As the lesson drew to a close, the instructor clapped her hands, drawing the attention of the entire class. Milo and Lira, still flushed from the exercises, turned toward her, feeling both curious and slightly apprehensive.
"Alright, everyone," the instructor began, her tone slightly more serious now. "For your first assignment, you'll be tasked with deepening your connection with your partner. It's crucial for your growth in duel cultivation that you build trust and intimacy. If you're not currently sharing a room with your partner, switch immediately. You must work together closely, and that starts with being in the same space."
Milo exchanged a quick glance with Lira, unsure of what was coming next. The room buzzed with tension as the other students waited for the instructor to continue.
"For this first assignment, your task is... simple," she continued, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "You and your partner must engage in a basic intimacy exercise. To put it plainly, you will need to kiss your partner for a minimum of five minutes. This is an important step in strengthening your bond, both physically and emotionally."
Milo felt his face heat up immediately, his eyes widening as the weight of her words settled in. Kissing Lira for five minutes? His heart raced at the thought. He could hear a few gasps and murmurs from the other students as they processed the assignment.
"Once you begin," the instructor added, her voice calm and authoritative, "you'll be given a scroll. When you open the scroll, the timer will start. When your five minutes are up, the scroll will stamp itself as complete. Bring the stamped scroll back to me in two days, and we'll move on to more advanced techniques."
She smiled at the class, clearly enjoying the reactions she was getting. "This is not only about physical connection but about opening yourselves up to trust and mutual support. And remember," she added with a sly smile, "no cheating. The scrolls will know if you stop before time."
A mixture of nervous laughter and quiet murmurs filled the room. Milo swallowed hard, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. He glanced over at Lira, who was equally flustered, her eyes wide with both excitement and embarrassment.
The instructor waved her hand, and scrolls appeared on the desks in front of each pair of students. "You're dismissed for today," she said. "I'll see you all in two days with your completed assignments. Good luck, and don't be afraid to get closer to one another."
With that, the instructor left the room, leaving the students in a whirlwind of emotion. Milo stared down at the scroll in front of him, his mind racing. This was nothing like what he had expected. As he and Lira gathered their things, the tension between them hung in the air, unspoken but palpable.
"Well," Lira said after a long pause, her cheeks still bright red, "I guess we have our first homework assignment." She tried to laugh, but it came out awkward and strained.
"Yeah... I guess we do," Milo replied, feeling more nervous than he'd ever been.
They both stood there for a moment, unsure of how to proceed, but knowing that the next two days would be crucial for both their training—and their relationship.
. .. . . . .
As Milo and Lira walked to their next class, the awkward silence between them was palpable. Lira, still flushed from their previous class, glanced down at the book they had received earlier. After a few moments of internal debate, she finally spoke up, her voice slightly hesitant but curious.
"You know... maybe we should check this book out after classes," Lira suggested, holding up the book that had been issued to them on intimacy. "I mean, outside of what we've seen or heard... we don't really know that much about it, do we?"
Milo felt his cheeks warm up again. He hadn't even wanted to think about the book since they received it, but Lira's comment made him realize just how clueless they both were. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he admitted. "I mean, we've seen it before... like, with our parents or some of the other adults... but we don't really know... much, do we?"
They both became flustered, the reality of their lack of knowledge hitting them in an uncomfortable wave. Growing up, intimacy was something that was done in the privacy of adults' lives—never really explained or discussed openly. The few times they had accidentally stumbled upon it or caught glimpses were awkward and left them with more questions than answers.
"Maybe it wouldn't hurt to... learn more," Lira added, though her voice had a nervous edge to it.
"Yeah," Milo agreed, though a nervous chuckle escaped him. "But let's focus on our next class first."
As they approached their meditation class, the atmosphere shifted from awkward tension to quiet anticipation. The room was filled with soft, dim lighting and a gentle hum of energy in the air. The male teacher at the front greeted the students with a calm, serene demeanor, ushering them to sit in their places.
"Welcome, students," the teacher began, his voice soothing yet commanding. "In this class, we will begin the process of understanding your magic on a deeper level. You all possess elemental energies within you, and over time, you'll learn to harness and master them. But first, you must learn to feel them, to connect with the magic inside you."
Milo and Lira settled onto the soft mats on the floor, their earlier embarrassment fading into the background as they focused on the lesson. The teacher guided them through breathing exercises, encouraging them to close their eyes and feel for the energy within their bodies. The room was filled with the gentle sound of breathing, as the students slowly immersed themselves in their inner worlds.
Milo's mind wandered at first, thinking about the strange events of the day and the odd sensation of being in a dress. But as he focused on his breathing, he began to feel a faint warmth deep within him—a spark, something that felt both familiar and foreign. Was this his elemental energy? He concentrated harder, trying to grasp it, but it slipped through his awareness like sand.
Lira, sitting next to him, seemed just as focused. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to feel her magic. Every now and then, she let out a soft sigh of frustration, but she didn't give up. The class was quiet, save for the occasional murmur of the teacher as he guided them through the exercises.
After what felt like an eternity of trying and failing to grasp the magic inside him, Milo finally felt something—a faint pulse of energy. It was weak, but it was there. He held onto it, feeling its flow through his body.
"Good," the teacher's voice cut through the quiet. "You're starting to feel it. This energy, this magic within you, is the key to many things you'll do here. Later in the year, you will need this connection for one of your major projects. So, practice often. Make sure you can feel it at all times."
The session continued for two hours, with the students struggling and then gradually getting the hang of sensing their magic. By the end of the class, Milo felt more in tune with his own elemental energy, though there was still much he didn't understand. The teacher dismissed them with a reminder to continue practicing, as mastering this skill would be crucial for their future studies.
As they left the classroom, both Milo and Lira were drained but intrigued. The day had been long, and they still had much to learn—not just about their magic but about the strange, new world they found themselves in.
"We should probably practice this more tonight," Lira suggested, her earlier nerves returning as she glanced at Milo. "And maybe... check out that book too."
Milo nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and determination. "Yeah, we should." Though a part of him was still unsure about everything happening, he knew one thing for certain—he needed to get stronger. For Zana, for his family, and now, for whatever challenges lay ahead at this academy.