The Married Life Of Immortals

Bane woke up the next morning and went through his training with Morgana. Ezio had shown up near the end with a scowl on his face, but didn't say anything until Bane was headed out of the building.

"Nina asked me to bring you to the training grounds in the back of Lysia's school," Ezio growled as he roughly pushed past Bane and out the front door.

Bane stumbled, but refused to let the pissy black bandaged mummy get under his sink today. The entire time he had been training, Bane had been imagining what it would be like to have a tempered body. In his past life, he had done his own version of tempering to his body. It allowed him to be able to twist and turn like water, but Wei Nam Lee's proposal with his pills sounded more intense.

Following Ezio out of the Morgana building, Bane spoke up with a question, "Why do you need to take me there? We both know that it is probably the only place in this town that I know better than the place I sleep right?"

Ezio didn't bother to stop or turn back to look at Bane. "Shut up and follow me," Ezio growled, refusing to say that Wei had asked Morgana to ask him to help with his training.

Not wanting to make his day any worse, Bane nudged Eve. 'So? What do you think about all of this body tempering stuff?'

There was no answer at first, and Bane wondered if she was ignoring him, but then she spoke up. 'I personally think it would be better to wait until your potential is unlocked. At the same time, I also know that seeing results will probably put you in a better mood, making you more inclined to put in effort for the other things that don't give you visual results."

Bane couldn't help but let out a chuckle at this, which earned him a backwards glare from Ezio that just made Bane roll his eyes.

'Even though you are in my head, it feels like you know me too well!" Bane laughed, but only internally this time.

'You could say that, but your character makes you easy to read, and your disappointment at each failure to produce visual results was an easy giveaway. I think this will be good for you, but I only ask that you take your time and build yourself up to a point that the others think you are ready. Then, when you see your results, I hope that you take learning everything else more seriously,' Eve explained, and Bane internally nodded.

As they arrived at the training grounds behind Lysia's school, Bane couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and dread. This place held nothing but painful nightmares from his very brief training with Lysia. The place was cleared out, but there was a little girl in the center wearing silver armor that had white wing coming from her shoulder plates. If one were to look quick, they might think she was a mini Valkyrie. If one looked closer, they might think that this was a little girl playing dress up, but they would be wise to assume the latter.

Ezio and Bane approached the training grounds, the silence filling the air. The little girl in the center of the field radiated an intense aura despite her small stature. Her silver armor gleamed in the morning sun, and the white wings on her shoulder plates gave her a celestial appearance.

"Who's the kid?" Bane asked, genuinely curious.

Ezio gave him a sidelong glance. "That's Nina. Don't let her appearance fool you. She's one of the best warriors around here, and she's been assigned to help with your training."

Bane's eyebrows shot up. "This is who Wei Nam Lee wants me to train with?" He asked in a neutral voice, considering his last misjudgment of a little girl.

"While I was asked to help you, I think that Nina will be more than you can handle today," Ezio sneered, and then vanished in a puff of smoke.

Bane shook his head. Nothing could make him like that little shit, but the assassin wasn't his problem right now, and he turned to face the armored girl.

Nina stood at attention, her posture rigid and her gaze focused. Despite her young age, there was an air of authority and confidence around her that Bane couldn't ignore. He took a deep breath, approaching her cautiously.

"So, you're Nina?" Bane asked, trying to keep his tone light.

She nodded curtly. "Yes, and you must be Bane. I've heard about your situation and the plan Wei Nam Lee has proposed."

Bane scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, it's a bit... unconventional. But I'm willing to give it a shot. What do you have in mind for today?"

Nina's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing him. "Today, we'll start with the basics. Strength and endurance training. Before you can even think about taking those tempering pills, your body needs to be prepared to handle the strain. Follow me."

She led Bane to a series of training stations scattered across the field. There were weights, obstacle courses, and various apparatus designed to test and improve physical abilities. Nina's intensity was palpable as she explained each exercise.

"We'll begin with strength training. You need to build up your muscles and overall endurance. Start with those weights," she said, pointing to a set of heavy dumbbells. "Do three sets of ten reps."

Bane eyed the weights, feeling a mixture of determination and doubt. He picked them up and began his first set, grunting with the effort. Nina watched him closely, correcting his form and encouraging him to push through the discomfort.

As he moved through the exercises, the grueling regimen pushed him to his limits. Nina's instructions were precise and demanding, but she also provided constructive feedback, helping Bane to maximize his efforts.

