One week passed in a flash.
The initial awkwardness of being in a new world completely melted away as Aster threw himself into a grueling daily routine. He trained until his muscles ached and his hands were calloused, determined to earn his place in Squad 4 and prove to his stubborn eagle that he was worthy of being its partner.
Fortunately, he wasn't doing it alone.
Right now, the afternoon sun was beating down on the training grounds. Aster stood sweating, his arms trembling as he held the string of his practice bow drawn back.
"Lower your right shoulder! You're tensing up again!" Elio barked, his deep voice cutting through the air.
Aster flinched slightly, quickly dropping his shoulder.
Elio crossed his broad arms, his sharp eyes glaring at Aster's stance. He looked incredibly intimidating with his large frame, and his eyebrows were knit together in a permanent, serious scowl. He was notoriously strict and got irritated easily whenever Aster repeated a mistake, completely flipping the quiet vibe he usually had around the rest of the squad.
"If you tense up, the arrow goes wide left. Every time," Elio grumbled, letting out a sharp huff of frustration. "How many times do I have to tell you? Take a deep breath and release!"
Aster swallowed hard, focusing on the target, and let the arrow fly. It thudded firmly into the inner ring of the target—not a perfect bullseye, but much better than before.
Elio stared at the target for a long moment, his harsh expression softening just a fraction. He reached over, snatched a clean towel from a nearby bench, and practically shoved it into Aster's chest.
"Better," Elio muttered, looking away to hide a small, approving nod. "Clean the sweat off your hands before you touch the bow string again. You'll ruin the grip. And go take a five-minute break. If you pass out from exhaustion, Kael will make me do your paperwork."
Even though he was harsh and lost his temper easily during drills, Aster knew Elio didn't mean any harm. Underneath that easily annoyed exterior, Elio was the one who consistently showed up early every single day just to make sure Aster didn't get hurt training alone. He was tough, but he genuinely cared.
Eva stepped out onto the training grounds, wiping her hands on a small towel. She took one look at Elio's looming stance and Aster's sweat-drenched, exhausted face, and sighed softly.
"Everyone, it's time for dinner now," Eva called out, her voice calm and carrying across the lawn. She fixed her eyes on her brother. "And Elio... stop bullying Aster."
The moment her words hit Elio's ears, his entire demeanor flipped like a light switch. The terrifying, scowling instructor instantly vanished. His broad shoulders relaxed, his harsh glare melted away, and a bright, almost childlike smile broke across his face.
"I'm coming right now, Eva-sis!" Elio called back cheerfully, his voice suddenly a whole octave higher and completely full of affection.
He turned back to Aster, the terrifying drill sergeant completely gone, replaced by a doting little brother. He gave Aster a quick, friendly pat on the back—nearly knocking the wind out of him.
"Alright, break time over! You heard my sister, let's go eat!" Elio grinned, already jogging over toward Eva like a happy puppy. "Eva-sis, wait up! What are we having tonight?"
Aster stood there blinking, holding his practice bow, completely whiplashed by how fast Elio could change the second his sister was around.
Eva and Elio walked ahead toward the dining hall, their voices drifting back to Aster. Elio was happily gesturing with his large hands, completely animated as he told his sister about a new training routine, while Eva listened with her usual serene, patient smile, occasionally nodding and offering a quiet response.
Following a few steps behind them, Aster wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel Elio had shoved at him. Watching the siblings interact brought a soft, genuine smile to his face. It was peaceful, and for a moment, the exhaustion in his muscles didn't feel so bad.
SMACK!
"You did a whole lot better today!" a loud, booming voice roared right next to his ear as a heavy hand slammed down on his shoulder.
Aster practically jumped out of his boots, his heart leaping into his throat. He whirled around to find Finn grinning from ear to ear, his short hair a bit messy and his playful eyes sparkling with mischief. He had clearly materialized out of nowhere just to startle him.
