The morning sun filtered softly through the trees surrounding the training yard. Dew still clung to the grass, and a serene breeze rustled through the branches, carrying the scent of pine and earth.
The mansion behind us—hidden by demonic illusions—was quiet, but the ground beneath our feet thrummed with potential. Today, Akeno had arranged a focused session: controlling and transforming our demonic power.
"Lesson 2: Demonic-power control," she announced, stepping forward in a black training jersey. The crisp sunlight made the fabric look almost like shadow fused with flame. "You're not just gathering raw power—you're learning to shape it. The aura that envelops your body flows naturally as long as you relax. Shut out distractions and feel the wave of energy deep within."
She turned to me first. "Ise, start by drifting your aura into your palm. Feel it pool in your hand."
My heart pounded as I lifted my hand, palm upward. I focused, recalling Akeno's earlier instruction, trying to let the energy flow naturally. I drew in a breath. My muscles quivered as a pale purple glow chipped into view between my fingers.
Akeno's gaze was steady. "Good. Don't force it—just guide it. Let it grow at its own pace."
I nodded, easing tension in my shoulders.
Then Asia stepped forward, wearing her white jersey too. She mirrored my stance: feet shoulder-width apart, palms open. Akeno's gaze flickered toward her. "Asia-chan, show us your aura."
Asia's eyes closed briefly. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically, and a gentle green hue began shimmering in her palms. It grew quickly, becoming a soft, glowing, gauntlet-sized orb. Firelight green, like new spring leaves under sunlight.
"Ara ara," Akeno said, moving to Asia's side. "So Asia-chan has a natural talent for controlling your aura."
Asia looked up at her, cheeks flushed. "T‑thank you…" She tucked a strand of golden-blonde hair behind her ear, visibly proud.
I suppressed a pang of jealousy and focused back on my own aura. My glow had reached the size of a softball—respectable but nowhere near Asia's full orb.
"Asia's got yours," Akeno continued, turning to me. "Yours is stable. Good. But today I want you to enhance it. Expand it. Make it… bigger."
I swallowed. The purple glow would obey me—and I still had the Boosted Gear's sacred power. Between that and my natural aura, there was potential. I closed my eyes and imagined my aura as a sphere bigger than Asia's. A faint hum vibrated through me. I inhaled, held it, and thought, bigger—steady—bigger… Edges of the sphere stretched. More light. I could feel heat from my palm. Bang! The orb expanded by another 30 percent in just seconds. I opened my eyes.
"See?" Akeno said, impressed. "Good growth."
My chest swelled with pride. This was what I had to do in ten days—not just magic but demonstration.
Akeno's tone shifted. "Now—let's reshape the energy. Fire, water, lightning… you'll materialize them from your aura. Easier if you guide water or fire with it."
She uncapped a water bottle and focused. Her glow turned red-gold. The water inside hissed, vibrating. Within moments, it shot upward in a jet—tapering to a spike that burst right through the bottle's top. Water shaped into a spear of liquid intent, dripping and rippling.
I stepped back, amazed. She was that good.
"Asia-chan—now you." Akeno gently placed a hand on Asia's shoulder. "Channel your aura into water—turn it into shape. Fire if you want, but start with water like this."
Asia steadied her nerve. Akeno poured water into a new bottle in front of her. Asia focused her green glow. Then… the water reacted. A fountain rose in the bottle, twisting like a coiling vine, shaped into a blunt blade of water. It cracked the plastic slickly, then fell back within seconds.
"Not bad at all!" Akeno praised, setting down the shattered container.
I had watched the process—but my turn came next.
Akeno looked at me. "Ise, hold your current aura. Imagine fire—or lightning. Visualize it, but you don't have to force creation. Choose one."
I thought of lightning: sharp, jagged, brilliant. I closed my eyes and focused my purple glow. Zap! My aura flickered, branching with electric white veins. Then I directed it toward a new bottle of water. The aura struck; the water hissed, steam puffed, and a rough spike of energy burst outside the bottle—ice-sharp, thunder-cracked. The bottle cracked and teetered.
We all gazed in impressed silence as the bottle dropped shards onto the ground.
I exhaled, trembling. It wasn't perfect, but it was there.
Akeno nodded. "Excellent, Ise. Perfect demonstration of control and elemental visualization. Now let's consolidate."
She instructed Asia and me to form respective elements: water for Asia, lightning for me. Then she wove a single word into magic.
"Fusion."
Our two orbs—water and lightning—hovered above the bottles. In a single moment, Akeno wove her own aura into the application: magic and sacred gear integration. The water orb channeled by Asia absorbed the lightning aura streaming from me, transforming into a luminous mist of charged rain.
Asia closed her eyes, exhilarated. "It's… beautiful."
I watched the mist glow electric blue, charged energy dancing within.
Akeno nodded approvingly, then the mist dissipated.
"Very good, you two. Now we'll repeat—another cycle. But same aura, different shape: a fireball, then an ice shard."
We spent the next hour refining our aura to elements: Asia shaping water and ice, and I crafting lightning arcs and fire orbs. Each success came with proud smiles from Akeno, Asia, and—once—Kiba, who quietly observed while doing sword form practice.
Between exercises, Akeno encouraged. "Remember: the power source is imagination. The shaping is your expression. What you envision can exist. Magic isn't just a tool; it's manifest emotion. Let your mind cross that boundary."
I blinked. She was teaching more than technique—philosophy.
At mid-session, we paused. Asia and I knelt on the ground, still lit with residual aura. Akeno sat before us, sipping water.
"You both did amazing work," she said, smiling. "In only two days of concentrated training, you can shape elemental magic reliably. Asia has natural talent. Ise—your discipline and Boosted Gear synergy pull it ahead."
A wave of gratitude filled me. My eyes flicked to Asia. She beamed.
Akeno's gaze met mine. "You know, Ise, if you make good progress during these 10 days, then I will do anything you tell me." in her sexy voice.
Damn, that's a motivation.
"You know, what I am going to ask right." I said.
To which she just smile.
~~~
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