A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 125: The Fruit of Struggle - Part 3

Already Beam had worked his way past the third stone and it felt just as easy as yesterday, perhaps even easier, after the extra rest. His running had gone well the previous day and he had managed to run across the ravine back and forth a total of five times without finding that he had overly taxed himself. The injury on his leg was now hardly a consideration.

Beam powered through the fourth stone with a grunt. Once, twice, all the way up to ten times he lifted it. Adrenaline rushed through him as he felt the ease in which the heavy stone moved and he had to fight back the urge to shout in excitement. "That was easy again," he said mildly instead, not quite able to hide his full smile.

"Indeed, it was. And now for the main event. A month's worth of work. Are you ready?" Dominus asked.

Beam nodded seriously, his heart pounding as he rolled the fifth stone out. It was truly a monstrous stone indeed. As it sat there in front of him, Beam could hardly imagine being able to wrap his arms around it.

"Begin," came Dominus' command and Beam squatted to pick up the stone anyway, despite his apprehension.

His arms could not make it all the way around its massive surface, but it turned out that it did not matter, for he easily lifted it to his knee regardless and then dragged it all the way up to his chest.

It was a shock on his system, the sheer weight of it. He could feel his muscles panic – but the result remained, he managed to lift it.

Dominus motioned for him to drop it. "Nine more to go," he said.

And then Beam went at it for a second go, this time easier than the first, as he now knew what to expect from its weight. Up to his chest it went, before he was allowed to drop it once more. He jumped into the third lift even faster than before, trying to keep his rhythm. Up and down he went, all the way to ninth lift, when he first began to show signs of struggle.

"And, ten. Done," Dominus said, as Beam's legs shook and he heaved the stone up for a tenth lift.

But Beam wasn't done yet. He hadn't truly pushed himself to his limits. Now that he was here, stronger than he ever had been, he wanted to reach the highest peak he possibly could. After all, over the course of this month, he'd learned that progress was nothing if not unpredictable. By the whimsy of the gods, obstacles could easily obstruct his path.

There was no telling what sort of calamity would befall him in the future that might once more rob him of his strength. And so, after waiting a day already, he was not want to wait another day more.

He lifted it again and again. Thirteen and then fourteen. The fourteenth was the toughest yet as the stone began to slip from his hands after its surface grew slicker with each lift and Beam's grip weakened.

But nevertheless, he attacked it once more and forced his body beyond its limits. With every muscle shaking, he just barely managed to lift it for fifteen, before dropping it to the ground in satisfaction.

"Ever greedy," Dominus acknowledged, passing him a cup of tea. "Congratulations, you passed the strength test, despite everything. And you even exceeded the stated goal. Though I have to say, was it truly wise to push yourself all the way to breaking point when you have such an arduous morning ahead of you?"

Beam grunted in acknowledgement as he lay on the floor, getting his breath back. "It… probably… wasn't the best move," he said. "But hopefully… in a few minutes… I'll be recovered."

"Hard to get that much energy back in just a few minutes, but good luck boy," Dominus said, before pointing with a finger at the sky. "Ah, it would seem dawn is breaking. Seems you've got even less than those few minutes."

Beam squinted up at the sky as well, before he shot to his feet in a panic. "Oh, damn it! I better get started. It's 10 miles to the west, right? On the plains? How far from the forest?"

"Mm, about half a mile. I will run along ahead of you after I finish my drink. With me as a marker, I do not imagine you'll miss it," Dominus said, ever relaxed, despite Beam's franticness.

"Ah, gods. I better get going then," Beam said, starting to shift away.

"Mm. Forgetting something?" Dominus said with a smile.

"Huh? What? Oh, shit! I've got to carry the first stone as well, right?" Beam said, his eyes shooting open from the realization. He sprinted back over to where the stones were, collecting the first of them. It was somewhat light in his palm, but that was only when compared to the other stones.

Having to run with it was a different task entirely.

"Indeed. Better get going then, daylight's burning," Dominus said, clearly enjoying the whole affair. Beam bit back a harsh reply and instead started down the mountain path at a jog, clutching the stone in one arm.

It was about the size of a person's head, only much smoother. He could carry it in one hand – at least for a time – which made his job easier, but given that he had no bag to put it into, it was impossible to settle into a comfortable rhythm carrying it, for it hindered his natural running stride, forcing his weight towards whichever side he was holding the rock on.

He tried resting it upon his upper back and running somewhat stooped over as his hands held it in place, and indeed that made it so his running was less asymmetrical, but it didn't really decrease the difficulty of the task.

He sped over the uneven mountain trail, leaping across roots as he fiddled with the rock, trying to put it into different positions, testing to see if he could find an easier way of doing things.