Mei slept deeply in her new bedroom, tucked within one of the smaller buildings of her master’s courtyard. It was the most restful night she’d had in recent memory. Compared to her modest room in the outer court, this space felt almost luxurious—the academy clearly spared no expense in providing comfort for their Elders. Soft cushions and silken sheets cradled her as she slept, and for the first time in what felt like years, Mei could release the tension she’d been carrying. Now that she had a master, she felt she could finally breathe. The sense of security settled over her like a warm blanket, and she closed her eyes again, allowing herself just a bit more sleep before dawn.

“Tell me…” a voice hissed out from the darkness above her bed. Mei’s heart jolted. “Is my new disciple so lazy that she thinks it appropriate to lie in bed when she should be training?”

The shadowy figure loomed over her bed, and Mei’s eyes snapped open, heart pounding. Before her stood Umi Nagisa, looking strikingly different. She wore a tightly-fitted training uniform that seemed to enhance her presence, more warrior-like than Mei had yet seen her. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, secured with two glinting jade pins that gave her an almost regal fierceness. Every muscle in her face was taut, her intense gaze fixed on Mei with something between annoyance and expectation.

“Master Nagisa!” Mei blurted, pushing herself upright.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Umi Nagisa’s voice was razor-sharp, her mouth twitching in a way that made her look both deadly and a bit unhinged. Mei followed her master’s gaze out the window—no sunlight crept through yet. The sky was still dark.

“Get. Up.” Her master’s smile was anything but warm; it curled at the corners, lending her a manic energy that only amplified the sinister aura Mei felt radiating from her.

Still groggy, Mei started to rise, propping herself on her elbows and yawning when—

“I SAID GET UP!” In one quick motion, Nagisa grabbed the side of Mei’s bed and, with surprising strength, tilted it, sending Mei sprawling onto the floor. Mei could only stare in shock from the ground as Nagisa loomed over her with a disapproving glower.

“Seito Mei, you have exactly two minutes to be outside, fully dressed and ready for training. Or”—she added, narrowing her eyes—“you’ll be scrubbing every tile in this courtyard yourself, and I’ll make sure the head servant oversees you personally.” Her voice rang out so loudly, Mei was certain that anyone within earshot would know of her sleeping in.

As her master’s footsteps faded, Mei scrambled to her feet, thoughts reeling. Was her new master… insane? The air still carried the echo of her master’s voice, a lingering authority Mei knew she couldn’t ignore.

“One minute and thirty seconds, Seito!” came the warning from the courtyard.

Throwing on her academy tunic, Mei haphazardly tied her hair back with her red ribbon and bolted outside. Her heart thundered in her chest as she stumbled to a stop before her master, who stood in the center of the courtyard, arms crossed, fingers tapping with barely concealed impatience.

“Ten seconds to spare,” Nagisa said, her voice laced with faint amusement as she looked Mei up and down, assessing her. “Let me make something perfectly clear: every day, you will be here before the sun rises. We train at dawn and cultivate every night for an hour in the hot springs. The only exception is when you are in class with the other Elders. Understood?”

“Yes, Master Nagisa!” Mei replied, her words tumbling out in a bow.

Nagisa nodded with satisfaction, though her gaze still held a challenging gleam. “Today, we’ll begin with an endurance run. Fifteen li should be enough to wake you up,” she said, almost too casually.

Mei’s eyes widened, calculating. Fifteen li? That would be a good thirty miles, maybe more. Had she heard that right?

“Stop staring at me, Seito,” Nagisa said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noted Mei’s hesitation. “Those eyes of yours make it hard to tell what you’re thinking.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel. “Shall we?”

Before Mei could process her words, Nagisa dashed off at a fast, steady pace, racing toward the courtyard’s exit. Mei had no choice but to push off the ground and follow, her muscles still protesting from sleep. Each stride seemed to pull her further into wakefulness as she worked to match her master’s relentless speed. Training as an outer disciple was one thing; this, though, felt like an entirely new level.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The cold morning air bit at Mei’s exposed skin, but she had no time to shiver. The wind whipped through her hastily tied hair, tugging at the red ribbon that barely kept it in place. All thoughts of comfort vanished as her focus narrowed to the trail ahead and the swift figure of her master, Umi Nagisa, who moved like a phantom through the mist-shrouded paths.

Nagisa’s speed was relentless, her movements precise, almost effortless, as if the uneven terrain presented no challenge to her. Mei, on the other hand, struggled to keep pace. Every breath was a gulp of icy air that seared her lungs, each step a battle against the stiffness lingering in her muscles from just being abruptly awakened. The realization hit her like a hammer: this was no ordinary run—it was a test of her limits, perhaps even her worth.

