Profit Without Sacrifice

The training grounds were covered in a dark, sad curtain of darkness. Shen lay on his bunk, thinking about what Sergeant Raiden had said and the faces of his new friends. He finally fell asleep because he was so tired, but it didn't help him; instead, it took him deeper into something much more disturbing.

With every step, it felt like he was dragging heavy chains through a swamp of despair.

Suddenly, a cold, creepy voice echoed over the hot planet. "You lied to her!"

Shen's breath caught in his throat, and he stopped moving. He turned his head quickly, looking for the source in the dark and flames, but he couldn't find anything.

"You lied to her!" This time, the voice was louder and more threatening. His heart beat hard against Shen's ribs.

Before he could think of something to say, a wave of intense heat hit him, squeezing his chest like a vise. He jumped up with a strangled gasp. He sat up straight and his chest heaved as he tried to force air into his lungs. There was a lot of cold sweat on his forehead. The ghostly voice kept echoing in the back of his mind, even though the room was quiet.

As Shen looked around his dark rooms, he told himself that he was safe. The first rays of morning light were just starting to come through the gaps in the window. It was a dim orange light that chased away the effects of the nightmare.

He took a long, shaky breath. He mumbled, "It was just a dream," but the words didn't seem to mean anything. His nightmare wouldn't let him go; it was too real to be easily forgotten.

The sun's harsh rays made long shadows across the training grounds as Shen worked on his sword skills. He was so tired that his muscles hurt, and sweat dripped from his forehead. As he swung the blade, he became more and more angry. Each movement felt strange and unsteady.

Raiden watched him closely, his worried face showing through his stern features. He saw that Shen's hand was shaking a little and that his blows were stopping for a second.

"Shen," Raiden yelled, and his voice was loud enough to cut through Shen's mental fog. "Come here."

Shen got closer and stared at the ground at his feet, his heart racing. He stood at attention in front of his sergeant.

"What's wrong?" Raiden asked, his voice a little softer. "You move with caution. Your hands are shaking. You don't act like this.

Shen's words got stuck in his throat as he hesitated. The memory of his first kill, the forest cannibal, burned in front of his eyes with horrifying clarity.

In a voice that was barely audible, Shen said, "I... I killed someone."

Raiden's face stayed the same. "Tell me about it."

Shen told what had happened in the woods: the fear, the hopelessness, and the need that had driven him to kill. He talked about how every choice he made was now filled with oppressive uncertainty and how ashamed he was.

Raiden listened carefully and kept his eyes on Shen's face the whole time. The sergeant spoke in a calm, cool voice when he was done.

"You took someone else's life to save your own. It is a big load, but you shouldn't be ashamed of it.

Shen looked up with eyes full of desperate confusion. "But how can I be sure? How can I be sure that it was the right thing to do?

"There is no 'right' or 'wrong' in survival, Shen," Raiden said in a strong voice. "Only action and its effects exist. You did something to protect yourself. That's all that counts. He put a heavy hand on Shen's shoulder. "Don't let the results of that behavior make you unable to work. Know it. Know it. Then, direct it. Use it to make yourself stronger and to help you train.

Shen nodded slowly as a small part of the weight on his chest began to lift. He saw the sword in his hand for the first time as a way to stay alive, to protect himself and the people he loved, instead of as a weapon to kill.

Zara watched from a distance, her gaze sharp and analytical, without them knowing. She could see that Shen didn't want to do it, and his fingers were shaking a little. When Raiden spoke, she showed a flash of something—maybe respect—before turning away.

Later that day, Shen had trouble controlling the spear, and his clumsy, hesitant movements showed that he was naturally afraid of sharp things. Raiden came up to him again.

Instead of asking a question, Raiden said, "You're afraid of the weapon." "Why?"

Shen said that he didn't want to use a weapon that was meant to do so much damage. Raiden spoke after listening because he understood clearly.

"Any weapon can hurt someone. But the person who uses it decides what it is for. It can be used to protect or hurt someone. You can choose. He held the spear correctly, moved it with precision and efficiency, and showed full control. A weapon extends your will. It will be a tool for justice instead of destruction if you can learn how to use it.

As Shen practiced with a new focus, fear slowly turned into a sharp, blazing focus. The spear he held began to feel more like a promise of safety than a threat of violence.

"You're learning," Raiden said as he watched him train one afternoon. "But there's still something not quite right."

Shen stopped and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "What is it?"

"You fight with an empty heart," Raiden said again. "A leader can't lead people if they don't exist." You have to find something to believe in and fight for.

He really connected with what Raiden said. His whole life, he had been lost and without direction. But he began to understand when he thought about Lina's situation and the promise he had not yet kept. He needed a reason. He needed a reason.

And that day came after days of hard training.

"Today," Raiden said in a strong voice that cut through the clear morning air, "we will test not only your physical strength but also your mental strength."

The recruits stood with swords, spears, and shields. It was a tough place with high walls, thorny bushes, pits full of water, and rocky ground.

Raiden looked at each of them as he stood in front of them. "This class isn't just about getting stronger and faster. It's about how well you can work with others and do your best when things get tough. He went on, "And remember, the first person to finish gets to be the team leader." A rare smile crossed his lips. So, move quickly, but don't lose sight of what's most important.

Shen looked at his teammates instead. Kael stood still, his mask hiding his face. Kelly was completely focused as she carefully looked at her bow. Fenix looked like he was full of himself with his trademark sneer. Zara's cold, calculating eyes scanned the course as Toren stretched his wide shoulders. Shen held on to his gear more tightly.

It was a gauntlet run. They climbed up slippery ropes over tall walls, crawled through mud under barbed wire, and crossed shaky bridges that wobbled over wide gulfs. At first, the team worked together, and each member faced the problems with grim determination. Shen's lungs were begging for air, but he made himself keep going.

As they got closer to the finish line, the last challenge appeared: a slippery rope bridge over a small, rocky gully.

Kael, who is usually so calm and steady, faltered. As he ran to grab the bridge, his body dangled dangerously when his foot slipped on the wet rope. The others kept going, their eyes on the finish line. But Shen stopped. He could see victory, the finish line, and the leader's title he wanted so badly. After that, his eyes went back to Kael, who was silently trying to get a better grip.

He turned around. He ran over to Kael and offered him his hand. In a strong and uncompromising voice, Shen said, "We'll cross together."

Kael's eyes got bigger with surprise as he looked through his mask. He nodded quickly and, without saying anything, then took Shen's hand.

"Never leave your squad," Raiden said to him at that moment.

After they got past the last barrier, Shen and Kael ran to the finish line. The rest of the team was already there and was waiting with a mix of curiosity and doubt.

As they got closer, Raiden's sharp facial lines became less and less noticeable as he stood at the finish line. He moved forward after watching them quietly.

"Fenix is right," Raiden said, and every recruit heard him. "You didn't come in first." He stopped and looked Shen straight in the eye. But being the first to cross the line doesn't mean you're a good leader. A leader never leaves their group behind. Because of that, Shen, you have earned the right to be the team leader.

Shen looked at him in disbelief. This was a surprise. Raiden's words and the responsibilities they carried weighed heavily on his heart.

The other recruits stared at each other. Fenix said, "I guess I can live with that," and shrugged with a smile on his face. Kelly quickly nodded in agreement. Toren nodded without saying anything. Zara stood there with her arms crossed. Her face was blank, but it looked like she suddenly respected him.

Kael moved forward without making a sound. He lowered his head a little in Shen's direction, which was a small but clear sign of thanks.

Something strange and warm grew inside Shen for the first time in a long, long time. It wasn't just happiness; it was pride.