In addition to searching for water, Osiris taught techniques for filtering it and testing its quality, among other vital skills.

Without a doubt, warriors not only needed to survive in the Dark Continent, but also to collect water samples for analysis. Some of these samples proved to be lethal—either as toxins or as organisms far deadlier than they appeared.

Beyond “Survival Art” and “Resource Harvesting,” the syllabus broke into four major disciplines: “mining,” “herb gathering,” “geological surveying,” and “exploration.”

Each of these lessons could have been a standalone course in any college under normal circumstances, each requiring years of study to master. Yet here, they were merely fragments of a larger tapestry.

In other words, while one might graduate college after specializing in a single subject for three years, survival in this world demanded mastery over all of them—or death awaited.

Only by mastering everything could a warrior hope to endure the Dark Continent.

For Aries, the three months of endurance and “mining” training tested his limits more than any other challenge. During the first week, it took him 30 minutes to complete five laps.

After two weeks, he managed the same distance in 20 minutes. By the end of a month, he cut his time down to 15 minutes.

As he pushed himself through each grueling run, Aries’ thoughts wandered to a memory of his mother, Melody. She had laughed with the sunlight in her hair, dancing with him in a clearing now silent and overgrown. Those fleeting memories gave him strength to take one more step, no matter how heavy his legs felt.

After two months of relentless effort, Aries finally earned the rare privilege of seeing his father smile.

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His speed and endurance improved astonishingly as a by-product of daily training, and he even secured the occasional word of praise.

By the end of the third month, his body brimmed with power.

The Clan of Silis, though reduced to just him and his father, were far from ordinary. They had preserved generations of wisdom—books, ancient scrolls, and knowledge that set them apart from other tribes. Once, their clan had stood above the rest, but beast hordes and internecine strife had decimated their numbers.

Reflecting on this, Aries turned to the herbalism shelf and pulled out a book titled Plants. Flipping through the pages, he made a few confirmations before returning it to its place.

Exhausted, he crouched on the ground and traced the symbol of the Gate with a stick—the same emblem carved into his father’s chest. His eyes lingered on the marking, his voice a whisper. “Is this what awaits me?”

Without waiting for an answer, Aries stood and walked toward his next round of training.

The outer region of the Tribe stretched vast and empty, a desolate field brimming with the silent echoes of history. The air hung heavy with the scent of decay, a faint warning carried by the distant cries of unseen predators. Beneath Aries’ feet, the ground was a mosaic of bones—human and beast alike—silent testaments to battles long lost. This was the Tribe’s training field, where generations before him, including his father and brothers, had been forged.

Osiris stood with a cold smile, his voice steady, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere like a blade. “After three months of training, you’ve barely earned the basic qualifications of a guard dog. Garbage, at best.”

The weight of his father’s judgment settled heavily on Aries, but he didn’t flinch. Osiris continued, his tone sharp and unwavering.

“The painful truth is a heavy cloak, Aries. It shields you, but it also weighs you down. Learn to bear it, or it will crush you.”

Aries straightened, his voice quiet but resolute. “I’ll wear it like armor, Father. I’ll make it light by understanding it.”

Osiris’s cold smile shifted, almost imperceptibly, into one of approval. “Good. Starting today, every six months, there will be an exam. A man does not falter, boy. To lose your dream is to live in death. The gods reward those who work hard. And I have a test for you, son.”

Aries tensed as his father’s words fell like stones.

“It’s simple,” Osiris said, his eyes narrowing. “I will send you to a place where you need only survive for ten days. Succeed, and you are qualified to continue our training. Survive, and you keep our legacy alive. Fail…” His gaze grew heavier, colder. “Fail, and the last light of Silis will be extinguished. Not just our tribe, but you, Aries. Do you understand?”

Aries clenched his fists, his resolve unshaken. “I’ll make it back, Father. I’ll prove I’m more than just the last of us.”

Osiris stepped closer, handing him a small, ancient amulet. The metal glinted faintly, worn smooth by time and touch. “This belonged to your mother. She wore it for protection. Now, it’s yours. Say the words of our truth.”

Aries grasped the amulet tightly, its weight grounding him. His voice, though soft, carried the echoes of generations.

“By the light of the past, guide my steps, shield my soul. Let the legacy of Silis endure the strings of the Gods.”