But she refused to falter. After all, it had taken everything she had to earn her place as Nagisa’s disciple, and she would not waste this opportunity. Mei's eyes were locked onto the shifting form of her master, whose dark silhouette stood out against the faint light of dawn beginning to creep over the horizon. The academy grounds, which had once felt familiar, transformed into an unforgiving labyrinth under the intensity of their pace.

Nagisa suddenly glanced over her shoulder, her eyes gleaming with a wicked delight as she noticed Mei’s struggle. “Falling behind already, Seito?” she called, her voice cutting through the sound of their rapid footfalls. “If you can't keep up, you’re better off returning to the outer courts.”

A spike of defiance shot through Mei, her jaw clenching. “No, Master!” she managed to gasp, pushing herself to accelerate. The muscles in her legs screamed, but she forced herself onward, her stubborn determination spurring her beyond the pain.

“Good,” Nagisa said with a sharp, approving grin, and then, without warning, she veered off the main path, plunging into the dense forest that bordered the academy grounds. Mei barely had time to react, skidding slightly as she adjusted her course to follow. Branches whipped at her face, and the ground beneath her feet turned treacherous with roots and rocks.

The challenge escalated. Nagisa seemed to glide effortlessly through the dense underbrush, while Mei stumbled, her feet slipping on the damp leaves. The unfamiliar terrain threatened to trip her up, but she refused to let it deter her. This was part of the training, she realized—a test not just of endurance but of adaptability. She had to think quickly, move even faster.

Somewhere deep within her, the fire that had been smoldering since her days as an outer disciple began to blaze to life. She focused on her breathing, on the rhythm of her steps, on the faint trail of energy her master left in her wake. It was a dance, a harsh and unforgiving one, but Mei was determined to learn the steps.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they raced through the forest. Finally, the trees began to thin, and Mei realized they were approaching a clearing. Her relief was short-lived. Ahead of her, Nagisa had come to a sudden stop at the edge of a sheer cliff that overlooked a deep ravine, the early morning mist swirling far below.

Mei skidded to a halt just in time, her heart pounding from the exertion and the sudden danger. She took in the scene, confusion clouding her features. There was nowhere else to go.

Nagisa turned to face her, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on her face. “Tell me, Seito, do you fear falling?”

Mei blinked, trying to steady her breathing. “N-no, Master,” she stammered, though she couldn’t hide the hesitation in her voice. Her legs were trembling, both from the run and the realization that they were standing on the precipice of a cliff.

“Good,” Nagisa said with a smile that was more predatory than reassuring. “Because sometimes, the only way to move forward is to leap into the unknown.” Without another word, she pushed off the ground, launching herself into the air. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, Mei watched in horror as her master plummeted over the edge—only to see Nagisa land gracefully on a narrow ledge hidden in the shadows of the cliffside.

Mei's heart was in her throat. There was no time to think, only to act. Nagisa’s eyes were on her, waiting, judging. The unspoken challenge hung in the air: Do you trust your master enough to follow her blindly?

Swallowing her fear, Mei took a deep breath and sprinted forward. She launched herself off the edge, her body moving on pure instinct. The wind roared in her ears, the ground rushing up to meet her. For one terrifying moment, she was certain she had misjudged the distance, that she would miss the ledge and plunge into the depths below.

But then her feet hit solid stone, and she stumbled, barely managing to keep her balance. She was panting, her heart racing with the adrenaline of the leap. Nagisa stood before her, an approving gleam in her eye.

“Not bad, Seito,” Nagisa said, nodding slightly. “You hesitated, but you did not fail. Remember that fear is natural, but letting it control you is a choice.”

Mei bowed her head, her legs still shaking, but a sense of pride swelled within her. “Thank you, Master. I will remember your words.”

Nagisa gave a curt nod, already turning away. “We’re not done yet,” she said over her shoulder. “Follow me. And this time, try not to hesitate.”

Mei straightened, a determined glint in her eyes. She would prove herself worthy of this training, no matter how grueling it became. As they continued deeper into the wilderness, the rising sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, casting their shadows long and fierce against the rocks.

This was only the beginning, and Mei knew that the path ahead would be filled with challenges. But with every step she took alongside her master, she felt herself growing stronger, more resilient. And for the first time, she truly believed that she could become someone worthy of standing among the academy’s elites.

The academy's bell tolled in the distance, marking the start of a new day, but for Mei and her master, their training had already begun long before.