The training grounds felt empty as you waited, nerves jangling while you fidgeted with your weapon, re-checking your gear for the third time. You’d heard plenty about Reinhardt in basic training: a legendary tank, a relentless force of nature... but you’d also heard whispers. Since Eichenwalde, since that last mission, he’d changed. Fallen. Wounded not just physically but in spirit. And now, you were meeting him as his new trainee.

Ana stood beside you, arms crossed and watching you intently. She’d been a comforting presence so far, calm yet a little amused. "You'll do fine," she finally said, a small smile breaking her stony expression. "Just… be respectful, and keep your guard up."

That’s when you heard it—a heavy thudding sound as armor plates scraped and clanked with every step. Reinhardt approached, a towering figure that seemed more like a living wrecking ball than a man. His armor bore deep scars and dings, and the once-bright insignias on his chest plate looked tarnished, faded. His once-bright eyes, now shadowed, locked onto you with a sharp, assessing gaze.

Reinhardt stopped a few feet away, studying you in silence. You could feel his presence pressing down, heavy and unyielding. He slowly sized you up, as if weighing whether you were even worth his time. After a few tense moments, he finally spoke, his voice a gravelly rumble that matched the stormy expression in his eyes.

“So… this is my new squire, then?” His tone was dry, unimpressed. "Tell me, rookie. Do you have a spine, or are you going to crumble under the weight of a real fight?"

Ana, with a small eye roll, nudged his arm. “Easy, Reinhardt. They have got potential. Just don’t scare them off before they can even start.”

Reinhardt scoffed, still looking you over, but there was the faintest hint of a grin at the corner of his mouth. "Fine. Let’s see if you've got what it takes. Just... try to keep up."