‘As Vibrant as Days!! As Tranquil as Nights!! March of Golden Age’s Kings towards Pre-eminent Perfection!!’ (Part 1)

Kenzo grasping Alan's sight who crouched over his knees gazing at the baskets one after another before him. He called out, "And, what are you doing?"

Alan apprehending his call grinned. Pointing over the baskets one after another he jested sarcastic, "Marveling your luck what else, your highness?"

Kenzo annoyed over his comment clicked his tongue.

"What's with that response…?" Alan stood up dusting his hands, "I bought your little ones back to you in one piece and that's the look you give me? Alright, forget it... tell me, what are you going to do now?"

"One piece hun… how assuring…" Feng thought speechless.

Heber instantly realizing asked Kenzo, "Ah right captain, what about the materials?" Ezekiel and Ryan too remembering eyed Xavier and Helios curious.

"About that…" Seraph scratched his cheek.

The young ones after a short while surrounded the rock filled baskets speechless. Some with their mouths a gape and some with their expressions blackened. The third years exhaled wordless.

"What the hell?!" Azazel and Adam freaked out.

"So now you are telling me that we have to carry these rock filled baskets back to that mountain top this late at night?!" Feng questioned baffled.

"No way…" Ezekiel rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

"Your words really lived up to their name vice-captain." Ryan recalled whereas Xavier forced a smile.

"And from the looks these baskets are labelled respectively for each of you however, only their quantities are different. Which are meant to keep different I suppose." Alan explained.

"But why?" Poseidon questioned.

"For training purposes." Alan replied, "Since each one you have different body growths, adaptations, strengths and weaknesses. The weight depends for each one of you. That old man isn't a fool. When he did something like this… he must have a higher outcome stored in mind." 

"So we have to carry it all back in the end…!" Adam cried hugging Cassiel from his waist.

"But the weight…!" Helios protested suddenly quieting down. Poseidon eyed him concerned.

"If we were to divide the weight now, it's based on 4 parts. 1 quarter, half, 3 quarters and full. And, for whom these parts are distributed to…" Alan wondered separating the baskets alongside Xavier.

Reading the name above the cloth Seraph said, "1 quarter baskets are for… Helios, Feng and Kenzo."

"Half's are for Ryan, Cassiel, Gabriel and Heber…" Alan added setting the baskets on the other side.

"3 quarter baskets are Seraph's, Xavier's, and Ezekiel's." Gabriel continued.

"With the full ones for me, Azazel, Poseidon and Adam." Alan ended.

Hearing his name on full Adam and Azazel stood with their eyes popped out. Pointing their fingers to themselves they uttered, "Full?! For us?!" 

Poseidon who was aware looked at Helios who stood bewildered.

Alan clicking his tongue complained, "Tch, That damn old man… he won't leave me at any cost!"

"But how am I supposed to carry these many rocks on my own all the way back?! It's impossible!" Adam cried hopeless as Azazel stood confused.

"Indeed, even three quarter baskets might be named three quarters but, are still even to the full ones." Seraph concurred.

Kenzo and Heber looked at Azazel. "Will you be able to do it?" Kenzo questioned.

Azazel muddled looked away, "I… I- don't know…?"

Adam looking at the basket compared it with Ryan's sniffing, "Even Ryan's one is lighter than mine."

"How about we switch baskets then…?" Ezekiel proposed, "After all, a full basket for vice-captain is quiet harsh. Considering his condition, it would be impossible to lift it whole." 

Poseidon hearing his words flinched. In fact, he wasn't wrong. Biting his lips he thought, "I am troubling them again… how forlorn of me."

"Or how about we throw some of these stones away?" Heber suggested cleverly.

Cassiel sighing rejected, "What's the point of carrying them then? It's meant for our training in the first place. Moreover, if head coach notices any changes made who knows what kind of penalty we might suffer later on."

"Forget the halves if we want to get away with it. Let's be outrageous just like we always have been and take the whole hog instead. Saves us a whole lot of trouble." Seraph advised.

"Nor that we can get away with it…" Feng exhaled.

Alan looking at them took a deep breath, "You brats, if sulking can get you away with it then continue on. I am leaving." Grasping his basket from the hanging ropes, Alan pulled the basket over his shoulders. 

