Soulless Soul

Chapter 27: Unexpected Visitor

The assessments had finally come to an end.

Students slowly began leaving the hall, filling the academy corridors with noise and excitement. Everyone was talking about the upcoming events, especially the training of Vesper and Arthur. Groups clustered near the high arched windows, their voices echoing off the polished stone walls in an energetic blur.

Sky, however, wasn’t interested in joining the conversations. He leaned against the cold wall for a brief second, adjusting the strap of his satchel as the crowd surged past him. He didn’t care about the rumors regarding the upcoming combat trials, nor was he inclined to speculate on which students is the best.

He had something else to do. He made his way toward Doctor Ronald’s classroom. There were a few things he wanted to discuss with the doctor, so he decided to visit him before returning to his room. Specifically, he needed clarification on his latest physical assessment reports and a couple of theory modules that didn’t quite line up with what he had experienced in the field. The corridors grew quieter the further he walked from the main hall, the chatter fading until all that remained was the rhythmic thud of his own boots against the floorboards.

When Sky reached the classroom, he pushed the door open.

"Doctor Ronald?"

There was no answer. The room was bathed in the warm, amber glow of late afternoon sunlight filtering through the tall blinds. Dust motes danced lazily in the quiet air. Sky stepped inside. Then he stopped.

Someone was standing near one of the desks. A beautiful face.

A face he hadn’t seen in quite some time.

She was leaning casually against the dark wooden edge of the lectern, turning a brass paperweight over in her hands. She wore dark, fitted training gear that looked far more practical than the formal academy uniform.

The lady turned toward him. Her eyes widened slightly before a warm smile appeared on her face.

"Hello, Skies. How have you been?"

Sky stared at her for a moment.

"Jane?"

Jane smiled. "It’s been a while."

Sky nodded

.

"I’ve been fine." Jane raised an eyebrow.

"Just fine?"

"Yeah."

She chuckled.

"You’re still not good at conversations, are you?" Sky ignored the comment. "What are you doing here?" "Well, I was in the neighbourhood, so I just came to check on you." Sky looked around the classroom.

"The neighbourhood?"

"Yes."

"You expect me to believe that?"

Jane laughed.

"Maybe."

Sky sighed.

"Why did you really come?"

"To see you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you."

Sky looked at her suspiciously. Jane suddenly walked over and grabbed his arm. "Come on."

Sky’s eyes widened.

"Wait. Where are we going?"

"You’re coming with me."

"Why?"

"You’ll find out."

"Jane—"

She began dragging him toward the door.

Sky looked back just as Doctor Ronald entered the classroom. The man stopped dead in his tracks, holding a stack of leather-bound logs under one arm and looking between the two of them through his wire-rimmed spectacles.

"Doctor Ronald."

The doctor looked at Jane, then at Sky."Where are you two going?" "Training," Jane answered. Sky immediately shook his head.

"She hasn’t even asked me if I wanted to—"

"Can I take him?" Jane interrupted. Doctor Ronald looked at Sky. Sky gave him a helpless expression. Ronald sighed.

"Fine. Just don’t push him too hard."

Jane smiled.

"I won’t."

Sky looked at her.

"That’s what worries me." Jane dragged him out of the classroom.

A few minutes later, Jane brought Sky into one of the academy’s training rooms.

The room was spacious, with a large open floor and several training equipment placed around the edges. High reinforced walls kept external noise at bay, and heavy-duty impact mats covered the center section. Dumbbells, resistance cables, and wooden sparring dummies lined the back perimeter.

Sky looked around.

"So this is why you brought me here?"

"Yes."

Jane stepped onto the training floor.

"Today we’re going to work on your physical abilities."

Sky frowned.

"I thought my abilities were the reason I was strong."

"Your abilities can help you, but they can’t replace proper training."

Jane pointed toward him.

"Come here."

Sky reluctantly walked toward her.

"First, hand-to-hand combat."

Jane raised her fists.

Sky immediately became serious.

"You’re fighting me?"

"Of course."

"You’re going easy on me, right?"

Jane smiled.

"No."

Before Sky could react, Jane rushed forward.

Her fist came straight toward his face.

