CHAPTER 17: Resistance Training

Screams of pain echoed off the walls and left through the only opening available. The guards told to keep watch were becoming annoyed with the noise after the pity they previously felt became non-existent. They were also tasked with adjusting multiple mirrors to ensure that the training didn't stop.

Milas had been suffering for what felt like ages. He could never get used to the pain as it seemed to alternate with almost infinite choices. He helplessly curled up into a ball to protect his head and vital organs while leaving his bloody back exposed. The only solace he got was thinking about paying his master back a hundredfold. The pain reduced and the three guards that were watching him lowered a rope ladder. Milas could only stare at it as the slightest of movements caused immense amount of pain.

A few hours ago....

Milas followed the vampire outside and immediately froze before rushing back into the mansion. This was the first time being exposed to sunlight since turning and he hoped it would be the last. Deogratius was standing there completely unaffected by the sun. Milas sent him a questioning gaze and he casually replied.

"Didn't I tell how dangerous the sun is to vampires. Even reflected sunlight affects us." Deogratius pulled out a tiny mirror from his pocket and reflected some light onto Milas' forehead. Milas dodged the rays when he felt a prickling sensation. "I am not affected because of this ring I'm wearing. It is made with crystals from shadow creatures with the ability to merge with shadows. Most rings allow three hours of exposure with a cool down of an hour."

"How do I get one?" Milas asked from within the safety of the mansion.

"Its very easy actually. You just find the crystals and some money then pay a blacksmith to forge one for you." Deogratius said with a flat tone like he just gave an unquestionable explanation. "Now, walk towards me of your own volition or I will chop your legs off and drag you."

Milas didn't want to comply but he knew better than to test the patience of his master. He gritted his teeth and walked towards his master. The pain was strange as a constant itch was felt on his skin. The worst part started soon as he felt his insides become unstable. It felt like every organ wanted to explode but could only do so bit by bit.

His body was trembling from the pain and a sudden headache made him wonder if he had been stabbed in the brain. The pain was getting worse by the second and his itching skin felt like it had caught on fire. Milas felt his body float for a second before he hit the ground. The pain subsided enough for him to think clearly and analyse his surroundings.

Milas was in a deep pit with slightly rough sides and its top wider than the bottom. He was about to shout for help when Deogratius' head looked down from above. "Welcome to resistance class. Your first lesson will be on how to gain sunlight immunity. I will teach you this once you understand how dangerous sunlight is and then appreciate the importance of being immune. You don't have much time till school starts so we'll speed up the process."

A large circular glass was used to cover the top of the pit and Milas could hear Deogratius ordering someone to arrange the mirrors carefully. Milas was curious about the things that were happening out there when the pain of sunlight gave him the answer.

"These bastards are using mirrors to reflect sunlight into the pit. That glass also looks weird. Like it's aiming all the sunlight towards me. I'll kill that fcker even if it's the last thing I do." Milas was cursing Deogratius with all he had but his gritted teeth restricted all sound.

The pain made Milas feel like he was burning and his skin was already peeling off. The clothes hurt him more when they touched his skin. He had no choice but to strip down and form an umbrella with them. The umbrella was helping till he smelt something burning. The clothes were on fire and he threw them away to avoid burning himself. A burning twig proved that someone burnt his clothes on purpose.

The pain was clouding his mind and he fell to his knees when it reached his heart. Milas heard the heavy thundering of his heart despite being told that he didn't have one. Time slowed to a crawl and he could only scream as the pain ravaged his body. He convulsed as the pulse of the blood crystal enhanced his pain.

Present time....

Milas heard something drop beside his head and saw a leather pouch lying there. The pain was gradually decreasing leaving him with only pain from his wounds. He didn't even try to move as his body was naturally healing but his drained energy meant that it could only stop the bleeding.

"What are you waiting for? Drink the blood from the pouch to fasten your healing. The master is waiting for you in the training room." One of the guards yelled at the bloodied figure at the bottom of the well. Milas could hear him and he knew what he had to do. He lay still and didn't even look at the pouch full of salvation for his body.

The guards kept yelling at him but he completely zoned out. The guards were wondering if he was dead so they tested it by reflecting sunlight on him. Milas grit his teeth but didn't make a sound. The guards finally stopped and concluded that he was no more.

Milas refused to leave the pit and he could hear Deogratius' voice from above. "Don't waste your strength going down there to get him. Just fill the pit with water and the corpse will float to the top. Make sure the light shines on him throughout the process incase he needs motivation to come back to life."

Milas heard him walk away and felt something cool and went touch his burned skin. The soothing sensation provided made him moan but it sounded like a weak croak. He was reveling in the feeling when the burning returned. Milas endured and waited for the water to cover him entirely so as to protect him from the burning.

The water was quick to fill the pit and Milas was soon submerged. He was dismayed by his resent discovery. Turns out he could burn underwater. The torture he was feeling was otherworldly as the burning was being restricted to his insides. This made it impossible for Milas to hold his breath.

The painful and uncomfortable feeling of burning being accompanied by the oppressive and inescapable pressure of drowning, resulted into a new form of mental suffering. His will was quickly broken and he swam to the surface to breathe. That was the plan but his weak, battered and oxygen drained body didn't respond.

He was afraid but his unresponsive body didn't even let him express it. The fear he felt lost its place in his broken mind and in its place was hopelessness. Which disappeared leaving no emotions to be felt. Milas only stared at the wavy surface with no thoughts on his mind. His life didn't flash before his eyes as he acknowledged that its worth was only determined by the regrets of not accomplishing more.

And what more could he wish to accomplish when he never really had any ambition to begin with. Milas had only lived his life by solving problems that fate threw at him but he never caused them himself. He had been following the plans of fate as he couldn't come up with any.

"Maybe I need to make my life mean something. Maybe I need to ensure that someone will remember my existence after I perish. Or I can just live a life that makes me happy. A life that I can be proud of. A life that I put in the effort to do something meaningful. I will survive anything just to live according to my own rules. Wait... Why am I thinking about such things when I'm dying? My vision darkened moments ago and I'm sure death is all that remains." Milas thought as his consciousness started disappearing.

"I was starting to recover and this idiot is trying to kill us. I have to save us and hope that he won't do this again." Milas heard a deep, beast like voice say those words before his heart stopped.