I lay on the bed in my apartment, surrounded by the familiar sights of my room. It felt like I’d just woken up from a nap.
But how had I returned to the apartment? When had I fallen asleep? I couldn’t recall a single detail.
The last thing I remembered was finishing class the previous evening and running into Magnus. He had invited me out to dinner, and afterward, he drove me home. Beyond that, my memory was a complete blank.
I hadn’t been drinking, nor was I sick. So why couldn’t I recall anything after dinner?
I glanced at the clock. It was already eight in the morning.
After getting up to wash, I ran into Evelyn.
“When did you come back last night?” I asked her casually.
Evelyn stared at me, her expression shocked. “Did you lose your memory? You were awake and talking to me for quite a while when I came back.”
God. I had no recollection of it at all.
No matter how much I tried to think, I couldn’t piece together what had happened. It was as if nothing had occurred, yet the gaps in my memory left me uneasy.
I could vaguely recall talking to Evelyn. I could also remember Magnus dropping me off at the apartment. But when I tried to focus on the details, my mind went blank.
Perhaps I was just too exhausted lately, overwhelmed by everything happening around me.
After breakfast, Evelyn and I headed to school. Fortunately, my memory of the course material was intact. I didn’t feel sick either, which came as a relief.
It had to be the stress. So much had been happening recently, and maybe my body was just reacting to it.
After class, I grabbed a quick bite before heading to the Eagle Club for training.
As usual, Kael was already waiting for me. When he saw me, he walked over with a smile.
“You’re here, Seraphina. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Kael was wearing a tight black t-shirt today. It clung to his muscular frame, barely able to contain his defined physique. He seemed even more robust than before, evidence of his dedication to training.
Yet, as I looked at him, I felt something strange-a fleeting sense of unfamiliarity.
I frowned, taking an unconscious step back. Why did I feel this way?
Every time I’d seen Kael before, my heart would race, and my ears would buzz. But now, those feelings were absent.
Kael noticed my hesitation and stepped closer, placing his large hands on my shoulders.
“What’s wrong?”
The warmth of his hands steadied me, and that odd sense of detachment vanished. He was still the Kael I knew.
I smiled, trying to mask my earlier discomfort. “It’s nothing. What’s on the agenda for today? I’d rather not run.”
“I wasn’t planning on making you run,” Kael said with a chuckle. “Your speed has improved significantly. Today, we’ll focus on strength training.”
He walked to a small storage shed nearby and returned with a set of dumbbells.
I stared at the weights in surprise. “What are you planning?”
Kael handed me a five-kilogram dumbbell.
“This is 5kg,” he said. “I know it’s a bit intense for a beginner, and I feel bad for pushing you so quickly, but I want to see you grow stronger.”
“Only 5kg? You’re underestimating me,” I replied, gripping the dumbbell. It felt heavy but manageable.
“Lifting it isn’t enough,” Kael said. “Follow my lead. Marek, you join too.”
Kael and Marek each picked up heavier dumbbells. The weights they carried were clearly much more substantial than mine.
Kael, like a professional trainer, demonstrated the movements. “Lift, lower, lift, lower…”
At first, it seemed easy. But as I continued, the effort began to wear on me. By the time I finished one set, my arms trembled with exhaustion.
I glanced at Kael, whose calm expression seemed to challenge me.
“I can do this, Kael,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Don’t push yourself too hard,” he cautioned. “You’ve never trained systematically before, and without proper muscle development, you could injure yourself. Take it slow.”
His words eased my frustration. He was right. My previous attempts at training were inconsistent, and overexerting myself now wouldn’t help.
“Fine,” I conceded, setting the dumbbell aside. My arms quivered from exertion as I sat down to watch Kael and Marek.
They performed the exercises effortlessly, their movements fluid and controlled. Marek followed Kael’s lead with precision, showing no signs of fatigue.
Compared to them, I was clearly an amateur.
After resting for a while, I pushed myself to try again.
Kael raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re determined, Seraphina. Marek and I have to admire your spirit.”
“Just say my fitness level is terrible,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Although I struggled to keep up with them, my body gradually adapted. Soon, lifting the weights felt easier.
“One, two, three, four, five…” I counted as I completed each rep, my confidence growing.
Kael’s eyes gleamed with approval. “Seraphina, you’re unlocking your potential. Keep going!”
With his encouragement, I completed an entire set of exercises. Kael and Marek even applauded when I finished.
Their praise made me blush.
“That’s enough for today,” Kael said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Seraphina, let’s grab dinner. How about coming to my apartment tonight?”
“You’re awfully direct,” I teased.
“You had dinner with Magnus last night,” he countered. “Why not with me?”
“You know about that?” I asked, startled. My gaze darted to Marek. Had he told Kael?
“No,” Kael replied, shaking his head. “My men were monitoring Magnus. Don’t you remember?”