The morning sun painted the training grounds in shades of gold, casting long shadows that danced as the newest batch of outer disciples lined up for their first drills. The air buzzed with nervous energy as senior disciples barked instructions. Alex stood among them, his stomach tight with unease. Yesterday had been overwhelming enough, but now he faced his first real test.

The senior disciple, clad in crimson robes that seemed to radiate authority, surveyed the newcomers with a sharp gaze. “Form up! Outer disciples, this is not a welcoming party. This is where you prove whether you belong.”

Alex shifted awkwardly in line, feeling the weight of those words. The recruits beside him adjusted their stances with the confidence of heirs and prodigies. Alex, by contrast, fumbled to mimic their movements, painfully aware of how out of place he looked.

---

The initial drills were deceptively simple: basic stances, footwork, and strikes. But simplicity didn’t make them any easier for Alex. His movements were awkward, his footing unsteady, and his strikes weak. The senior disciple’s sharp corrections cut through the air.

“Too slow! Balance your weight, or you’ll fall flat on your face!”

Alex’s face went flushed as a few nearby disciples chuckled.

“You got this, don’t let them get to you,” a voice said from his behind. Alex turned to see a girl with short black hair, her features youthful and energetic. Her stance wasn’t perfect either, but her movements carried a spark of determination that Alex couldn’t help but admire. She offered him a quick, lopsided grin before returning her focus to the drill.

---

When the session ended, Alex dragged himself to a shaded corner on the edge of the training field and watched as the new disciples filed out for their brief break. He held his sore arms, massaging them after the grueling session. He stared at the others, their laughter and easy conversation filling the air. During the drills they all made it look so natural, so effortless, while every movement for him felt like an uphill battle.

“Mind if I join?” a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. Alex looked up to see the girl with the short black hair from before holding out a water skin.

“Sure,” he said, taking it gratefully. “Thanks.”

She plopped down beside him, her energy still intact despite the grueling session. “The name’s Arlyn. You’re Alex, right? Heard your name yelled about a dozen times today.”

“Yeah, that’d be me,” Alex muttered with a weak chuckle. “I guess I left an impression.”

Arlyn laughed, nudging his shoulder lightly. “Hey, don’t worry about it. My first day wasn’t any better. I think the senior disciples were convinced I was going to knock myself out with a wooden sword.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, half-amused. “Did you?”

Arlyn grinned sheepishly. “Not quite. But let’s just say I had a close call. They almost sent me to the infirmary for tripping over my own feet.”

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Alex smirked. “At least you didn’t take anyone else down with you.”

“Give me time,” Arlyn teased.

Alex’s smirk faded into a wistful smile. “Still, it seems like you’re handling this well—better than me, at least. I’m completely out of my depth here.”

Arlyn’s tone softened. “Don’t beat yourself up. Everyone starts somewhere.”

Alex hesitated, his voice quieter. “I know, but… it just feels like I’m struggling just to stay behind everyone.”

Arlyn tilted her head, studying him for a moment. “You know, you’re not the only one who feels out of their depth. Everybody here is trying their best to stay on their feet, even if it doesn’t look like it.”

Alex frowned, gripping the water skin tighter. “Maybe, but it feels like everyone’s already leagues ahead. Like I’m the only one trying to catch up.”

Arlyn leaned forward, her gaze steady. “Maybe they are ahead. But so what? It doesn’t mean you won’t get there too. It’s not about where everyone else is—it’s about where you’re going. Everyone’s path looks different, and half the battle is just sticking with it.”

Arlyn’s words struck something in him—not quite comfort, but enough to push back some of the overwhelming doubt. “Maybe you’re right,” he admitted, though his tone carried a hint of uncertainty.

Arlyn smiled, soft but genuine. “I know I am. Besides, if we’re both here figuring it out together, we can’t be doing that badly.”

Alex chuckled faintly at that, the knot in his chest loosening ever so slightly. For the first time that day, he didn’t feel so alone.

