THE WARRIORS OF TWO WORLDS

chapter two

The Training of Pain

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Jaden woke up to the sound of chains and shouting.

The air was thick and hot. The smell of sweat, blood, and old food filled his nose. Around him, other men sat in cages—some sleeping, some staring blankly at the ground.

He had hoped it was a dream. But when he moved, the pain in his ribs reminded him it was real.

He was still here.

He was still a slave.

A loud whistle cut through the silence. A guard walked in, carrying a whip. Behind him was Kael, the man Jaden met yesterday.

“Wake up, worms!” the guard shouted. “Training starts now!”

One by one, the cages opened. Men stepped out slowly, their chains clinking with every move. Jaden followed, not knowing what else to do.

Kael’s eyes met his. “You’re still alive,” he said with a half-smile. “Good. Let’s see if you can stay that way.”

They were taken outside to a large open yard surrounded by high stone walls. The sun was already burning hot. Wooden dummies, heavy stones, and weapon racks were stashed everywhere. It looked like a place made for pain.

“Listen up!” Kael’s voice was loud and clear. “You fight for the empire now. You fight for your next meal. You fight because if you don’t, you die. That’s the rule here.”

Nobody spoke. Some nodded weakly. Others just stared at the ground.

Kael pointed at Jaden. “You. Step forward.”

Jaden did.

“This one survived his first match,” Kael said to the others. “He faced a beast and lived. Maybe the gods like him. Or maybe he was just lucky. We’ll find out soon enough.”

Kael picked up two wooden sticks and threw one to Jaden. “Show me what you can do.”

Jaden caught it. His palms were sweaty, his grip weak.

Kael took a fighting stance—his expression was grim but his gaze was gentle. “Attack me.”

Jaden hesitated. “I don’t want to fight you.”

Kael smirked. “Then you’ll die faster than I thought. Attack me!”

The shout startled Jaden. He swung the stick clumsily. Kael dodged easily, barely moving.

“Too slow,” Kael said.

Jaden tried again, swinging harder. Kael blocked and swept Jaden’s legs, knocking him to the ground.

Pain shot up Jaden’s back. He groaned and tried to get up, but Kael pressed a foot on his chest.

“Rule one,” Kael said coldly. “Never fight like you’re scared. The arena doesn’t forgive fear.”

He kicked Jaden lightly and stepped back. “Again.”

Jaden got up, breathing hard. His body ached, but something in Kael’s voice pushed him to keep going. He attacked again—faster this time.

Kael blocked, turned, and hit Jaden across the ribs. The sound echoed in the yard.

Jaden fell again, clutching his side.

“Good,” Kael said. “Now you’re learning what pain feels like. Pain is your teacher here.”

The other slaves watched silently. Some looked sorry for him. Others didn’t care. Everyone here had been through the same.

By noon, Jaden was covered in bruises. His skin burned from the sun, his mouth dry as dust. When Kael finally called for a break, Jaden dropped to the ground, too tired to move.

A young slave beside him whispered, “You’ll get used to it.”

Jaden turned his head. The boy looked no older than eighteen. He had messy brown hair and kind eyes, even though his face was thin.

“What’s your name?” Jaden asked weakly.

“Liko,” the boy said with a small smile. “You’re new, right?”

“Yeah,” Jaden replied. “How long have you been here?”

“Two years,” Liko said. “Long enough to know that kindness doesn’t last here. Be careful who you trust.”

Jaden nodded slowly.

Before he could ask more, the whistle blew again. The short break was over.

Kael stood before them, holding a whip. “The weak die. The strong eat. That’s life here. Now, you will run—until your legs can’t move.”

And they did. Around the yard, again and again, under the burning sun. Guards watched with whips in hand. If anyone slowed down, they were hit.

Jaden’s lungs burned. His legs shook. His vision blurred. But he kept running. He had already decided—he wasn’t going to die here.

As the hours passed, one man collapsed and didn’t move again. No one stopped to help him. The guards dragged his body away like it was nothing.

When training finally ended, Jaden’s body felt broken. His arms were numb, his feet bleeding.

Kael walked up to him. “You did better than I thought,” he said quietly. “You didn’t quit.”

Jaden looked up at him, exhausted. “I can’t quit,” he said. “I have to go home.”

Kael stared at him for a long time. Then he said, “Home doesn’t exist here. Forget it, or it will break you.”

He turned to leave, then paused. “Tomorrow, you’ll fight again. Be ready.”

That night, Jaden lay on the hard floor of his cage, staring at the ceiling. His whole body hurt.

Liko, in the next cage, whispered, “You were good today.”

Jaden smiled weakly. “Thanks.”

“Don’t let Kael scare you,” Liko added. “He’s tough, but he used to be like us. A slave. He fought his way up to captain. People say he’s never lost a fight.”

“Never?” Jaden asked.

“Never,” Liko said softly. “He’s what everyone here wants to be—free.”

Jaden didn’t reply. He was too tired to talk.

But as his eyes slowly closed, one thought stayed in his mind.

If Kael could survive this… maybe I can too.

He didn’t know how long it would take or what it would cost him, but he made a promise to himself right there in the dark:

He would fight.

He would learn.

He would live.

And one day, he would find a way home. Those where the words he had,etched on his mind.

Freedom.

He shut his eyes in the dark and soon was fast asleep hoping it was all a bad dream he had to wake up from