<b>[Scene Loading...]


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    <b>[Location: Leoncrest Castle - Training Grounds]


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    <b>[Date: February 14, y. 486 of the Fourth Age]</b>


    Finding a training partner for mountain climbing proved harder than Zeke expected. For nearly two weeks after learning about the Fourth Trial, he''d been trying to catch Ingrid between her packed schedule of advanced combat classes and mercenary guild meetings.


    "Yes, I can probably help with that," she finally told him when he cornered her after dinner one evening. "The challenge will be creating something around here that accurately mimics mountain conditions. Let me think on it for a bit."


    Zeke readily agreed, not wanting to push his luck. Ingrid wasn''t known for her patience, and getting her help at all felt like a victory.


    For the next week, they spoke only in passing—a nod in the hallway here, a brief greeting in the dining hall there.


    Then one afternoon as Zeke was finishing Swordsmanship class, wiping sweat from his brow after a particularly intense sparring session with Victoria, he spotted Ingrid approaching the training yard. Victoria nodded to her roommate as Zeke sheathed his practice sword and grabbed a towel.


    He''d barely raised his hand in greeting when Ingrid marched directly up to him.


    "You ready to start your training?" she asked without preamble.


    Zeke blinked in surprise. "I mean... yes, absolutely. Right now?"


    "No time like the present," Ingrid replied with a curt nod. "If you''re up for it, we''ll train three times a week—Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I''d do more, but I have classes and meetings to attend."


    Victoria walked past, clapping Zeke firmly on the shoulder. "And this better not affect your performance in our morning sessions, understood?" She grinned as she said it.


    Zeke rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Wouldn''t dream of it."


    As Victoria departed, Ingrid turned and headed toward the edge of the training grounds. "Follow me."


    She led him toward the Training Woods, and Zeke felt a twinge of unease. He hadn''t ventured back there since the cult incident months ago.


    Still, he squared his shoulders and kept pace with her, refusing to show any hesitation.


    When they reached the edge of the woods, Ingrid stopped and turned to face him.


    "When you asked me to help, my hesitation wasn''t because I didn''t want to," she explained. "Mountain environments are uniquely challenging. The air up there is thinner—not just colder, but there''s actually less oxygen to breathe.


    Something that feels easy down here can become brutally difficult at elevation. Entire armies have been wiped out because they forgot to account for this."


    "Interesting," Zeke said, considering the implications. "So what''s our approach?"


    "Normally, this would be backward," Ingrid replied with a rare chuckle. "Many armies build training camps on mountains so their soldiers get used to fighting in thin air.


    When they return to lower elevations, they''re significantly stronger. What we need to do is create a workout down here that''s even harder than what you''ll face up there."


    "Makes sense," Zeke nodded, remembering his preparation for the Aura Trial. "That''s how I got through the Third Trial. Professor Harold''s intense training made the actual test seem manageable by comparison."


    "Exactly. We need to push you past your limits here so the mountain feels easy by comparison." Ingrid walked to a canvas bag propped against a nearby tree and pulled it open. "I''ve put together some equipment for you."


    Zeke peered inside the bag as she withdrew what looked like clothing—robes, boots, and gloves—all oddly bulky and stiff.


    "Here, put these on," she said, handing him the items.


    Zeke hefted them, surprised by their weight. "These are heavy!"


    "That''s the point," Ingrid replied. "Go ahead and change."


    Zeke glanced around the empty clearing. "Out here?"


    "There''s no one else around," Ingrid sighed, turning her back. "Just be quick about it."


    Zeke changed swiftly, pulling on the strange outfit. The robes hung awkwardly on his frame, with lumpy sections throughout.


    The boots felt like they were made of solid stone, and the gloves had what felt like metal plates sewn into both the palms and backs.


    "All set," he called.


    Ingrid turned around, eyeing him critically. "The robes are a bit large, but that works in our favor—adds more resistance when you move. How does it feel?"


    "Like I''m wearing a small castle," Zeke answered, shifting uncomfortably under the weight. "What exactly am I carrying here?"


    "Weights—mostly rocks, some metal pieces," Ingrid explained. "Adds about fifty pounds total to your body weight."


    Zeke took a few experimental steps, feeling the strain in his legs already. "And I''ll be training in this?"


    "If you can learn to run in that setup, the mountain will feel like a breeze," Ingrid crossed her arms confidently. "I hope."


    "You hope?" Zeke raised an eyebrow.


    "If you fail after all this effort, I''ll have wasted a lot of valuable training time," she replied matter-of-factly. "We''ll start with sprints. Run to that oak tree and back to me, as many times as you can."


