After the competition ended, Instructor Aaron stepped forward to announce the prizes.
He began, "The first-place winner will receive a special sword made of Luminite steel. This metal can easily accept Luminis without being damaged. Along with it, there will also be a healing potion that helps recover from injuries quickly."
Aaron continued, "The second-place winner will receive a Luminite dagger, also capable of channeling Luminis. The third-place winner will receive a Luminite shield."
"And," Aaron added, with a smile, "as a reward for everyone who gave their best effort, we'll provide extra herbal soup for the entire month."
The crowd cheered, happy that everyone was rewarded in some way.
After everyone had calmed down, Aaron nodded to Ryan. "Thank you, Instructor Ryan, for organizing this event with us," he said, and Ryan gave a brief nod before leaving with his group.
Once they were alone, Aaron turned to Luca and motioned for him to follow with his wooden sword. He led him to a quieter spot nearby, away from the rest of the group.
"You use a sword, right, Luca?" Instructor Aaron asked, a knowing smile on his face.
Luca nodded. "Yes, Instructor."
Instructor Aaron's eyes glinted with interest. "Alright then. Let's see how you handle it." He stepped back. "Perform the basic sword stances for me, using your full strength and speed, and channel Luminis while you do it."
Luca focused, calling on the power of Luminis. His movements were sharp, fast, and precise, each stance flowing into the next. His wooden sword cut through the air like it was an extension of his body. When he finished, Aaron's eyes widened with surprise.
"That... was impressive," Aaron said, clearly amazed. "You're not acting like a beginner in the Essence Flow Stage. You moved like someone who's been practicing for years three, maybe four years of training."
Luca felt a rush of pride, but he didn't let it show. Aaron's words were encouraging.
"I reached the Essence Flow Stage about ten months before anyone else in my group," Luca answered honestly. "I was the first to reach it. But... when I did, no one else in my group had. I didn't want to tell Instructor Aldric about it because I wasn't sure how it would be received." Luca kept the part about practicing and sensing Luminis better at night to himself.
Aaron nodded, understanding. "Some people naturally have a better connection with Luminis. For those people, training comes faster, and their growth is quicker, even before they reach the Radiant Core Stage. Don't worry, Luca. I won't tell anyone about this. It'll be our secret."
He gave Luca a wink and then added, "If you ever have any doubts or need help with your Luminis training, you can always come to me. I'll help however I can."
Luca felt a sense of relief. "Thanks, Instructor."
Then Luca thought of something else. "Instructor Aaron... how long does it usually take for someone to reach the Harmonisation Stage?"
Aaron looked thoughtful before answering. "Reaching the Harmonisation Stage varies from person to person. Even someone who's a genius can get stuck at the peak of the Essence Flow Stage for years. On the other hand, someone who's not naturally gifted can still make it to the Harmonisation Stage faster than expected."
He paused, letting Luca absorb his words. "Reaching Harmonisation is more than just Luminis training. It's about finding the soul within yourself. Luminis can help strengthen the spirit, but until you connect with your own soul, you can't reach Harmonisation."
Luca furrowed his brow. It all sounded abstract.
"It may sound confusing now," Aaron continued, "but when you reach that stage, you'll understand what I mean. Most people in their twenties or thirties can reach Harmonisation easily. But if someone reaches it before turning twenty, that's when they're truly considered a genius."
Aaron smiled, then clapped Luca on the shoulder. "But for now, focus on reaching the peak of the Essence Flow Stage. That's your next goal."
Luca nodded.
Aaron then leaned in closer. "Here's something to keep in mind: If you earn 60 military merits through your missions, you'll be allowed to spend four hours in the Library Hall. The Library Hall is a special place within the military camp where they keep valuable scrolls."
Luca's eyes widened. "It's not open to everyone," Aaron explained. "But if you earn enough merits, you'll be able to study scrolls written by people who've reached the peak of the Essence Flow Stage or even the Harmonisation Stage. It's a treasure trove of knowledge, and it will help you immensely."
"Got it!" Luca said enthusiastically. "I'll start saving my merits right away."
Aaron smiled, pleased. "That's the spirit, Luca."
Luca had made a decision. If he wanted to earn the 60 military merits, he would need to take as many missions as he could handle. So far, he had accumulated 10 merits, but that meant he still had 50 to go. Not bad, but definitely not enough.
The few missions he picked were simple, delivering messages, gathering herbs, and clearing small debris from the training grounds. Nothing too challenging, but it added up.
One afternoon, while resting in the forest after completing a particularly easy task, just delivering a scroll to a nearby post. Luca decided to try something he had been thinking about for a while.
He had heard about certain techniques that involved focusing on one's other senses to improve one's perception of Luminis.
So, Luca took out a cloth he had in his pack and, with a bit of hesitation, tied it around his eyes. He took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze of the forest, and tried to concentrate.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Focus. Channel Luminis. Feel the energy around you."
Luca took a step forward, relying solely on his other senses. He could hear the wind rustling through the trees, the soft crunch of leaves beneath his feet. He could smell the earthy scent of moss and wet soil.
But then, he took another step.
CRACK.
Luca's foot caught on a rock, and before he could react, he pitched forward, tumbling face-first into the dirt.
"Woah!" he yelped, landing with a thud, his face smushed into the ground. His arms flailed briefly, trying to catch himself, but it was no use. He lay there for a moment, half in shock, half embarrassed.
Luca slowly pushed himself up, wiping dirt off his hands, and pulled the cloth off his eyes.
"Well... I guess some more training is needed," he muttered to himself, looking around at the fallen leaves and broken branches he'd disturbed during his graceful landing.
He took a deep breath, brushing off the dirt from his clothes. "Maybe I should try walking in a straight line next time," he said to no one in particular, chuckling at himself. "Just... a little more practice."
"Alright, time to try again," Luca said, tying the cloth back around his eyes, and taking another step forward.
He paused. "Maybe... slower this time."
With that, he took another cautious step, moving a little more carefully. Luca tried to carefully sense everything around him. Luca could feel Luminis in his body but not in his surroundings. It seemed there was still much to learn.