Whispers of Shikiban:The king walk among us

The First Trial – Endurance

The instant the command rang out, the recruits surged forward. The cold morning air bit at their skin, but it was quickly drowned out by the thunder of feet against dirt, the rhythmic heaving of breath forming a desperate, unsteady melody.

Reika forced herself into a smooth pace, her body falling into the motion of the run. Her lungs burned, her legs ached, but she pushed forward. She could hear the strained gasps of those around her, the occasional grunt or stumble as the terrain grew treacherous.

"Faster!" the trainers barked.

No one dared disobey.

The ground shifted beneath them, dipping into uneven earth riddled with hidden roots and loose stones. A sharp cry rang out as a boy beside her tripped, his body hitting the dirt with a sickening crunch. He groaned, struggling to rise, but the stampede of bodies kept moving, their focus locked ahead.

Reika clenched her jaw. She wanted to help, but stopping meant failure. Stopping meant weakness.

Move. Keep moving.

Another sharp command. "No slowing down!"

Her breathing grew ragged, but she wove through the pack, dodging flailing arms and reckless elbows. A sudden shove hit her ribs—someone trying to knock her off balance. She staggered, pain blooming along her side, but caught herself in time. Turning, she met their gaze with a cold, piercing glare.

Then—a steep incline loomed ahead.

The trainers sprinted past them effortlessly, their black robes barely shifting as they reached the top.

"Get moving!"

Reika gritted her teeth. Her calves screamed as she forced herself up the slope, every muscle tightening like a vice. The weight of exhaustion bore down on her shoulders, whispering for her to stop, to rest.

No. You stop, you fail. You fail, you die.

Ahead, two recruits lost their footing. One tumbled backward, colliding into another, their cries swallowed by the pounding footsteps of those who refused to fall.

This wasn't just about running. It was survival.

Reika pushed harder.

She would not be left behind.

The Second Trial – The Ascent

The mountain loomed above them, its jagged edges shrouded in mist. The stone staircase stretched endlessly toward the heavens, each step steep and uneven.

"Climb!"

Reika surged forward, slamming her foot onto the first step.

One by one, the recruits ascended. The higher they climbed, the heavier their bodies became. Sweat dripped down Reika's temples, the salt stinging her eyes. Her breathing was uneven, her heartbeat hammering against her ribs.

Step. Step. Step.

A scream shattered the air.

Reika didn't turn, but she knew what happened. A girl had misstepped. The sickening sound of her body crashing against stone sent a shiver through Reika's spine. The trainers didn't react.

No one did.

Her hands clenched into fists as she forced herself forward.

This is the reality. No one will save you. If you fall, you are forgotten.

The wind howled as they climbed higher, whipping through Reika's damp hair. The steps grew slick, worn down by years of desperate feet. A boy near her slipped, barely catching himself, his knuckles scraping against the sharp stone. Blood smeared across the steps.

Reika's legs felt like lead. Every step was a battle, every breath a struggle.

Higher.

Faster.

Don't stop. Don't fall. Don't be weak.

The summit was within reach. The morning sky had deepened into a cruel, merciless gray.

With one final push, Reika reached the top. Her knees nearly buckled, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

But there was no time to rest.

The Final Trial – The Burden Run

The sacks lay before them, filled with an unforgiving weight.

"Choose your burden," the trainer commanded.

Some hesitated, grabbing the smallest, the lightest.

Reika didn't hesitate.

She reached for one of the heaviest, the rough fabric coarse against her fingers. Lifting it onto her shoulders, the weight slammed into her spine like a stone wall. Her knees almost buckled, but she steadied herself.

A few recruits scoffed. Someone whispered, "She's insane."

She ignored them.

"Run," the trainer barked. "And do not stop until sunrise!"

The recruits took off.

The moment Reika moved, the weight pressed down like an iron cage, each step jarring her bones. The cold night air turned sharp against her throat. The terrain was merciless—uneven, shifting, designed to break them.

Darkness swallowed the sky. The wind howled.

A boy beside her collapsed, his burden pinning him down. He gasped for air, his fingers clawing at the dirt, but no one stopped. A girl let out a frustrated scream, tossing her sack aside, but the trainers didn't even glance at her.

Reika's thoughts wavered between exhaustion and determination.

You're not just fighting your body. You're fighting your mind.

Pain coiled through her muscles, tightening its grip, urging her to fall. Her lungs burned.

Keep moving. If you stop, you are nothing.

Then—

A sudden movement.

A figure lunged at her.

Reika barely reacted in time, twisting as a hand grabbed for her burden. A recruit—desperate, eyes wild—tried to steal her sack, hoping to lighten his own load.

She didn't hesitate.

With a fierce growl, she used the sack's momentum, slamming it into his gut. He crumpled with a choked gasp, his fingers digging into the dirt.

Reika stared down at him, her breathing harsh.

"Survival isn't fair," she whispered. Then she ran.

The Longest Night

Her body begged to stop. Her shoulders screamed. Every fiber of her being burned.

The darkness stretched on. The night was endless.

She ran.

One step.

Another.

Another.

Her vision blurred. The weight crushed her bones. But she didn't stop.

And then—

A flicker of gold.

The first rays of dawn touched the horizon.

Reika staggered to a halt, her breath ragged. Her body trembled, her legs barely holding her up.

But she was still standing.

She had survived.

The First Step

The lead trainer surveyed them. Less than half remained.

"You have taken the first step," he declared. "But this is only the beginning."

Reika barely heard him.

Her body was broken.

Her mind was on fire.

But deep inside, buried beneath the pain, the exhaustion, the blood and sweat—

There was pride.

She had endured.

She had fought.

And she would keep fighting.

No matter what.