Present time.
I jolted awake, the sensation of dizziness flooding my mind as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. My last memories were blurry—something about a quasi-spirit wielding a sword, and then... pain. My chest tightened as the memory of being stabbed flashed vividly.
"Mei!" I shouted, panic rising as I struggled to sit up. But instead of Mei's comforting presence, another voice responded.
"Oh, woke up finally," said a calm voice, one I initially mistook for Mei's. But as I turned my head, I realized with a sinking feeling that it wasn't Mei—it was Lumine, her sister.
My heart raced with a mix of fear and confusion. Memories of our first encounter, where she tried to hunt me down, came rushing back. I immediately recoiled, my body tensing as if ready to bolt.
"Hey, don't be scared, I'm not hostile," Lumine said with a slight smirk, clearly noticing my reaction.
"Okay..." I managed to stammer, my voice shaky. I tried to calm down, but the tension lingered.
Lumine smiled, but there was a teasing glint in her eyes. "Oh, are you feeling fine now?" she asked casually, as if we were old friends.
"I guess... yeah," I replied, still wary of her.
"Well, did I properly introduce myself before?" Lumine continued, leaning closer as she spoke. "My name is Misaki Lumine, but you can call me Lumi. What about you, boiyo?"
"Um, my name is—" I started to reply, but she cut me off.
"Yeah, I know. It's Izumi, right?" She grinned, clearly enjoying how off-balance I was.
"Mm, yes," I confirmed, trying to regain some composure, but her playful demeanor wasn't helping.
"So, boiyo, how does it feel to wake up after being nearly skewered by a quasi-spirit?" Lumine teased, her tone light yet with a hint of sarcasm.
"Well, it's not something I'd recommend," I muttered, trying to play along but failing to hide my discomfort.
"Oh, come on, don't be so stiff," she said, chuckling. "You're lucky I didn't finish the job when we first met."
I gulped, the reminder doing little to ease my nerves. "Where... where's Mei?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the memory of our first encounter. "Is she alright?"
Lumine's playful expression softened. "Ah, yes. She's currently busy in a meeting with the higher-ups about the appearance of quasi-spirits on Earth," she explained.
"Oh, I see," I mumbled, feeling a wave of relief but also concern for Mei. "You fought them too, didn't you?" Lumine asked, her tone more serious now.
"Well, a little, I guess... but I was completely thrown away," I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Lumine nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, what about this—I'll train you and make you strong so this kind of situation never happens again. And you can't deny this offer," she added with a mischievous grin.
I blinked, surprised by the sudden offer but eager for the chance to improve. "Yes, of course, I would love to be trained," I replied quickly.
"Well, okay then," she said, satisfied with my answer. Just as I was starting to relax, the door to the room opened, and a man walked in.
Lumine's face lit up. "Dad, you came!" she exclaimed.
I turned to look at him, my eyes widening as I took in his imposing figure. He looked strong—intimidatingly so—and I couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Hello there," Lumine's dad greeted, his voice deep and commanding.
"Oh... hello," I responded, trying to hide my nerves but failing miserably.
As we all started talking, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger.
Lumine stretched her arms above her head as she got up from her seat. "Well, for today, you can rest up," she said with a smirk. "We'll start your training tomorrow morning, bright and early."
I nodded, still feeling the weight of the conversation and the promise of what was to come. "Got it," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Lumine turned to leave the room, her father following close behind. "I've got some business to attend to," she added, glancing over her shoulder. "But don't worry, I'll be back to check on you later."
Karion gave me a reassuring nod. "Rest well, Izumi. You'll need your strength."
"Thanks," I said, watching as they headed toward the door. Just before they left, Lumine gave me one last grin.
"Don't think you're getting out of training just because you're a little sore. I'll make sure you're ready for anything, boiyo."
With that, they both stepped out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the lingering tension of what lay ahead.h
The next morning, I woke up early, still feeling the lingering soreness from the previous day. Lumine had instructed me to meet her at a specific location for training, and despite the apprehension bubbling inside me, I knew I had to go. I got dressed and made my way there, determined to do whatever it took to get stronger.
When I arrived, I found Lumine waiting for me in a large, open field surrounded by trees. The morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over everything. She stood there, arms crossed, her usual teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Good morning, boiyo," she greeted me with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Ready for some real training?"
I nodded, trying to suppress the nervousness I felt around her. "Yeah, I'm ready. So, what exactly are we doing today?"
"Well, before we get into the fun stuff," she said, tilting her head slightly, "we need to start with the basics. Today's focus will be on building your stamina, strength, and mental focus. You're going to need all three if you want to survive in a fight, especially against opponents like those quasi-spirits."
I swallowed hard, remembering the struggle of the previous battle. "I understand."
She gestured to the open field. "We'll start with some running. I want you to do laps around this field until I say stop. After that, we'll work on push-ups and some weight lifting. Once your body is warmed up, we'll move on to meditation to sharpen your focus. And then, if you've still got some energy left, we'll do a little sparring."
I nodded again, trying to mentally prepare myself for the intense day ahead.
"Good. Let's get started, then."
I began running around the field, the cool morning air brushing against my skin. At first, it wasn't so bad. I'd done running before, but as the laps piled on, I started to feel the burn in my legs and the strain in my chest. Lumine stood off to the side, watching me with that same teasing smile, occasionally shouting, "Come on, boiyo, faster!"
After what felt like an eternity, she finally called out, "Okay, that's enough running. Time for push-ups."
I dropped to the ground, my arms already trembling from the exertion. I pushed myself up and down, each movement a test of my willpower. Lumine stood over me, counting each push-up aloud, making sure I didn't slack off. "Keep going! You've got more in you than that!"