    Zeke looked at the tree she''d indicated—about thirty yards away—and nodded. "Let''s do this."


    He took off toward the tree, immediately feeling like he was running through waist-deep water. His legs strained against the added weight, and his lungs burned with the effort.


    By the time he reached the tree, turned, and stumbled back to Ingrid, he was already breathing hard.


    "Not bad, but you can do better," she said without a hint of sympathy. "Again."


    Gritting his teeth, Zeke turned and ran back toward the tree. The second trip was worse than the first, his muscles protesting every step.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    By the third sprint, his legs felt like they were made of lead.


    <b>「???????????????? ????????????」</b>


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    【Weighted Sprints: 3 completed】


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    <b>【Stamina: Rapidly declining】</b>


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    【Determination: Increasing】</b>


    For the next hour, Ingrid kept him running sprints. Zeke pushed through the growing fatigue, focusing on one step at a time rather than the mounting exhaustion.


    When she finally signaled a stop, he collapsed onto the ground, his limbs trembling with exertion.


    "This... I..." he gasped between breaths.


    "Come on, get up," Ingrid said sharply. "You''re not that tired."


    "Oh, yes I—"


    "No, you''re not!" she cut him off, her voice cracking like a whip. "Because if you are, then you''re dead! Up!"


    Something in her tone jolted Zeke to his feet, his body responding before his mind could protest.


    "Alright, soldier!" Ingrid barked. "Now I want pushups!"


    "Pushups?" Zeke repeated, confused.


    Ingrid looked genuinely surprised. "You don''t know how to do a pushup? Here, watch."


    She demonstrated, dropping to the ground and performing several perfect pushups with military precision. Zeke followed suit, the weights in his robes now crushing down on his back and the weights in his gloves making his wrists burn with each repetition.


    "Very good!" Ingrid called out, though her tone suggested otherwise. "But you could be doing better! Double time!"


    By the time she allowed him to stand, Zeke''s arms were shaking uncontrollably. Without giving him a moment to recover, she immediately sent him on more sprints.


    When he returned from the final run, barely able to stay upright, Ingrid finally nodded with something resembling approval.


    "Alright, Godfrey. Get out of that squirrel suit and back into your regular clothes."


    She turned away again as Zeke gratefully stripped off the weighted garments. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he changed back into his normal robes.


    When he finished, Ingrid faced him once more.


    "Great!" she nodded. Zeke started to walk past her toward the Academy, but she frowned. "Where do you think you''re going?"


    "I thought we were—"


    "We''re not done until I say we''re done, soldier!" she barked. "Back to the sprints! On the double!"


    Zeke bit back a groan and started running once more—this time without the weights. Despite his exhaustion, he was surprised to find himself moving with unexpected speed.


    His body, freed from the extra burden, felt almost buoyant. After completing three sprints without pausing, Ingrid finally held up her hand.


    "That''ll do for today. Good work."


    Zeke came to a stop, chest heaving. "Thank... you..." he managed between gasps.


    "Here''s the plan moving forward," Ingrid said, all business. "On the days we meet, you''ll run drills like today''s. On off days, if you''re serious about improving, you''ll train on your own with this equipment."


    She nudged the bag with her foot. "Find paths through these woods or run laps inside the Academy walls if you''re worried about whoever tried to kill you during your last Trial."


    Zeke nodded, still trying to catch his breath. "I''ll... make it... happen."


    "Good," she replied, a hint of a smile crossing her face. "You''re doing better than I expected. Once we''ve built your endurance with sprints, we''ll move to distance training.


    I''d like to run you through the desert training grounds—it would be excellent preparation—but that requires special permission. I''ve spoken to some professors about it, but we''ll have to wait for approval."


    "I appreciate all this," Zeke said sincerely, his breathing finally steadying. "Really."


    As they walked back toward the Academy, he glanced at her curiously. "What about the extreme cold on the mountain? Isn''t that a concern?"


    "Not as much as you''d think," Ingrid replied. "When you''re moving vigorously, your body generates plenty of heat. The bigger worry is having enough food to fuel that heat production."


    She paused, her expression distant. "I remember a mountain march years ago when I was still with the mercenary company. We were heading to storm this castle perched on a cliff edge..."


    She launched into a story about a desperate winter assault up an icy mountain pass, and Zeke listened intently, filing away the practical survival tips embedded in her tale.


    By the time they reached the Academy grounds, he''d learned more about mountain warfare than he''d expected to exist.


    "Same time Wednesday," she said as they parted ways. "Don''t be late."


    "Wouldn''t dream of it," Zeke replied with a tired smile.


