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.
As I sat down to catch my breath after the grueling training session, a thought suddenly struck me—my family. They must be worried sick since I hadn't returned home in two days. Panic bubbled up inside me as I quickly got to my feet and rushed over to Lumine, who was busy packing up the training equipment.
"Lumine," I called out, a sense of urgency in my voice. "I just realized... I haven't been home in two days. My family must be worried. I need to get back."
Lumine paused and looked at me with a raised eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh, didn't you notice, boiyo?"
"Notice what?" I asked, my confusion growing.
"This isn't Earth," Lumine said casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "You're in Celestia."
"Eh?" The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. I blinked in surprise, looking around as if seeing the place for the first time. "This is... Celestia? Really?"
Lumine chuckled at my disbelief. "Yeah, really. Here, let me give you a better view."
Before I could protest, Lumine lifted her hand, and I felt a strange sensation envelop my body. Suddenly, I was weightless, my feet leaving the ground as I began to rise into the air. My eyes widened as the city below came into full view.
The sight took my breath away.
Celestia was unlike anything I'd ever seen. The city was a sprawling expanse of pristine white buildings, shimmering in the soft, ethereal light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The architecture was both ancient and futuristic, with towering spires and intricate designs carved into every surface. Lush, green gardens and crystal-clear rivers wound their way through the city, adding splashes of vibrant color to the landscape.
Above me, the sky wasn't the usual blue I was used to on Earth. Instead, it was a radiant shade of violet, streaked with bands of gold and silver that shimmered like the Aurora Borealis. The air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of flowers and something else—something otherworldly.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lumine's voice came from beside me. I turned to see her floating effortlessly next to me, her expression proud yet gentle.
"Yeah," I breathed out, unable to tear my eyes away from the view. "It's... incredible."
"Welcome to Celestia, boiyo," Lumine said with a smile. "This is where I was born, where I grew up. It's my home."
I couldn't believe it. I was in Celestia, a place I'd only heard of in stories. And yet, here I was, floating above this magnificent city, taking it all in.
The sight took my breath away.
Celestia was unlike anything I'd ever seen. The city was a sprawling expanse of pristine white buildings, shimmering in the soft, ethereal light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The architecture was both ancient and futuristic, with towering spires and intricate designs carved into every surface. Lush, green gardens and crystal-clear rivers wound their way through the city, adding splashes of vibrant color to the landscape.
Above me, the sky wasn't the usual blue I was used to on Earth. Instead, it was a radiant shade of violet, streaked with bands of gold and silver that shimmered like the Aurora Borealis. The air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of flowers and something else—something otherworldly.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lumine's voice came from beside me. I turned to see her floating effortlessly next to me, her expression proud yet gentle.
"Yeah," I breathed out, unable to tear my eyes away from the view. "It's... incredible."
"Welcome to Celestia, boiyo," Lumine said with a smile. "This is where I was born, where I grew up. It's my home."
I couldn't believe it. I was in Celestia, a place I'd only heard of in stories. And yet, here I was, floating above this magnificent city, taking it all in.
"But... how did I get here?" I asked, my mind still reeling from the revelation.
"You were brought here after the fight with the quasi-spirits," Lumine explained. "We couldn't leave you on Earth after what happened, so we brought you to Celestia to heal and recover."
I nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. The view from above was mesmerizing, and for a moment, I forgot all about my worries, my exhaustion, and even the lingering fear I had of Lumine. All I could think about was how incredible it was to be here, in this place that seemed like it was straight out of a dream.
As Lumine gently lowered me back to the ground, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions—wonder, awe, and a growing sense of determination. If I was going to survive in a world as incredible as this, I needed to get stronger. And with Lumine's help, I knew I could.
"Thanks, Lumine," I said as my feet touched the ground again. "For everything."
Lumine just gave me a small smile. "Don't mention it. Now, let's get you back inside. You've got a lot more training ahead of you, boiyo."
To be continued…