I woke up early in the room Chloe and I shared at the training facility. Training palace? I didn't know what to call it anymore. As I groggily rubbed my eyes, I noticed something unusual—a wardrobe filled with new training attire. My eyes widened in surprise, trying to comprehend the unexpected addition to our room.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist investigating further. As I opened the wardrobe, my eyes widened at the sight of the neatly arranged outfits. Each piece was carefully chosen, tailored to fit perfectly. It was as if someone had known our measurements and preferences beforehand.
Chloe emerged from her bed, rubbing her eyes with a yawn. "What's all the commotion about?" she asked, her voice still groggy. I realized I had made more noise than I had intended to with the clothing hangers.
"Look at this," I said, gesturing to the wardrobe. "Someone put all this stuff here."
Chloe grumbled, pulling a pillow over her head, "They abducted us from our homes and now give us subpar clothing. I don't see a single crystal on any of those things." She pounded both her fists on the bed as if she was having a mini temper-tantrum, "Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!"
Before I could respond, Luka's voice interrupted us from the doorway. "I see you've found the wardrobe," he said with a smile.
"You did this?" I asked, surprised by his thoughtfulness.
Luka nodded. "Yes, I thought it would be best to provide you both with suitable attire for sleeping and just chilling on campus when you're not training. I hope you like them. If you live long enough, you'll even get your personalized outfits, personally tailored just for you even complete with armor."
"If I live long enough?" Chloe questioned, but Luka had already walked outside. We rushed outside to follow him.
As I stepped into the grand training facility, the opulence of the surroundings filled me with awe. Chloe, who had been dragged here just like me, huffed in frustration but said nothing. Luka, our guide, led us further inside, his black and turquoise attire contrasting with the majestic setting.
"Welcome to the Hero's Palace," Luka announced, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "You have been chosen to undergo rigorous training to become true Heroes."
Chloe rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by the pomp and circumstance. "I don't see why I need this silly training. I was a royal, after all."
Luka gave her a smile. "Even royals need to hone their skills to face the challenges ahead. The Dark One is a formidable foe, and we must all be prepared. Each of you already have a wardrobe with clothing in your rooms, but those are just casual clothes. Choose a training uniform from here. One at a time, please."
With a flick of his wrist, Luka opened a massive wardrobe filled with training attire. He gestured for us to pick our outfits, and I grabbed a black tunic with red accents, similar to Luka's but just a different color. Chloe reluctantly chose her training attire, and we both changed into them.
Luka explained the first part of our training, focusing on endurance and agility. The palace had an extensive obstacle course, designed to challenge us physically and mentally. We quickly walked through to the outside training area where our first training class with Master Fu would be.
"First class is Strength and Conditioning with Master Fu, Outdoor Survival Basics with Lady Mendeleev, and Strategy with Captain Bustier."
An elderly man with a gray goatee beard greeted us with a warm smile. "Welcome, young candidates," he said, his eyes holding a sense of wisdom that intrigued me. "I am Master Fu, and it is my honor to guide you on your path to becoming true Heroes."
All the other trainees quieted down and listened intently.
"In order to harness the power within you, you must first understand yourselves," Master Fu began, his voice soothing and wise. "The path to becoming a Hero is not just about strength and skills, but also about self-discovery and inner balance."
In just under 30 minutes, I was already drained. I simply stood there, sweat dripping down my forehead, gasping for air. The obstacle course was more challenging than anything I had ever faced before, and my usually nimble and agile movements were failing me.
I stumbled, my feet tripping over the hurdles, and landed awkwardly on the ground with a thud. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks as I quickly scrambled back up, trying my best to hide my frustration. It seemed like every move I made was plagued with clumsiness, and I couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy.
Beside me, Chloe fared no better. Her temper flared with each demanding exercise, and her frustration was becoming evident. I could see her scowling and clenching her fists, struggling to keep her composure.
Master Fu, with his arms crossed, observed us closely. His expression was unreadable, and it only added to the pressure we felt.
"Again!" he called out.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to focus and pushed myself forward. Each time I fell or failed to complete an obstacle, I forced myself to get back up and try again. It was challenging, physically and mentally, but I knew I couldn't give up. Not if I wanted to survive…whatever it was we're going to survive.