    The very next day, as Swordsmanship class ended, Zeke grabbed his bag and headed straight for the Training Woods. Every muscle in his body ached from yesterday''s session with Ingrid, but that only strengthened his resolve.


    If he was going to conquer this Trial, there was no time to waste.


    Victoria looked up from her notes as he passed. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"


    "Extra training," Zeke called back without slowing.


    "Don''t overdo it!" she warned.


    Zeke just waved and continued on his way. Once he reached the Training Woods, he found a secluded spot behind a large oak tree and changed into the weighted clothing Ingrid had given him.


    The outfit felt even heavier than he remembered.


    "Alright," he muttered to himself, adjusting the cumbersome robes. "Let''s do this."


    His legs protested with the first few steps, still sore from yesterday''s brutal workout. Zeke ignored the discomfort and set off down a winding path, moving at a steady jog rather than the all-out sprints Ingrid had demanded.


    "Distance today," he reminded himself. "Need to build endurance."


    Every step was a battle, every yard gained a small victory. The weighted boots felt like they were trying to sink into the earth, and the extra pounds around his torso made breathing more laborious than it should have been.


    But Zeke pushed on, keeping his pace deliberate and sustainable.


    He followed the main path through the woods, heading toward the Old Forest but with no intention of entering that dangerous area. As he approached the border where the Training Woods gave way to darker, more twisted trees, he veered onto a side path that curved back toward the Academy.


    His legs burned and his lungs ached, but there was a satisfaction in the struggle. This pain had purpose—it was forging him into something stronger.


    When he completed the loop back to his starting point, he surprised himself by feeling ready for more.


    "One more circuit," he decided, choosing a different path this time.


    This new trail led northward, toward the ominously named Dark Forest. Like the Old Forest, it had a reputation for danger, but the path itself stayed safely within the boundaries of the Training Woods.


    As Zeke jogged along, the terrain became more challenging—uneven ground, exposed roots, and occasional fallen branches that required careful navigation in his weighted boots.


    About halfway through this route, he noticed a narrow path branching off to the right. It was barely visible, more animal track than proper trail, snaking between trees toward the south.


    Curiosity piqued, Zeke decided to follow it.


    The path climbed steadily uphill, turning his jog into a grueling hike. Each step required more effort than the last as the combined resistance of the weights and the incline tested his limits.


    At times he was moving so slowly he might as well have been walking, but he refused to stop.


    "This is... perfect... training," he gasped to himself, pushing onward.


    Just when he thought the trail would never end, the ground began to level out. The narrow path widened as it joined several other trails, forming something closer to a proper road.


    Through the trees ahead, Zeke glimpsed something large and pale.


    Curious, he pushed himself to continue, and soon found himself in a small clearing dominated by an ancient statue. Standing at least twelve feet tall, it depicted a warrior with sword raised high.


    Time had not been kind to the monument—the head had crumbled away entirely, and much of the body was so weathered as to be almost unrecognizable. Only the upraised sword and a massive shield remained clearly defined, both covered in withered vines with tiny green shoots just beginning to emerge in the early spring thaw.


    Zeke circled the statue, noticing layers of graffiti carved into the stone base. Some marks looked decades or even centuries old, while others seemed more recent—names and dates of students who had discovered this forgotten monument.


    "Wonder who you were," Zeke said to the headless warrior. "Someone important, I bet, to get a statue this big."


    He examined the base for any inscription that might identify the figure, but found nothing legible. Just another mystery in a place full of them.


    The statue made for a perfect turning point. Zeke took a moment to catch his breath, then started back down the path toward the Academy.


    The downhill return journey was easier on his lungs but treacherous for his legs, the weights threatening to send him tumbling with any misstep.


    Despite the difficulty—or perhaps because of it—Zeke found himself grinning as he picked his way down the trail. This was exactly the challenge he needed.


    The mountain run would involve chains rather than weighted clothes, but the principle was the same: learn to overcome resistance, and you build strength for when it matters most.


    As the Academy walls came back into view, Zeke''s thoughts turned to the Fourth Trial. The Headmistress had made it clear that his enemies would show no mercy. The mountain wouldn''t either.


    But with each weighted step, each burning muscle, each gasping breath, he was preparing himself to face whatever challenges lay ahead.


    The statue would become his marker—his daily goal. He''d run to it every day, adding distance and speed as his strength improved.


    By the time the Trial came, he''d be ready.


    No matter how hard it became.


    <b>[Scene Close]</b>


    <b>[Earned Emblems:]


    Heart of the Warrior


    Endurance</b>


    <b>[Active Quests:]


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    <b>[Running Onward: Continue mountain training]


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    <b>[Mystery Stone: Discover the statue''s identity]</b>