To say that these last three days were torture would be a major understatement, the worst understatement ever. I felt less human than ever before. I couldn't even call myself an animal—just a miserable creature getting the snot kicked out of him continuously without mercy.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6paHZEDNc
You might be a little confused, so let me explain my life clearly to you.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaVRb7RHxH
My life these past few days has consisted of waking up at 6:30, not a minute or even a second later. Otherwise, training would be ten times worse. Madelyn and I would warm up by doing ten laps around the rocky field beneath her house, followed by stretching exercises that nearly tore me in half.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD57cSoauk
Afterward, I would be taught martial arts and basic fighting techniques, which revealed that I knew nothing about fighting. Madelyn would teach me herself before demanding that I try these techniques on her. I hated the idea of hitting a girl, but the thing was, I never managed to hit Madelyn. Instead, I was the one always on the ground, either scarred or gasping from getting the air knocked out of my chest.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDvcK7n9EH
These lessons would go on and on until late in the afternoon. After they were over, Madelyn and I would meditate on our knees for another hour. She always said that when we meditate, we should focus on the darkness within and try to talk with our demon. Honestly, I was never good at sitting still and being in my true mind, and that hadn't changed. I was always about to fall asleep, but Madelyn would hit me on the head to prevent me from finding release from the pain.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdvvO49L9b
After the physical and spiritual training was over, Madelyn and I would sit down at a wooden table placed far from the training grounds, close to the ladder that was my escape from this hellhole. As we sat at the table, I would learn history—history of Pillars that lived over the centuries, history of the House of Bathin, and history about the organization that holds it all together, the Gibborim Covenant.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBskBs0jp76
From what I understood, Gibborim was a Hebrew word that meant the "Mighty Ones" who bear the burden of their inner demons. It was perfectly on the nose if you ask me.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡittGUEaSk8
All of these things I went over without rest for the whole day, and here I am on the fourth day, trudging back to the training grounds, my entire body aching but noticeably less than yesterday, which was a small comfort.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw6VpVR9eR
The sun isn't even up yet, but Madelyn is already there, looking as fresh and alert as ever.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8OeYzAJTp
"Ready for another day?" she asks, a slight smirk on her face.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjTO0Oo7BN
"More ready than ever," I mutter sarcastically, though she chooses to ignore my tone.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm5gUFxhXF
I start the laps, trying to keep pace with her. My legs feel like lead weights, but I push on, knowing that complaining will get me nowhere.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHQJ9LeM0m
The sun begins to rise from the horizon, and it's already mid-morning before we decide to stop our run.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvHPpc3mtA
I am sweating buckets, but I'm not on my hands and knees like I was the other two days.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrHlSHsbGh
Madelyn looks at me and smiles as we make our way to the underground training room.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1wyObhSvZ
"I think now is the perfect time to begin your training in earnest," she says, clapping her hands together.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n4mNaJMFY
"I'm sorry, what?" I ask, my amazement at my own physical abilities completely overshadowed by confusion.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLESW2eRmoC
Madelyn looked at me, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. "Ethan, up until now, everything we've done was just to get your body acclimated to its new power. Consider it the foundation. Now, we start the real training."
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IVj3qIula
I gave her a skeptical look. "That wasn't real training? Because it sure felt like it."
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHVz7BgQW8
She grinned. "You're still standing, aren't you? You've improved. But now, you need to learn how to harness and control your power." She said crossing her arms.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVenSnzq8SS
"Demonic power," I said, as if it were a statement I had read in a book.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHWP8TnhMy
Madelyn nodded. "Yes. You've seen the dark aura around me before, right?"
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lyBE6wetk
I nodded, remembering the many confrontations I'd witnessed before.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEVKvPTIzu
"Good. This aura isn't just for show. It's a manifestation of our inner strength and demonic energy. It's one of the first techniques you need to master to be called a true Pillar. Watch closely," she instructed. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. As she did, a dark aura began to swirl around her, enveloping her entire body. Her eyes opened, cold and piercing.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx100gHUM8
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q1sSxLyg5
The air around us shifted, and powerful winds whipped up, forcing me to take a cautious step back. The aura was palpable, charged with raw energy.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUvEcjl8TC
"This," she said, her voice steady amidst the chaos, "is called 'Tzelem.'" She said with a smirk. "And this is what I will be teaching you."
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc9kkWfp99
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of awe and apprehension. "So, how do we start?" I said, feeling more excited than I probably should've.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGKNWOBtjy
Madelyn's dark aura soon disappeared, and she was once again her normal self. She looked at me and smiled.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcBItNqLGa
"How we are going to start is simple." She lifted her hand above her head and snapped her fingers.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC0odU0qER
A shadow fell over me, and I looked up to see something falling towards us. As it came closer, I realized it was one of the steel mannequins that had fought Madelyn before, but this one was bronze.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTQoe1cXEU
It landed with a huge thud right in front of us, its feet slightly breaking the earth.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4aNIreyfX
"You seem to respond to more physical education," she said.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UwyxmW0RR
A chill ran up my spine.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7GJ2IY6pZ
"So the plan is to continue beating you until you can maintain your own tzelem."
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSZcwTHtm0
The mannequin made a fighting stance, and I knew I was going to be beaten black and blue.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQyFcjeLsK
"God help me," I whispered as the mannequin began running towards me.
182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4de8GRqmy
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.229da2
