Day 1: A Grueling Start. The sun had barely risen when Kaito’s voice thundered across the training field. “Move faster! You think the world will wait for you to catch your breath?” Shunjiro stumbled forward, sweat dripping from his face, his muscles screaming in protest. Every inch of his body ached, and it wasn’t even midday. The training was relentless, sprints across uneven terrain, carrying weights up steep hills, and sparring sessions designed to push them to the brink of exhaustion. It wasn’t just Shunjiro who was struggling. Sora, normally so composed, had his hands on his knees, gasping for air. Tetsuo, as tough as he looked, was visibly winded. Even Jayiden, whose beast-like features suggested boundless endurance, had a thin sheen of sweat across his forehead. Kaito stood with his arms crossed, observing them with an unreadable expression. “This isn’t a vacation,” he said coldly. “You want to be warriors? Earn it.” Shunjiro groaned inwardly. This is going to be a long four days. Meanwhile, in Yumi’s group, Itsuki found herself walking alongside a girl named Aira as they began their journey to the village. Aira was about the same height as Itsuki, with soft, wavy hair and a calm demeanor that immediately put her at ease. As they talked, Itsuki learned that Aira’s powers involved manipulating water to heal wounds. During a brief break, Aira demonstrated by forming a small orb of shimmering water in her palms, letting it flow gently across her skin to soothe a scrape she had gotten earlier. “That’s incredible,” Itsuki said, her eyes wide with admiration. “It’s nothing special,” Aira replied modestly. “I still have a lot to learn. What about you? How do you heal?” Itsuki hesitated before answering. “I don’t have anything as cool as water powers. My healing is… well, it’s just a basic energy flow.” Aira smiled warmly. “Basic or not, healing is healing. We all have our strengths.” The two girls continued chatting as they walked, finding common ground in their shared dedication to helping others. Itsuki felt a spark of confidence grow within her, maybe she wasn’t as alone in this journey as she’d thought. Over in Hiroto’s group, Yoshinori kept to himself, observing his teammates from a distance. They had been given time to introduce themselves earlier, and he had learned that the group included a girl named Aiko and a boy named Ryuji. Aiko was sharp and confident, with a quick wit that seemed to put others at ease. Ryuji, in contrast, was laid-back and unassuming, with a warm smile that never seemed to waver. During a break, Yoshinori overheard them talking. “I swear, if one more person asks me about my family’s policies, I might scream,” Aiko said, rolling her eyes. Ryuji laughed. “Tell me about it. All they see is the name, not the person. That’s why I’m here, to prove I’m more than just ‘that politician’s son.’” Aiko nodded. “Same. I want to be my own person, make my own choices. Not follow some pre-written script.” Yoshinori respected their resolve. He admired anyone who could step out of the shadows cast by others and carve their own path. Though he didn’t say it out loud, their determination resonated with him. In Akira’s group, the atmosphere was tense. They were deep within a dungeon, navigating narrow corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly. The air was damp and heavy, and the faint glow of torches barely illuminated the stone walls. Yuki led the way, her confidence unwavering. Behind her trailed Ryota, Lars, and Emi, a small, frail elf with an air of quiet determination. Emi’s powers revolved around manipulating strings, which she could sharpen into razor-like threads for combat. Despite her fragile appearance, she was skilled and resourceful. Akira watched Yuki closely. The girl was leagues ahead of the others in terms of raw power and skill. Her movements were precise, her strategy impeccable. Akira couldn’t help but see shades of her sister Yuuna in Yuki’s determination. As they pushed deeper into the dungeon, the group encountered a swarm of shadowy creatures. Yuki immediately took the lead, her strikes swift and deadly. Ryota and Lars struggled to keep up, their movements clumsy in comparison. Emi held her own, her razor strings slicing through the creatures with surprising efficiency. Akira nodded approvingly. “Yuki, keep leading. Emi, stay close to her. Ryota, Lars, focus on defense.” The group pressed on, the challenges growing more difficult with every step. Day 2: Progress and Friendship. By the second day, Shunjiro was starting to adjust to Kaito’s grueling regimen. His body, already strong from years of physical labor and battle from his father, began to adapt to the intense training. He found himself keeping up with the drills, even if it still left him breathless. During a break, Shunjiro found himself sitting next to Tetsuo. The broad-shouldered recruit had a rough, blunt demeanor that reminded Shunjiro of the delinquents he used to encounter in his village. “You’re not half-bad, Shunjiro,” Tetsuo said, grinning. “For someone who looks like they don’t have a clue half the time.” Shunjiro laughed. “Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.” The two quickly hit it off, their shared sense of humor making the brutal training sessions more bearable. Shunjiro admired Tetsuo’s strength, his stone powers gave him an edge in sparring, and his punches packed a serious punch. Sora, on the other hand, was less amused by their antics. “Could you two focus for five minutes?” he snapped, exasperated. “Some of us are trying to take this seriously.” “Relax, Sora,” Tetsuo said, slapping him on the back. “You’re wound tighter than a spring. Loosen up.” Sora muttered something under his breath and stalked off, leaving Shunjiro and Tetsuo in fits of laughter. Meanwhile, Jayiden remained quiet, his sharp eyes focused on the training ahead. Despite his stoic nature, Shunjiro couldn’t help but be impressed by how effortlessly Jayiden seemed to handle the exercises. He was a mystery, but one thing was clear, he was a force to be reckoned with. In Yumi’s group, Itsuki and Aira continued to bond as they journeyed toward the village. The two worked well together, their skills complementing each other’s. “I think we’ll make a good team,” Aira said as they set up camp for the night. Itsuki smiled. “Yeah. I feel like we’ve already learned a lot from each other.” Yoshinori’s group spent their second day planning their quest. Aiko and Ryuji took the lead, their natural charisma making it easy for the group to work together. Yoshinori remained quiet but observant, contributing when necessary. He found himself growing more comfortable with his teammates, though he still preferred to stay in the background. Akira’s group pushed further into the dungeon, the challenges growing more intense. Yuki continued to shine, her strength and leadership inspiring the others to step up their game. By the end of the day, all the groups were exhausted but motivated. Each step brought them closer to their goals, and for Shunjiro, the realization that he was part of something greater filled him with renewed determination. The journey was just beginning, and he was ready for whatever came next.