A week had passed, and the boys were beginning to get used to the tough training. Their instructor, Aaron, had been careful in making the exercises harder each day.
He didn't make things too difficult all at once, but he kept adding just enough to keep pushing them, testing their limits bit by bit.
Every time the boys seemed to settle into a rhythm or started to feel like they were handling the workouts well, Aaron would introduce a new challenge.
It was always just a little harder, but never too much for them to manage. This way, they were building up their strength and endurance without getting completely worn out.
Luca could feel a real change within himself. Practicing Luminis, had become even easier at night. He realized it was because of the training they'd been doing.
Each night, as he practiced, he could feel Luminis flowing through him more strongly and steadily than before. It almost felt as if it was reinforcing him from the inside, making him stronger.
He wasn't the only one feeling this way. The other boys also noticed themselves growing stronger, feeling less tired after each day. This encouraged them all, making them even more determined to keep working hard and to see how much they could improve.
Even on days when Instructor Aaron wasn't there, the boys would still go through their routines. They were driven by the progress they were seeing and wanted to keep getting stronger.
Instructor Aaron had announced that at the end of each month, the top trainee would win a valuable reward: an herbal paste and an extra serving of herbal soup.
This herbal mix was said to boost a person's strength, which was especially helpful for those who had reached the "Essence Flow" stage.
With this goal in mind, all the boys pushed themselves harder. Everyone wanted to win, and as a result, the sessions grew even more intense.
A whole month had passed since Luca had first arrived at the army camp near the Caldruva Mountains. Now, the day had come to see who had improved the most over the past weeks.
That morning, Luca and the other boys arrived at their usual training area, where Instructor Aaron was already waiting for them.
"Today, we're going to test the results of your month of hard work," Instructor Aaron said with a smile. "This competition will take place at the end of every month, so don't lose hope if you don't win this time. There will be many more chances."
He continued, "For those who finish in second and third place, you'll each get an extra bowl of herbal soup as well."
The group lined up, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. They had worked so hard, and each boy wanted to show just how much he had improved.
Instructor Aaron explained the competition. "Today's test will have three parts: strength, speed, and endurance. You'll go through each of these, and I'll be watching closely to see how you do."
The first part was a strength test. Aaron had placed several heavy stones on the ground, each one bigger and heavier than the last. The boys were instructed to lift these stones one by one while Aaron observed.
When it was Luca's turn, he lifted each stone with steady control, finally reaching the heaviest one. To his satisfaction, he managed to lift it without too much trouble, his muscles handling the weight with ease. Having reached the Essence Flow stage almost a year earlier had given him an advantage, and now he could really feel it paying off.
The next part was the speed test. Aaron had set up a sprinting course over rough, uneven terrain, scattered with rocks and roots. Each pair of boys lined up and raced down the course as Aaron and his assistants watched carefully, timing each runner to see who finished first.
When Luca's turn came, he moved quickly but kept his speed just slightly above his partner's, not wanting to stand out too much. His steady rhythm and careful balance carried him through the course, and by the end, Aaron had identified the fastest runners from each pair.
For the final ranking in the speed test, Aaron gathered the top runners from each pair for one last race. This time, Luca decided to run at his full speed, crossing the finish line first.
Lastly, it was time for the endurance test. The boys were required to run continuous laps around the training field without stopping, testing both their physical and mental stamina.
One by one, the boys started to slow down. Some of them had to stop and catch their breath, until only Luca was left. Instructor Aaron then announced the test was over.
When everyone had finished, the boys gathered around Aaron, waiting to hear the final results. Aaron looked over his notes, taking his time before announcing the top three.
"First place goes to Luca, second place is Elias, and Joren takes third. Well done, everyone." The boys clapped and cheered for them, happy with how they had performed.
Aaron turned to Luca. "Congratulations, Luca. You've earned the herbal paste and the extra soup. Keep training like this, and you'll keep getting stronger. You can pick up your prize tomorrow."
He looked over at Elias and Joren next. "For second and third place, you'll each get an extra bowl of herbal soup for the next month. Use it well,"
He said to all the boys. "Remember, this is just the first month. You'll all have more chances to compete in the coming months."
As the boys headed back to camp, they were already talking about ways to improve, making plans for how they could train even harder. Each one of them was thinking about the next competition and how they might take first place next time.