The next evening, after the day's training had been completed, Instructor Aaron called Luca over. He took out a small jar containing the herbal paste.
Aaron looked at Luca and said, "The herbal paste is made from rare herbs that help strengthen your body, much like the herbal soup you drink at night, but with ten times the potency."
He continued, "You can apply this all over your body during Luminis practice, and you'll see its effects for yourself. It will last for a week." He then handed the vial to Luca.
Luca took it carefully and said, "Thank you, Instructor Aaron."
After dinner, Luca applied the herbal paste all over his body. A few minutes later, he began to feel a strange sensation.
The feeling started as a faint tingling, like a warm, gentle current running through his muscles. As time passed, the sensation grew stronger.
A wave of energy flowed through him, strengthening his muscles. He then began to practice Luminis, just as Aaron had suggested. It felt as though Luminis was strengthening his inner muscles and organs, while the herbal paste was strengthening his skin.
The sensation lasted for about an hour before it began to fade. Luca stood up and stretched, immediately noticing the difference. He felt stronger and lighter. He was astonished by how effective the herbal paste was. It seemed like it would last for a week if used during a daily session.
Over the next few days, Luca worked harder in his training. He discovered that the herbal paste was even more effective when combined with more intense training routines.
The week after Luca started using the herbal paste, he couldn't stop thinking about how it had strengthened his body.
The effects were still fresh in his mind. But soon, the excitement faded as Luca returned to his regular training routine.
One morning, as Luca and the other boys made their way to the training ground, they noticed something different.
The usual noise and energy of the camp were missing. The air felt heavier, more serious. The soldiers around them felt like they were preparing for something, and there was a sense of tension in the air.
When they reached the training area, Instructor Aaron stood waiting for them.
Aaron said "Today, there will be no training. Instead, you will get to witness a miracle."
Luca and the others exchanged curious glances. What could this mean?
Aaron led them to a higher point on the camp grounds, where they could clearly see the walls that surrounded the army base. As they looked down, they saw something incredible.
The entire army had gathered in perfect formation. The soldiers stood in neat rows, their armour shining in the morning light. But what caught their attention were the soldiers dressed in golden armour.
There were about a thousand of them, and their presence was unlike anything Luca had ever felt. Their strength radiated from them, a powerful aura that made the air seem heavier.
As they watched, a man flew toward the wall. He moved through the air with such speed and grace, it was almost like he was gliding rather than flying. The group was speechless, their eyes wide with amazement.
Instructor Aaron spoke up, breaking the silence. "That man you see flying is one of our kingdom's Radiant Core stage practitioners. His name is Lord Darion."
Luca stared, trying to understand what was happening. Then Aaron pointed to the golden-armoured soldiers. "And these are the King's Elite Army, the Solaris Guards. Each of them is a Harmonization stage practitioner. They are the King's most trusted soldiers."
The boys watched, spellbound, as Lord Darion reached the top of the wall and landed with a soft thud. The Solaris Guards began to move in perfect unison, their bodies glowing with Luminis energy. They raised their arms and began to release streams of light, all directing toward Lord Darion.
Luca could hardly believe his eyes. The display was mesmerizing. The golden-armoured soldiers emitted Luminis in perfect harmony, their light flowing together like a river of power.
It was as if the air itself was alive with energy, and Luca could feel the strength in the air, even from where he stood.
Lord Darion absorbed the Luminis that the Solaris Guards sent toward him. As he did, his own light began to grow. It started as a small glow, but it quickly expanded, surrounding him in a brilliant aura. The light became so intense that the boys had to shield their eyes, squinting against the blinding radiance.
The light was so powerful that it felt as if the sun itself had descended to the ground. It spread out in all directions, filling the sky. The air buzzed with energy, and they could feel their own Luminis stirring in response.
Then something even more astonishing happened. As Lord Darion released his Luminis, it spread outward, and the land beyond the wall began to change.
The corrupted lands near the wall, once barren and twisted, began to heal before their eyes. The dark, withered soil started to turn back into their original form.
Luca and the other boys stood frozen, unable to speak. They had never seen anything like this before. It was as if they were witnessing the world being reborn in front of them.
Instructor Aaron watched them closely, a proud smile on his face. He said quietly, "This is the power of true mastery. The Solaris Guards and Lord Darion are the pinnacle of what you are training to become. This power comes from years of hard work."
Luca looked at the scene in awe. The miracle before him was something he would never forget. He could feel the immense power in the air, and it filled him with both wonder and determination. One day, he hoped to be as strong as Lord Darion and the Solaris Guards.
The sight of the corrupted lands being healed stayed with Luca for a long time, reminding him of the true power that could be achieved through Luminis.
Luca and the boys returned to their tent still filled with awe of the power displayed.