Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

Zara sighed softly as she wrapped Alexander into a warm embrace. 

Placing her hand on the back of Alexander's head, she gently squeezed him, "Oh Alexander." She said softly, "You don't understand, do you?"

Alexander shook his head as he tightened his grip around Zara. "I don't." He replied, "I don't get any of it…" he replied, his voice muffled against Zara's chest.

Zara gently nodded, her expression was that of understanding and sympathy. "I see…" she replied, then… allow me to explain it to you."

Zara placed her hands on Alexander's shoulders and gently pushed him a step back. She then lifted his head up so that their eyes met. 

"You wonder… why your life is hard, unfair, difficult." Zara began, her tone firm yet caring, "but that… that is the wrong question."

Alexander blinked curiously through his tears, "what do you mean?" He asked, "How is that–"

"It's wrong," Zara said, cutting him off, "because the real question… is how can you become stronger?" 

She further explained, "You say you can't focus, so what?" She asked with a shrug, "You're tired, hurt, or broken, so what?"

Alexander looked up at Zara, his tears drying as he listened to Zara's words. 

He was curious as to where she was going with her speech, the idea that he was possibly looking at his situation wrong was intriguing.

Anything would be better than how he was operating now, because not only was he tired physically, but he was reaching his breaking point mentally as well.

"You… you will face challenges, battles that seem unfair and impossible," Zara brought a hand from Alexander's shoulder to point a finger to his chest. "And you will face them, not because you'll have immediate success, but because you will improve, improvise, and grow."

Alexander hesitantly nodded, feeling Zara's words warm something within him. 

He realized that he had been so focused on success that he failed to realize the point of the training, to learn and grow.

Zara wasn't being harsh with him, she was trying to make him understand his mistakes and move past them. 

Focusing on the fact that he lost his home, wouldn't bring it back.

Focusing on the fact that he wasn't the same, wouldn't bring his old life back.

He had to move forward, and he had to make that lesson stick. 

He had to be better.

"I understand." Alex said, taking a deep breath as he wiped his tears, "I'll try again." 

Zara smiled warmly as she released Alexander, "good." She said with a nod, "and this time, focus on becoming better, not being the best."

Alexander nodded, straightening his back, he kept his voice steady and expression calm. "Right, I'll do better."

Alexander walked away from Zara, his expression firm and stride determined.

Taking his place at the start of the obstacle once more, Alexander took another deep breath. 

His mind was still clouded and his heart still ached, longing for the normalcy he had lost, but he was hopeful and confident.

Confident that he would be better, that he would learn from his mistakes and grow.

With that in mind, Alexander began to charge his feet with mana, and a familiar yet weak feeling began to spread from his chest down to his feet. 

Stay calm, and be better…

Alexander took off towards the first obstacles, the wooden panels. 

He began to charge his hands with mana as he approached the panels, feeling the warmth spreading through his arms and illuminating his palms.

Placing his hands on the panels, he visualized the potential energy in a calculated manner.

Alexander then, at the last moment, pushed off the panels with a controlled burst of speed.

While in the air, Alexander was careful to control his approach towards the hurdles, this time keeping his legs close and arms brought to his side. 

He landed on the first hurdle hard, yet his impact was considerably more controlled and balanced. 

Instead of jumping into a complicated flip, Alexander pushed off the first hurdle with a wide stride, landing on the second, third, fourth, and fifth with deliberate precision.

Jumping off the last hurdle, Alexander was met with a low walk, which he effortlessly grabbed the top edge off.

He landed hard, smacking into the wall with a hard thud.

His chest ached as he gritted his teeth, yet instead of giving up or letting go, Alexander pushed himself to climb the low wall.

Come on… come on!

Pushing his feet against the low wall, Alexander eventually pushed himself over the low wall. 

Climbing the edge, Alexander was greeted with a set of ropes that gently swayed in the breeze that passed through the hills. 

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Alexander prepared himself for the second to last obstacle.

Just take my time, and learn.

Alexander charged his feet with mana, before leaping from the top of the wall, and reaching out his hand for the first rope.

While on the air, Alexander charged his outstretched hand with mana, before grabbing onto the thick woven rope.

Alexander gripped the rope tightly, barely hanging onto it, before boosting himself upward to get a better grasp.

Unfortunately, he ran out of mana before he could complete the jump, his illuminated hand trickling back into its normal state.

Alexander immediately began to fall, the thick rope slipping out of his hands. 

His back smacked against the dirt hard, his body feeling as he literally bounced back up.

"Gahh!" Alexander shouted out in pain as he immediately rolled over to his side. 

Zara quickly approached him, her expression filled with concern and worry. "Alexander, are you okay?" She asked, kneeling down as she reached a hand to assist him.

Alexander gave a brief nod, the pain in his back stinging hard. "Y-yeah," he stammered, "I just ran out of mana." He explained, his voice still strained as he attempted to sit up.

Zara breathed a sigh of relief as she assisted Alexander. "Ahh, I see." She said, her eyes holding a mixture of concern and pride, "In that case, you did better… better than I expected."

Alexander gritted his teeth as he rubbed his back. "No, I almost had it." Alexander replied, his tone full of frustration, "If only…"

Zara gave a soft giggle as she raised a hand towards Alexander's cheek, "shh," she replied, "don't you see it, you made progress."