It had been two weeks since Vix returned from the Ice Path. Ever since that journey, Kirk had given him a strict training regime. He and Dusty were working their bodies to their breaking point and then pushing past it. Never in his life had he thought he would work so hard at something. Never had he needed to work for something like this. His factory setting was lazily talented, so putting in the hard yards felt particularly arduous. But after the trial he had endured during on the Ice Path, he felt like he could do anything. Kirk Veil had described that as a 'trial of spirit', whereby he was meant to go through an arduous journey that would break his spirit forcefully and clear away room for a new, disciplined and focused spirit to bloom. So far it seemed to work. He had managed to stick to his strict workout regime, diet and packed schedule.

Today was the day that he regretted doing so well. Kirk had told him that they could fast forward their plan and move onto the next stage. Today was apparently the 'trial of body'. He didn't want another trial. The last one had been such a stressful experience that he had full body spasms when getting in the shower after getting home, the water on his head reminding him of the icy waterfall he had sat under. But there was no way he was giving up. There could be no possible way that what lay ahead was worse than the path he had already come.

The location was a place known as the 'Ruins of Alph'. He had picked up a package from Bell Tower with his instructions on it. For some reason, it had come with no earpiece. Usually, Kirk was the sort of man who wanted Vix to hear his voice and pay heed, like some sort of egotistical preacher. He had said that he had business to attend to but for some reason Vix found that hard to believe. He hyped these trials up to be a big deal so why was he not going to be there, especially when he had spent the better part of the month attempting to change a deadbeat into his protege. No, it must have been on purpose. Whatever was in store, he wanted Vix to experience it alone. It made sense, it wasn't like he was always going to have the old man to rely on. Vix didn't argue. He would enjoy the peace and quiet away from his master's voice.

There were a few things in the package along with the instructions, one being a map of the ruins. He headed toward the point marked out. But he didn't walk. Oh no. He ran. Not because he wanted to, but because the instructions told him to be there before sundown for the next clue to be revealed. And the bastard had told him to pick up the package at 5pm, meaning he had to run full pelt to get to the place on time. This was planned. By the time he arrived, Vix had been running for hours. Dusty the duskull was along side him the whole way. Despite his eerie moaning, Vix wouldn't let his partner get out of this trial. He would have to suffer with him.

He was wearing a light blue singlet and a pair of running shorts and sneakers. Shaggy blonde hair rustled in the wind and grey eyes set unmoving on the path ahead. His skin had grown a light brown tan with the recent outdoors work and his muscles showed definition from the labour. It was an unusual look for a young man who was used to living his life out in a man-cave, away from the ball of exploding gas in the sky. He used to be quite the star sportsman in high school and so he still held the frame of an athlete. Now returning to activity, he was quickly regaining what he once had.

There, in the middle of aged stone ruins, Vix was doubled over, heaving for breath. The golden semicircle of the sun was saying it's goodbyes to the day before it sank below the horizon. Now, to find that clue. "Let's split up." Vix gasped at Dusty in between breaths. The pair would go their separate ways, attempting to find whatever it was that Kirk had left them. Vix was determined not to fail this trial.