"Remember, it's not just about lifting the weight. Focus on your breathing and your form. Each movement should be controlled and deliberate," Nina coached, her voice steady and authoritative.

After an hour of intense training, Bane was drenched in sweat and struggling to catch his breath. Nina, seemingly unaffected by the physical exertion, handed him a bottle of water.

"Take a short break. Hydrate and rest, but not for too long. We still have a lot to cover," she said.

Bane gratefully accepted the water, drinking deeply. "You're pretty tough for a kid," he remarked between gulps.

Nina's expression darkened. "What did you just call me?"

Suddenly, a feeling of dread accompanied by ice running through his veins assaulted him. For a brief moment, because of the training, Bane had forgotten that they were really all adults inside these childlike bodies.

Without letting him reply, Nina darted over to the training weapon rack with wooden weapons. She grabbed two swords, and then threw one of them at Bane.

It flew so fast that Bane couldn't react in time. The wooden weapon slammed into his chest, making him stumble back to grab where it hit him, while gasping for air.

"I think it is time to start training with weapons. Prepare yourself!" Nina growled, and then rushed at him without giving Bane a chance to pick up the weapon.

Bane barely had time to react before Nina was upon him, beating him down with her sword like some wild animal. As wild as she was, her movements were swift and precise, the wooden sword in her hand a blur as she aimed a series of strikes at him. Bane stumbled backward, still trying to catch his breath from the earlier exertion.

"Pick up the sword!" Nina shouted, her strikes relentless.

Bane scrambled to grab the wooden sword from where it had landed. As soon as his fingers closed around the hilt, Nina's blade came down toward his head. Instinctively, he raised his own sword to block the attack. The impact jarred his arms, but he managed to hold his ground.

"Good! Now defend yourself!" Nina ordered, pressing her attack.

Bane tried to recall his past life, but Nina's onslaught left little room for thought. He parried her strikes clumsily, his movements sluggish compared to her lightning-fast attacks. It became clear that Nina was not holding back, each of her blows testing his reflexes and endurance.

After several minutes of intense sparring, Bane's arms felt like lead, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. Yet, despite the pain and exhaustion, he found himself growing more determined. He couldn't let Nina break him, not after deciding to take on this challenge.

"Focus, Bane! Your form is sloppy. Keep your stance low and balanced!" Nina barked, her tone unforgiving.

Bane adjusted his stance, trying to mimic the fluid movements Nina had demonstrated. He managed to deflect a few more of her strikes, finding a rhythm amidst the chaos. It was far from perfect, but he was starting to hold his own.

Nina seemed to notice his improvement, and a small smile of approval crossed her face. "Better. But you still have a long way to go."

She increased the intensity of her attacks, forcing Bane to dig deeper into his reserves of strength and determination. The world around him narrowed to the clash of wooden swords and the sound of his own labored breathing. Every fiber of his being was focused on surviving this grueling session.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nina stepped back, lowering her sword. "That's enough for now," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You did well, considering. But you need to build more stamina and improve your technique."

Bane collapsed to his knees, sweat pouring down his face. His body ached from the relentless training, but he felt a flicker of pride at having lasted as long as he did. "Thanks," he panted. "I appreciate the... tough love."

Nina nodded, her stern expression softening slightly. "You're welcome, but think before you speak next time, or I won't go easy on you if it happens again. Remember, this is just the beginning. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

As Bane struggled to his feet, he noticed Wei Nam Lee approaching from the edge of the training ground, a small smile on his face. "You did well, Bane. Nina is a harsh taskmaster, but her training will be invaluable."

Bane gave a tired nod, wiping sweat from his brow. "I can see that. So, what's next?"

Wei handed Bane a small vial filled with a glowing blue liquid. "This is the first of your preparatory potions. Drink it tonight before bed, but be prepared for some pain. It will help your body recover and prepare for the next phase of training."

Bane accepted the vial, feeling a renewed sense of determination but also uneasiness as well. "Alright. I'll do it."

Wei placed a hand on Bane's shoulder, his expression serious. "Remember, Bane, this path you're on is dangerous, but it's also filled with potential. Trust in the process and in yourself."

Bane nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the young alchemist. "I will. Thanks, Wei."

As Bane left the training grounds, he couldn't help but feel a mix of exhaustion and excitement. The journey ahead was daunting, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. With Wei Nam Lee's guidance and Nina's training, he was starting to believe that he might just have a chance to break free from his limits and forge a new path for himself.