Three years had now passed since Kai and Lia had ventured into the Forest of Ashgrove and started their training. Now twelve, they grew taller and stronger, shaped by the constant rigors of training and discipline to their bodies. The once-familiar woods had grown into a haven where they tested their boundaries under the watchful care of Aurelia and Garrick.
The morning sun broke through the dense foliage and shone warmly on the clearing where they would be practicing. Kai stood poised, clutching in his hands a very well-forged spear shimmering with the warmth of the sun. He appeared steady in form, which showed for how long he spent perfecting it. His muscles-audible and defined-were flowing like the strength of a growing warrior.
"Focus, Kai! Tap your Willforce into your movements," Garrick shouted from the side, his voice steady and commanding. "You are stronger than you think—you just have to let it out!"
Kai nodded, settling his stance as he recalled all that his mentors had said. He took a deep breath and launched the spear into the air, feeling his energy build up as ripples spread across his limbs. As it sliced through the air, he could see his Willforce entering it, strengthening him.
"That's good!" Garrick praised, watching every detail of the action. "Now add a spin—that is to say, your body will move as one with the spear."
Fluidity was brought to the execution of the move by Kai, who expertly spun the spear and returned to guard. Each strike was a testament to his dedication and resilience. If someone from Havenbrook were to see this, they would hardly believe that these two twelve-year-olds possessed such formidable strength and skill.
Meanwhile, Lia practiced up, her sword slicing through light, executing a number of soft maneuvers. She stood high on her ground, standing confident, the footwork precise. Years of that training had attuned Lia's instincts to be ever sharp and developed her senses, so much so, she could tell what direction her movements were going next.
"Remember, Lia! Not about how strong one is but about control!" Aurelia exclaimed with a tone of encouraging guidance. "Feel the beat of your body and let the sword be the rhythm."
I got it!" said Lia, determination written in each curve of her countenance. She spun and played with the sword, creating such a beautiful dance, fluid with power and smooth lines. The blade would shriek through the air while she attacked invisible enemies around the clearing, and all were treated to her shrill laughter.
As they continued their training, their relationship blossomed. In the last 3 years, both of them have already entered the peak of Mind Fortification realm, The 2nd realm of Will Awakening . At this stage, they are finally ready to enter the Willforce Projection realm, maximising their potential.
As the days passed, Kai and Lia realized they were being bonded closer and closer to the world around them. They trained not with weapons but with their minds, feeling the subtle differences in the forest, feeling the wind whispers, and understanding the flow of energy all through all living things.
Their surroundings appeared to respond to their training; the trees were gently swaying, and birds were flying overhead as if to celebrate their growth. With each spar, they made each other go a little further, which created an element of competition that fueled their development.
Hours of practice passed, and they stepped back to cool down, resting against a tree nearby. Sweat was beading on their brows, and their hearts pounded with exhilaration.
"You know," Kai said, his face grinning, "I think we could take on those young nobles we saw back in Havenbrook. We've come so far since then!"
Lia's eyes lighted with excitement. "Oh, I remember that duel! They thought they were so strong, but now—" she laughed, her confidence shining through, "we could wipe the floor with them!"
She recalled the duel she saw, the stances of the nobles somehow being somewhat childish compared to the finesse of their skills. The memory of them fed her own belief in the strength.
Kai was chuckling, nodding in agreement. "They'd never stand a chance. We've trained harder than they could ever imagine.".
They catch their breath and feel a wave of pride. They are no longer the innocent children that had entered the forest, but young warriors on their way to mastering their talents.
With each training session, the difference between them and the rank novices had begun to blur. Sound filled the forest from training—punches impacting the air, thud of bodies crashing, laughter ringing through the silent woods.
And then there was this day. It was still early spring, but the warm air already reeked of blossoming flowers, and in this very same clearing that they trained for years on end, Kai and Lia stood before each other to finally take a leap up to the next stage.
Aurelia watched closely. "Today, you will attempt to expel your Willforce. This is the summation of everything you have learned, she said firmly. "Just concentrate on intent. Imagine your Willforce as a part of you, an extension, an appendage that might even project beyond the bounds of the body.".
Kai closed his eyes as he felt himself feel more elated for that particular second, half a feeling of nervous anxiety mixed together with anticipation. Closing his eyes, imagining energy was indeed flowing through his veins, Kai whispered reassuring words into himself, drawn on all that hours' practice in that regard.
As they exhaled together, a strong flow of energy from within him spilled out like a wave rippling across a pond. Kai just in time opened his eyes to the bright aura of light surrounding him, brightly coloring the clearing. Just when he did, Lia let loose her own flow of energy, swirling colors around her as she laughed in pure delight.
"Look! We did it!" Lia exclaimed, her voice filled with the weight of pure joy.
"Aurelia playfully reprimanded her. "Focus, Lia!" but her eyes sparkled with pride.
A deep breath, and Kai pushed himself harder to imagine Willforce as a spear with the ability to pierce through the air. Stretching his arm out to its full length, the energy coalesced and narrowed to a point. Then, when he thrust out, a wave of force burst from his palm to slice through the air, sharp as a knife's edge.
Lia copied, acting on instinct and throwing her Willforce in a fluid arc. The two forces met, and a burst of light reverberated through the forest.
They stood there, dumbfounded, breathless from experience.
"You have reached the stage of Willforce Projection!" Garrick exclaimed, his normally stoic face breaking with a rare smile. "Excellent work, both of you!"
Kai and Lia were now gazing at one another with a sense of excitement, elation coursed through their veins, and they had finally got it right: the perfect culmination of all their hard work and perseverance.
"Let's go back," he proposed, the feeling of triumph rushing through his veins. They went their way, high on the spirits, and as soon as they emerged from the forest, the village of Elaris welcomed them home.
When they came back, a small ceremony was held in their honor. Eldrin, Mira, Aurelia, and Garrick gathered around the roaring fire, their faces lit with pride.
"You've done exceptionally well," Eldrin praised, slapping Kai on the back. "You've grown into formidable cultivators!"
Mira's eyes sparkled with tears of joy. "I knew you could do it. You've both made me so proud."
"Today, a new beginning opens to you two," Aurelia said, her voice full of warmth. "You two have mastered the Will Awakening Stage, but this doesn't mean that you are done with your journey.".
Laughter and teasing filled the air. Kai felt the bittersweet pang in his chest. He had found strength, purpose, in Elaris but sensed winds of change stirring. He and Lia would soon outgrow the village and face the world beyond.
With that, they looked out at the horizon, their hearts full of expectation for the road ahead. They were no longer those kids from Elaris; they were now cultivators at the threshold of greatness and ready to face all challenges that lay ahead of them.