Location: Left Side of Dojo

  Time of Day: Morning

  Hikari and Lumina stood face to face at the center of the dojo. The air felt still, both of them ready for training to begin.

  Lumina stepped forward, arms crossed, her tone sharp but calm. "Alright, listen up, Hikari. Each week we'll train with a different exercise regimen for four weeks. This week's focus is the basics of magic, or as we call it here... Emanation. You'll learn how to awaken it, channel it, endure it, and control it."

  "Emanation..." Hikari echoed, eyes thoughtful. "That would imply a projection or flow of energy originating from a source. So... am I learning to generate a specific kind of energy by using my body as the conduit?"

  Lumina smirked. "Very sharp. But not quite on the dot."

  She began pacing slowly around the center of the room, hands behind her back. Morning light caught the ornaments in her hair, glinting with each step. "Let me put it simply. Emanation is born from two sources: the mind and the body. The mind generates the energy, but the body manifests it. Without harmony between the two, you'll never be able to use it properly."

  Hikari nodded quickly, pulling a notebook from her coat pocket. Her pen scratched across the page as she glanced between her notes and Lumina. SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE.

  "When done right," Lumina continued, "the energy takes shape around you. We call this your aura. Each person's Emanation has a unique signature, color, intensity, even the feeling it gives off. So no two auras are the same."

  She paused, her voice softening just slightly. "There's more to it, of course. But that's just the foundation."

  "Fascinating..." Hikari murmured, flipping her notebook closed and tucking it away. "So... what kind of Emanation do you have, Lumina?"

  Lumina stopped pacing. Her eyes closed, the corner of her mouth tugging into a confident smirk. "Rather than telling you... I think it's better if I show you."

  "Oh?" Hikari raised a brow. "That intense, huh?"

  "You might want to stand back," Lumina warned, her voice calm but serious. "Wouldn't want you to miss it... or get caught in it."

  Hikari let out a short laugh and stepped back a few paces. "Alright then. I'm all eyes."

  Lumina drew in a slow breath, her expression softening into quiet focus. The room stilled. Within seconds, a soft green aura flickered around her body, heat-like waves at first, then brighter, fuller. WHOOSH! A breeze rushed through the dojo, tugging at Hikari's coat and whipping strands of her hair into the air. She squinted against the wind, shielding her face with her arms. Lumina's aura shimmered steadily, calm and controlled, yet the power pressed heavy in the air. Hikari's eyes widened. It wasn't just beautiful, it was commanding. Then, Lumina's eyes snapped open. Her brown gaze had turned into a radiant light green, sharp and unwavering. Energy burned in them, alive.

  In one smooth motion, she unsheathed the katana from her back. FWOOOSH! SHING! Six wooden dummies spaced around the room split apart in silence. One by one, they toppled, each cut so clean they didn't even creak until they hit the floor. THUD. THUD. THUD. Lumina hadn't moved an inch from where she started. Her blade glowed faint green as she slid it back into its sheath. SHHK!

  Hikari blinked. Her brain scrambled to catch up with what her eyes had just seen. "...You've gotta be kidding me," she whispered, half in awe, half in disbelief.

  The dummies lay scattered like fallen statues, carved apart with perfect accuracy.

  Lumina turned with a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Well? What do you think of my Emanation?"

  "Ah-hehe... it was, uh... pretty incredible," Hikari said, rubbing the back of her head with a sheepish grin. ("Am I really supposed to pull off something like that...?")

  "Right?? I can't wait to see what you're Emanation is!" Lumina beamed, almost bouncing with excitement.

  "To be honest..." Hikari glanced at the wreckage. "I couldn't even follow what happened. One second there was a gust of wind, and the next, everything was already shredded."

  "Haha! Yeah, I might've gone a bit overboard." Lumina laughed, placing a hand behind her head. "Probably should've held back... 'cause now there won't be much left for you to destroy."

  *"Only a bit, huh..." *Hikari chuckled nervously. ("I don't even want to imagine what she's like when that 'bit' goes away...")

  "Well, I'm not that violent," Hikari added with a playful half-smile, eyeing the scattered dummies. "I'm sure we'll still have a few left standing."

  Lumina shot her a knowing look, one brow raised. "We'll see soon enough." She nudged Hikari's arm lightly with her elbow.

  "S-So... am I supposed to do what you just did?" Hikari asked, half-joking and half-terrified. Her eyes darted toward the broken dummies. "'Cause I'm pretty sure my average human limbs don't move at that speed."

