Location: The Deep Forest.

  Time of day: Night.

  It was nighttime when the party left the tavern and started walking toward the place where the artifact had first been found. Once they left the city of Xevia, they entered a wide forest that Lumina knew well. The trees were tall and packed so closely together it was hard to count them. They followed a narrow path that led deeper in. Around them, the night was full of sounds, owls hooting, wolves howling, bats chirping, and other creatures moving in the dark. Lumina walked in front, leading the way to their destination.

  "Sigh are we almost there yet, Lumina?" Slayer groaned, dragging his feet slightly with a tired slump in his shoulders with heavy bags strapped to his back.

  "Almost there," Lumina replied calmly, glancing back with a smirk. "If you're that tired, I can always carry you."

  "Really? Oh, please do!" Slayer perked up, his exhaustion instantly forgotten.

  She raised a brow, unimpressed. "Jeez, I was joking. Especially not with that heavy armor you're always wearing."

  "Awe, bummer." He patted his chest plate with mock offense. "Hey! This armor is what keeps me from becoming this forest's fertilizer, thank you very much!"

  Lumina giggled softly, her pace steady as the forest trail curved ahead. "Don't worry guys," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "As long as we stay on this path, which I know like the back of my blade, we'll reach our destination safely with no monsters and detours. If there was even a slight chance of danger, we wouldn't be walking through here in the first place."

  Slayer grunted. "I mean, unless the path suddenly grows teeth."

  Lumina rolled her eyes, but a small smile lingered on her face.

  Captain's eyes moved across the dim forest trail, alert to every sound. His voice was steady but edged with curiosity. "But tell me, Lumina... why are we on foot? Wouldn't riding the horses have gotten us there faster?"

  Lumina glanced back over her shoulder, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Well, you see..." Her tone was calm and steady. "If something spooked the horses at night, they could take off and that makes the whole option too risky. Besides, traveling on foot allows us to move more freely. And monsters often lurk near the main pathways at night, waiting to ambush unsuspecting travelers." She smirked lightly, her confidence showing. "So cutting through the forest is actually safer. You guys are lucky I know my way through, though."

  Captain gave a small nod, his stern look easing just a little. "I guess you're right about that. Good call, Lumina. Glad we've got your wits on our side."

  "Don't worry," Lumina said with a reassuring smile. "We'll be there soon enough."

  "I hope sooo..." Slayer groaned, still dragging his feet dramatically. "Sheesh... my legs are killing me from all this walking, and carrying these bags on my back aren't helping!"

  "Maybe start bringing lighter armor next time, dummy," Lumina teased without looking back.

  "Yeah... that's a negative for me," Slayer replied without hesitation. "This is my favorite armor so good luck making me change out of it." He then frowned, shifting the weight on his shoulders. "And seriously, why do I have to carry these bags??"

  Minutes later of traveling throught the forest.

  "Hey! I can see the crater from here!" Hikari called out, pointing ahead with a spark of excitement in her voice.

  "Yes," Lumina nodded, stepping up beside her. "We're practically here now."

  "Phew, finally," Slayer groaned as he stretched his arms overhead. "We can take a break!"

  The party slowed down as they came to the edge of a wide, shallow crater. Moonlight lit the area, making the crater easy to see even at night. Hikari reached into the right pocket of her coat and pulled out the artifact. Her face grew serious as she stepped forward alone and stopped at the edge of the crater.

  "This should be the spot," Hikari muttered, narrowing her eyes as she lined herself up with a faint impression in the ground. The others stood close behind, silent as they watched her begin.

  "If I'm right," she said quietly, "the portal should form above the crater and hover in the air."

  "Alright, Hikari," Lumina cut in with a playful grin and a thumbs-up. "Show us what that artifact can really do."

  Hikari gave a small nod. "Sure thing. If my theory's correct, this should work without fail." She drew in a steady breath, her fingers tightening around the artifact.

  ("I really hope this works... If it doesn't, I don't know what else I can try. Lumina said this artifact fell from the sky at night and created this crater. The black star engraved into it... everything about it feels tied to the night. And since the crater marks the point where it first made contact... maybe that's why it can open a portal here. Like this place is where it was born. If that's true, then now has to be the right time. It has to be. Please... let this be enough. And I need to focus on Echohold-09. That's where it has to open.")

  She let out a deep breath. "So... HERE I GO. It's time to do this!" Hikari stepped forward and lifted the artifact high toward the sky, her expression turning sharp and focused. "Everyone, please stand back."

  The rest of the group stepped back to give Hikari space. She stood at the edge of the crater, the moonlight glinting off the artifact in her hands. She hesitated for a moment... then started to chant out loud.

  "Twinkle, twinkle, little star... oh, how I wonder what you are."

  "HUH?!" Lumina, Slayer, and Captain all shouted at once, staring at her in confusion.

  Hikari's face turned red with embarrassment, but she kept going. "Up above the world so high... OPEN UP A PORTAL UP, UP IN THE SKY!!"

