Luca moved purposefully through the bustling streets of Silverdeep, his thoughts already weaving through possibilities of a gift for his mother.
The marketplace, alive with the scents of spices and herbs, the bright colours of fresh produce, and the enthusiastic calls of vendors.
The sounds of this comforted him, grounding him, until something caught his attention in the quieter shadows of a nearby alley.
An old woman sat huddled against a cold stone wall. Her hand, outstretched and trembling, seemed almost weightless, a silent plea to the bustling crowd that surged past without noticing.
She murmured softly, her voice too faint to reach above the crowd, her head bowed as if to shield herself from the busy world around her.
Luca's chest tightened. He recalled his mother's words, spoken in that gentle, understanding way of hers, "You don't need much to give, Luca." The simplicity of her words had lingered with him through his training and travels.
Now, his hand instinctively reached for the pouch of coins he'd been saving to buy her a gift. As he hesitated, his eyes drifted toward a nearby stall selling steaming bowls of soup and freshly baked bread.
He approached the vendor, a middle-aged man with weary eyes but a kind expression. "Could I have a bowl of soup and a roll of bread, please?" Luca asked, pulling out a few coins.
The vendor's gaze softened as he handed Luca a sturdy bowl, carefully filled with fragrant soup, and added a thick slice of bread. "Here you go, lad," he said, nodding knowingly as he watched Luca move away, balancing the warm meal in his hands.
With care, Luca made his way back through the crowded marketplace and knelt beside the old woman. Her eyes lifted, widening with a mixture of surprise and disbelief as he gently offered the bowl and bread.
"Here, ma'am," he said softly. "Please, have something warm."
For a moment, she stared, almost as if the offer was too good to be true. Her trembling hands finally reached out, and she whispered, "Bless you, child. I couldn't possibly…"
"Please," Luca insisted, gently pressing the bowl into her hands, slipping a small coin into her palm as he did. "You need it more than I do."
A faint smile softened her face as she brought the bowl close, inhaling the comforting warmth and aroma. Luca nodded, his heart unexpectedly light as he rose and resumed his walk toward home, knowing his mother would understand.
****
Luca reached his home. The soft glow of firelight flickered through the window, and as he stepped inside, he was welcomed by the comforting scent of cooking and the warmth of family.
"Luca!" His mother's voice filled the room, and in an instant, she was embracing him, wrapping him in a warmth that no fire could match. "Oh, I've missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Mother." Luca's smile softened as he looked at her, noticing the lines on her face, softened by pride and worry. They had grown since he had left, a reminder of how time had passed.
"You've grown stronger," she observed, her gaze a blend of pride and sorrow. "How's the training? Are they treating you well?"
"Yes, Mother," he assured her, his grin widening with the warmth of her care. Then, as if remembering, he reached into his pouch, pulling out a small charm he had carved from a piece of wood. It was shaped like a bird, its wings outstretched in flight, a symbol of freedom and hope.
"It's not much," he murmured, "but I thought you'd like it."
Rhea took the charm, her fingers brushing over its smooth surface before she placed it on a shelf among her most treasured keepsakes. "It's beautiful, Luca," she said, her voice soft filled with love.
They spent the evening together, sharing stories and laughter that filled the little house. Over the next two days, Luca helped her with chores, savouring each moment spent in her company. And when it was time for him to leave, they shared a long embrace, his mother standing in the doorway watching him until he disappeared down the road.
******
A year had passed since Luca and the other trainees had first entered the mysterious chamber of Luminis. That initial experience, the almost tangible energy that had filled the room, remained clear in Luca's mind.
In the stillness of Silverdeep's night, the Luminis seemed to come alive around him, pulsing with a quiet, steady power. By now, Luca could sense its presence more clearly, feeling it move through him like a gentle current.
He had grown skilled at guiding the energy through his body, feeling it flow along his arms and legs, settling into a harmony with his breathing. This connection with the Luminis filled him with a thrill each time he felt it, a sign of his progress and a reminder of how close he was to achieving the next level.
Sir Aldric's words from that first week of training echoed in his mind. "Reaching essence flow is not about forcing the energy, nor is it a matter of sheer will. It's about being one with the Luminis. Once you can guide the Luminis without needing to focus deeply, that is when you will truly achieve essence flow."
Luca had devoted months to perfecting his control, learning to call upon the Luminis even as he moved, letting it flow through him like his own heartbeat.
Gradually, he trained himself to reach a state of deep concentration, feeling the energy gather and circulate within him with each breath.
One quiet night, as he focused on his breathing, he felt a new sensation, a warmth, a gentle pulse that seemed to resonate with his heartbeat.
The Luminis slipped into alignment effortlessly, its energy flowing through him as naturally as air. Luca's eyes opened slowly, a calm smile spreading across his face as he realized he had reached a new stage.
Essence flow was no longer a distant goal; it was his reality, a bond with the Luminis that he had earned through practise and dedication.