The mansion's hall was never meant for something like this.
And yet, in just a few hours, it stopped being just an open space and turned into a different kind of training ground. No weapons, no targets, no combat. But with the same level of attention.
Elara was the one who structured everything.
"Posture first."
Simple. Direct.
She marked a line on the floor using tape and indicated the starting point.
"Walk from here to there."
Rai'kanna was the first.
"This is easy."
She started walking confidently, firm steps, gaze forward.
It seemed natural.
Until Elara spoke.
"Wrong."
Rai'kanna stopped.
"What do you mean, wrong?"
"You're walking like you're entering combat."
"Because I always walk like this."
"Exactly."
Short silence.
Lyannis crossed her arms, observing.
"She has a point."
Rai'kanna went back.
"So what's the right way?"
Elara demonstrated.
Controlled steps, steady rhythm, aligned posture, no excess tension.
"No rush. No attack intent. But with presence."
Rai'kanna watched closely.
"I get it."
She tried again.
This time lighter.
Less aggressive.
Better.
"Now it's acceptable," Elara said.
"Was that a compliment?"
"It was a statement."
Lyannis laughed.
"Translation: it improved."
Vespera stepped closer.
"But there is still micro-tension in the shoulders."
Rai'kanna exhaled.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"That's annoying."
"It's necessary," Vespera replied.
Liriel, leaning against the wall, watched in silence.
"You force confidence," she said.
Rai'kanna looked at her.
"Isn't confidence something you force?"
"No. It's something you maintain."
Silence.
Rai'kanna didn't respond immediately.
But she adjusted her posture.
Tried again.
This time…
More natural.
Elara nodded.
"Now yes."
Lyannis raised her hand.
"Okay, this is getting interesting."
Elara turned to her.
"Your turn."
Lyannis slightly widened her eyes.
"I said I wasn't participating."
"But you'll test it."
"Oh… great."
She positioned herself on the line.
Took a deep breath.
And started.
Her steps were light.
Natural.
Effortless.
Rai'kanna tilted her head.
"She's already better than me."
"She doesn't force it," Vespera said.
"That helps," Liriel added.
Lyannis finished the path.
"Done."
Elara analyzed.
"Good foundation."
"Foundation?"
"You're missing intent."
"Now it needs intent?"
Rai'kanna laughed.
"Welcome."
Lyannis sighed.
"I just wanted to watch."
"Now you're involved," Elara said.
"I noticed."
Vespera made a slight gesture.
"Next."
Elara returned to the starting position.
"I'll demonstrate again."
She repeated the movement.
This time slower.
More detailed.
"Observe the rhythm."
Rai'kanna paid attention.
Lyannis too.
Vespera analyzed every detail.
Liriel…
Already understood.
"It's consistency," she said.
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"So it's not about being better in a moment."
"It's about maintaining the level all the time," Vespera completed.
"That's harder," Lyannis commented.
"Exactly," Elara said.
Training continued.
Each one repeating.
Adjusting.
Failing.
Correcting.
No rush.
No exaggeration.
With focus.
After a while, they shifted.
"Now expression," Elara said.
Rai'kanna rolled her eyes.
"This is where it gets complicated."
Lyannis laughed.
"You only know how to make a provoking face."
"That's not true."
"It is."
Vespera observed.
"Limited expressions reduce impact."
"Alright, I get it."
Elara positioned herself.
"Neutral expression is not empty."
She demonstrated.
Firm gaze, slight softness, total control.
"That looks simple," Lyannis said.
"But it isn't," Liriel replied.
Rai'kanna tried.
It looked… strange.
Lyannis laughed.
"You look like you're about to fight."
"I always look like that."
"That's the problem."
Vespera adjusted.
"Jaw tension."
Rai'kanna relaxed her face.
Tried again.
Better.
"Now it's functional," Elara said.
"Functional still isn't good."
"But it's progress."
Lyannis tried.
It was natural.
But lacked intensity.
"You're too relaxed," Elara said.
"That's just how I am."
"Then you need adjustment."
"This is getting annoying."
Rai'kanna smiled.
"Now you feel it."
Liriel didn't participate directly.
But she watched everything.
"You're only focusing on the external," she said.
Everyone looked.
"The internal matters more."
Silence.
"How so?" Lyannis asked.
"If you don't believe what you're showing… it shows."
Rai'kanna tilted her head.
"So it's mental too."
"Especially."
Elara nodded.
"Makes sense."
Vespera added.
"Internal coherence."
Lyannis sighed.
"This got more complicated than I thought."
"That always happens," I said.
They looked at me.
"When something looks simple… it usually isn't."
Rai'kanna smiled.
"So now you decided to participate by talking."
"Someone has to comment."
"Fair."
Training continued.
Now more focused.
More conscious.
They were adjusting.
Improving.
No exaggeration.
No rush.
But with results.
After a while, they stopped.
Breathing deeper.
Not from physical exhaustion.
But from concentration.
Lyannis dropped into a chair.
"Okay… this is more tiring than fighting."
"Because it requires constant control," Vespera said.
Rai'kanna sat beside her.
"But it's worth it."
Elara remained standing.
"We're just at the beginning."
Liriel stepped away from the wall.
"But it already improved."
Everyone looked at her.
"You were worse."
Rai'kanna laughed.
"Was that a compliment?"
"It was a statement."
Lyannis smiled.
"This is getting repetitive."
I observed them all.
The atmosphere was light.
Competitive.
But healthy.
They were teasing each other.
But also helping.
And that made a difference.
Rai'kanna looked at me.
"So?"
"You've improved."
"How much?"
"Enough not to embarrass yourselves."
Lyannis laughed.
"That's the highest compliment you'll give?"
"For now."
Elara nodded.
"That's fair."
Vespera spoke.
"Consistent progress."
Liriel added.
"But still flaws."
Rai'kanna stood.
"Then we keep going."
"Yes," Elara said.
Lyannis sighed.
"I'm going to need more patience."
"You'll manage," Vespera replied.
I stepped away from the wall.
Training was over for now.
But the process…
Had truly begun.
And by the pace they were following…
This event wouldn't just be a presentation.
It would be another field of evolution.
Different.
But just as important as any other.