  "Oh, no, no." Lumina waved her hands quickly. "I'm not expecting lightning-speed swordplay on day one."

  "Oh good," Hikari muttered under her breath.

  "What I will do..." Lumina continued, slipping back into instructor mode, "...is guide you to unlock your Emanation. Like I said, everyone's is different."

  Hikari arched a brow. "Let me guess, yours has something to do with speed?"

  "Bingo!" Lumina grinned, clearly proud. "See? I told you you're sharp."

  ("Yeah... she's definitely enjoying this...") Hikari sighed inwardly. "Jeez~ thanks, Lumina," Hikari said with mock sarcasm.

  "Moving on!" Lumina straightened her posture, slipping back into instructor mode. "What do you say we give it a try then?"

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  Hikari took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. I'm ready to go... maybe."

  "Great!" Lumina replied quickly. "Here's what you need to do," she began, calm but firm. "First, try to clear your mind. Focus on creating a small source of energy deep inside in your thoughts. Let it build slowly, and when it peaks... you'll feel it. Like a warmth spreading through your whole body. Then, release that energy and bring it to life."

  "Quick question," Hikari cut in, raising a hand hesitantly.

  "Yes, go ahead." Lumina tilted her head, giving her full attention.

  "How do I know when I've reached that peak exactly?" Hikari asked, lowering her hand slowly.

  Lumina tapped her chin, eyes thoughtful. "It's... hard to explain, but it's kind of like the feeling you get after a good meal."

  "...So, like fullness?" Hikari tilted her head slightly, squinting.

  "Try satiation," Lumina said with a playful wink, one hand resting on her hip.

  "Ah, got it." Hikari scratched her cheek, still unconvinced. "That's a weird analogy, but sure, I'll follow along."

  "Also, keep your eyes closed. It helps with focus." Lumina gestured with two fingers, motioning for her to shut them.

  "Understood." Hikari nodded firmly, her ponytail bouncing with the movement.

  She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. HAAAH... HAAAH... One by one, she pushed away the stray thoughts, the journey, the Artifact, the unanswered questions.

  ("It's hard to focus with everything going on... but if I want to protect our world, if I want to stand beside everyone, I have to do this. And I will do this!") Her brow furrowed. Her breath quickened. HAAH... HAAH... THUMP-THUMP. THUMP-THUMP. ("Why can't I feel it yet? Am I doing something wrong? No... don't panic, Hikari. Breathe...")

  For a moment, faint sparks flickered around her hands. A shimmer of pink light, then.. nothing. FZZT. The glow sputtered out. Hikari clenched her fists, teeth gritted. Frustration gnawed at her, the rush of racing thoughts trying to pull her apart.

  ("No... not like this...") She forced herself to steady. Slowly, deliberately, she centered again. One breath in... one breath out. She thought of Dr. Naru... of Captain. Of the world they had left behind, and the people they were trying to protect. Her shoulders eased and the tension softened. ("I have to believe. I have to keep trying no matter what.")

  Then... something stirred. A faint warmth flickered in Hikari's mind. She latched onto it, letting it grow. Slowly, the warmth spread through her whole body. A soft glow began to form around her. At first faint, then brighter. Pink light shimmered, wrapping around her like a living aura. WHOOSH! A gentle breeze swept across the dojo as the heat-like glow expanded, warm and vivid. Lumina's eyes narrowed. Arms crossed, her expression shifted into quiet focus. Then, under her breath, barely audible "Pink, huh... fitting."

  Then... Hikari's eyes opened. Her soft brown irises had turned into a luminous pink. They gleamed with focus and certainty. She had done it... she had awakened to her Emanation.

  Lumina stepped forward, impressed, her gaze lingering on the glow around her. "Wow... you're a natural, Hikari." She clapped slowly, a half-amused smile on her lips. "And on your first day, too. I expected nothing less from the great scientist herself."

  Hikari stood still, her gaze locked on the soft pink aura glowing around her body. "Amazing... so this is what it feels like to have an Emanation. It's like a rush of energy flowing through me. It's warm... but not overwhelming."

  "That's right," Lumina nodded. "Hold on to that feeling because you'll need to recall it often, ideally without the whole calming process. The goal is to be able to activate it on command."

  Hikari nodded back, eyes narrowing as she studied the faint shimmer dancing along her arms.

  "Just remember this," Lumina continued, hands behind her back as she paced. "Everyone's Emanation is unique. So now that yours is awakened, you'll have to discover what makes it special."

