Chapter 86: Reunion
Leo stayed in the infirmary for two more days before his discharge. Though he could walk without a limp, a dull ache throbbed through his body with every step. The instructor granted him an extra day of rest, likely due to his harsh injuries, ordering him to return to training the next morning. For the rest of the week, Leo avoided sneaking out past curfew. He let his body rest and heal for the first time in two months.
On the first morning of the new week, Leo and the other children in his dorm woke before four-thirty, driven by an unspoken routine. The harsh punishments from the past two months remained fresh in their minds, ensuring no one slept in. Leo climbed out of bed, grabbed a towel, and headed to the communal bathroom. Several children waited outside, but as he walked toward the single empty stall, they parted to make room for him without a word. No one complained.
Leo had built a terrifying reputation in the dorm over the past two months. The Hall of Mercenaries held a strict rule against private fights; all issues had to be resolved on the training grounds’ challenge platform. Unsanctioned brawls meant harsh discipline. The dorm knew Leo did not care about the rules, but the rest of the children feared the consequences. To avoid a fight with him, they kept one bathroom empty until he finished his morning wash.
After cleaning up, Leo went to the cafeteria for the usual plain breakfast of a single steamed bun and a bowl of porridge. Finishing his food, he walked to the training grounds where trainees gathered in neat, rigid rows. Leo closed his eyes and steadied his breathing to wait for the instructor.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the yard. Leo recognized the heavy tread of the instructor right away, yet another set of footsteps followed close behind. He frowned but kept his eyes shut until the sounds stopped in front of the group. The instructor scanned the trainees and spoke in his usual cold tone.
"Today..."
"A new trainee will be joining your group."
Several children looked at the newcomer, and Leo opened his eyes. As his gaze fell on the person beside the instructor, his breath caught in his throat and his eyes went wide. He stared in disbelief. Standing there in an oversized training uniform was Lia. She looked much thinner than before. Her bright face had turned pale, and faint bruises covered her exposed arms. When their eyes met, Lia froze, tears welling in her eyes.
"Big Brother..."
Before anyone could move, Leo dashed forward. He ignored his surroundings and wrapped his arms around the little girl. Lia burst into tears.
"Big Brother Leo..."
"I missed you..."
She clung to him, weeping as if all her stored fear and loneliness from the past two months poured out at once. A true smile broke across Leo’s face for the first time since he arrived at the Hall of Mercenaries. He patted her head.
"It’s okay..."
"I’m here now."
"I’ve found you."
The harsh training grounds fell silent for a brief moment. A sharp crack shattered the quiet as a whip lashed across Leo’s back. The pain tore into his healing wounds.
"Who gave you permission to break formation?" The instructor asked, his cold voice carrying across the yard.
The other trainees lowered their heads in fear. Leo kept a blank expression, showing no signs of the pain. He continued to pat Lia’s head, comforting her until her cries faded. The instructor narrowed his eyes, angered by the display of defiance. Just as he prepared to enforce his authority again, Leo stood up. He took Lia’s hand without a word and guided her back to the formation, returning to their places.
Leo kept a calm face, but worry filled his chest. Having endured the brutal training at the Hall of Mercenaries, he knew he had barely survived his first months.
He had lived with Lia for so long in the orphanage and he knew her capabilities.
Lia lacked the physical and mental readiness for it. The urge to protest crossed his mind, but he pushed it down.
Complaining would do nothing but provoke the instructor to push Lia even more. Leo clenched his fists. He could only face the coming trials and protect her with all his strength.
The instructor cast a harsh gaze over the group.
"Today’s training..."
"...begins now."
"Run."
Everyone turned toward the mountain trail in unison. Leo grabbed Lia’s hand.
"Stay beside me."
Lia nodded, her face tense.
"Okay..."
The line of trainees ran up the winding mountain path. The freezing morning air turned their breath into white mist. Leo slowed his pace on purpose, well aware of the exhausting climb ahead.
"Lia."
"Don’t rush."
"Take small steps."
"Control your breathing."
"Breathe through your nose."
"Don’t waste your strength."
Lia followed his instructions. She lost her breath early on, but Leo adjusted their speed to prevent her from draining her energy.
When the slope grew steep, he shifted to her outer side to block the other children from bumping into her. The instructor watched from behind without a word. As long as Leo followed the rules, the man did not care.
Half an hour passed, and Lia’s breathing turned ragged. Sweat drenched her forehead in the cold air.
"I..."
"I can still keep going..." she panted.
Leo looked at her pale face.
"We’ll slow down."
"Don’t force yourself."
Lia shook her head.
"No."
"I don’t want to drag you down."
Leo smiled a little.
"You’re not."
"We’ll finish together."
Lia bit her lip and nodded. Step by step, the two continued their climb up the massive mountain.
Several hours later, many children had collapsed on the trail. Instructors dragged some away and whipped others until they forced themselves back up.
Leo and Lia reached the next checkpoint, where rows of backpacks filled with rough stones rested on the ground. The instructor pointed at the bags.
"Each of you..."
"Take one."
"Carry it to the summit."
The children walked forward. Leo grabbed his assigned bag and looked at Lia.
Her backpack was nearly half her size. She used both hands, her face turning red from the strain, but the heavy bag barely moved. Leo frowned and walked over without a second thought.
"I’ll carry hers."
The other trainees turned to look at him. The instructor narrowed his eyes.
"Put it down."
Leo ignored the order, bending down to lift her pack. The instructor’s voice rang out again.
"I said..."
"Put it down."
Leo looked at the man.
"She can’t carry this."
"She’ll collapse."
The instructor kept a blank expression.
"Then she’ll collapse."
"That’s her problem."
"No one is allowed to carry another trainee’s burden."
Leo gripped the bag tighter.
"I’m carrying it."
The instructor walked closer and swung his whip, striking Leo across the shoulder. Fresh blood stained his shirt.
"Put."
"It."
"Down."
Leo held his ground. He ignored the fresh wound and repeated his words.
"I’m carrying it."
The instructor’s gaze grew cold, and he lashed the whip twice more. Leo’s body shook from the hits, but his hands kept a firm hold.
The other trainees simply watched . The instructor stared at Leo. Knowing that beating the boy would not change his mind, the man broke the silence.
"Fine."
The trainees looked on in surprise.
"I’ll make one exception."
Leo looked up.
"Lia’s backpack..."
"...will have half the stones removed."
"But." The instructor pointed at Leo’s bag.
"You."
"Will carry three times your assigned weight."
"If you collapse..."
"You’ll receive punishment for delaying the group."
He met Leo’s eyes.
"Do you still want to do it?"
Leo answered without pause.
"Yes."
The instructor sneered.
"As expected."
He waved at a nearby guard.
"Reduce the girl’s load."
"Triple the boy’s."
Minutes later, Lia’s bag grew much lighter. The guard then emptied two extra bags of stones into Leo’s pack. The straps strained under the massive weight, and Leo’s arm muscles flexed just to lift it. Sweat formed on his brow. Lia stared at the heavy pack with tears in her eyes.
"Big Brother..."
"You don’t have to..."
Leo cut her off with a small smile.
"Let’s go."
"We still have a mountain to climb."
He hoisted the crushing load onto his back, his knees bending under the strain. It felt like his spine might break, but he clenched his teeth, stood tall, and took a step forward. Lia wiped her tears and hurried to keep up. The instructor watched the siblings walk up the trail, a strange look crossing his face before fading away.
"...Interesting."