Luca had finally reached the essence flow stage. The shift was subtle at first, like a gentle force vibrating through his entire body, as though his very being had aligned itself to some hidden rhythm in the world.
He could feel the Luminis moving effortlessly through him, a steady current that pulsed through his veins like a second heartbeat, blending seamlessly with each breath and infusing him with newfound strength, clarity, and focus.
Every heartbeat felt stronger, empowered by something far beyond his physical self. It was as though the energy was quietly fortifying his body, gradually increasing his resilience and strength with each passing moment. The changes were small, almost unnoticeable individually, but together they made Luca feel as if he had become something more.
As he marvelled at the transformation, his thoughts wandered to the advanced stages of Luminis he'd read about, Harmonisation, where body and spirit intertwined to a higher level of unity, and the Radiant Core, a stage so rare and powerful that it was nearly legendary among the masters. The prospect filled him with excitement, yet he quickly reined in his imagination.
He had only just entered the essence flow stage, and there was so much still to learn and master here. He reminded himself that true mastery lay not in racing ahead but in fully appreciating each step along the way.
Calming his mind, he focused on grounding himself and letting the essence flow fill every corner of his awareness. He would commit to understanding it fully, discovering its depths before seeking the higher stages that comes after.
The world around him felt sharper, more vivid. His senses had become finely tuned, bringing even the smallest details to life with a clarity that felt nearly magical.
Sounds that had once been mere background noise, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the soft echoes of footsteps down a distant hallway, now reached his ears with precision. He could hear the creak of wood in the training hall, even the quiet beat of his own heart in moments of stillness.
Colours seemed to glow with a new brilliance, each he had never noticed before. The greens of the forest, the blues of the sky, even the tones of stone and wood all seemed to radiate with life. Scents, too, had taken on a richer quality.
Beyond these sensory enhancements, he felt a profound shift in his physical abilities. In his training sessions, he noticed he could lift weights with a surprising ease, and wielding his wooden sword felt almost effortless. Where his movements had once required careful concentration and focus, now they felt natural, fluid, as though his body and the Luminis were working together in perfect harmony.
Strikes and defensive moves that had previously demanded intense focus now seemed to flow instinctively. He felt his limbs react faster, his balance more grounded, his footwork lighter and quicker.
It was as though his body had learned to respond before his mind even needed to command it, each movement a blend of grace and precision that felt almost second nature.
Yet, there were other, subtler changes, ones he didn't yet fully understand. While his physical strength, perception, and agility had clearly improved, he sensed a deeper shift, something that went beyond physical enhancements.
In quiet moments, he would catch faint impressions—thoughts or insights that seemed to surface from a place of intuition rather than conscious reasoning. These insights weren't always clear, yet they felt meaningful, almost as though the Luminis itself was gently guiding him toward an understanding that lay just out of reach.
During moments alone in the training hall, or while walking through the quiet woods, he could feel his energy aligning with his surroundings, a sense of merging with something greater that was difficult to explain.
With this realization came a sense of humility. He understood that this newfound power was a gift, fragile and demanding careful handling. There was much he didn't yet know, much he would need time to explore.
The essence flow stage felt like a foundation, something he would need to carefully build upon with patience and dedication. Though part of him wanted to push his abilities to the limit, he resisted, sensing that the Luminis required care if he was to truly master it.
Luca resolved to continue observing, learning, and training, letting each day reveal more layers of potential. He would test his abilities gradually, eager to discover how much stronger and faster he could become.
Despite his excitement, Luca chose to keep his achievement a secret. None of his fellow trainees had shown signs of nearing this level, and he suspected that sharing his progress would raise questions he wasn't prepared to answer.
He wondered if his success was partly due to his connection with the Luminis at night, a mysterious experience that seemed less accessible to others. Instead of drawing unwanted attention or stirring envy, he decided it was best to stay silent, nurturing his newfound abilities without revealing them.
In the training sessions that followed, Luca was careful to mask his progress. He moved with the same strength and precision as before, carefully maintaining the appearance of steady but ordinary improvement.
The urge to push his limits was strong, but he held back, taking extra care to match his pace with that of the others. Occasionally, he caught Sir Aldric watching him with a curious, probing gaze, as if sensing something was different.
Whenever this happened, Luca immediately reined himself in, taking care to mask his true abilities and appear as he always had.
He reasoned that once the others began advancing, he could reveal his progress gradually, letting it appear natural and earned at the same pace as his peers.
Until then, he would continue to observe his newfound powers in silence, feeling them grow in strength and precision with each passing day.
And as he trained, Luca became increasingly attuned to the essence flow's subtleties, realizing that its power was both greater and gentler than he'd first imagined.
It was not a force to be used recklessly, but rather a quiet strength that demanded patience and balance. He knew that there would come a time when he would need to embrace his potential openly, but for now, he was content to wait, letting each day guide him toward a deeper understanding.
In the quiet hours of the night, as he lay alone, he could feel the gentle feel of the Luminis within him, echoing like a heartbeat.