The fight was on!

  “I don’t want to beat him too badly.” Abell thought

  Abell let Torin take the first strike. He stood relaxed with his guard low, leaving himself wide open.

  “Underestimating me, are you?” Torin asked. “Well, that’s okay.

  Torin gripped his sword almost like an axe, catching Abell off guard.

  Before he could react--

  CLACK!

  Torin swung with everything he had. The impact of the blow crashed against Abell’s sword, sending a shock throughout his body. His feet slid across the damp ground.

  “What the?” He thought.

  Clack. Clack. Clack.

  Torin continued. A flurry of relentless, powerful strikes rained down on Abell, each seemingly stronger than the last.

  Then, finally, A downward strike crashed against Abell’s guard. Almost breaking his wooden sword.

  “Not so tough without your Lux, huh?” Torin taunted.

  His voice was laced with pure bitterness. “This is the result of real training. While you sat around using gifts to play hero, I’ve had to work my body to the limit!”

  “And it’s still not enough.”

  Mary looked at her son with somber eyes.

  Her head down, “I didn’t know that still bothered him,” she said.

  “Yes, I always see the boy training alone,” Freed said. “Having no Lux when his will to fight is so strong...”

  Abell clenched his teeth; frustration and excitement filled his body.

  “So, this is how it’s going to be?”

  “You act like I had it so easy,” he said.

  “Being stuck in the shadow of two great warriors, constantly being compared to your older sister, the whole town constantly reminding you how much of a better fight she is.”

  He began to rise, overpowering Torin’s hold.

  “I say damn it all.”

  “I’m better.”

  Torin semi-panicked, launching another downward strike.

  Abell countered.

  His strikes were slow, sloppy, and fueled by emotion. He swung in broad, powerful arcs.

  “Amazing.” Abell thought

  Torin grunted. His arms strained under the constant pressure. He blocked, but Abell’s fluid strikes flowed together.

  Next, Abell swung high but, at the last second, twisted his wrist, changing his swing speed.

  Clack.

  Torin barely blocked the attack. With his hand, causing swelling.

  “This isn’t over!” He said.

  He began to push forward. Forcing Abell to retreat.

  The rain began to let up.

  They exchanged blows, each step kicking up dirt and moisture. Torin was stronger, but Abell was faster and more experienced.

  Abell ducked beneath a wide horizontal slash, twisting his body to strike Torin’s ribs.

  Smack!

  Torin intercepted him with a powerful shoulder charge.

  Abell skidded across the ground. He barely had time to process it before.

  WHAM!

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  Torin was already mid-air, bringing his sword down like an executioner’s axe.

  Abell lifted his weapon in defense.

  CLANG!

  The impact rattled his bones. The sheer force nearly made him buckle.

  Torin pressed down, trying to overpower him. “WHAT’S WRONG?! YOU’RE NOT SMILING NOW!”

  Abell grinned through the strain. “What are you talking about? I’m having a blast.”

  With a sudden shift, he twisted his blade, deflecting the pressure to the side. Torin’s weight worked against him, forcing him off balance.

  Abell took advantage

  A sharp kick to the chest.

  Torin stumbled backward, gasping for air.

  This was it.

  Abell lunged forward, his strikes becoming sharper, more precise. Torin’s blocks grew sloppy. Another strike landed—this time against his shoulder.

  Then another.

  Torin’s stance broke. He was losing ground.

  Why?!

  Torin’s mind raced. Why is he better? Is it his Lux? Is it something I can’t control?

  “No. I refuse to lose like this!”

  His grip tightened—so tight the wooden handle cracked beneath his fingers.

  With a final burst of desperation, Torin charged.

  His muscles tensed. His feet dug into the ground, and a shining glow flashed around him.

  Spinning mid-air, he leaped, sword raised high.

  “EARTH-SHATTERING SLAM!”

  A shockwave rippled through the air as his sword came crashing down. The ground beneath them split apart, sending dust and debris flying. Rocks scattered in every direction.

  “Woah, I know I can’t block this.” He thought.

  He knew it was useless, but his pride wanted to test it.

  “Screw it

  His pride wouldn’t let him dodge.

  “If I can’t even take this head-on, what kind of fighter am I?”

  He tightened his grip, planted his feet, and braced.

  Then—

  BOOM!

  The sword struck the earth, leaving a crater in its wake. Torin panted, breath ragged, his strength drained.

  The two boys were exhausted and on the ground when the dust settled.

