Location: Main Dojo

  Time of Day: Morning

  Day 3 of Week 2.

  The party gathered in the dojo, standing in a quiet circle as they set their goal: three hours in their Emanation States without faltering. Two sliding doors stood shut on opposite sides of the hall - one to the left, the other to the right. And behind each door, a battle of will was underway.

  Left Room - Hikari & Slayer

  Inside the left training room, Hikari sat cross-legged at the center, her brows furrowed. A light sweat traced her temples, and a faint pink aura flowed gently around her. Across from her, Slayer stood in silence, arms folded. His usual playful edge was gone, replaced by quiet focus.

  "Just one more hour," he said calmly. "You've already gone two without breaking, so don't let the last one get in your head."

  Hikari gave a small nod, eyes still shut. "...I've got this. I think."

  "You do," Slayer replied, his voice softening. "You're too stubborn not to."

  FWIP! Her aura dimmed a bit. "Must focus." She drew in a slow breath. ("I have to concentrate... just need to feel the aura and let it flow throughout my body.")

  HUMMMM... The aura steadied... until it faded completely. FWOOSH! The pink glow was now gone, leaving her gasping. Haah! Haah!

  Slayer crouched beside her, voice gentle but firm. "Not bad, Hikari. Though, you're pushing too fast at the start. Try to ease into it and trust your flow." Slayer then stood up. " Okay, take five minutes and then try again."

  Hikari wiped sweat from her brow, exhaling hard. "...Got it."

  Five minutes later, she tried again. Her aura surged and It held... thirty minutes, one hour, nearly three hours, before finally collapsing. FWOOOSH! Hikari gasped, breath rushing out. Haaah!

  "Better," Slayer said with a small nod. "But don't panic when it starts to dim. Instead, try to concentrate the energy on your mind first and then guide it with your body." He gestured a hand. "Five more minutes, then we go again."

  Hikari pouted, cheeks puffing slightly as she rubbed sweat from her brow. 'Ugh... I was so close!' She clenched her fists, eyes narrowing with resolve. "Fine! Five minutes... then I'm breaking that mark!" And so it continued... fail, break, repeat. Each time Slayer gave small encouragements, gentle guidance, keeping her grounded in her own strength.

  Right Room - Captain & Lumina

  On the other side, the air was heavier. Captain knelt in the center of the room, his red aura surging like heat waves. His fists pressed against his thighs and jaw locked.

  Lumina stood a few paces away, arms crossed and eyes sharp. "You've already gone past your old limit," she said firmly. "Now let's see if you're capable of surpassing it."

  Captain didn't answer. His breathing stayed deep, controlled. FWOOSH! His aura flared, dimmed, but didn't vanish. Seconds later, it surged back again. "Three hours," he muttered. "Just three..."

  "Don't count time," Lumina cut in. "Focus on your breathing instead."

  HAAAH... His aura wavered, then steadied. "...Just one more push." Then FWOOO! the red aura vanished. He dropped forward on one hand, gasping. HAAH!

  "Your aura collapsed," Lumina said flatly. "Because you lose your focus when you let your thoughts wander. Take your four minutes and then we start again."

  Captain slammed his fist lightly to the floor before straightening. "...Fine." Four minutes later, his aura burned back into place FWOOM! only to collapse again after two hours and thirty minutes.

  "Too much force," Lumina said, her tone sharp. "You're burning yourself out too quickly. Try to steady it and control it. Again from the top!"

  He reset, aura flaring once more. This time he held strong... two hours, two hours and forty minutes, before his breath staggered. FWOOSH! The aura vanished - and he dropped to one hand, gasping. HAAH!

  "You wavered on your breathing," Lumina said coldly, circling him. Her voice steadied, instructive now. "Emanation doesn't answer to brute strength. You must let the energy in your mind flow through your body. The aura responds to will... not force. Again!" And so it went... harsh commands and precise feedback. Lumina's training left no room for excuses.

  Together

  Both rooms echoed with the same rhythm... aura flaring, dimming, then vanishing.

  Hikari rose and fell under Slayer's patient encouragement, keeping her spirit alive. "Keep going Hikari. You're getting closer with each attempt." Captain endured under Lumina's ruthless precision, her sharp "Again!" leaving no space for weakness.

  Different methods with the same outcome. Each failure carved them sharper and each break brought them closer to the edge of their limits. And with every collapse and retry, they grew stronger.

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  Final Minutes

  In both rooms, time stretched unbearably thin. Hikari's hands began to tremble... her aura dimmed, and her breath was catching in her throat. "No... not now..." she whispered.

  Slayer stepped forward, kneeling beside her. "Hey," he said gently. "You're almost there, Hikari. Just think about how far you've come."

  Her voice came quiet, but fierce. "I'm not the same person I was when I first awakened to this Emanation... I'm more than that now." FWOOM! Her pink aura flared, brighter and bolder than before.

  On the other side, Captain's arms shook as his red aura surged violently, threatening to vanish.

  "If you give up now," Lumina warned, "you'll have to start all over again."

  Captain's teeth clenched. His mind flashed... first to his wife, then to his daughter. And then, to now, to Hikari. To the world he wanted to protect and to the team they were becoming. "I'm not letting this aura break on me now!" he growled. FWOOSH! His aura surged, then steadied.

  THREE HOURS

  The final seconds ticked away, and it felt like even time was holding its breath, waiting to see if they would make it.

  TEN! Hikari's aura wavered then steadied.

  NINE! EIGHT! Captain's arms shook, red aura threatening to break ways.

  SEVEN! SIX! Sweat slid down their faces and their breaths came sharp.

  FIVE! FOUR! Slayer leaned forward, fists clenched. Lumina's eyes narrowed.

  THREE! TWO! Both students grit their teeth, pouring everything into that last moment.

