61 OH NO!

HAELAN'S POV

"UMBRIEL!", my eyes widened in great suprise as I see Umbriel poking my face with a scroll.

"Hello Sir Haelan! Were you sleeping here?", he asked as I rise immediately and wiped the drool on my cheeks. It's good I chose to wear thicker layers and my blanket is up on my neck or else, he would see more of my skin.

Umbriel opened the curtains as the mild sunshine on a very cloudy day fill the library. It was only then that I could hear the drizzles and the wind whistling.

"Oh no, of course not!", I said as I quickly gather the cushion and pillows on the floor and placed then on the bare divan in the corner. "Who would be in their right mind to sleep here in the.. library? ", I said with an awful laugh. I guess I only slept for roughly two hours.

"I thought so too! Have you been reading? I've always thought you're more like a bookworm than I am. Last time, you were following me around trying to get in here", Atrius laughed as he arrange the scrolls on the table. "Now that you're a Paladin, you have access in all rooms in Brandenburg! How explicit isn't it!", he said. Umbriel have always been this light, carefree and conversational. His raw innocence make him approachable and mere gullible.

"Ahh, of course. Who would have thought things would go this way", I said as I beam a smile at him. "Umbriel, do you know what this is?", I showed him the armcuff on my wrist. The smile on his face slowly faded, and his eyes squinted at the yellow gem at the middle. His reaction got me worried, that this arm cuff is really something.

"It's a bracelet, Sir Haelan! And a very nice piece indeed!", he clearly said.

"Haha, it is", I chuckled awkwardly for I certainly hoped a different reply. Then I suppose, this arm cuff is not a stolen relic from the monastery, owned by healer soul travelers, or any valuable material he's familiar with.

We stared at each other for a while. He was just standing in front of me with a bashful smile. I cleared my throat as I break the silence. Then, he took a glance at the window. "Sir Stellan has been waiting in the training grounds in the last hour. I think you should hurry up, Sir Haelan", he said coolly.

Oh no. My heart sank.

I rushed to the window and could barely see Stellan waiting in the light rain. The weather has been very dim that I cannot tell it's no longer that early. "Thanks Umbriel! See you later!", I hurriedly went out as I grab my shoes.

"By the way, Sir Haelan!", Umbriel said as he ran after me. "It's Tris! The soul traveler I was telling you about? Her name is Beatrice of Caluso", he said with his glimmering eyes.

I replied with a timid smile as I swallow a lump in my throat. Hearing my mother's name around doesn't surprise me anymore. It's certainly a proud moment for me given that my mother was once a great warrior who defended Nether.

I ran down quickly as I fit my brocade over my white tunic. Was the training grounds always been this far from the library? My palms suddenly became cold and sweaty. The last time I was tardy, the entire battalion was punished as I made the training dreadfully tiring.

Now it's just me, I couldn't imagine what would happen exactly. I arrived in the training grounds nervously. The rain isn't even that hard, but the ground is soft and mushy. Then I faced the wrath of Stellan who seemed to be very angry.

"Since you're taking me for granted, it's so comforting that it never crossed my mind to recommend you as a Palace Paladin", Stellan said as he grunted. He's wearing a grey tunic, and black trousers. Why would he wear so little clothes in such weather? Despite his dark golden hair is damp, and his shoes are slightly muddy, Stellan still look undeniably blinding.

"I apologize Sir Stellan, Atrius, Jac and I went out last night and..", I tried to explain but when I mentioned my friends' names it almost like irritated him more.

"We don't have time to play, Haelan", he sniffed a little as if he has cold. "Today is the second day of your only three days of training as one of the strongest line of protectors of this Kingdom. We won't make the most out of it if you would be focusing on other things.", he said fiercely.

"I'm sorry, Sir", I apologized dearly. Looking at Stellan who appeared to be bitterly odd and pompous. Then, he dumped two brown sacks in front me and tossed a long stick on my hands. "What's this?", I asked.

"Carry these two sacks of sand, and run a lap around the training grounds. Each time you come back slower, you'll run another lap", Stellan coldly said.

I immediately tied the sacks on both ends of the stick and placed it over my shoulders. The sacks are heavier than it looks for they are already a bit soaked. I was about to start when we saw Jac and Atrius coming in.

"Sir Stellan, May we join Haelan? I know you just asked our assistance for sparring but, we wouldn't want to waste our time just looking through our windows when we can train with Haelan", Atrius asked Stellan.

"By all means", Stellan without looking. He then stood under the parapet walk as he watch us start running.

The three of us started to run at once. The continous rain damped the sand bags making it heavier. Jacomus made it look easy, while Atrius ran up behind me. As fast as I could, I tried to run as my shoes sink in the mud. At the first lap, I could already feel my shoulder get numb from the sand bags that were getting heavier and heavier..

Impressively, Jacomus finished first. He surprisingly beat his own time on his second lap. Atrius is still running with me, who seemed unusual for someone who finishes all kinds of tasks first.

Running around in circles so many times, I already lost count how many laps I did. I kept on getting slower each time I reach the end. Stellan doesn't even mind counting anymore, as my legs noticeably started to feel weary. The slower I run, the more damped the sand bags become due to the rain.

Dragging my tired feet, I could hear my breath loud and heavy. If only it isn't raining, I would have used my powers to lighten the sand.

Then I suddenly thought, every drop of the rain represented my mother. As the rain supress my powers, I'm being trained to count on myself and not on my magical skills. Struggling with the weight over my shoulder, I dropped on my knees splashing on some muddy puddles. Atrius was quick on his feet to help me up. "Are you alright?", he worriedly asked.

"Yea", I said with a faint smile. He was about to carry my sandbags when I spat his hand. "I can do this", I said with confidence as I gasp for air. I looked up and feel the raindrops on my face. Beating this endurance test on my own is what I should do.

I think, Stellan's lesson for me is to always be on time, and give my best at all cost. If I have arrived early, my sandbags wouldn't be soaked too much and they wouldn't be so heavy. And if I have given my best in the first two laps, when the sandbags weren't that heavy yet.. I would have been done with the test like Jacomus. I don't know with Atrius, but he appears to be looking after me instead of actually running.

Standing on my wobbly knees, I lifted the sand bags which were dripping with water and were already heavier than me. I swayed the sand bags to set my pace. The faster they sway, the lighter they would be. And so I ran two laps skillfully and tirelessly. Atrius finished second, while I follow him. As I reach the end, I foolishly slipped on the slithery grass near Stellan. I was about to fall on his arms when Atrius blocked my way and landed on him instead.