  However, Abell began to stand up slowly.

  Silence.

  “The winner is Abell!” Mary’s voice rang through the air.

  Freed grinned, clapping his hands.

  “Well done, Son. Don’t let this defeat discourage you. And you, Abell, nice work. Your mother taught you well.

  “HAHAHAHA. What an exciting battle. Right Mary?”

  “Yes, however, we must pay attention to how our son feels.”

  Abell walked over to Torin, who sat on the ground with teary etched eyes.

  “Here to rub it in?” he said.

  Instead, he crouched beside him, his curious side winning over his pride.

  “What was that move? I thought you had no Lux, but you were glowing. What do you do to get so strong? That was too exhilarating.

  Abell blinked, realizing he’d been rambling. He quickly straightened.

  “Uh—I mean, good match. We should do this again sometime.”

  Freed chuckled. “Well, look at that, Mary. It seems like a new friendship’s just emerged.”

  “I guess so, dear,” she said with a slight smile.

  Abell turned to leave.

  “I should get going; it’s getting late. Thanks for the fight, Torin

  Before he could leave, Torin grabbed his shoulder.

  “Sorry, Abell. I misjudged you. And those things I said about your sister, I’m truly sorry.”

  Abell stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden apology. He didn’t turn around as he spoke.

  “What are you talking about? There’s no issue.”

  “I’ll fight you anytime. That’s a promise.”

  With that, he dashed off, a satisfied grin on his face.

  “Honey, I’d like to ask a question,” Mary said.

  “What is it?” Freed said.

  “What happened in the last moments of their spar? How did Torin start glowing despite him having no flux? And how did Abell sustain no major injuries.”

  Freed placed his hand on his bottom lip.

  “I’m no expert on luminary orb, but it seems like our Torin tapped into a deeper reservoir of energy, allowing him to generate enough force for a technique like that.”

  Mary nodded, but her gaze stayed fixed on the training field. “And Abell?”

  Freed exhaled. “That’s the interesting part. Abell didn't merely evade—he perceived it before it reached completion.

  Mary tilted her head. “Recognized?”

  “Think about it. Abell halted for a brief moment when Torin launched himself into the air. He wasn’t reacting to the movement itself. He was reacting to the energy buildup. Abell experienced the rush of Luminous Energy moving through Torin while the surrounding atmosphere began to shift.”

  He crossed his arms.

  Rather than attempting to block the attack directly, Abell adjusted his position. Abell positioned himself at the edge of the energy burst to let its residual power skim through him instead of engulfing him. That’s why he avoided significant injuries.”

  So, do you believe he could sense the energy itself?

  “Yes. It usually takes most trained warriors years of practice to detect Luminous Energy at a high level, especially during combat, yet Abell instinctively sensed these changes.

  Mary pressed her lips tightly together with her eyes fixed on the battlefield.

  “Then that means…”

  Freed’s smirk widened.

  “Abell demonstrates exceptional battle sensitivity, which makes him stand out from nearly all other fighters. Perfecting that innate ability will make him more than strong.”

  Evening

  As he ran home, his resolve strengthened.

  The academy.

  Stronger opponents.

  Malignants.

  “There’s no way I’m staying here, sorry.”

  His clothes were torn, and his arms were bruised when he finally reached home.

  Hugo and Keeko enjoyed conversation while sitting together at the dinner table. They turned as he entered.

  Keeko raised an eyebrow. “Ugh, Abell. What trouble have you gotten into now?”

  Abell didn’t hesitate. He knew what he had to say.

  “Listen, Mom.”

  “I may not be as strong as Genevieve, but my desire to get stronger is higher. I can’t stay here. I want to see what this country offers and, more importantly, test my limits. Against malignants and foes.”

  He walked up to her.

  “Please let me

  Keeko blinked, surprised by his sudden openness.

  “I’ve already spoken to Hugo."

  Abell’s heart jumped.

  “But before anything,” she continued, crossing her arms. “I’m giving you one last training session, and I won’t hold back. Prove to me that you’re ready.

  “Finally,” he thought.

  “I’ll win. And that’s a promise.”

  Hugo grinned, watching the interaction.

  “Welp, would you look at that? It's all in a day’s work for yours truly. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have something to attend to.”

  As Hugo left, Abell stepped outside.

  He gazed at the moon, feeling better than the previous night.

  The path he wanted to walk down was so close.

  He smirked.

  “Only a few more obstacles.”