I will do two comments here
[POV – Michael | Training Ground | Year 3, Month 4]
The cold morning air bit at Michael's skin as he stood on the edge of the training field, staring out at the horizon. The faintest hint of sunlight filtered through the thick clouds, casting long shadows across the concrete.
He had been here before. The rough training ground, the smell of sweat, the sharp scent of fresh gunpowder still lingering in the air from yesterday's drills—it all felt familiar to him.
"Focus, Michael," a voice called out from behind him.
He didn't turn to see who it was. He didn't need to. The voice had become a regular part of his life over the last three years, a constant reminder of what he was becoming.
"You're going to have to move faster today," the voice continued. "The demons you're going to face won't give you time to hesitate."
Michael took a deep breath, letting it fill his lungs. 'I'm ready.' He thought, his mind sharp, despite the distractions. It had taken him three years to get this far. Three years of rigorous training—learning how to fight as a human , how to use firearms, how to move without making a sound. Three years of becoming something else, something new.
Without responding, he stepped forward, his boots making soft thuds against the dirt. The training field stretched out before him, a maze of obstacles designed to test speed, agility, and endurance. He had mastered every inch of it. But today was different. Today was about something more than just speed.
[POV – Roth | Training Field | Moments Later]
Roth watched from the sidelines as Michael moved fluidly through the course, his body an extension of the training itself. Each step was deliberate—every turn executed with precision. Roth didn't need to say anything. The look in Michael's eyes told him everything he needed to know.
'He's ready.' Roth thought, though he didn't let it show on his face.
"Pick up the pace, Michael," Roth called out, his voice rough, but with a hint of pride. "You're going to need that speed when you're face-to-face with a demon."
Michael didn't flinch. He had heard the same thing a thousand times. Roth had a way of pushing him without letting him falter. It had worked so far.
[POV – Michael | Later That Day | Gym]
The gym was quiet, the dull hum of the fluorescent lights overhead the only sound in the space. The air was thick with the familiar scent of metal and rubber, the smell of sweat still in the air. Michael stood in front of the training bag, his hands wrapped tightly in gauze.
His mind wandered back to the morning drills. 'I've done this before.' He thought, the same thought he always had after every training session. It felt like he was living the same day over and over again.
"One, two, three, four," he murmured to himself as his fists collided with the bag. The thuds echoed in the empty room, each strike more forceful than the last.
A few minutes passed before Roth's voice interrupted his rhythm. "You've been at this for an hour, Michael. You planning on stopping anytime soon?"
Michael didn't stop, though. Instead, he landed another punch with increasing force. The bag swung back slightly with the impact. "Not yet," he muttered under his breath, his voice low.
Roth raised an eyebrow as he leaned against the doorframe. "You know, this whole 'cold edgy' act isn't going to get you anywhere."
Michael didn't respond immediately. Instead, he focused on his next set of punches, the sound of his strikes filling the silence.
"You've been doing this for three years, Michael," Roth said after a pause. "What's next? You've got the skills. You've got the knowledge. What's left to prove?"
Michael's fists paused mid-strike, his mind briefly drifting back to the demons he had faced in training. He couldn't afford to let his guard down or even use his powers. Not now. Not ever.
"I'm still figuring that out," he said finally, his voice distant. "Just... training. I don't need to prove anything to anyone."
Roth didn't say anything for a long moment, and for the first time, Michael felt something like a flicker of uncertainty. 'I need to keep goi g,' he thought.
[POV – Evie | Night | Base]
Evie sat across from Michael in the small, dimly lit break room. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him. There was something different about him tonight, something almost... off. He'd been quieter than usual, his answers shorter, like he was thinking about something else entirely.
"You okay?" Evie asked, her voice low, almost reluctant.
Michael met her gaze for a moment before looking down at his half-empty cup of noodles . "Yeah. Just... tired, I guess."
Evie studied him for a moment longer, her gaze sharp. "You've been saying that a lot lately."
He didn't answer , taking a sip of the broth. Evie didn't press him, but she had known him long enough to recognize when something was bothering him. It wasn't like him to open up, but she could sense the change in him. The doubts that had been creeping into his mind.
But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something big.
[POV – Michael | The Next Day | Training Field]
The next morning came faster than Michael had expected. He stood again at the edge of the training field, but this time, it felt different. The weight of the past few months seemed to hang over him, like an invisible weight pressing on his shoulders.
He didn't speak to anyone as he moved through the drills. His movements were methodical, each one slower than before. The pressure was mounting, but he had to finish this. He had to prove to himself that he was ready for whatever came next.
When Roth approached, Michael was already wrapping up his session. Roth's eyes scanned him, his expression unreadable.
"You don't have to do this alone, Michael," Roth said quietly, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "We all have our own demons to face. But you don't have to keep them to yourself."
Michael turned to look at him, his expression neutral. He didn't respond right away, but the weight of Roth's words lingered in his mind.
'Why does he think that I have nightmares' he thought.
But for now, he had to keep moving forward.