  For a second, nothing happened. Then... RUMBLE! The ground shook under their feet. A sudden gust of wind swept through the trees, shaking the branches and filling the air with heavy pressure. Everyone tensed, eyes darting upward. High above, a small red sparkle appeared. It grew brighter and wider, stretching open until it became a swirling hole of red light. The glow spread fast. Hikari stepped back as the portal slowly lowered, settling directly above the crater. Crimson light washed over the clearing, the wind whistling around its edges. It was big enough for someone to walk through without ducking, and wide enough for more than one person at once. A portal. The party glanced at one another, the portal's red glow shining in their eyes. Their faces showed a mix of awe, excitement... and caution. They had done it. Now came the question of what to do next.

  "Wow... I can't believe that actually worked, Hikari!" Lumina said, still staring up at the swirling portal. "I wasn't even expecting it to be a portal." She turned toward her. "So this is how you came to our world? How did you even know what to do?"

  Hikari stepped back from the crater, adjusting her coat as the breeze tugged at her hair. She gazed at the portal with quiet pride. "Mmm... it's hard to explain," she admitted, "but think of it like solving a riddle. I pieced together the clues you gave me, lined them up with the artifact..." she held it up briefly "...and once it all clicked, I just focused on the place I wanted to reach. Then... ta-da. Portal."

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  Lumina blinked, then awkwardly scratched the side of her cheek. "Uh-huh... yeeah. Still don't know how you figured out that chant." She sighed, shoulders dropping. "Guess there's no point in asking now. What matters is that it worked."

  "Well done, Hikari," Captain said firmly, giving a short nod. "I expected nothing less."

  Hikari's smile softened as she glanced at him, standing a little taller beside the portal she had summoned.

  "So the artifact can actually open portals, huh? That's... pretty cool," Slayer added, tilting his head with a curious tone.

  "Yeah. Honestly, I didn't expect it to work," Hikari admitted. "But it looked so much like the one Dr. Naru had, so I figured it was worth a shot."

  "Strange, though," Lumina said, her tone thoughtful. "Why would this world have an artifact so similar to the one from yours?"

  "I know... and that's what worries me," Hikari replied, her expression tightening. "I still don't understand how both artifacts exist at all, let alone in two different worlds. That's why we need to get back to Dr. Naru. If anyone has answers, it's him."

  "I'm sure we will, Hikari," Slayer said, his voice steady and reassuring. He stepped forward, eyes on the swirling red energy above them. "But for now... what's the plan? Do we just walk through and see where it spits us out? Or do we play it safe and figure things out first?"

  Hikari brushed some hair behind her ear and gave a small shrug. "Welp... didn't plan that far ahead." She let out a sheepish laugh. "All I know is the portal should take us where we want, as long as we focus on the place before stepping in." She looked around at the group, then fixed her gaze on Lumina.

  "Yeah... I'll leave the planning to you, Lumina."

  "Me?" Lumina blinked, pointing to herself.

  "Yep." Hikari yawned, stretching her arms over her head. "My brain's too fried to think straight right now. You figure out our next move."

  "...Well. Alright then, if you say so." Lumina crossed her arms, brows knitting as she fell into thought. After a few moments of silence, she finally lifted her eyes back to Hikari.

  "Okay... if we go to your world now, what are the chances we'll actually survive the trip?" Lumina asked plainly, her eyes fixed on the portal. "If something goes wrong and we're not ready, the Echos could overrun your world. Then all of this... would've been for nothing."

  Captain, arms folded, gave a sharp nod. "She's right. I don't want our world becoming the very thing I swore to fight against." He glanced at the swirling red light. "It's best we don't rush. We should only take that portal when we're fully ready for battle. Don't you agree, Hikari?"

  Hikari let out a slow breath and nodded. "Yeah... that would definitely be the smartest move."

  The portal shimmered quietly before them, waiting. "So what's the plan, Lumina?" Slayer asked, his tone curious but already sounding pumped.

  Lumina turned to face them, her hands set on her hips with confidence. "I say we learn from each other, train our bodies, sharpen our minds, and grow stronger together." Her gaze narrowed, voice firm. "If these Echos are as dangerous as you say, then we need to be prepared for anything. We'll need to fight as one, like a real team." She raised a hand, gesturing behind her. "That's why I suggest we head to my dojo. It's the best place to train freely, without distractions. There, we can focus and hone our skills properly."

  Captain turned toward Hikari, his expression serious. "One question, though. How much time do we actually have to prepare?"

  Hikari crossed her arms, thinking. "From what Dr. Naru mentioned, one hour in our world equals about a week here. That was the time ratio he gave me before I stepped into the portal."

  "Hm." Captain nodded firmly. "Then we've got a window. Let's not waste it."

  Hikari's expression shifted, concern flickering in her eyes. "The problem is, I don't know exactly how long we have before the Echos overrun our world. There's no clear timer, it could be hours, maybe even less, depending on how fast they move." She took a breath, steadying herself. "That said... based on our training routines and our current condition, I believe four weeks here should be enough to prepare us."

  "So, four hours over there," Captain muttered, thinking aloud.

  "Exactly." Hikari nodded. "And with Lumina and Slayer leading, I'm confident we'll make the most of that time."