  ONE! HUUUUUMMMMMMMM...!

  At the exact same time, a shift. Both Slayer and Lumina turned toward their students as a calm resonance filled the dojo. The three hours were now completed!

  Slayer's grin widened. "She did it."

  Lumina's smirk sharpened. "So did he."

  At that same moment, Hikari's aura steadied into a calm hum and she felt it. A faint pulse, not her own, but Captain's red aura burning steady from across the dojo. Her eyes opened slowly. "Captain... you did it too."

  Across the way, Captain's eyes snapped open, catching the steady rhythm of Hikari's pink aura resonating with his own. A rare smile tugged at his mouth. "Heh... not bad, scientist."

  They couldn't see each other, but in that instant, their auras spoke louder than words. Both had made it and they endured together.

  Moments later...

  The sliding doors on both sides of the dojo eased open. From the left, Hikari stepped out with Slayer, stretching her arms high as she let out a loud groan. "Uuuugh..." Her cheeks were flushed, but a big grin spread across her face. "Maaaan, I'm wiped..."

  From the right, Captain came out with Lumina. His posture was solid, but his breaths were heavy. At the center, Captain and Hikari's eyes locked. For a moment, the dojo was quiet.

  "Well," Lumina said, arms folded as she glanced toward Hikari. "Looks like you didn't explode. I say that's a good start."

  "...Not sure if that's a compliment or a warning," Hikari muttered, still catching her breath.

  "Both," Lumina simply replied.

  Captain exhaled and straightened, sweat still on his brow. "So... did we pass?"

  Slayer and Lumina exchanged a glance, no words were needed. They both gave a firm nod before turning back to Hikari and Captain.

  "Pass?" Slayer grinned. "You two pushed through failure after failure, and still made it all the way through. That's what counts." He gestured a hand. "Not many can last three hours, even with breaks. That's definitely no beginner feat."

  "You've officially passed," Lumina added. "Congrats, you two."

  "YES!" Hikari cheered, pumping both fists into the air. "We did it, Captain!"

  “Hmph. Just as I expected,” Captain said, firm and steady.

  Hikari grinned. “Honestly, I’m more surprised Slayer didn’t fall asleep while waiting for me to finish.”

  "I did," Slayer said proudly, puffing out his chest. "Twice, actually. You're that inspiring!"

  Hikari gave him a deadpan glare. "Jeez... thanks."

  Lumina stepped forward, her expression more serious now. "Stamina, focus, and internal discipline... this wasn't about fighting enemies. It was about mastering yourselves, and you've won that battle." She looked from Captain to Hikari. "I'm impressed by your guys' natural skills."

  Captain raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that's three impressions in one week. You sure you're feeling alright?"

  "I'll survive," Lumina said quickly, turning away before the smirk could fully show.

  Hikari leaned against a wooden post, sweat still clinging to her brow. She stretched her arms high with a long groan. "Wait a second... how long have we even been at this?" she asked, glancing around.

  Slayer tapped the side of his helmet like he was doing the math. "Mmm... about nine hours? Give or take."

  "Nine hours?!" Hikari's eyes widened. "No wonder my arms feel like noodles!" She shook them out dramatically. "Felt longer to be honest."

  Captain crossed his arms, his tone flat but carrying a hint of respect. "Nine hours of holding our aura, failing, and starting over... and somehow we're still standing."

  Hikari blinked, then gave him a tired grin. "Heh... guess we're just that good after all, haha."

  Lumina stepped forward, arms folding across her chest, her voice calm but firm. "Don't get too comfortable. This was only the first step."

  Hikari groaned again, leaning harder against the post. "So... the Strength and Resilience training is next, right? Surely it can't be worse than this."

  Lumina raised a casual hand. "Actually... since we're ahead of schedule, I was thinking... five hours of holding your Emanation next." A beat of silence.

  "WHAT?!" Hikari shrieked.

  “I’m joking,” Lumina said with a soft laugh. “Well… mostly.” She glanced away, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

  Slayer leaned toward Captain and whispered loudly, "You think she's joking?"

  "Definitely not," Captain answered flatly.

  Laughter broke out around the room. The tension from the long session finally melted into something lighter. Then CLAP! Lumina brought her hands together sharply. "Alright, trainees. You've passed your first test, so eat up and get some rest. You'll be needing it for the next one."

  "Wait," Hikari said, raising her hand cautiously. "Will the next trial be just as difficult?"

  Slayer waved it off lazily, flicking his wrist. "Nahhh."

  Hikari sighed in relief, shoulders dropping. "Phew, good to kn-"

  BA-DUM! Slayer leaned forward, grinning wide. "It'll be even harder than the last one!" he burst out, laughing loud. HAHAHA!

  "Ughh..." Hikari groaned, facepalming. "Should've seen that one coming."

  CRACK! Captain rolled his neck, tilting his head side to side. "Good. That just means the real training's about to begin."

  "Alright, let's go grab some food to celebrate the end of the stamina training," Lumina said, resting a hand on her hip with a faint smile.

  "Hell yeah!" Slayer pumped his fist in the air.

  "Besides Slayer," Lumina added, her tone playful but edged with seriousness.

  "Aw, come on! Again?" Slayer dropped his arms dramatically, shoulders slumping. "Left behind like chopped garnish..."

  The group chuckled, footsteps TAP! TAP! TAP! echoing as they made their way toward the dojo exit. Their bodies were tired, but their spirits were high. Morning had come and gone, and now night had settled over the dojo. The sky was dark, and tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now... they had earned this peace.

  As they walked off, Hikari yawned and stretched, completely unaware that deep inside her coat pocket, the Artifact pulsed with a faint glow. A voice seeped out, low and soft, unheard by anyone else.

  "Time... must... move..."

  The glow faded, leaving only silence...