the real training begins."

Lekan stared at him in disbelief. I didn't get summoned to another world, he thought bitterly, I got summoned to hell… and this monster's the devil sent to punish me.

Leo didn't wait for further protest. He stretched his arms, rolled his shoulders, and started jogging toward the track that circled the training yard.

"Fifty laps. Let's go."

Lekan groaned but forced his legs to move. The first few steps felt like dragging anchors through sand. The strain in his muscles screamed at him by the eighth lap, and sweat was already pouring down his face. He whispered prayers under his breath, not for strength, but to channel divine power through his body, allowing him to recover. A faint golden warmth wrapped around him, dulling the pain just enough to keep going.

Lap fifteen. Then twenty. By the thirtieth, his entire body was shaking.

"H-how much more?" he wheezed.

Leo jogged past him without missing a beat. "Just twenty more."

Lekan nearly collapsed on the spot. But he kept going. He had to keep going.

When they finally reached the fiftieth lap, Lekan dropped to his knees, hands on the ground, gasping for air. He barely registered Leo walking over and handing him a cup of water.

"Now," the prince said, sounding far too cheerful, "time for the fun part."

Lekan coughed. "The… fun part?"

Leo tossed him a wooden training sword. Lekan caught it with shaky arms.

Then, with deliberate calm, Leo bent down, picked up a stick from the ground, and drew a wide circle in the dirt around himself.

"The rules are simple," he said. "Make me step outside this circle. If you can do that, I'll teach you sword techniques."

Lekan forced himself upright, gripping the sword with both hands. "That's it? Just get you to step out?"

Leo nodded once. "That's it."

He's underestimating me, Lekan thought, narrowing his eyes. He won't be smiling for long.

With a sharp breath, he lunged.

He swung toward Leo's side—

CLACK!

The prince deflected the strike with a stick and a flick of his wrist. Lekan, with no time to recover, swung his sword upward, aiming for Leo's arm. But Leo side-stepped smoothly and parried Lekan's attack, and with the stick in his hand, hit Lekan's arm.

"Too open after your follow-through," he said coldly.

Lekan gritted his teeth and attacked again. And again.

Every swing, every step, Leo countered with casual grace, his feet never leaving the inside of the circle. As they sparred, he began offering critiques.

"Too wide."

"Keep your elbows in."

"Your feet—balance!"

But Lekan didn't stop. Couldn't stop. His divine energy worked subtly in the background, easing the tightness in his chest, softening the fatigue in his legs.

Leo started to notice something.

Each time Lekan missed, he improved. Each mistake became a lesson. His stance tightened, his grip firmed. His footwork adjusted.

He's adapting in real time, Leo thought, face smirking slightly. Not bad…

Minutes stretched into hours. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the yard. Crickets began to hum beyond the walls. But Lekan didn't ask to stop.

Then came his final charge.

With one last burst of energy, Lekan surged forward, aiming a blow at Leo's neck.

Leo parried, ready for the follow-up.

But instead of another strike—

Lekan let go of his sword.

The weapon hit the ground, and before Leo could register the shift, Lekan tackled him.

THUD!

Both of them went down in a cloud of dust—outside the circle.

Leo stared up at him, stunned. Lekan was panting, wild-eyed, grinning through gasps.

"I did it!" he laughed. "You're out of the circle!"

"You tackled me," Leo said flatly.

"You never said I had to use the sword."

Leo blinked, then exhaled sharply, brushing dirt from his coat. "That was implied."

"You implied it," Lekan said, smirking. "But you didn't say it."

Leo sat up with a groan, shaking his head. "You're insufferable."

"But you said you'd teach me sword techniques if I got you out. And you're a prince. Surely you won't go back on your word, right?"

Leo gave him a long look, then stood and dusted himself off.

"Fine," he muttered. "Tomorrow, we start sword training."

Lekan threw both arms in the air. "Yes!"

"But," Leo added, walking toward the gate, "you're keeping the ring on."

Lekan's celebration halted mid-jump. "Wait—what?"

"If you want to train, the ring stays," Leo said over his shoulder. "You're not just building technique. You're building endurance. If you take it off, I won't train you."

Lekan groaned loudly. "You really are a monster…"

Leo chuckled, waving a hand as he walked away. "Go wash up and sleep. We start after breakfast."

Lekan watched him disappear down the corridor. His limbs were like jelly, his lungs still burning—but he couldn't help but smile.

He looked at the ring on his finger. Still impossibly heavy.

Tomorrow, he thought, everything begins.