Up ahead, Elio paused and shot a sharp, irritated glare over his shoulder at Finn for making so much noise, but Finn just waved him off with a carefree laugh, keeping his arm slung heavily over Aster's shoulders.
"Seriously, man, I was watching from the barracks window," Finn chuckled, walking alongside Aster and pulling him forward. "You're actually starting to look like a real archer out there! Keep it up and that stubborn eagle of yours is gonna get jealous of how good you're getting without him."
Aster managed a breathy laugh, adjusting to the heavy weight of Finn's arm over his shoulders.
"Oh... wait, where are Kael and Junie?" Aster asked, looking around the courtyard as they neared the dining hall entrance. "I haven't seen them since this morning."
Finn's grin widened, a spark of gossip lighting up his eyes. "Kael went up to the castle to greet Lord Neolux. He just got back from a massive mission today. I heard he single-handedly slayed a dragon and brought back a magic stone the size of a carriage! And Junie? Well, the second she heard Kael was going to the castle, she practically begged to tag along just so she could 'coincidentally' run into Sir Sylas."
Finn chuckled, shaking his head. "She's probably bright red and hiding behind a pillar right about now."
Up ahead, Eva opened the heavy wooden door to the dining hall, the savory, mouth-watering scent of roasted meat and fresh bread wafting out to greet them. Elio held the door open, casting one last serious, lingering look at Aster's posture before gesturing for him to get inside and eat.
Aster nodded, absorbing the information as they stepped into the warm, bustling dining hall. The name had been echoing around the barracks all week, carrying a legendary weight.
"Lord Neolux..." Aster muttered softly, looking over at Finn. "Have you ever met him before?"
Finn's usual carefree grin shifted into a look of genuine awe, his eyes widening slightly. Even Elio, who was busy pulling out a heavy wooden chair for Eva, paused for a second at the mention of the name.
"Once or twice from a distance during grand assemblies," Finn said, his voice dropping to a slightly more serious tone for once. "Man, he's on a completely different level. Lord Neolux isn't just the commander of the entire faction; he's one of the strongest people alive in this realm. When he walks into a room, the sheer pressure of his energy makes it hard to breathe, even if he's holding it back. He's fair, but he's terrifyingly powerful."
"He is the pillar that protects this entire territory," Eva added softly, setting down a basket of warm bread on the table. She looked at Aster with a gentle expression. "If he truly brought back a dragon's magic stone, it means the regional barriers will be secure for a very long time."
Elio sat down heavily next to his sister, crossing his arms with a stern nod. "Don't go getting distracted by legends, Aster," he grumbled, though his tone was less angry and more focused. "If you ever do meet him, you'd better make sure your stance is perfect, or you'll embarrass Squad 4. Now sit down and eat before the soup gets cold."
Aster nodded quickly at Elio's strict advice and pulled out a chair, sliding into his seat.
As he looked down at the feast laid out before them, he couldn't help but stare in absolute wonder. The table was practically groaning under the weight of the meal: a massive platter of perfectly roasted, golden-brown meat glistening in its own juices, bowls of steaming savory soup, fluffy mashed potatoes, and a basket of freshly baked, warm bread that smelled like heaven.
He blinked, looking from the incredible spread over to Eva, who was calmly pouring water into everyone's cups. Even after a week of living here, it still completely blew his mind.
"Did you... really cook all of this by yourself again, Eva?" Aster asked, his voice full of genuine surprise and awe.
Finn immediately let out a loud laugh, grabbing a giant piece of bread. "Right?! It's a literal miracle every single day. If it weren't for Eva, Elio and I would probably be surviving on burnt charcoal and raw potatoes."
Elio shot Finn a brief, sharp glare for his lack of manners, but then looked at his sister, his harsh face immediately softening into a proud, bright smile. "Eva-sis makes the best food in the entire faction."
Eva offered a serene, modest smile, sitting down gracefully at the head of the table. "It is nothing special, Aster. Cooking is simply a way for me to unwind after a long day. Please, eat as much as you like. You worked very hard today, and you will need your strength for tomorrow."