Seraphina stood before her group as she looked at each of them individually. The room was quiet, and the faint creak of the floorboards and the distant murmur of the slums were the only sounds that filled the space.
The five figures stood in a loose semicircle around her, their faces a mixture of emotions she cared not to figure out. Each of them was rough around the edges, their appearances marked by the hardships they'd endured.
Yet, now that they had been given a chance to change, they were willing to hold onto that and do anything needed to make it happen— hope was their new thought.
Before the training began, Seraphina decided that it was time to give each of them proper names— at least names they could use within the group, without a connection to the past. Names had power, after all, and a sense of identity might give them more to hold onto.
"You'll need names."
She said, her violet eyes sweeping over the group.
"Something to distinguish yourselves. Something new."
The sharp-eyed woman who had first spoken to her stepped forward, her stance as defiant as ever. Her wiry frame and short-cropped black hair gave her a hardened appearance, but her eyes betrayed a sharp intelligence.
"Call me Viera."
She said firmly as if daring anyone to challenge her choice.
Seraphina inclined her head.
"Viera it is."
Next was the older man with the weathered face. His graying hair and calloused hands spoke of a life spent laboring, yet there was a quiet strength in his gaze.
"I'll go by Garrick."
He said, his voice low and steady.
Seraphina nodded and turned to the youngest of the group, a boy with shaggy blond hair and wide green eyes that darted nervously around the room.
He looked barely fifteen, and his thin frame was a clear sign of malnourishment and negligence.
"What about you?"
She asked gently.
The boy hesitated before mumbling.
"Finn."
Seraphina gave him a small nod, her tone encouraging.
"Finn suits you."
The other young figure, a girl with freckles dotting her pale face and hair the color of rusted copper, stepped forward next— she was also malnourished but not as bad as Finn was.
She had an expression that was guarded, but there was a spark of curiosity in her blue eyes.
"Call me Lyra."
She said softly.
Finally, the last man stepped forward.
He was tall and wiry, with dark brown hair and sharp features— his face bore a long scar across his jaw, a reminder of some long-forgotten conflict.
"Joren."
He said simply.
With their names settled, Seraphina gestured for them to form a line.
"We'll begin with the basics."
She said as she began to explain the training she would put them through.
"This training will be grueling, it will push you, and it won't be easy. But if you commit to it, you'll grow stronger. That isn't me giving you false hope, that is a fact— if you put in the work you will progress, even a little."
She walked down the line, meeting each of their gazes.
"Normally a knight would begin by training the body, but you all don't have the time for that so we're going to do something different. Aura sensing is the first step for you. Without it, you can't hope to become a knight. Focus is key— clear your mind and listen to your body."
She demonstrated the posture, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her hands resting lightly on her knees.
"Close your eyes and breathe deeply, while breathing out slowly. Feel for the faint hum of energy within you— it will be subtle at first, like a whisper. Don't force it; let it come to you naturally."
The group followed her lead, some more awkwardly than others.
Viera sat stiffly, her brows furrowed in concentration, while Garrick's posture was steady having much more experience in age than the others— he picked up much quicker.
Finn fidgeted, unable to keep still for more than a few seconds at a time, while Lyra's expression was one of quiet determination as she tried her best to stay focused, maybe a little too much. Joren, for his part, seemed skeptical but went along with the exercise nonetheless.
Minutes passed, and the room was filled with the sound of steady breathing. Seraphina observed them carefully, her keen eyes noting every twitch and movement.
As expected, the process was slow. None of them had ever attempted anything like this before, and their lack of experience was evident.
Viera clenched her fists in frustration, her sharp eyes snapping open.
"This is pointless."
She muttered.
"You won't sense anything if you keep forcing it."
Seraphina said, her tone calm but firm.
"It takes time and patience. You need to let go of your frustration and listen."
Viera scowled but reluctantly closed her eyes again.
Across the room, Finn suddenly gasped, his green eyes flying open as he clutched his chest.
"I... I felt something!"
He stammered, his voice filled with both fear and excitement.
Seraphina's gaze snapped to him, her expression sharpening.
"What did you feel?"
"It was... like a faint warmth. Right here."
He placed a hand over his chest, his fingers trembling.
Seraphina nodded with a hint of approval in her gaze— some surprise was even mixed in there.
"That's your aura. It's faint now, but it's there. You've taken the first step."
Finn beamed, his face lighting up with a mixture of pride and relief. The others looked at him with varying degrees of envy and curiosity, their own frustrations momentarily set aside.
"See?"
Seraphina said, addressing the group.
"It's not impossible. It's within all of you— most people can learn to sense aura. But it won't come without effort."
To be honest, Seraphina was surprised that Finn had even sensed aura so quickly. She expected them all to struggle trying to feel for aura for at least a few weeks, a few days if she was lucky— sensing aura within the first day was unprecedented.
At least, she hadn't heard of anyone who could easily sense aura— compared even to herself it was fast.
But she hid that surprise and used it as a chance to motivate them, deciding to dedicate more effort into training Finn specifically if she could.
The session continued, with Seraphina offering guidance and corrections as needed. By the time they finished, the group was exhausted but more focused than before— most of them now believed it to be possible after Finn's attempt.
For now, Finn's breakthrough was enough to kindle the spark of hope she needed to keep them moving forward— once they rested she would give them instructions to train their body before leaving.