As Rudra stepped off the stage, the air in the multi-purpose hall shifted. The recruits, still absorbing the weight of his words, turned their attention to a new figure climbing the steps to the platform. He was a slender man with sharp features, his jet-black hair tied into a neat bun at the back of his head. His robe, unlike Rudra’s flowing garments, was a fitted black and red uniform, adorned with a single silver emblem of a sakura blossom.
The man bowed slightly, his movements precise and deliberate. “Good evening, recruits,” he began, his voice calm and smooth, carrying a faint accent that hinted at his Japanese heritage. “I am Instructor Kiyoshi, and it is my honor to guide you further into understanding the basics of Prana manipulation.”
With a clap of his hands, the atmosphere in the room seemed to hum with energy. A stack of small guidebooks materialized in mid-air, each one bound in dark leather with golden lettering on the cover that read: Prana Channeling: A Beginner’s Guide. The books hovered for a moment before flying through the air, landing neatly in each recruit’s hands.
Ethan caught his guidebook with ease, running his fingers over the embossed cover. Around him, the recruits murmured in surprise and curiosity.
“This guidebook,” Kiyoshi continued, “is a basic yet essential resource. It contains foundational knowledge on channeling Prana effectively. Study it well, but remember: this knowledge is not to be shared beyond this compound.” His sharp gaze scanned the room before a faint smirk curved his lips. “Not that you can leave the compound, of course.”
A ripple of nervous laughter spread through the room, easing some of the tension. Kiyoshi’s tone shifted back to seriousness. “Tonight, before you sleep, familiarize yourselves with the guide. Tomorrow, your training will begin in earnest. Be prepared.”
He stepped back, giving a respectful nod as Gabriel took his place on the stage. The commanding presence of the archangel silenced the room once again. Gabriel’s eyes swept over the recruits, his expression a mixture of sternness and purpose.
“Recruits,” he began, his voice deep and resonant. “This week will be a crucible. You will be assessed in both weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. By the end of the week, we will determine your individual paths. Not everyone is suited for the same role, and it is our job to place you where you will excel.”
Gabriel’s gaze lingered on a few recruits, including Ethan, as if weighing their potential. “Remember, your performance this week will shape your future in this realm. Approach your training with discipline and resolve. That is all. You are dismissed.”
The recruits began to file out of the hall, the weight of Gabriel’s words pressing down on them. Ethan walked back to his room in silence, the guidebook tucked securely under his arm.
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Ethan’s room was dimly lit by the warm glow of a small desk lamp. He had just stepped out of the bathroom, his damp hair clinging to his forehead. A faint scent of soap and clean linen filled the air. Dressed in casual sleepwear, he settled at the side table by his bed, placing the guidebook and a brand-new notebook in front of him.
The guidebook was meticulously detailed, filled with diagrams of energy flows, breathing techniques, and step-by-step instructions on how to channel Prana. Ethan flipped through the pages, his brow furrowing as he read.
“Breathe deeply, focus on the center of your being, and visualize the flow of energy through your body,” he murmured, reading aloud. “Sounds simple enough.”
He picked up his pen, jotting down notes in the notebook. His handwriting was neat at first, but as he tried to analyze the text further, it became messier.
Prana flows through defined channels? What channels? And how am I supposed to visualize something I can’t even feel? His notes became a series of fragmented questions and doodles of the diagrams from the book.
Ethan sighed, scratching his head in frustration. He pushed the notebook aside and leaned back in his chair, staring at the guidebook with narrowed eyes. “Focus, breathe, visualize,” he repeated, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Easier said than done.”
Despite his skepticism, he decided to give it a try. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to focus on his “center” as the book instructed, but all he could feel was the growing ache in his back from sitting still for too long.
After several minutes of futile effort, Ethan groaned and opened his eyes. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered, standing up and brushing himself off. Out of spite, he snapped the guidebook shut and returned to the desk. He opened his diary instead, the familiar comfort of its worn pages calming his frustration.
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Ethan’s pen moved across the paper as he wrote about the day’s events—the lecture, the guidebook, and his struggles with channeling Prana. He didn’t hold back, pouring his thoughts onto the page.
Maybe I’m overthinking it. Or maybe I’m just not cut out for this. Either way, tomorrow’s training will be the real test.
When he finished writing, he set the diary aside and glanced at the guidebook one last time. A part of him wanted to toss it across the room, but he resisted the urge. Instead, he climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over himself.
The soft hum of the radio in the background and the faint glow of the desk lamp were the last things he registered before sleep claimed him. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he allowed himself the solace of rest.
