CHAPTER 20: TEMPERED BODY

As they walked through the white corridors of the Order, Kyrian asked.

"Are there only thirteen people in the Royal Order?"

"Yes, well, now we will be fourteen. We are few, for no one else is worthy. The Royal Order does not accept mediocrity."

"How exactly do you choose the people who enter?"

"Simple, be born talented in some style of fighting, it doesn’t matter which, but talented enough to stand above the others and catch the attention of some member."

"Or pass the selection process, which, in your case, was simplified."

"Why?" Kyrian asked in doubt.

"Rurik ensured that you would be worth it. And I believe he was right. Now you only need to pass through the last and most important test. If you succeed, you will be an official member." Darien completed it as they reached a white door with the Order’s crest.

The room was small but luxurious. A wide bed, a shelf with several books, and even a marble bathtub.

Kyrian, after leaving his bag and spear in the room, left again, approaching the gate through which he had entered.

He found Lina outside, caressing Shadow’s head.

"I will live here now." Kyrian said it straight.

Lina smiled but felt a little sad, for she probably would not see him much.

"I will do my best in the tournament, maybe one day I will enter the Order too." She said, but there was not a single drop of confidence in those words.

But Kyrian nodded.

"The trip was fun." Kyrian spoke in the same tone as always.

But Lina laughed, extremely surprised.

"For you too? Hehe, I am honored."

Kyrian did not reply, but his face was less closed than usual.

After a few seconds.

"Work hard until the tournament arrives, and take care of Shadow for me." Kyrian completed it before going back inside.

...

Kyrian returned to his room and looked through his window, which faced a small garden in the building’s interior.

The training would begin at sunrise the next day. He watched the setting sun filtering through the white curtains.

He had already absorbed all the particles he had seen so far and felt that in the coming years he would finally reach the limit.

As it was not yet night, he decided to read the books on the shelf. He really did not know many things, so there must be important information there.

He picked the first book.

It was called The Fifteen Countries.

Kyrian became instantly interested, opening the book, his eyes quickly scanning, reading faster than anyone.

His eyes absorbed all the information from the book, and, in a short time, he closed his eyes, comprehending everything he had read.

’So, the country of Valor is the neutral country that lies between seven allied countries on its left border and seven allied countries on its right border. Who are absolute enemies’

The country of Valor remains in a neutral state and does not lean to either side. But part of its territory, the South of Valor, is occupied by wars all the time.

The other countries use part of the neutral territory to battle, and the war has already lasted for many, many years.

The royal family made a pact with both alliances, they should not set foot on the rest of the country, in exchange, they would not interfere in any conflict in that part of the territory.

And so it was done. And this was only possible for one reason.

Kyrian discovered in the next book.

The country of Valor does not have the best army nor the weakest. But it has something the other countries do not. The Royal Order.

Each member is worth more than a hundred normal soldiers. Even though the other countries also have martial artists, they are not comparable to those of Valor. If all members acted, they could take down an entire army.

Kyrian was surprised and even more interested in the information.

So he continued reading.

In another book, it described that the frozen land in the north extended infinitely and bordered all countries to the north. But it was considered a forbidden area.

Nothing could survive beyond a certain area, all were instantly frozen to death. Furthermore, people who managed to survive at the edge of the frozen land...

Many times they were found dead, completely frozen while doing their activities.

Kyrian then remembered that bird. It probably did not like humans staying around there and ended up eliminating them all.

That is what he imagined, but he did not see any mention of the bird, it seemed that no one had ever seen such a thing.

In that same book, which spoke about the frozen land to the north, it told about the border of all countries to the south. There was a mountain range.

One that extended through all countries until it reached the sea. The mountain range was absurdly immense, and strong winds blew at the top.

It was a natural barrier. Impossible to pass. All had no idea what existed on the other side. There were no records of anyone crossing.

This also intrigued Kyrian.

’Could there be another barrier like that of the frozen territory?’ Kyrian thought before closing the last book.

It was much information and things to think about, so he lay with his arms and legs spread on the huge bed for his size.

All the information was passing through his mind as a slight smile appeared.

’Well, whether it is possible or not to cross, I will discover when I am stronger.’

Kyrian then slept in that position.

...

Even before the sun rose, Kyrian awoke, got ready quickly, and left his room only to come face-to-face with...

