Renjiro woke early, the echoes of his strange dreams still faintly lingering in the back of his mind. Today was his first day of training at the Azeron Guardians Academy, and he couldn’t shake the mixture of excitement and anxiety that stirred in his chest. He dressed quickly, stepping out of his tent to join the others. The training grounds were alive with the hum of Lumina energy as recruits prepared for their first lessons.

He found his way to the assembly area, where dozens of recruits gathered around the wide, open training field. Large, rocky pillars dotted the landscape, and sparring rings were set up around the perimeter. Some recruits were already practicing, sending light shocks of blue Lumina energy through their bodies to warm up.

Renjiro stood beside Goro, who was as eager as ever. “This is it,” Goro said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I can’t wait to start punching with Lumina energy. We’re going to be unstoppable!”

Renjiro smiled at Goro’s enthusiasm, but his nerves were growing. Could he really do this?

A loud voice called the recruits to attention. Commander Thalor, the silver-haired officer, stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. Behind him, a group of instructors stood, each exuding a calm yet powerful aura.

“Welcome to your first day of training,” Thalor began. “Today, you will learn the very basics of Lumina infusion—the core of every Guardian’s combat ability. Through Lumina, we Luminarians can amplify our strikes, enhance our speed, and turn our bodies into weapons. But first, you must learn control. Without control, Lumina energy is dangerous—not just to your enemies, but to yourselves.”

Thalor raised his hand, demonstrating. Blue light began to swirl around his fist, glowing brightly as it infused into his knuckles. The air around him crackled with power. In one swift motion, he swung his fist forward and struck a large rock pillar, shattering it into dust with a single blow.

Renjiro's eyes widened as the force of the strike reverberated through the training grounds. The other recruits murmured, awed by the display of raw power.

"That," Thalor said calmly, “is the result of perfect control and infusion. Today, you will begin practicing how to channel Lumina into your fists, feet, and weapons for enhanced combat.”

The recruits were divided into smaller groups, each assigned to an instructor. Renjiro found himself with Goro, Yumeru, and Emi. Their instructor, a stern-looking Guardian named Instructor Darius, motioned for them to step forward.

Before it was Renjiro's turn to strike, his eyes were drawn to Squad Storm practicing nearby. Kairro, standing at the forefront, was fully focused, his serious expression never wavering. Blue Lumina energy crackled around his fist as he prepared for his strike. With perfect control, he delivered a powerful punch to the dummy in front of him, the energy surging through it with precision. The dummy was nearly obliterated, toppling over with force.

Kairro grinned, turning slightly to his squad. "Lightwork," he said with a confident smirk, wiping his knuckles. "That was a piece of cake."

Renjiro felt a surge of anxiety. Kairro’s effortless display of power only reminded him of his own inexperience. Could he ever match that level of control?

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Darius clapped his hands, drawing Renjiro’s attention back to the task at hand. “Infusing Lumina energy is about focus,” Darius said. “You have to feel the energy flow through you, from your body's core to your hands or feet. It’s not just about strength—it’s about balance and precision. If you lose control, you could damage yourself or others.”

Renjiro watched as Darius infused his fists with Lumina energy, demonstrating power flowing into his knuckles. A soft blue light encased his hand, pulsating with rhythm. He struck a training dummy with controlled force, sending a ripple of energy through it but not destroying it entirely.

“Now, try it,” Darius commanded.

Renjiro took a deep breath, closing his eyes to concentrate. He reached inside himself, trying to feel the connection to the blue Lumina energy that he had only recently discovered. The energy was there, faint and elusive, like trying to catch smoke in his hands.

Slowly, he raised his fist, imagining the Lumina flowing through him. He could feel it—just barely—a warmth in his chest, spreading outward. His hand began to glow faintly, the soft blue light swirling around his knuckles.

He swung at the practice dummy, but the strike barely made an impact. The energy fizzled out, and the dummy barely moved. Renjiro cursed under his breath.

Goro, beside him, managed to infuse his fists with a bright burst of energy, sending a strong punch into his dummy. The force knocked the dummy back a step. Goro let out a laugh. “Ha! This is great!”

Then it was Yumeru's turn.

She stepped forward with calm precision, her eyes narrowing slightly as she faced the practice dummy. Renjiro expected her to infuse her fists or feet with Lumina energy, like everyone else. But she didn’t. Instead, with a swift and fluid movement, she raised her leg and delivered a powerful kick to the dummy.

The impact was explosive.

The dummy flew backward, crashing into the ground with such force that even Instructor Darius’ eyes widened in surprise. The other recruits gasped, stunned by the sheer power behind her kick.

But it wasn’t the kick alone that shocked them—it was the fact that Yumeru hadn't used Lumina energy at all. No blue glow, no infusion—just pure, raw strength.

Darius stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “You didn’t infuse Lumina into your strike.”

Yumeru, unphased, shrugged slightly. “Does it matter?” she said, her voice cool and detached. “I did it, didn’t I?”

Darius blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. The other recruits exchanged glances, equally stunned. Renjiro felt a mixture of awe and curiosity rise within him. Yumeru had just accomplished what everyone else struggled to do—without even using Lumina energy. There was something different about her, something quiet yet intense.

Next came Emi.

She stepped forward hesitantly, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to focus her energy. Renjiro could see the effort she put into channeling her Lumina, but the faint glow barely surrounded her hands. She struck the dummy, and to her surprise, it moved slightly, wobbling from the impact.

A small smile of relief spread across her face as she turned back to the group. “Well… at least it moved, right?” she said with a nervous laugh, brushing a strand of her light hazel hair from her face.

Instructor Darius nodded approvingly. “Good work, Emi. Remember, it’s not about power at first. It’s about control. You’ve taken the first step.”

Emi, still slightly flustered, let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “I just… I didn’t think it would actually work. I guess I was too nervous.”

Renjiro gave her an encouraging nod. “You did great. It’s tough, but we’re all learning.”

Goro, ever the lighthearted one, patted Emi on the shoulder with a grin. “Hey, at least you didn’t send it flying like Yumeru. Imagine if you did that on your first try.”

Emi smiled wider this time, her nerves easing. “Yeah, I’m not quite there yet.”

The group was a mix of raw talent, control, and unpolished skills. Each had something to bring to the table, but Renjiro could feel the weight of his own inadequacy. As the training continued, he knew that mastering Lumina energy was only the first step.