Soldier's secret

11. ~Daily routine~

(Just telling this will be a long chapter since i gotta lot new ideas 💡🤝
More than 3000 words)

The instructor, a tall woman with cropped hair and a demeanor that screamed authority, paced in front of us with sharp, deliberate steps. Her gaze scanned each of us, as though she could already see who would make it and who would crumble under the pressure.

"Welcome to your first day of training," she began, her voice firm and unyielding. "This will be the hardest day of your lives so far. If you think you're ready, you're wrong. If you think you've trained enough, you haven't. Today, you will see what you're made of. And if you fail, you'll find yourself on the first transport home. Understood?"

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, though it was more nervous than confident.

"Understood?" she barked louder, making sure she got the answer she was looking for. "Also" She continued "The running yesterday was just an excuse to kick the useless idiots out,but today will be quiet similar,if you do badly,again and again you will be kicked out. After all we need the best."

"Yes, ma'am!" we all responded in unison, the collective sound bouncing off the trees that surrounded the training field.

The first exercise was simple enough on paper: a long-distance run, a test of endurance. We were to complete several miles, all while maintaining a fast pace. But the terrain was rough—uneven ground, uphill stretches, and the constant pressure of knowing that falling behind meant failing. I could feel my heart racing even before we began, anxiety mixing with anticipation as I stood beside Lili, who stretched beside me, already looking winded just from the instructions.

The whistle blew, and we were off. I pumped my legs hard, focusing on my breathing like Enzo had taught me during our secret runs in the woods. At first, the adrenaline made everything easier. I kept my head down and focused on my feet hitting the dirt in a steady rhythm. But after the first mile, the burn in my muscles began, and the real test of stamina kicked in.

I glanced over at Lili, who was keeping pace beside me, her face already flushed with effort. Her limp from the twisted ankle was barely noticeable, but I could tell she was struggling to stay on pace. As the group began to stretch out, some recruits pulling ahead while others started to lag behind, I realized how vital it was to keep going, to not fall behind. This wasn't just a lesson—it was a test. They were evaluating every move we made, every stumble, every breath that came too hard.

Ahead of me, I noticed one of the boys who had caught my eye earlier: Jasper. He was tall, probably around six foot two,(idk maybe its 195cm)with a buzz cut that made him look every bit the soldier-in-training. His long legs ate up the distance with ease, and his muscular arms pumped in rhythm with his stride. He didn't look like he was struggling, and I could see why he'd stand out in a group like this. Lili seemed to notice him too. I saw her sneaking glances in his direction, though she tried to play it off as she focused on her running.

Around me, the rest of my teammates were a blur of sweat and effort. There were thirteen others, all of them strong-looking, clearly here with serious intent. Most of them were boys, tall and built like they'd been preparing for this their whole lives. But among them, one stood out more than the rest—a boy named Axel.

He was striking, to say the least. His blonde hair fell in messy waves over his forehead, and his sharp jawline gave him a look that made him seem older, more experienced. He moved effortlessly, his muscles rippling under the plain black shirt we'd been given for training. As we ran, I couldn't help but notice the way he kept sneaking glances at me, a cocky grin forming on his face when our eyes met.

I ignored it, focusing on the run, but he seemed determined to make himself known.

"You're pretty fast," Axel said, suddenly running beside me, his voice casual despite the obvious physical strain of the run.