  Lumina's grin was firm and confident. "Sounds like a solid plan, Hikari. We'll be able to manage with that time." She gave a reassuring nod. "I'll draft the training schedule. Each week will focus on a different regimen. By the end, we'll be ready before the clock runs out."

  "Uh... guys," Slayer spoke up as he strolled toward the glowing portal, his voice carrying an edge of concern. Everyone turned. "Not to break the mood or anything, but... what exactly are we supposed to do about that thing?" He pointed at the swirling red light. "Is it just gonna sit here for a whole month, waiting like some loyal mutt? Or... are we supposed to close it and open it again later?" He rubbed the back of his head.

  Hikari blinked, then chuckled awkwardly. "Heh... yeah, about that. No clue." She turned and walked a few steps away, slipping the artifact back into her coat pocket. "Honestly, I didn't plan that far ahead. Opening it was the goal. Closing it? Didn't think we'd had to do that at all haha."

  Slayer sighed dramatically, "She's brilliant at putting puzzles together... but not so much at taking them apart. Guess we'll roll with it."

  RMMMM... the ground gave a low rumble beneath their boots. The air shifted as the portal began to rise, slowly at first. FWWOOOSH... the red spiral inched higher into the sky, spinning as it shrank. The group turned their eyes upward, silent, watching as the portal dissolved into the night until SHHHHHH! it was gone.

  In its place, glowing red sparkles drifted down like embers from a fire. PSSHH... the faint hiss of energy followed them as they floated. Everyone instinctively reached out, letting the soft lights fall into their palms. The sparkles shimmered faintly TSSHHH before fading away, one by one, until nothing remained.

  Captain's gaze lingered on the empty sky, his voice low but firm. "So... it closes on its own."

  Lumina let out a slow breath, folding her arms. "Beautiful... but also unsettling."

  "Well..." CLAP! Slayer smacked his hands together, his grin audible even through the helmet. "Guess that takes care of that."He tilted his head toward Hikari. "So, I'm assuming we just repeat whatever you did before to open it again, right?"

  Hikari walked back toward them, one hand under her chin in thought. "Let's hope so," she said. "As long as we have the artifact and follow the same steps, reopening it shouldn't be a problem." Her eyes narrowed a little, tone sharpening. "But we need to be careful. We now know the portal doesn't stay open forever. And honestly, I wouldn't rule out the chance there's a limit to how many times it can even be used." She clenched her fist, voice steady. "So to be safe, we don't activate it again until we're absolutely ready."

  "Great idea!" Slayer said, throwing a thumbs-up.

  "I'll leave it to you when the time comes again. For now, should we start heading out?" Lumina asked, her voice calm but energized.

  "Yes. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can rest and start training in the morning," Captain added, already shifting into leader mode.

  "Like your enthusiasm, Captain," Lumina teased, folding her arms with a confident grin. "Keep that up, because you and Hikari will start learning magic first thing tomorrow."

  "Wait... what? Magic?? Us?!" Hikari blinked, pointing at herself in disbelief.

  Captain shot Lumina a look, equally stunned. "Yeah, no way we humans are picking up something like that. Especially not in just a month."

  "Of course you can," Lumina replied with a calm, assured smile. "With focus and discipline, you can accomplish far more than you think. Magic is no different. And with enemies like the Echos, you'll need every edge you can get."

  "Lumina's right, pal!" Slayer chimed in, slinging an arm over Captain's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be the best training buddy you've ever had!"

  "Please don't call me that," Captain muttered flatly. "And get your hand off me."

  Slayer quickly withdrew, cheeky grin intact. "Heh. Was worth a shot."

  Hikari glanced at Lumina, her expression thoughtful. "Well... if you say so. Honestly, I didn't factor in magic training when I said we'd be ready in four weeks."

  "Oh? So your calculations failed you this time?" Lumina teased with a light laugh.

  Hikari sighed deeply. "What else did you think we'd be doing for almost a month?"

  "...Never mind," Hikari admitted with a small shake of her head. "No point arguing now. In that case..." She straightened, eyes firm. "I'll do my best. Give me everything you've got."

  "That's the Hikari spirit." Lumina nodded firmly. "Besides," She added, "I feel like we could learn a thing or two from you both as well. So we'll be training just as hard, right Slayer?"

  "Yes! But I'll warn you, there's nothing I can't do!" Slayer declared, pointing his thumb proudly at himself. "So please, show us what you've got!"

  "Just don't quit on me once we're in the training grounds," Captain countered firmly.

  "I could say the same to you, bud," Slayer smirked. "My name isn't Slayer for nothing."

  For the first time that night, Captain allowed himself a faint smile at the remark.

  "Hmmm..." Hikari said, glancing around at the shadowy forest. "Now that everything's settled... Lumina, mind showing us the way back? I can't even figure out what path we took."

  "Of course. Don't worry about it." Lumina gave a small nod. "I'll guide us back, and from here on, I'll be the one leading whenever we move through these woods. So stay close."

  The group began walking back out of the forest and toward their new destination... Lumina's home. A place to rest and train for four weeks before they opened the portal again. The road ahead was uncertain and full of danger, but together, they would be ready. And with that, The Training Arc begins...