The sun had barely risen when the trio found themselves standing in an empty training courtyard inside the Tsukimori Association. The ground shimmered with faint energy, carved with ancient sigils that pulsed in rhythm with their heartbeats. The air felt charged — too quiet, too still.
Sayaka rubbed her arms, glancing around. "Why does it feel like the air itself is waiting for something?"
Akihiro shrugged, yawning. "Maybe it's nervous. Like me."
Kaito smirked faintly. "You nervous? Never thought I'd hear that."
Before Akihiro could reply, the air shimmered — a faint swirl of pink and gold light materializing in front of them. In one graceful step, Hishimiya Itsugoyorozu appeared, her long blonde-pink hair flowing gently as she raised a hand.
"Morning, my precious disasters," she said sweetly. "I hope you slept well, because you're going to wish you hadn't."
Akihiro groaned. "This already sounds painful."
Hishimiya's tone turned sharp. "Discipline isn't pain, Miwahara — it's precision. Without it, even the strongest Eien Ryoku will consume you."
Kaito straightened instinctively. "You're saying our power can backfire?"
She smiled faintly. "Oh, it doesn't just backfire, dear. It devours."
With a flick of her wrist, the training field came alive — dozens of glowing targets rising from the ground, each surrounded by moving orbs of light. "Welcome to your first control session. We'll start with the basics: Eiryu Precision. You'll learn to control your Eien Ryoku as extensions of your soul, not your body."
Sayaka summoned her staff, its core pulsing softly like a heartbeat. "So… emotional focus?"
"Exactly," Hishimiya said. "Emotion is the current of Eien Ryoku. Let it flow too fast, and you burn out. Too slow, and you fail to act. The art lies in balance."
She turned to Kaito first. "Tenkei, step forward."
He obeyed, summoning his silver-and-black blade. The air around him shifted immediately — light bending around the weapon's dual aura.
"Your Eien Ryoku is unique," she said. "Light and darkness intertwined. The most unstable combination. You rely too much on instinct, not control."
Kaito nodded. "So… what do I do?"
"Strike those targets," she said, pointing at five floating spheres orbiting him. "But don't destroy them. Touch each one — with intent, not force."
Kaito focused, breathing slowly. Precision, not power. He slashed, a streak of light crossing the air — one orb flickered, but the others exploded in a burst of radiance.
He flinched. "I failed."
Hishimiya's eyes softened slightly. "No. You learned. Your light responds to your heart — too much emotion, and it flares uncontrollably. Calm it. Command it."
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. This time, his blade hummed softly. When he moved again, his swings were slower — deliberate. The orbs shimmered as his blade grazed each one, leaving trails of balanced light and shadow.
When he opened his eyes, all five hovered perfectly still.
Sayaka smiled proudly. "You did it."
Kaito lowered his sword, panting slightly. "That… felt different. Like the blade was breathing with me."
"Good," Hishimiya said. "That's the point. Your Eiryu isn't just a weapon — it's your soul made tangible. The closer you are to your essence, the sharper your control."
She turned to Sayaka next. "Your turn, Reishin."
Sayaka stepped forward, her Spirit Core staff glowing with soft blue light.
"Your Eien Ryoku is fueled by emotion — sincerity, compassion. But emotion is unpredictable. Today, I'll teach you to refine it."
She waved her hand, summoning ethereal silhouettes that moved toward Sayaka — illusions of innocent spirits crying for help. Sayaka's chest tightened immediately.
"They're not real," Hishimiya said calmly. "But your soul will treat them as if they are. Can you channel compassion without drowning in it?"
Sayaka raised her staff. The energy around her flared — too bright, too desperate. The illusions flickered but didn't fade.
She clenched her jaw, whispering to herself. Focus… not just feel.
Her aura softened. The staff glowed steadier, controlled — her emotional energy flowing gently like water. The illusions smiled before vanishing, their light absorbed into the air.
Hishimiya smiled approvingly. "Excellent. You're learning restraint through empathy. That's rare."
Sayaka exhaled shakily, a small smile forming. "It's harder than I thought."
"Mastery always is," the mentor replied softly. "Especially when your heart's your weapon."
Then she turned to Akihiro, her tone shifting mischievously. "And now for our wildcard."
Akihiro sighed dramatically. "Oh joy."
"Your Eien Ryoku manipulates space and perception," she said. "But you scatter your focus. You think too fast, act too slow. Let's fix that."
She waved her hand — and suddenly, ten glowing spheres surrounded him, each blinking in and out of visibility.
"You have three seconds to touch them all."
"Three seconds—what?!"
"Begin."
Akihiro immediately activated his gauntlet, his perception expanding. The air distorted as he blinked across space, his form flickering like a mirage. One by one, he struck each sphere — 1, 2, 3… until only one remained.
He reached for it — but it vanished.
Hishimiya's voice echoed softly. "Too linear. Perception isn't about speed, Miwahara. It's about understanding where things will be, not just where they are."
He exhaled, slowing his breathing. "Okay… predicting motion, not chasing it."
He moved again, slower this time — reading the pattern of distortion in the air. His hand shot out just as the last sphere appeared, and it dissolved gently against his palm.
He smirked. "Got it."
Hishimiya clapped lightly. "Good. You three are starting to understand the essence of mastery — precision."
Then her aura brightened, surrounding the courtyard in a radiant pink glow. "Now comes the hard part."
A massive sigil appeared beneath their feet, the markings ancient and intricate. "This is a Resonance Field. You'll synchronize your Eien Ryoku as one. If your focus wavers, it will destabilize and throw you out."
The trio exchanged quick glances — then nodded.
As the sigil glowed, their energies intertwined — light, spirit, and perception blending into one harmonic field. The ground trembled slightly.
Sayaka's energy flowed gently around Kaito, stabilizing his dual aura. Akihiro's perception adjusted the space, keeping balance. Kaito's Celestial energy surged upward, illuminating the sigil.
Hishimiya watched closely, her eyes glowing pink. "Good… good… You're aligning perfectly."
But suddenly, the field pulsed violently — Kaito's dark aura flaring uncontrollably. The others struggled to hold balance.
"Kaito!" Sayaka shouted.
He gritted his teeth. "I've got it—!"
Hishimiya raised her hand, her Pure Fate activating. Pink energy swirled around Kaito, calming his dual essence. The field stabilized once more.
When the light faded, all three collapsed to their knees, breathing hard.
Hishimiya smiled gently. "Well done. You've survived the first stage of mastery — control through harmony."
Kaito looked up, sweat dripping down his temple. "That was… intense."
She smirked. "Oh, darling. That was just lesson one."
Sayaka chuckled weakly. "She's terrifying."
Akihiro groaned. "And she enjoys it."
Hishimiya winked. "Of course I do. Because when you master precision — you master fate itself."
The morning light poured into the courtyard, reflecting off their exhausted faces — three young Tsukimori standing at the threshold of true mastery.
The training had only just begun.