---

The day’s training ended with a chore rotation. Alex found himself in the training hall, broom in hand, staring at the endless scuff marks on the floor. His arms ached, and his mind wandered back to the harsh drills from earlier. He sighed, steeling himself for yet another task that seemed determined to wear him down.

“Well, you don’t look familiar. You must be one of the newbies,” a voice broke through his thoughts. Alex turned to see a girl with messy brown hair tied loosely back, leaning casually on a broom.

“Uh, yeah,” Alex replied, straightening up and shifting his grip on the broom. “I’m Alex.”

She offered a small nod as she moved to the other side of the hall. “Teresa.”

Teresa smirked faintly as she began sweeping. “So, rough first day?”

“You could say that,” Alex muttered, focusing on the floor.

“Don’t worry,” Teresa said lightly. “You’ll get used to it. Or you won’t. Either way, you’ll still be sweeping floors.”

Before Alex could respond, the door creaked open, and Arlyn stepped in, broom in hand. She glanced around before smiling when she spotted Alex.

“Hey,” she said, walking over. “Guess they’ve got us on cleaning duty together.”

Teresa paused, looking over Arlyn. “Another new recruit?”

“Yeah,” Arlyn said, offering a polite nod. “Arlyn.”

“Teresa,” she replied, leaning her broom against the wall. “Looks like it’s a full house.”

Arlyn turned to Alex. “How are you holding up after the drills?”

“Still standing,” Alex replied with a faint grin. “Barely.”

“You didn’t look that bad out there,” Arlyn teased. “I think you only fell once, right?”

Alex chuckled weakly. “I’ll take that as a win.”

Teresa watched the exchange with mild amusement. “If you’re already counting not falling as a win, you’ll fit right in here.”

Arlyn shot her a curious look. “Been here long?”

“Long enough,” Teresa said, her tone casual.

The three fell into a rhythm as they cleaned, the scrape of brooms punctuated by lighthearted banter. Teresa shared a few dry jokes and stories from her early days in the sect, earning laughs from Arlyn and Alex. Arlyn chimed in with her own stories from the day, not resisting teasing Alex about his balance during drills. The playful exchange eased the tension of the day, offering a welcome break from the weight of training.

---

That evening, Alex, Arlyn, and Teresa sat outside the barracks, watching the stars appear in the fading light. Their conversation shifted between lighthearted teasing and reflections on the day’s events.

Arlyn smirked as she leaned back, arms crossed. “You can’t tell me hard work doesn’t count for anything, Teresa. Talent might help, but effort is what gets you to the top.”

Teresa rolled her eyes, balancing a small pebble on her finger. “Effort’s great and all, but if talent’s the mountain, effort’s just the pair of worn-out boots you’re using to climb it. Some people are born on the summit, you know.”

Alex looked between the two, unsure whether to laugh or stay out of it. “So... you’re saying I need better boots?”

Teresa shrugged, a faint smirk on her lips but didn’t answer.

Arlyn grinned, leaning back. “No, I’m saying you’re going to climb that mountain no matter how hard it gets.”

Teresa flicked the pebble away, laughing softly. “Or you climb only to fall off halfway and wonder why you didn’t just stay in the valley.”

“Such optimism,” Alex said dryly, earning a chuckle from Arlyn.

Arlyn replied, “I’d rather try climbing than sit at the bottom making excuses.”

Teresa gave a mock gasp, hand over her heart. “Oh no, Arlyn, that might be the first time you’ve called me out directly. I’m almost proud.”

“Almost?” Arlyn teased, and the two laughed as Alex watched, shaking his head at their playful bickering.

As the laughter faded, the quiet of the evening settled over them. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant chirp of insects filled the spaces their words left behind. Alex leaned back, his eyes tracing the scattered stars above. The day’s weight still pressed against him, but in the stillness, it felt bearable, as if the world had granted him this fleeting reprieve before tomorrow’s climb.