Sky quickly leaned to the side. The punch passed beside his cheek. He stepped backward. Jane followed immediately.

Another punch.

Sky blocked it.

Then another.

He blocked again.

Jane suddenly swept her leg toward his feet.

Sky jumped over it. He landed and attempted to counterattack. Jane caught his wrist.

She twisted his arm and used his momentum to throw him onto the mat.

THUD!

Sky stared at the ceiling. "That was unnecessary." Jane laughed. "Get up."

Sky stood. They continued. Jane constantly corrected his movements. "Keep your guard up." Sky raised his arms. "Don’t put all your weight on your front foot." Sky adjusted his stance. "Watch my shoulders, not my fists."

Sky nodded.

The training continued for almost an hour.

Every time Sky thought he had anticipated her pattern, Jane changed the rhythm, exploiting a tiny imbalance in his footwork or taking advantage of a split-second delay in his reaction time. He was fast, but she was disciplined—every pivot precise, every strike calculated. Sweat began to sting his eyes, dripping onto the blue mats beneath their feet.

By the end, Sky was breathing heavily.

Jane wasn’t finished.

"Next."

Sky stared at her.

"There’s more?"

"Exercise."

Sky’s face dropped.

Jane pointed toward the floor.

"Push-ups."

Sky sighed.

He got down.

"How many?"

"Fifty."

"Fifty?"

"Start."

Sky began.

One. Two. Three. His arms quickly started burning. By twenty, his breathing had become heavier. By thirty-five, his arms were shaking. Jane stood nearby, watching. "Don’t stop."

Sky gritted his teeth.

"You’re enjoying this."

"Maybe."

Sky finally reached fifty and collapsed onto the floor. Jane gave him a few seconds before continuing.

"Sit-ups."

Sky looked at her in disbelief. "You really came prepared." "Of course." After the exercises, Jane made him perform squats, lunges, stretches, and several other physical exercises.

He powered through forty jump squats, his quads screaming with every ascent. Next came alternating lunges across the entire length of the training floor, Jane walking beside him like a drill sergeant, calling out every time his knee hovered too high above the mat. Following that, she made him hold a core plank while she counted down sixty agonizing seconds. By the time they finished, Sky was completely exhausted. He thought it was finally over.

Then Jane said,

"Yoga."

Sky slowly looked up.

"Yoga?"

"Yes."

"After all that?" "Especially after all that."

They sat down on the floor. Jane guided him through several yoga positions, helping him stretch his muscles and control his breathing.

"Slowly," she said. Sky followed her movements. "Relax your shoulders." He breathed in. Then slowly breathed out.

They moved from a seated forward bend into a low lunge, letting the tension in his hips uncoil. Jane corrected the angle of his back, placing a cool palm lightly between his shoulder blades until he stopped hunching. They transitioned into child’s pose, forehead resting lightly against the smooth mat, feeling the rapid thump of his heart gradually synchronize with a slower, deliberate cadence.

For the first time since the training started, Sky felt his body beginning to relax. The room became quiet. After several minutes, Sky finally spoke.

"Jane."

"Hm?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Jane remained silent for a moment.

Sky turned toward her. "You came here just to train me. Why?" Jane looked at him. There was a small smile on her face. "I just felt like it." Sky blinked. "That’s it?" "That’s it." She shrugged.

"Sometimes you don’t need a special reason to help someone." Sky stared at her for a moment. Then he smiled slightly. "You’re strange." "I know." They finished the final stretch. Jane stood up and offered him her hand. Sky accepted it."Thanks."Jane smiled.

"Anytime."

By the time Sky returned to his room, the academy had become quiet. He opened the door and stepped inside. His entire body was aching. He walked toward his bed and dropped onto it. His muscles felt like they had been turned into stone. Sky stared at the ceiling. Hand-to-hand combat. Exercises.

Yoga. He hadn’t expected any of that when he went to see Doctor Ronald. Yet somehow, he didn’t regret it. In his eyes the world had changed. Or perhaps he was the one who had changed. Sky slowly closed his eyes.

For now, he didn’t want to think about anything. He was exhausted. He just wanted to rest. And within moments, Sky fell asleep.

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