Nyxara
[Friday, Seraphelle 19, 4310]
Sleep has decided to abandon me no matter how much I wish to get another hour of sleep, so I might as well get up. Staring at my admittedly beautiful ceiling is only making me more restless. Getting up, I immediately turned on energizing music and made my bed. My suite was thumping with music as I danced around getting myself ready for the day. I hope my music isn't disturbing anyone else cause I'm feeling these songs.
Today is going to be a jam-packed day. Almost every hour of every day for the foreseeable future is accounted for. The support is wonderful, if not a bit scary, how focused they are about all of this. While I was lying in bed trying to go back to sleep, I found notifications on my tablet showing that my family had mapped out my schedule for the next two weeks. A message from Nimra said it was only two weeks right now because they wanted to be flexible if adjustments needed to be made.
At least I will have half days on Saturday, and Sundays will be relatively free outside of doing review and taking any tests. I finished applying my skincare, then I got dressed in a racerback top and workout pants. I wear the boots Keir sent for me to wear for training with him later. I will wear my boots from Azrail when I'm more skilled and less likely to damage them. Touching them briefly before leaving my closet. Basically ready for my day, my stomach rumbles, reminding me to check if my breakfast has been delivered. I check the Ajei household app. The breakfast I ordered last night is already waiting outside my suite doors.
After grabbing the warm tray, I eat at a small dining table in my living room. I finish my breakfast 40 minutes before my first training session with Lux. According to my schedule, he will be training me on defense and situational awareness. I decide to kill some time by doing some stretches I learned during my clinic stay. My dancing has already warmed up my tight muscles, so the stretches will only further warm them up. Once feeling properly limber, I figure it wouldn't hurt anything to head over early since I'm not familiar with this compound yet.
Grabbing my satchel, I turn off the music before activating GPS for the training ground. A floating ball of light appears to guide me. I'm led out of my veranda doors and along the inner garden path until I reach the tree line bordering the gardens. At the end of the path is a large round slab of stone set in the ground with an intricate display of glyphs inscribed upon it. Following Lux's instructions, I step onto the teleportation pad and speak the recommended teleportation spell.
"Kael'dros Ser'Kaiin Vel'an. (Open the rift, anchor the nexus)" I'm instantly teleported outside a gated outdoor training complex. Lux's instructions included my new personal code for the gate. What was not included in the instructions was that I would have to register a retinal and essence scan to be allowed in. The upside to doing this process now is that I'm now registered across the system, so I won't have to do it again unless my clearance level is upgraded according to the system AI. It also informed me that I've unlocked the AI function in the Ajei Household app, so it will now begin personalizing my interface.
This is some really advanced technology. I hope some of my lessons will cover the basics of it. I've always considered my interest in technology a side passion. As I continued to follow the ball of light to where my training would commence, I typed out a quick reminder to look into the technology of this world. Soon I'm guided to the most distant training field.
After the next gate, an open field ringed by trees spread out before me, the grass damp with dew and the pre-dawn air cool against my cheeks. In the center of the field under a cloudless pre‑dawn indigo sky, Lux performed katas with lethal grace.
His movements gave the illusion of him dancing with his horned wolf through pre‑dawn shadow and lantern light, the faint smoky wood tang of his aura carrying on the air. It was enthralling to watch. The wolf face tattoo enhanced the visuals of him merging then splitting with his wolf. I didn't move closer for I didn't want to interrupt the artistry before me.
This state of being is my goal.So at one with myself, that I radiate grace, power, and skill. Lux is a goal worth shooting for and attempting to exceed. My competitive nature is being ignited. While I watched, I felt restless again, so I began stretching. I was so inspired now that I had a visual goal to achieve. I'm curious how skilled and powerful Lux is when he isn't just practicing but actually fighting.
Lux continued his katas, and I my stretching for another 10 minutes before he finished with his hands together in front. His eyes snapped open, revealing his gold and ruby eyes. The gold eye, combined with the wolf face tattoo, made me feel as if his wolf gazed at me through his human face. It was a bit oppressive; I faked nonchalance, as if he wasn't low‑key freaking me out, though the fine hairs at the back of my neck stood on end. I have never experienced Lux this intensely before. Getting the blood pumping must bring his wolf closer to the surface. I felt caught in his gaze until he blinked, breaking our connection.
Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, Lux spoke before I did. He didn't greet me; he merely got down to business. "15 minutes early. Good. Next time, you can join me. I'll send you a video of my routine for you to review. I expect you to join me at least twice a week within the next two weeks. Have you warmed up enough yet, or do you need more before we get started?" He pulled on a sleeveless, blood-red gi jacket to match his black pants.
"I would like to run a few laps before we get started." I replied, setting my satchel down on a nearby bench. "Then give me 25 laps as fast as you can—run 5, walk 5, run 5, walk 5, then finish with a final 5 hard. That is your reward for being early. You will not always get to walk laps. Get started. I would like you done in less than 30 minutes. We have a lot to cover today." Lux looked relaxed with a shadow of a smile.
I didn't wait to be told twice. Rolling my shoulders as the packed-earth path crunched faintly under my feet, I ran. I was doing okay until my second set of running laps. My breath pulled sharp in my chest, and the morning chill clung to my sweat. Each inhale scraped my throat raw, the cold air searing down to my lungs.
My calves burned in a steady rhythm with every step, and the ache in my thighs throbbed under the weight of my own momentum. I stayed within my limits, but by my final set, it was rough. My running was more of a jog by that point. I was huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breath. I came to a stop once I finished, but Lux wasn't allowing that. He pushed me from behind, making me walk for one more lap. "You can't just stop like that. You know better."
How would I know better? I kept myself fit, but I was no gym bunny back on Earth.Keep it together, Nyx. Don't get upset. Being upset takes oxygen that my lungs desperately need right now. I consoled myself as I was pushed.When the lap was done, he pushed me over to a bench. He guided me to the bench with surprising gentleness. Without him, I would have just collapsed on the ground.
The bench's solid support felt like the earth itself had caught me. My legs were trembling from my efforts. As soon as I felt I could breathe again and wouldn't fall apart, I looked up to meet his gaze. He was looking at me with a glimmer of respect in his gaze. "I wasn't expecting you to actually finish all 25. You pushed yourself to your limit today. This will be your warm-up on days you don't join me for katas. You should also keep doing your stretching and other warm-up exercises as well for now. Now let's get you refreshed so we can get started."
"Ilya'reen Vel Lur'veth Enlai (Soothe the soul… under the stars' grace)." Cool starlight seemed to spill into my veins, sweeping away the ache and tension. The heaviness in my limbs unraveled, replaced by a buoyant hum that made me feel like I could take off running again. Standing up, I grinned, thinking about the implications of me being able to revive my body as we trained. "I recommend cooling your excitement, little wolf. One, you aren't ready Essencecraft-wise to perform the spell yourself."
He motioned for me to follow him as he talked. "According to Aspen, you still have to untangle some knots in your essence veins to perform beyond the basic level of Essencecraft. The teleportation pad worked for you because it required no essence from you, just the trigger spell and intent."
Two, you will not like this spell being used on you when we start pushing your limits. Keir especially will use this spell on you often. Martial arts and its subjects are like his religion. He meant it when he said he would reforge you. Which means he will revive you as many times as he can in each session. However, the third point will be your saving grace and warning."
"You can only use rejuvenation spells so many times in a short period of time before your body rejects the spell." We reached the center of the field where he had been doing katas, then stopped. The scent of crushed grass rose around us, mingling with the faint herbal tang of my sweat. A lone bird called in the distance, its cry carrying in the open air. We sank into a meditative quiet, which didn't even break when Lux spoke up.
"I'll share notes on rejuvenation spells in the shared lesson notes folder on your cloud drive. Based on what I currently sense from you, your body can be rejuvenated about 7 more times today. So I will probably only rejuvenate you one more time and leave the remaining 6 for Keir. You will need it," Lux's warning amused me as I just couldn't imagine Keir being so strict. These warnings about Keir are starting to feel a bit ominous. He can't possibly be that bad, right?