Chapter 18: Chapter 17 : Breaking the limit

Chapter 17 : Breaking the limit

Deep within the Whispering Woods, under the pale gaze of the moon, Lady Chay and Youssef Trabelsi stood in silence. The forest was still but alive — wind rustled gently through the leaves . Chay stood alert, awaiting instruction.

Without a word, Youssef approached an old tree and placed his bare hand against its bark. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a subtle motion, he struck. A thunderous crack shattered the silence as the massive trunk split and trembled to the ground. “That,” he said calmly, “is Armament Animencor. It hardens the body. It breaks through steel. It must become your flesh — or it will never be yours.”

Lady Chay swallowed hard, still staring at the broken tree. Youssef stepped closer.

“To stand among the Royal Butlers — to protect the king — you must master all three: Armament. Observation. Conqueror’s. Or the world will break you.”

She clenched her fists, the weight of the challenge crashing down on her. But she didn’t waver.

“I understand, Master Trabelsi,” she said. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Youssef nodded once. “Then start. A run to warm up, after the physical drills, your first goal is to destroy a tree with your bare hands. I don’t care if it takes days.”

Chay inhaled deeply. Her hands trembled slightly, but her eyes gleamed with focus. after working up , she stud in front of a tree , no as big as the one youssef destroyed, drew back her fist, and struck.

The bark barely flinched. Her knuckles screamed in protest. But she didn't stop. She struck again. And again.

Blood welled. Splinters flew. The pain was real — but her will, more so.

“Imagine your hand is made of stone,” Youssef said. “It might crack, but it must feel solid.”

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She closed her eyes. Visualized rock. Dismissed the pain. And struck again.

Hours passed. Her arms ached. But her spirit stayed whole. With every hit, her mind emptied of distractions. Her thoughts narrowed to one thing: protect the king.

The bark finally began to crack. Her hands, though raw, stopped bleeding for a moment — a small sign that Animencor had stirred, if only faintly.

“I see the blood stopped,” Youssef observed. “You’re closer. Animencor flows in the body — it hardens wounds, fuels life. But don’t be fooled. This is nothing yet.”

Chay paused, breath ragged. “I’ve read about Animencor in books,” she said, “but feeling it... is something else entirely. What’s next?”

“Next?” Youssef replied. “You train. For two years, at least. Between your studies, you’ll work. Until your hands don’t bleed. Until you stop imagining they’re stone and start believing it. until you master all three types of Animencor ”

Chay nodded. “I’ll do it. For the king”

But Youssef cut in, frowning. “No. Focus on the training. Not your emotions. The king is safe — in the inner castle, guarded by people who do this for real. You’re here to earn your place. Not dream about it.”

Chay lowered her gaze. “You're right. I got carried away.”

“Good. Now punch until dawn. If you're still standing then, we’ll talk about the next step. but remember that you have limits ”

“Understood, Mr. Trabelsi.”

She resumed. The rhythm of her fists matched the beating of her heart. No longer fueled by fantasy, but by discipline. By resolve.

By sunrise, a deep crack ran through the tree.

The forest stirred with the sound of a mighty crash — the tree finally giving way, its trunk splintered from a thousand strikes.

Youssef rushed to the clearing, eyes wide as he found Chay slumped beside the fallen tree, her hands ruined but her spirit unbroken.

“I did it,” she whispered, barely able to speak. “I didn’t stop.”

But Youssef’s face darkened. “Your hands — they’re shredded. You lost too much blood! You didn’t use Animencor. You just kept punching until you passed out!”

Chay smiled faintly. “It’s a start, isn’t it?”

“It’s dangerous,” he muttered, already lifting her gently. “Animencor won’t heal you like this. You’re lucky you didn’t do permanent damage.”

“I’ll rest. Then train harder,” she murmured. “This isn’t the end.”

“No. It’s barely the beginning. You have one week before university resumes. you can't go back looking like this ”

Back at the cabin, Youssef dressed her wounds with quiet care. Chay didn’t flinch, her mind already planning her next steps.

“I’ll do better,” she said softly. “For the kingdom. For myself. I’ll prove it.”