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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1kddVBa79
You might be a little confused, so let me explain my life clearly to you.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hpTJsYf8k
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfko0n8atfd
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZicpzYr0V3
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBLl8xlr1n
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDU0sZk592
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WDpGC7tBn
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBcNYXlaxK
The sun isn't even up yet, but Madelyn is already there, looking as fresh and alert as ever.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DeZs3VnLk
"Ready for another day?" she asks, a slight smirk on her face.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYPk6pOIfF
"More ready than ever," I mutter sarcastically, though she chooses to ignore my tone.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GY8BIAvVf
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U8FmV8nn1
The sun begins to rise from the horizon, and it's already mid-morning before we decide to stop our run.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdRpsNFey7
I am sweating buckets, but I'm not on my hands and knees like I was the other two days.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcsyBRkjnn
Madelyn looks at me and smiles as we make our way to the underground training room.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCte7DNrgdS
"I think now is the perfect time to begin your training in earnest," she says, clapping her hands together.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafr4Aejndd
"I'm sorry, what?" I ask, my amazement at my own physical abilities completely overshadowed by confusion.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2P7OANXyE
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRExSYLJW2t
I gave her a skeptical look. "That wasn't real training? Because it sure felt like it."
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH442HTr0Yp
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicjhNha6U5
"Demonic power," I said, as if it were a statement I had read in a book.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0JNNP2BmV
Madelyn nodded. "Yes. You've seen the dark aura around me before, right?"
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l4W47ZFvA
I nodded, remembering the many confrontations I'd witnessed before.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsm2RYBAAP
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXVuahfaFO
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3I7FevwuF
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPwIYhY6mO
"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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc1tBBGRfU
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQGO5831sO
Madelyn's dark aura soon disappeared, and she was once again her normal self. She looked at me and smiled.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dHi5zKw1C
"How we are going to start is simple." She lifted her hand above her head and snapped her fingers.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bXONA9yY1
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaX0JVtKXz
It landed with a huge thud right in front of us, its feet slightly breaking the earth.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROkHyVR7t2
"You seem to respond to more physical education," she said.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFajvZUAipS
A chill ran up my spine.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TTTIwGT2G
"So the plan is to continue beating you until you can maintain your own tzelem."
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tsgbA5sYa
The mannequin made a fighting stance, and I knew I was going to be beaten black and blue.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzQ5E2HgSp
"God help me," I whispered as the mannequin began running towards me.
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIDKLHpspH
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.238da2