  "Per se," Hikari muttered, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Can I ask... what were you thinking about when you first awakened yours?"

  Lumina raised a brow, then smirked. "Actually, I was about to ask you the same thing. You made it look easy. What exactly were you focusing on?"

  Hikari blinked, then snapped her fingers. "Oh! I think... it was my determination to protect the world and the people living in it. That drive just kept building until it felt like my whole body was holding something back... so I let it go."

  Lumina tilted her head, intrigued. "Interesting... and you still awakened to it that quickly huh."

  "Why the face?" Hikari asked, narrowing her eyes. "Did I mess something up?"

  "No, not at all," Lumina chuckled softly, folding her arms. "It's just... I noticed something. Your aura's flow is a bit inconsistent. Of course, that's normal at first, but we'll refine it later."

  "Inconsistent?" Hikari glanced down at her glowing hands. "Does that affect anything?"

  "Absolutely," Lumina replied firmly. "If your aura isn't stable, it'll drain your stamina faster and might cause side effects, especially while you're still adjusting."

  "Side effects?" Hikari instantly pulled out her notebook and pen. FLIP. SCRIBBLE. "Like what?"

  Lumina laughed lightly at the sight. "That depends on how long the imbalance lasts. I guess to name a few are, fatigue, dizziness, headaches... sometimes even mood swings or nausea."

  "Nausea, huh? Duly noted," Hikari muttered, scribbling away. "Thanks, Lumina. This will really help once I start testing or building theories on how Emanation functions."

  "You really carry that notebook everywhere, don't you?" Lumina asked, amused.

  "Of course!" Hikari beamed, hugging it close. "I can't miss anything important about your world, not before we go back to Echohold-09."

  "Always thorough huh," Lumina said with a soft smile. "That's something I'm really beginning to admire about you."

  Hikari glanced up at her, expression sincere. "Thanks, Lumina. Guess that's just me being me."

  Lumina nodded with a smirk. "Now then, let's have you release your Emanation next. You don't want it to burn out your stamina completely on your first try now do you."

  "Right..." Hikari paused, scratching her cheek. "Uhh... how do I do that again hehe?"

  Lumina raised a brow. "Ohhh boy... here we go. Well, for starters try to relax your mind. Think of something peaceful. Like... flying with birds for example."

  "Huh?" Hikari blinked at her, confused. "Okay... if you say so." She closed her eyes, steadying her breath. HAAH... HAAH... A few moments passed. The pink aura flickered, then slowly faded out.

  "...Phew. That actually worked. W-wait-" Her face twisted. "Ugghh... bad news. I'm starting to feel sick to my stomach now." She quickly covered her mouth and paced in a line. "I totally forgot nausea was on the list..."

  Lumina chuckled softly. "Haha, yeah that's normal. Your body's just adjusting to this new power. It happens to all of us the first time we awaken to it."

  Hikari stopped, exhaling a long breath. Sigh "I think I'm fine now. So... how'd you know that thinking about birds flying would help?"

  "Mmm... just something I thought of when I had to release my Emanation for the first time," Lumina said with a small shrug.

  "Oh, I see." Hikari nodded slowly.

  ("Good thing she didn’t dwell on the whole ‘flying with birds’ part… oh well. At least it worked like a charm.") Lumina thought with a slight smile on her face.

  'Hmm... now that I know my aura's pink, super awesome by the way, I can't help but wonder what kind of Emanation power I've got. It'd be cool if it was something like yours, huh, Lumina?" Hikari mimed holding a katana and swung it with an exaggerated slash. SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

  Lumina watched with amusement, arms folded. "Based on your drive to protect your world, I might already have an idea of your Emanation's true nature... but let's not jump ahead. All in due time."

  "Eh, fair enough." Hikari nodded, then took another playful swing at the air. SWOOSH! "Guess we'll find out soon enough. Well then, I'm ready for round two whenever you are!"

  "Alright, but take a few minutes to rest first." Lumina walked up and lightly tapped Hikari's head. "So stop... ow... pretending... ow... to slash... ow... that dummy."

  "Ow~ jeez, okay, okay! I get it!" Hikari rubbed her head with a mock pout. "You don't have to be so aggressive..."

  Once she'd recovered, the two resumed training. Little by little, Hikari's aura grew more stable, activating more easily with each attempt.

  ("Hmm... wonder how Captain's doing...") Hikari thought.

  Meanwhile, in the adjacent hall, Slayer and Captain were already starting their own session...