Morning sunlight filtered into the courtyard as the recruits gathered, their chatter filling the air with a mix of nervous excitement and curiosity. Gabriel stood at the forefront, his presence commanding but not overbearing. He looked like an ordinary, albeit strikingly handsome, middle-aged man, dressed in a fitted black military uniform. His sharp eyes swept over the group, silencing the murmurs without a single word.
Ethan stood among the recruits, his arms crossed as he shifted on his feet. The group was split into small clusters. Iris and Yin Xue stood off to the side, their postures calm yet alert, while Herbie fidgeted nervously, clearly out of his depth. Zane leaned against a nearby wall, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. Small talk bubbled among them, though Ethan himself remained quiet, lost in his own thoughts.
Herbie leaned toward Yin Xue and whispered, "Do you think Gabriel is really... you know, the Gabriel? Like the archangel? Or maybe he’s just a mortal who—"
He didn’t finish. Gabriel’s sharp gaze snapped to him, and the sheer weight of that look made Herbie straighten like a bolt, snapping his mouth shut. A soft, warning snort from Gabriel was enough to make the others stifle their laughter.
Gabriel finally spoke, his voice low and resonant, carrying effortlessly through the space. "Today, we’ll begin understanding what channels are, how Prana flows through them, and how to better visualize this process. This is foundational work—if you can’t feel the energy within you, you won’t be able to use it."
He began to pace, his measured steps echoing softly. "Prana flows through defined pathways in your body, like rivers carrying energy to vital points. These points, or nodes, act as centers for gathering and amplifying that energy."
Gabriel gestured subtly, his hand drawing an invisible map in the air. "To feel Prana, you need to focus inward. Block out the world around you and visualize the flow of energy moving through your veins. For some, it’ll come naturally. For others, it will take time and effort. Both paths are valid."
Ethan nodded, though a faint flicker of confusion passed across his face. Gabriel’s explanation made sense… sort of. But how was he supposed to visualize something he’d never seen or felt before?
“Sit,” Gabriel ordered.
The recruits complied, settling into lotus positions on the ground. The cool stone beneath Ethan was rough against his palms as he adjusted himself, trying to get comfortable. He closed his eyes as instructed, the chatter of the group gradually fading as everyone focused.
Ethan took a deep breath, letting the air fill his lungs. He tried to follow Gabriel’s instructions, mentally cutting off the voices and distractions around him. The effort didn’t silence the world entirely, but it dulled the edges enough to help him concentrate.
He visualized… or at least tried to. Streams of energy coursing through his body, gathering at points he couldn’t quite define. His imagination stumbled, unable to fully grasp the concept. All he could feel was the unbearable heat of the sun above, its rays beating down relentlessly.
Why is it so hot? Ethan thought, cracking one eye open to glare at the cloudless sky.
He was about to give up when he felt it. A faint chill. It wasn’t much—just a subtle shift in temperature, like a breeze brushing against his skin. His breath hitched as his mind latched onto it. Slowly, a crimson hue began to seep into his closed-eyed vision, like ink spreading through water. It was faint, but it was there, pulsing softly with an almost hypnotic rhythm.
His heart raced, excitement bubbling in his chest. He focused harder, trying to pull the hue closer, to make sense of it. But just as it began to spread, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.
Ethan’s eyes snapped open, and he found Gabriel standing behind him. The archangel’s touch was steady, his expression unreadable. A wave of calm swept over Ethan, and suddenly, he felt it—a foreign yet oddly familiar energy pooling in the center of his chest. It was warm and comforting, like a spark taking root in a hearth.
“Congratulations,” Gabriel said quietly, his voice meant only for Ethan. “You’ve made the first step. Don’t lose it.”
Ethan nodded slowly, still dazed. The energy in his chest pulsed softly, steady and reassuring. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. The initial foundation of what Gabriel had called a "channeling warrior." Ethan didn’t fully understand the implications yet, but he couldn’t deny the thrill that coursed through him.
Around him, the other recruits were in varying states of progress. Elara’s brows were furrowed in concentration, her hands resting lightly on her knees. Iris, ever composed, looked serene, though her breathing was noticeably deeper. Yin Xue sat perfectly still, her expression unreadable, while Zane’s eyes were half-open, his lips pressed into a thin line. Herbie, predictably, was fidgeting, his attempts at meditation interrupted by his own nervous energy.
Gabriel’s sharp voice cut through the air. “Enough for now. Those of you who felt something, no matter how faint, hold onto it. For those who didn’t, don’t be discouraged. Mastery comes with time and persistence. Dismissed.”
Ethan stood, his legs stiff from sitting too long. The recruits dispersed, their expressions a mix of relief, frustration, and determination. As he walked to the cafeteria, the faint pulse of Prana in his chest was a constant reminder of the path ahead.