The sun was already high when Abraão woke up. It was almost 7:40 a.m. Strong light streamed through the dormitory window, warming the room. He sat up in bed, rubbing his face, still savoring the sweet taste of yesterday's victory against Jhonatam. Level 88. It wasn't much, but he could feel each day getting more intense.
Lia woke up shortly after, yawning and stretching her arms.
"Morning… what a good sleep. I dreamed we won a tournament."
Abraão smiled. "Good sign. Who knows, maybe it'll happen for real?"
She laughed and tossed the pillow at him. "Stop giving me hope this early."
Liora woke up stretching on the floor, his silver-blue hair all tangled.
"Abraão-nii! Morning! Is there gonna be more fun training today?"
Lia raised an eyebrow. "Lio, did you sleep glued to the bed leg again?"
Liora: "It's warm and smells like Abraão-nii!"
They headed down to the dining hall around 8 a.m. They grabbed trays: fresh lunar fruit juice, hot bread with creamy ricotta and slices of smoked cheese. They sat at a table near the window.
Lia: "Today Murata said there'd be a speed challenge. I'm pumped."
Abraão: "Me too. Let's see if we can avoid face-planting."
Liora: "I'm gonna dance faster than everyone!"
Training started at 9 a.m. in the Dojo's massive open arena. Murata was there, but today wasn't just a regular class. He'd set up a crazy obstacle course: spinning logs, moving platforms, suspended ropes, and targets that shifted on their own.
Murata: "Today's a speed and precision challenge. Whoever completes the course, cutting all the targets in the shortest time, gets an extra point on their evaluation. You can mess with each other, but don't kill anyone."
The training turned into a circus.
Abraão went first. He ran, leaped over the spinning log, sliced a target mid-air, and slid under a rope. He missed one target at the end and face-planted into the grass.
Lia burst out laughing. "What a graceful fall!"
Abraão: "Shut up and go!"
Lia went next. She ran lightly, sliced two targets with precision, but tripped on the moving platform and rolled across the ground.
"I hate these things!"
Liora: "Lia-nee fell like a sack of potatoes!"
Lia: "Shut up, Lio!"
Liora was the most fun. He danced through the entire course: spinning, jumping, slicing targets with colorful lunar veils, almost putting on a show. He finished perfectly and struck a pose.
"Ta-da!"
Abraão and Lia applauded, laughing.
As the trio was having a blast, Jhonatam showed up with two friends, leaning against the wall.
"Look at the weakling circus. How pathetic."
He glanced at Lia with that annoying smile. "Lia, come over here. I'll show you how it's really done."
Lia: "No thanks. I'm good right here."
Jhonatam turned to Abraão. "And you? Up for a mini-tournament right now? Me, you, and those two little puppets against me and my friends. Loser cleans the entire arena for a week."
Abraão: "I'm in. When?"
Jhonatam: "Right now. Let's see if you're all talk."
Before it could start, a cold voice came from the opposite side of the arena.
"What a depressing scene."
It was Saori Oshiro from the Eclipse Black Dojo. Short black hair with a red streak, piercing gray eyes, impeccable dark uniform.
"You Eternal Blades Dojo folks still playing circus? How embarrassing."
She looked straight at Abraão. "Especially you and your weird little friends."
Liora hid behind Abraão.
Lia: "Who are you?"
Saori smiled coldly. "Someone who's gonna watch you all fall."
In the back of the arena, Hermione Kurosawa watched everything in silence. She discreetly raised her wand and made a small gesture. No one noticed, but for a second, the light around Abraão flickered strangely.
The mini-tournament began. It was chaotic and fun. Abraão, Lia, and Liora versus Jhonatam and his friends. Laughs, stumbles, missed cuts, taunts. In the end, the trio won by a hair.
Around 12:30 p.m., lunch in the dining hall. Lunar vegetable soup, herbed rice, and fruits. They sat together, still laughing about the fight.
Lia: "That Jhonatam is unbearable."
Abraão: "He's all talk. Hasn't done a thing."
Liora: "I don't like him… he looks at me like I'm a bug."
The afternoon continued with light training until sunset. Night fell around 7 p.m. They had dinner together: light soup, bread, and cheese. They sat on the dormitory veranda, gazing at the moons.
Lia rested her head on Abraão's shoulder. "Today was fun… even with that idiot."
Liora fell asleep in his lap, curled up.
Abraão looked up at the moons. Saori… she didn't just come to watch. Something's going on.
His phone buzzed. Mission: "Participate in an internal challenge. Post a group photo after the victory."
Reward: +2 levels (90). "Combat Instinct" (+5% reaction in official fights).
Abraão pocketed the phone.
"Tomorrow's gonna be even more complicated… but we'll handle it."