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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAmtnbYgM2MZ
You might be a little confused, so let me explain my life clearly to you.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAs8OvEDSXrq
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANASVYKK40UcF
257Please respect copyright.PENANAkWU0B7b78L
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAUnStm5zkGb
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAA9larS7LLS
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAn15JpqJhPo
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAFacytjZgU5
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAklhJbs3YmI
The sun isn't even up yet, but Madelyn is already there, looking as fresh and alert as ever.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAhLlxZRXAvK
"Ready for another day?" she asks, a slight smirk on her face.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAqO1o49rxaH
"More ready than ever," I mutter sarcastically, though she chooses to ignore my tone.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAcbdXdvX8jN
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAJFzuMIv1xZ
The sun begins to rise from the horizon, and it's already mid-morning before we decide to stop our run.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAeBYd0Vhxv2
I am sweating buckets, but I'm not on my hands and knees like I was the other two days.
257Please respect copyright.PENANA521bv8RKPT
Madelyn looks at me and smiles as we make our way to the underground training room.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAXIGTsc3U7S
"I think now is the perfect time to begin your training in earnest," she says, clapping her hands together.
257Please respect copyright.PENANA90CfDvecIf
257Please respect copyright.PENANAy2wYCyWnCG
"I'm sorry, what?" I ask, my amazement at my own physical abilities completely overshadowed by confusion.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAOez1rQeUAD
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."
257Please respect copyright.PENANAEQ4IhkVuo6
I gave her a skeptical look. "That wasn't real training? Because it sure felt like it."
257Please respect copyright.PENANAwwOJ26wHMN
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAQDD6ihONVG
"Demonic power," I said, as if it were a statement I had read in a book.
257Please respect copyright.PENANA2tD8VVslXy
Madelyn nodded. "Yes. You've seen the dark aura around me before, right?"
257Please respect copyright.PENANAeXjT4OFd2e
I nodded, remembering the many confrontations I'd witnessed before.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAfjqurhNDRK
"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.257Please respect copyright.PENANAisJiLCMLer
257Please respect copyright.PENANA9O45DcLqDz
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAMYRUswNha0
"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."
257Please respect copyright.PENANA62m5hiGvhn
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAn1Lx9L3YXp
Madelyn's dark aura soon disappeared, and she was once again her normal self. She looked at me and smiled.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAvJb4FgOiRm
"How we are going to start is simple." She lifted her hand above her head and snapped her fingers.
257Please respect copyright.PENANADtERQXqmZu
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.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAY0wbblpybG
It landed with a huge thud right in front of us, its feet slightly breaking the earth.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAq57xZ9XtjB
"You seem to respond to more physical education," she said.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAYBrKXNHS9w
A chill ran up my spine.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAYvpLKzuzdr
"So the plan is to continue beating you until you can maintain your own tzelem."
257Please respect copyright.PENANAFg16SZ3g39
The mannequin made a fighting stance, and I knew I was going to be beaten black and blue.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAzvoCx39MKP
"God help me," I whispered as the mannequin began running towards me.
257Please respect copyright.PENANAYyAf296WHo
257Please respect copyright.PENANAzT2VrbINMI
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.123da2