The early morning sun bathed the backyard of Vinícius' house. The marks of training covered the ground: grooves in the dirt, sweat stains, and small pieces of broken stone — remnants of Rafael's progress with Earth magic.
But that day, the atmosphere was different. The silence carried anticipation.
"Today we change the pace," said Rafael, cracking his knuckles. "No more meditation and slow movements. It's time for practice."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to train me now, huh?"
"You still owe me for the hits I took when I was awakening Qi," Rafael replied with a grin.
Vinícius was already stretching his arms.
"I'm in. But if I get beat up again, I'm just gonna pretend it was to keep your morale up."
"Three against one, then?" teased Harry with a crooked smile. "Thought you were braver than that."
"Two against you," Rafael corrected. "But with the rules we agreed on: no magic, no Qi techniques. Just martial arts. Let's see if the great cultivator actually knows how to fight."
Harry nodded, walking to the center of the yard. He took a deep breath, then took off his shirt, revealing a toned body, marked by Qi and recent battles.
"Very well. Let the games begin."
Vinícius was the first to attack. He launched a quick, direct sidekick, but Harry dodged with ease and responded with a shove to the chest, knocking him back a few steps.
Rafael followed with a sequence of punches. Harry blocked the first two, but the third struck his abdomen. Surprised by the force of the blow, he stepped back.
"You've improved," said Harry, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I told you."
Vinícius returned to the fight, now in sync with Rafael. The two began to press together, trying to corner Harry. Coordinated strikes, switching positions, trying to force an opening.
Harry danced between them like a surrounded wolf, each of his blocks solid as stone. But Rafael was technical, and Vinícius was unpredictable.
A low kick from Vinícius threw Harry off balance for a second — just enough for Rafael to slide behind and apply an arm lock.
Harry tried to break free using his body, but Rafael shifted his weight, locking the position and unbalancing him with precision. Then, he pulled and slammed Harry to the ground hard.
"Gotcha!" Rafael said proudly.
Harry hit the ground on his back, but before they could celebrate, a burst of Qi aura exploded around him.
"You asked for no magic... but said nothing about enhanced strength."
In an instant, Harry stood up. His eyes gleamed, his body enveloped in dense Qi. His next move was a punch in the air, generating a blast of pressure that pushed Rafael back.
Vinícius tried to approach, but Harry grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Now you'll learn how a cultivator really fights," said Harry, feet firm and breathing steady.
Rafael gritted his teeth, wiping blood from his lip. A smile appeared through the pain.
"Alright then, let's dance."
They resumed the fight, even tired. Harry was stronger, but Rafael had technique, and Vinícius had heart. The battle turned into a real spectacle: spinning kicks, elbows, takedowns, blocks, gasping voices, and the dull sound of impacts on the body.
In the end, Harry was sweating, with a bruise on his shoulder and a cut lip.
"Ugh... that was harder than it should've been," he said, laughing.
Rafael lay on the grass, laughing too.
"Welcome to the world of real fights, master."
Vinícius collapsed on his back beside him.
"I think I'm going to meditate today... horizontally for about three hours."
Harry sat beside the two.
"You gave me a hard time. That's good. Means you're growing."
The three stayed there for a moment, just breathing, their bodies exhausted and hearts beating in sync.
The trio was no longer just master and disciples. They were brothers in arms.
And the real fight... was only beginning.
The next day came with a sky covered in scattered clouds. The morning breeze carried the scent of damp earth and freshly cut grass. In Vinícius' backyard, three figures already moved silently, each focused on their task.
This time, the training wasn't about punches or holds. It was about magic.
"Today's focus is control," said Harry, standing with arms crossed. "Attack and defense. You'll alternate between creating a magical structure and destroying it precisely. No exaggeration. The goal is precision, not brute force."
Rafael nodded and knelt. He touched the ground with both palms, guiding his Qi into the earth. His eyes closed for a moment, and a soft vibration rippled through the soil.
"Let's do this..." he murmured.
With an upward motion of his hands, a wall of earth rose in front of him, solid and well-formed, about two meters high and nearly half a meter thick.
Vinícius whistled, impressed.
"Cleaner every time, Rafa. Looks like pro construction."
"Now it's going to look like demolition," Rafael replied, stepping aside.
Vinícius stepped forward. He extended his hands, channeling Qi to his palms. Tiny droplets formed in the air, condensing into a pulsating liquid sphere. Then he cast the spell.
"Water Spear!" he shouted.
The sphere stretched in the air and crossed the distance at high speed, striking the wall forcefully. A jet of water exploded against the earth surface, causing mud to stream down the sides.
"You hit it, but didn't break it," said Harry, analyzing. "The pressure was good, but you dispersed your Qi at the last second. Focus more before casting."
"Damn... okay," Vinícius replied, taking a deep breath.
Rafael smiled.
"It's tougher too. I used Qi to compact the earth. Try again."
Vinícius nodded, repeating the process with greater focus. The blue glow in his hands was more intense, and when he cast the spell, the spear exploded with even more force against the wall. This time, cracks spread through the earth structure.
"That's it! Now we're talking," said Harry, excited. "My turn."
He walked to the front of the wall and took a deep breath. The Qi in his body moved like a river, responding to his command. He extended his arm, and the energy in his hand condensed into a flame.
"Fireball."
A fist-sized ball shot like lightning and hit the weakened spot on the wall, causing an explosion of steam and debris. The wall cracked and collapsed into pieces, covered in smoke.
"Damn..." Rafael said, brushing dust from his face. "You aimed exactly at the crack."
"That's what happens when you observe the details," Harry replied, still focused. "But don't be fooled. It's not just control. The synergy between spells matters too. Fire and water destroy earth in different ways."
All morning, roles rotated. Rafael created, Vinícius destroyed. Harry shaped, Rafael attacked. Vinícius defended with swirling water spheres, and Harry attacked with curved flames like serpents.
With each cycle, the three improved. Control became more precise, Qi usage more efficient, attacks more accurate.
"I can feel my water getting denser, you know?" Vinícius said, watching the liquid glow in his palm. "Before it felt like vapor. Now it's heavy, solid."
"And my earth is more solid. You can tell by the sound it makes when it breaks," Rafael added.
Harry nodded.
"That's attunement with your element. And it's only the beginning. One day, you'll shape these spells like they're part of your body."
The training ended with the three standing, panting, covered in sweat and dirt, but with smiles on their faces.
They weren't just three youths training. They were becoming true cultivators — warriors bound by fate, will, and something they didn't yet fully understand.
But deep down... they felt something big was approaching.
And together, they'd be ready to face it.