"You..." Kyrian looked surprised at the woman who was almost Rurik’s height.

"Yes, I thought I would have to drag you out of bed, but you are punctual, I see. Follow me!" The woman who had nearly killed him with the iron ring was at his door.

Kyrian followed her slowly.

The corridors were completely empty as before, lit by oil lanterns. The silence was almost absolute. Except for the echo of their steps.

"Who are you?" Kyrian asked suddenly.

"Elyria. Leader of the Royal Order and Rurik’s older sister."

Kyrian was surprised, but not too much. She really reminded him of Rurik. Mainly by the height.

"He never mentioned his family." Kyrian said.

"It is a long story, not for me to tell. But for Rurik to like you so much, he never approved anyone easily. So prove he is not wrong." Said the woman as the two arrived at an inner courtyard.

Surrounded by marble columns. In the center, there were two large bathtubs, besides other strange tools. Kyrian looked at that in doubt.

Elyria pointed to a place on the stone floor ahead.

"Sit."

Kyrian did, calmly crossing his legs.

Elyria looked at him, circling and evaluating him totally.

"Do you know what a martial artist is?"

Kyrian remained silent, waiting for the explanation.

"A martial artist is one who masters himself before mastering others. For martial artists, their own body is the strongest and sharpest weapon."

"We sculpt it, destroy it, master it, and rebuild the body until it becomes a weapon." Elyria said with a serious face while pointing to Kyrian’s shirt.

He took it off quickly.

"We call it The Path of Flesh and Bone. It requires that you break every physical limit through pain." She completed it while pointing to one of the bathtubs that steamed, hot bubbles rising as it boiled.

"The first stage is called Tempered Body. You will boil your muscles until they nearly explode. You will receive blows all over your body until the skin hardens. And your body will be driven to the limit until collapse."

"While this happens, you cannot faint or lose concentration. You must learn to feel and control every fiber of your being."

Kyrian looked at the bubbling water, then at Elyria.

"Why boiling?"

"To teach your body not to yield." She said while pointing.

"Enter all at once. Your test will begin now. After today, you will transform if you have the willpower and talent for it. If not, you will just want to die, or truly die if you are weak." Elyria said without much emotion.

Kyrian looked at the bathtub and then removed the rest of his clothes, standing completely naked.

He approached the bathtub.

’It’s to become stronger...’ Kyrian sighed before placing a foot in the boiling water.

Elyria nodded in her mind, for Kyrian seemed determined.

The pain was instant, he felt his skin contract but continued until he submerged his whole body, leaving only his head above.

The body fell into the boiling water, and, in seconds, all the skin burst into blisters, turning red and white before coming off in pieces. The muscles contracted grotesquely. The skin detached little by little, leaving exposed flesh, rigid and swollen.

"Breathe deeply, control yourself. Pain is a signal, master the signal. Master the body." Elyria said, observing Kyrian’s expression of pain.

But, surprised that he had not given any scream, she looked at his open and calm eyes.

After a minute that seemed an eternity, Elyria plunged her arms into the bathtub, holding Kyrian’s completely wrecked body, and threw him into the other bathtub all at once.

The other bathtub was a completely black and thick liquid. As soon as Kyrian fell into the bathtub, a refreshing sensation began. But it was brief before a terrible burning flooded all his body.

The liquid seemed to infiltrate his body, throughout his body through the wounded skin, and then seemed to circulate inside his skin and muscles. The pain was extreme, but he endured strongly.

’Compared to the pain I felt when I was frozen, this is not much.’ Kyrian said in his mind, convincing himself and biting his lips.

After a minute, the pain lessened, but he could not feel his body properly.

"You will now stay inside this bathtub for one hour. And then repeat."

"... how many times?" Kyrian asked with his face already slightly better.

"A hundred times. You must complete this until the Aurora Tournament begins. That is less than two months. Good luck. You will not leave this room until you complete the first stage. Do not worry, every day large amounts of food will be sent." Elyria said as she threw a book on the floor.

"You proved you have determination for this, so read and learn by yourself. I will return every five days to see your progress." Elyria said before leaving the courtyard, closing the door completely.

"..."

"Looks like I’m trapped, isn’t it?" Kyrian sighed, but lit his motivation.

He would most certainly complete this and grow stronger. His body would endure one way or another.