I pushed myself up from the ground, feeling the strain in every muscle as I steadied myself. Lumine's training was more intense than anything I'd experienced, but I knew it was necessary. If I was going to survive—and more importantly, protect Mei and everyone else—I had to get stronger. I wasn't sure how long I could keep up with Lumine's relentless pace, but I was determined to try.
"Let's take it from the top," Lumine said, her voice firm but not unkind. "We'll start with more running. This time, you'll push yourself harder. I don't want you just jogging around the field; I want you sprinting. You need to build speed and endurance."
I nodded, my breath already coming in short gasps. I took off at a sprint, my legs pumping furiously as I raced around the field. The ground blurred beneath me as I pushed myself to go faster, feeling the burn in my calves and thighs. Every lap felt like it was draining the life out of me, but I knew that was the point. Lumine wasn't going to let me get away with anything less than my best.
"Faster, boiyo!" Lumine called out. "I know you've got more in you!"
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to pick up the pace. My lungs were on fire, and sweat dripped down my face, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. Lumine's voice was the only thing keeping me going, pushing me beyond my limits.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she called out, "Alright, that's enough. Come here."
I stumbled to a stop, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. My legs felt like they were about to give out beneath me, but I managed to stay on my feet. Lumine gave me a nod of approval, her expression serious.
"Good. You're building stamina, but we've got a long way to go. Now, drop down and give me 50 push-ups. And don't stop until you're done."
I barely had the strength to move, but I dropped to the ground and started the push-ups. Each one was a struggle, my arms trembling with the effort. Lumine stood over me, counting each one, making sure I didn't falter.
"Come on, boiyo, don't give up now," she urged as I neared the end of the set. "You've got this."
I forced myself to complete the last few push-ups, my arms shaking so badly I thought I might collapse. But I didn't. I pushed through, finishing the set before collapsing onto the ground, panting heavily.
Lumine gave me a moment to catch my breath before she tossed me the weights again. "Alright, time to work those arms. Lift these, and keep going until I say stop."
I groaned inwardly but obeyed. My arms were already screaming in protest, but I knew this was only the beginning. I lifted the weights, feeling the strain in my biceps and shoulders. Each rep was a battle, but I refused to back down. Lumine watched me closely, correcting my form when necessary, pushing me to go further.
"Focus on your breathing," she instructed. "Inhale when you lower, exhale when you lift. Keep your core tight."
I tried to follow her instructions, though my mind was foggy with exhaustion. The weights felt heavier with each rep, but I kept going, determined not to let her down—or myself.
After what felt like an eternity, Lumine finally told me to stop. I dropped the weights, my arms trembling with fatigue. I wasn't sure how much more I could take, but I wasn't about to give up.
"Good job," she said, surprising me with a rare compliment. "But we're not done yet."
I groaned, but I knew there was no point in arguing. Lumine wasn't going to let me off easy.
She led me over to a shaded spot under a tree and instructed me to sit down. "Now we're going to work on mental focus. Sit down, cross-legged, and close your eyes. I want you to clear your mind completely. No thoughts, no distractions. Just focus on your breathing and the rhythm of your heartbeat."
I did as she said, though it was hard to ignore the exhaustion weighing on me. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the world and concentrate solely on my breathing. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. The sounds of the forest around me faded into the background as I focused on the rhythm of my breath.
Lumine's voice guided me. "Imagine your thoughts as leaves on a stream. Let them float by without grabbing onto them. If you find your mind wandering, gently bring it back to your breath."
At first, it was nearly impossible to keep my mind clear. Thoughts of the battle, of Mei, and of everything that had happened kept intruding. But slowly, with Lumine's guidance, I managed to push those thoughts aside, focusing only on the sound of my breath and the steady beating of my heart.
Time seemed to lose meaning as I sat there, meditating under the tree. The world faded away, leaving only the stillness within. For the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of peace. It was as if all the chaos and fear that had been swirling inside me had been washed away, leaving behind a calm, quiet center.
"Good," Lumine's voice broke through the stillness, bringing me back to reality. "You're getting the hang of it. But don't get too comfortable—we're moving on to the next phase."
I opened my eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. Lumine was already standing, waiting for me to join her.
"Now that your mind is focused, it's time to put that focus to the test," she said, a challenging glint in her eye. "We're going to spar. I want to see how well you can maintain your concentration under pressure."
I got to my feet, feeling the exhaustion weighing on me, but also a renewed sense of determination. Lumine didn't wait for me to catch my breath. She launched into a series of quick, precise attacks, forcing me to react on instinct.
At first, I was on the defensive, struggling to keep up with her speed and agility. But as we continued, I started to find my rhythm. The focus I'd gained during meditation helped me anticipate her moves, allowing me to dodge and counter more effectively.
"Not bad," Lumine said, a hint of approval in her voice as I managed to block one of her strikes. "But don't get cocky."
She intensified her attacks, pushing me to my limits. I did my best to keep up, using every bit of strength and focus I had left. Each movement was a test, a challenge to see how far I could go. And though I was exhausted, though my body was screaming at me to stop, I kept going.
The sparring session seemed to last forever, but finally, Lumine called it to an end. I collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, every muscle in my body aching. But despite the exhaustion, I felt a small sense of accomplishment. I'd survived the first day of Lumine's training, and I knew I was one step closer to becoming stronger.
"Good work," Lumine said, offering me a hand to help me up. "You did well today, boiyo. But don't get too comfortable—we've got a lot more to do tomorrow."
I nodded, too tired to say anything. As we walked back to the starting point, I felt a mix of exhaustion and determination. I knew this was only the beginning, but I was ready to face whatever came next.
To be continued...