Ch. 9 — Pain Without Progress
626 Words
Rex slammed his fist into the ground.
Not the mountain.
Just stone.
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It shattered.
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“…Still the same.”
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His breathing was rough.
Controlled—but only barely.
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Days had passed.
Or weeks.
Time didn’t behave here.
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He had stopped attacking the mountain.
Stopped trying to “win.”
Stopped trying to prove anything.
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And yet—
nothing was happening.
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No breakthroughs.
No surges of power.
No sudden clarity.
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Just—
pain.
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Rex looked at his hands.
They broke.
They healed.
They broke again.
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But there was no difference.
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“…This is pointless.”
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Kai sat nearby.
Unmoving.
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“…Then leave,” he said quietly.
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Rex shot him a glare.
“You think I haven’t thought about that?”
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Kai didn’t respond.
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Rex exhaled sharply.
Ran a hand through his hair.
“…Back there—”
He gestured vaguely downward.
“…you could feel it. Progress.”
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His voice tightened.
“You train. You improve. You rise.”
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Silence.
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Rex clenched his fists.
“…Here?”
A bitter laugh.
“…I don’t even know if I’m getting weaker or stronger.”
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Athem poured the tea.
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The sound was soft.
But it cut through everything.
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Rex looked at him.
“…Say something.”
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Athem didn’t look up.
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Rex stood.
Walked closer.
“…You said there are stages. Twenty of them.”
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No response.
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“Where am I?”
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Silence.
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Rex’s voice sharpened.
“Level one? Halfway? Nowhere?”
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Athem placed the kettle down.
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Then—
finally—
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“If you can measure it—”
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Rex froze.
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Athem lifted his gaze slightly.
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“…it is limited.”
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The words landed without force.
But they didn’t move.
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Rex stared at him.
“…So what, I’m just supposed to feel nothing?”
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Athem shook his head faintly.
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“You feel pain.”
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Rex let out a hollow laugh.
“Yeah. That part’s working great.”
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Athem continued.
“But you are trying to turn pain into proof.”
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Silence.
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Rex’s expression shifted.
Just slightly.
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“…Isn’t it?”
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Athem looked at him.
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“Pain is a signal.”
A pause.
“Not a measurement.”
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Kai spoke softly.
“…He’s looking for confirmation.”
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Rex didn’t deny it.
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“…Of course I am.”
His voice dropped.
“…Otherwise how do I know this isn’t a waste of time?”
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Athem picked up his cup.
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“You don’t.”
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Silence.
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Rex stared.
Waiting for more.
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There wasn’t any.
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His jaw tightened.
“…That’s it?”
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Athem drank.
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Rex laughed again—
but there was no humor in it.
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“…You’re telling me to keep going—”
“…with no proof…”
“…no progress…”
“…nothing?”
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Athem set the cup down.
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“You are still here.”
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Rex stopped.
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The words hit differently.
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“…Yeah.”
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A pause.
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“…I am.”
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Kai opened his eyes.
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“…That is the only thing that hasn’t changed.”
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Rex looked at his hands again.
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Still shaking.
Still scarred.
Still—
his.
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“…Tch.”
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He sat back down.
Hard.
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Not calm.
Not resolved.
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But not leaving.
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“…Fine.”
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Silence returned.
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No breakthroughs came.
No hidden power surfaced.
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The pain remained.
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Unrewarded.
Unmeasured.
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And for the first time—
Rex endured it
without trying to turn it into something more.
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