I found a quiet spot away from the intense training, panting as I caught my breath. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and I wiped it away with the back of my hand. The obstacle course had taken a toll on my energy, and I relished the brief respite.
As I sat there, trying to gather my strength, I noticed Adrien approaching. His confident stride seemed out of place in the midst of our exhaustion, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance. I wasn't in the mood to deal with the King's son and his air of superiority.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, just taking a quick break," I replied, trying to sound casual despite my exhaustion.
"Same here," he said, sitting down beside me. "This training is intense."
I nodded, not knowing what else to say. I wasn't exactly thrilled about having a conversation with him. In my mind, he represented everything I despised about the royal family—privileged and disconnected from the struggles of ordinary people like me.
"I'm Adrien Agreste, by the way," he introduced himself with a smile.
I forced a small smile in return, "I know who you are."
"Oh, right. The whole King's son thing," he chuckled awkwardly. "I guess that comes with its own set of assumptions."
"It does," I admitted, not bothering to sugarcoat my feelings.
He seemed taken aback for a moment, but then he nodded thoughtfully. "I get it. People have their preconceived notions about me because of my family. But I want you to know that I'm not like them. I'm not The Dark One's slave. And I want to be more than just a title."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his words. "What exactly do you want to be?"
"I want to be someone who makes a difference," he replied earnestly. "I want to use whatever power I have to help people and make our kingdom a better place."
I couldn't deny that his words sounded sincere, but I was still cautious. The royal family had a long history of causing suffering and oppression, and I wasn't ready to believe that Adrien was any different.
"I guess time will tell," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
I didn't know how to respond to that. The awkward silence that followed was interrupted by the sound of a whistle, signaling the end of our break. It was time to get back to the grueling training.
As I stood up to resume the obstacle course, Adrien got to his feet as well. "Good luck out there," he said, giving me an encouraging smile.
"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling a mix of irritation and something else that I couldn't quite identify.
After the grueling training session, the instructors seemed to take pity on us newcomers. They announced that the rest of the day's classes were optional, understanding that we needed time to recover from the intense physical demands.
Instead of attending the next set of classes, we decided to explore the palace training facility. The place was vast and labyrinthine, with ornate hallways and grand chambers. We wandered through the halls, marveling at the exquisite tapestries and intricate artwork that covered the walls.
Eventually, we found ourselves in the grand dining hall.
I sat alone at a table, picking at my food as I observed the other candidates chatting and laughing with their newfound companions. The atmosphere was far from comforting, and I felt like an outsider.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, I noticed Adrien Agreste walking into the dining hall. His presence seemed to command attention, and I couldn't help but steal a few glances at him. He had an air of confidence that both intrigued and intimidated me.
To my surprise, he headed straight towards my table, and a mixture of confusion and apprehension filled me. I didn't understand why he would come over; we hardly knew each other.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked, flashing a charming smile.
"Um, s-sure," I stammered, taken aback by his request.
He took a seat across from me. I focused on my food, trying to avoid making eye contact.
"So, how's your first day going?" he asked, trying to make conversation.
"Fine."
He seemed to sense my guardedness and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
I glanced up at him, skeptical. "Why are you being nice to me? We barely know each other."
"Look, I get it if you don't trust me," he said, seeming to read my thoughts. "But I genuinely want to help. The Selection is tough, and sometimes it's nice to have a friend."
The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. Maybe I had been too quick to judge him. After all, we were all in this together, and having some support wouldn't hurt.
"I'm…Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng," I said, cautiously extending a hand forward. As our fingers met, I noticed the warmth of his touch, how his grip was firm yet gentle, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still as our hands clasped. I couldn't help but notice the small details - the callouses on his palm, the way our fingers interlocked effortlessly.
Adrien pulled away.
"Sweet. See you around." He waved goodbye, catching up with one of the other contestants whom I assumed was his roommate.
As we went our separate ways to our dorms for the night, I couldn't shake the strange encounter with Adrien. There was something about him that piqued my curiosity, even as I tried to keep my guard up.