Falling

Training again?

yuna

The next day started just like the last. The cold, early morning air made my skin prickle as I groggily pulled on my leggings and a hoodie, forcing myself to get out of bed. I was exhausted from yesterday's grueling training, but there was no way I could skip today. Not when everyone was depending on me—especially Shine.

By the time I made my way outside, Shine was already there, leaning against the fence with a casual stance, his arms crossed. But today, there was something different in the air. He didn't seem as playful as usual. His posture was stiff, his eyes sharp, like he was waiting for something.

I raised an eyebrow as I approached. "You okay? You look... intense."

He glanced at me but didn't smile. "You ready to train or not?" His voice was all business, no teasing, no joking. It was like a switch had flipped.

I frowned, confused by the sudden change in his demeanor. "I'm here, aren't I?"

He nodded, but there was a strange tension in the way he held himself. "Yeah. But I need you to focus today, Yuna. This is going to be different."

Before I could ask what he meant, Shine motioned for me to follow him. We went further into the yard, past the usual training spots to a section that I didn't even know existed. The area was isolated, surrounded by thick trees and tall grass. The air felt heavier here, like it was holding secrets.

"What is this?" I asked, stepping into the clearing, suddenly feeling uneasy.

Shine didn't answer immediately. He pulled out a small object from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a sleek black phone, far different from the one I'd seen him use before.

"Take it," he ordered.

I took the phone from his hand, looking at him quizzically. "What's this for?"

"You're going to need it," Shine said, his eyes hardening. "It's part of your training. Today's not about physical endurance or learning to fight. Today is about mindset."

I frowned, not understanding. "Mindset? What do you mean?"

Shine's expression turned serious. "You're about to step into a world that's more dangerous than you realize. And I'm going to make sure you're prepared."

Before I could respond, he pushed a button on the phone, and a map appeared on the screen. He tapped a few more times, and then a location pinged on the map. "This is where we're going. I'll be there with you. But today, I'm not just training you to fight. You're going to learn to think like us. And that means going places you never thought you'd go."

I looked at him in disbelief. "You can't be serious. You want me to go somewhere else right now?"

Shine's eyes softened just a little, but his voice was firm. "Trust me, Yuna. This is the part of the job no one tells you about. If you want to be a part of this, you have to understand the stakes."

I felt a chill go down my spine. Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist. This wasn't just training anymore. This was real.

"What's going to happen?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Shine stepped closer, his gaze intense. "I'll protect you. But I need you to listen to me. You have to do exactly as I say. No second-guessing. You got that?"

I nodded, a mix of fear and adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"Good," he said, his voice softening for a moment. "Let's go."

We drove in silence, the tension in the air thick between us. As we neared the location from the map, my heart started pounding harder. I had no idea what to expect, but the uneasy feeling in my stomach wasn't helping.