The training yard was eerily quiet. The moonlight cast a soft, silvery glow over the ground, painting the scene with an ethereal quality. The cold wind howled around them, but neither Abell nor Keeko paid it any mind. The weight of the upcoming battle loomed over them both, the pressure thick in the air.
Abell's heart pounded in his chest, and despite the chill, beads of sweat gathered on his brow. This wasn't just a fight—this was everything. His final test before the Luminary Academy.
Keeko stood opposite him, her arms crossed. The moonlight gleamed off her determined expression, and for a moment, Abell saw the woman she once was—the fierce warrior who had fought and bled for what she believed in. But tonight, she wasn't just his mother. She was a Luminary, and she wasn't going to hold back.
"I hope you're ready," Keeko's voice broke through the tension, firm and unwavering. "I wasn't kidding about not holding back."
"Bring it, old woman. I can handle it," Abell shot back with a smirk, trying to mask the nervous energy building in him. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the chance to prove to himself that he was strong enough. He wasn't backing down.
Without another word, Abell lunged forward, his sword gleaming in the moonlight as he summoned it with a surge of Lumination. The ethereal blade crackled with energy, its golden glow lighting up the battlefield. His body surged forward, the trait driving his every movement as he charged at Keeko.
But Keeko was already in motion. Her gaze remained calm, almost detached, as she watched him close the gap.
"You're still not using your head, I see," Keeko called out. Her voice was sharp, but there was no malice—only the weight of experience. She easily sidestepped Abell's first strike, her body flowing like water.
She blocked each of his swings with ease, her hands moving faster than he could react, catching his sword with the strength of years of training. She didn't even to use her trait—her own body was her weapon.
Abell's frustration started to build, each swing he took deflected with casual precision. With a grunt, he tried to outmaneuver her, shifting his footing, aiming for a cleaner strike—but Keeko was ready.
With one swift motion, she shifted her weight and delivered a vicious punch straight to his chest. The force sent him flying backwards, his body hitting the ground hard with a heavy thud. Pain radiated from his ribs as he gasped for air, feeling the sting of defeat.
"Don't forget, Abell," Keeko's voice echoed through the cold air, sharp and unforgiving, "You can't just rely on your power. Strategy, control, thinking—those are just as important."
"The obstacle in front of me is tough, the gap between us is unreal but I need to figure something out." he thought.
Keeko wasted no time, immediately going on the offensive. Each strike she landed was swift, precise, and brutal. Abell barely had time to react as her blows came like a storm, her speed making it almost impossible for him to block. His sword was moving, but not fast enough. Every strike she landed felt like a hammer hitting his body, sending shockwaves through him.
Damn, I can't keep taking hits like this, he thought, feeling the pain course through his arms and chest. What did Hugo say? Be creative... Okay, let me try something.
His mind raced, shifting gears. Abell focused on his mother's rhythm-each strike, each move, every tell. As he started to pay attention to the subtle patterns in her movements, something clicked. He wasn't just blocking; he was anticipating.
He dodged a strike, then another, narrowly avoiding the worst of her blows. With every evasive move, his confidence grew, and so did his focus.
There, he thought, spotting his chance. I need to make her react.
Abell shifted his stance and lunged, thrusting his sword at her chest, expecting her to sidestep. Keeko moved exactly as he anticipated, slipping out of the way with her usual grace. But Abell was already thinking two steps ahead.
At the last second, he retracted his sword and, with the momentum from the thrust, balled his fist.
Not this time.
He connected with her face, the punch landing cleanly, sending a sharp crack through the stillness of the yard. Keeko staggered back for a moment, surprised by the force of the hit.
For a heartbeat, the air between them stood still.
Abell watched his mother quickly recover from the hit. "I hope I didn't overdo it…" he thought, but before he could even take a breath, she was already on the move, her body surging with renewed energy.
"That was a good hit, but don't hesitate next time. You might not get another chance," Keeko said, her voice sharp and focused. "But now, let's take this to the next level."
A brilliant glow surrounded her arms, blinding in its intensity. Abell squinted, trying to shield his eyes. "Prismatic Veil…" he thought, watching as her body seemed to hum with power. Luminous energy cascaded over her form, and in an instant, her physical strength and resilience doubled—her strikes now carrying the weight of her trait's power.
Abell had seen her use this ability before, but every time, it still left him in awe. He stared at her, transfixed by the glow, but quickly snapped back to reality. This wasn't a moment for admiration; this was a fight for his future.
Keeko wasted no time closing the distance, her blows landing with devastating force. Each punch felt like it hit harder than the last, with a speed and precision that had him reeling. His body couldn't keep up—his defenses were barely holding. "So this is the gap between me and a real Luminary…" he thought, tasting blood in his mouth as another strike landed. The force of her punches was overwhelming, his body barely able to absorb the blows.
"Stay strong, Abell. This is for your own good," she thought to herself as her relentless assault continued.
Abell gritted his teeth, struggling to stay on his feet. His limbs were heavy, his vision blurry. He could feel his body aching, barely able to support his weight as he struggled to rise. But the punches kept coming—faster, harder.
"Damn… This is the difference between me and a luminary," he thought with a weak smile, knowing this pain was his own reality now. "But I don't know what else to do."
As she continued to land punches, every blow hurt her body due to her previous injuries. However, she continued to push through. "Cmon Abell is this all you have seriously? Didn't you want to become the strongest."
"You really can't compare yourself to Genevieve, I never saw her lie down and accept defeat like this." Saying this hurt Keeko dearly because of how her son might react but felt it was necessary to say it for his growth.
The words hit harder than any of her blows. Abell's breath caught in his chest, rage surging through him, tears blurring his vision. "Don't compare me to her!" he roared, his body trembling with emotion. "I will surpass her… and I'll surpass the whole world!"
In that moment, the air around him crackled with intensity. Abell summoned his ethereal blade once again, but this time, it transformed. Its light flared brighter than before, a blinding beam of raw, unrefined power. The weapon in his hand wasn't just his sword—it was the manifestation of everything he wanted to prove.