#𝐆𝐄𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 & 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃. ✔️ [kaishin]

Chapter 3

The first day of training was simple, and yet possibly the hardest day.

Young children are quite full of energy, but the intensive running, jumping, clearing obstacles, it all lasted for hours and that was only the very beginning. We've been awakened early, and given only enough time to eat a small breakfast before being plunged into our training.

Even after just a few hours, my small body was burning. My muscles were aching. This was what training was going to be like?

And yet it was something I had to do. So I kept going.

I remember seeing Ran falling behind, but when she saw me pushing myself onwards, she did the same.

Once the basic physical training ended for the day, we were only given a short period of time to rest before the next part of our training began. This time, it was proper education on the manner in which to hold, thrust, and slash with a sword. We were given wooden training swords to begin with.

Then, what followed was further education in the nature of vampires.

The crimson eyes, the pale skin. The weakness to sunlight. The fangs, the need for blood in order to survive. The fact that they could heal from even the most grievous of wounds. The nature of vampires was drilled into us just as the physical training was.

The next day was the same.

And the next.

And the next.

Ran was soon no longer falling behind.

And I was still pushing ahead. Somehow, it was feeling natural to me. The way in which to hold a blade. The energy I needed to move my body, keep pressing ahead.

Our training grew more complex. More obstacles, some of them dangerous, were introduced as we grew older, faster. We began to be set against each other for practice sparring, against our instructors as well.

When my thrust wooden blade caught my instructor in the side, she couldn't hide her shock.

None of my fellow students had managed to land a single blow against her to that day.

All the while, our education continued.

Our duty, above all else, was to be the eradication of vampires. The slaying of monsters who preyed upon human lives. Our survival, the survival of our peers, was far less important than the success of our goals.

It only made sense. Vampires were monsters, so ensuring no-one else had to suffer because of them was much more important than our own lives, wasn't it?

Months went by.

A year.

Every day, the same routine grew more complex, but retained the same pattern. Physical training. Combat training. Education.

It was drilled into our minds.

Our purpose in life was not to live as humans.

It was to live as those who were able to slay monsters.

And when the eighth year of my life, of the lives of my fellow trainees began, it was said we would receive two things to allow us to fulfill that purpose.

The first would be a silver sword. Vampires were nearly invulnerable to many kinds of harm, owing to their rapid regeneration from even the most horrific injuries. Even decapitating them or piercing the heart was not guaranteed to be successful with a steel blade.

But silver was another story. Silver could burn them, stop their regeneration in its tracks.

The Captain took me to his private quarters that day. He had done so with the other trainees, and now it was time to do so for me.