My Genius

A new life

*A month later

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Emilia and Esmia had been inseparable since the day they met, their love for books and their hate for training brought them closer than ever.

Esmia had improved at most things in the past month, but her favourite was sword and dagger fighting. The hardest skill was physical combat. She was good with weapons, but it was hard to defeat someone up close.

On the other hand, Emilia was amazing in physical combat but sloppy with weapons. Her aim with a gun never landed on the target, and once, her arrow landed behind her, almost hitting Esmia, who was trying to teach her archery.

Levon had gone on a mission, so Alexander had been taking over the training. And he was nothing like Levon. He was kind and patient with the trainees but strict with those who wanted to lay around and do nothing.

A monotonous voice cut through the campus intercom as they practised on the field.

"Attention, Team Lunar. Report to the main hall for an urgent briefing."

Esmia and Emilia exchanged curious glances and quickly sheathed their swords, heading to the hall. Their unnamed teammates were already waiting there, each wearing the same puzzled expression.

At the front of the room stood their instructor, Esmeralda, her gaze steady and intense. She cleared her throat, and the room fell silent.

"Team Lunar," she began, "we have an important mission for you, one that will test every skill you've learned."

They straightened, feeling the weight of her words. "Recently, we received information that a powerful relic—one long thought lost—is hidden in the ancient catacombs beneath Moonfall Mountain's abandoned fortress. If this relic falls into the wrong hands, it could spell disaster."

A murmur rippled through the team, but Esmeralda raised a hand to quiet them. "You have one month to prepare. This mission will demand the utmost in survival skills, combat readiness, and knowledge of ancient languages and scripts. Every strength you possess—physical, mental, and emotional—will be tested. Only by training rigorously and working as one can you hope to locate and safely retrieve the relic."

Esmia exchanged determined glances with Emilia and the others, their nerves fading into steely resolve.

Esmeralda's gaze softened just a little as she looked at them. "Remember, this mission is no small task. But I believe in each of you. Use this time wisely. Dismissed!"

As they left the hall, Esmia felt a spark of excitement ignite in her. She turned to her teammates, smiling. "We've got this, Team Lunar. Let's give it everything we've got."

The team nodded, united and ready. They had a month to prepare, and they would face this challenge together.

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The month of training began with dawn-to-dusk drills, each day more intense than the last. Esmeralda wasted no time pushing Team Lunar to their limits, challenging them physically, mentally, and emotionally.

**Week 1: Foundation and Endurance**Each morning, Esmia, Emilia, and their teammates started with endurance training. They ran long distances through the forest trails, carrying weighted packs to build stamina. Esmeralda led them on sprints up steep hills, urging them to move faster, to fight through the fatigue. By evening, they practised basic combat stances, focusing on precision, speed, and controlled breathing. Blisters and bruises became constant companions, but no one complained; they wore them like badges of honour.

**Week 2: Combat and Coordination**With their endurance set, Esmeralda intensified the training, introducing weapon drills and sparring sessions. She paired teammates up, rotating them constantly so they would learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. Esmia and Emilia quickly found a rhythm together, synchronizing their movements until they were practically seamless. But Esmeralda kept pushing, demanding unity from the entire team. The week ended with a series of simulated battles, where each member was blindfolded, learning to rely on instincts and the directions called by teammates.

**Week 3: Survival and Adaptability**As Week 3 began, Team Lunar moved their training to the rugged wilderness surrounding Moonfall Mountain. Esmeralda taught them survival skills—how to navigate using the stars, forage for edible plants, and set up basic shelters. Nights were spent on guard duty rotations, where they learned to stay vigilant under the starry sky. They encountered various obstacles—drenching rain, biting wind, even a wild animal or two—but they pressed on. Each challenge sharpened their senses and trust in each other.

**Week 4: Mental Training and Strategy**Esmeralda focused on the mind during the final week. She set up rigorous puzzles and riddles, testing their patience and critical thinking under pressure. Each puzzle was a piece of the relic's myth, leading them closer to understanding the clues they might find on their mission.

 Then, as they neared the last days of training, she tasked them with designing a plan of attack and defence for an imaginary enemy. The team spent long hours in the library by torchlight, studying ancient languages and decoding scripts until their eyes blurred.

As the month came to a close, Team Lunar stood taller, stronger and united. Esmeralda gathered them for a final briefing, pride in her eyes.

"You've trained well," she said, her voice carrying a rare warmth. "Remember, you are no longer just a group. You are a team. Trust each other, and trust yourselves."

As the team made their way back to their dorms, Esmia found herself lagging slightly behind, her thoughts clouded by a persistent worry.

Levon. Where was he?

He'd been absent since the very beginning of their mission training, a silence that felt increasingly strange as each gruelling day had passed. Levon wasn't just any trainee—he was sharp, focused, and committed. Esmia couldn't imagine him missing out on something this important without a reason. And yet, no one had spoken a word about his absence, not even Esmeralda.

Esmia tried to shake off the thought, telling herself she was overthinking it. But as she lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, the absence of her friend gnawed at her, casting a shadow over the excitement of the mission. Something wasn't right. She could feel it.

She resolved to find out what had happened to Levon, even if it meant searching for answers herself.

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Words-999

Time-13:22

Date-06-11-2024