And the moment he did his expression widened, suddenly flinching and quavering he rapidly held his ground standing straight.

"Heavy…!" he thought staggered, "This much weight!? If I were to assume… a full basket of rocks would weigh up to 20 Litres of water or a gallon to be precise moreover, walking back the same route we came from…? Furthermore full baskets placed into hands of Poseidon, Azazel and Adam out of all… it's indeed troubling. Not to mention Poseidon's health. However, I doubt he would give up…"

"It's alright…" Poseidon spoke. Helios eyed him puzzled.

"Just like Alan said, there must be a reason to why coach Nidou thought of it this way. Maybe, it is strengthening a part of us that we don't even look upon. So… it's alright, I'll lift it up. You don't need to worry Heli." Poseidon convinced.

Azazel hearing his resolve agreed, "Poseidon's right. There must be a meaning to why this is done. And, if that meaning is to make me stronger, then I'll definitely do it!"

Adam too worried yet convinced nodded. "Not that I'll get shorter after pulling some weight… if it means getting stronger than Ryan, then I'll definitely do it!" he gleamed suddenly pumped up.

Ryan pointing to himself sighed, "Why am I there in every one of your reasons?"

"Because I want to beat you, that's it!" Adam replied influenced.

Poseidon nodding crouched before the basket tugging it over his shoulders as the other too did the same, except for Helios who still watched over him silent yet anxious.

Pulling the weight up Azazel instantly groaned, "Aggh…" Heber hearing his cry supported him from his elbow, "Easy there!" Azazel on the contrary smiled, "Hehe… no worries." 

Adam too grasping Seraph's shirt tightly endured.

Poseidon pulling the weight sat baffled. "Heavy!" he thought.

Standing up he instantly tumbled. Helios immediately grasped his shoulder, "Be careful…"

Poseidon smiling weakly yet strong agreed, "Yes."

Xavier eyeing Ryan and Feng walked ahead. Supporting Poseidon he assured, "Don't worry, I'll help you."

Poseidon shaking his head whispered winking his eye, "Thank you… but, let me be naughty for once and do it all on my own."

Kenzo pushing Azazel from the back called out, "Everyone we are heading back. Are you ready?"

The boys responded, "Yes!"

Alan turning around called, "Let's take the tunnel back, it's easier this way."

"Yeah, the route we took was swampy and bumpy its better we head back through the tunnel." Cassiel agreed.

Though, neither of them uttered a single word. Even if half and a quarter, the weight they lifted was still heavy. Xavier walking ahead panted pondering, "Assuming the weight we took down from the base's hill was fifteen liters. Comparing to this weight, it is heavier than normal with the route doubled. It is indeed hard."

The four with their baskets full (Azazel, Adam, Poseidon and Alan) walked in front with the rest following behind. Ezekiel supporting Poseidon walked beside him while Gabriel supported Ryan and Feng. Alan eyeing them all silent from the corner of his eyes could hear their harsh and tired breaths resounding around the tunnel.

Kenzo following last watched over the rest before him restless. "There must be something…" he murmured pondering endlessly, "Something to get us past this…"

International Cricket Training Camp of Pakistan for Juveniles [Stadium 1])

Large flood lights shining on the cricket ground, the ball with full force flew towards the leg side scoring a huge six. The middleschoolers looking at the sight panted hard. Sweat dripping their foreheads like streaming river they stood bewildered and silent.

"Yes! It's a six!! God job Elias!!" Aigou remarked rushing over to him.

Elias smiling clapped his hand together with his.

"Haha! Keep up the good work Elias and we'll win this in no time!" Aigou claimed confident.

Grasping the ball from Ebraham's hand Aryan walked towards the pitch again. Wiping his sweat, he rubbed the ball on his thigh. 

"Come on, Aryan! Keep up the good work!" Mikael encouraged him from the right corner of the boundary.

Damian standing on the wicket keeping exhaled thinking, "53 runs in 10 overs (60 balls). This was the least target we could give in all 10 overs with nine outs. Whereas, right now they are on their fourth over and there first two openers have already scored 46 runs despite us using all our skills. And, now just seven more runs to go… and we are completely annihilated."