Koya lay face-flat on her bed, the flashes of every imagined defeat against Ra'an still burning behind her eyes.
Immira stepped into the room and stood quietly at the doorway for a long moment, watching her. Then she walked over and sat gently on the edge of the bed.
"Koya… are you okay?"
Koya groaned loudly into the sheets.
Immira hesitated, then asked softly, "Is the training going okay?"
Koya rolled over and stared at the ceiling. "Everything I've tried… I still can't beat Ra'an," she said, frustration thick in her voice.
Immira looked confused. "Ra'an?"
"You know… the mental battles you told me to do."
"Oh…" Immira trailed off, staring into nothingness for a few seconds.
Koya noticed the sudden silence. "Immira… are you alright?"
Immira snapped back and smiled calmly. "You faced Ra'an in your mind? Visualized the whole battlefield and everything?"
"Yes," Koya replied, confused. "Is something wrong?"
"Have you ever won against him in those battles?"
Koya's face twisted with annoyance and frustration. "No. Not once. After days of fighting him… it's like a hundred losses and zero victories."
Immira stared at her, stunned. Then a joyous smile slowly spread across her lips.
"Koya… do you know what that means?"
"It means I'm weak."
"Not even close," Immira said gently. "To do something like that, you don't need to be physically strong — you need to be mentally strong. I'm sorry… I told you to fight in your mind without explaining how. But the fact that you managed it at all is beyond amazing. Losing doesn't mean you're weak."
She reached out and gently rolled her palm across Koya's forehead.
Koya stared at her, speechless for a moment. "Immira… what am I doing wrong? Why can't I win against him?"
"The mind is only as strong as the body, and the body only as strong as the mind," Immira said. "You're not doing anything wrong. You just need better training for your senses."
Koya sat up slowly. "I know… but how exactly do I improve them?"
Immira smiled with a calm grin. "Forgive me, child. I forgot to tell you how again." She paused, then added softly, "Before an attack connects, your body already feels it and tries to warn you. But you've been focusing only on sight and ignoring the rest. What you need to do is smell, hear, taste, and feel just as much as you see. Let all five senses become heightened and work together."
Koya stared at her, the question clear on her face.
"Don't worry," Immira said, standing up. "I'll show you how. I may not be a fighter myself, but I've raised plenty of them and learned from the best." She walked toward the door. "Rest a little, then meet me in my room."
Koya nodded quietly and watched her leave. The moment Immira was gone, thoughts of every obstacle she might face flooded her mind.
Later that day, Immira led Koya to a hidden waterfall not far from the Flow Star. Ikua's arm was strapped securely to Koya's back, and Immira carried a small bag.
The waterfall cascaded down a rugged mountainside covered in moss and ancient vines. The mountain itself was old and weathered, its gray stone face carved by centuries of wind and water, yet still strong and unyielding. Around the base, tall spirit trees with silver bark and glowing blue leaves formed a natural canopy, their branches heavy with bright flowers and hanging moss. Mist rose from the crashing water, catching the sunlight and creating soft rainbows in the air. The atmosphere was peaceful yet alive — the constant roar of the falls mixed with the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds. The air smelled clean and earthy, carrying the cool spray of water and the faint sweetness of blooming flowers.
Both women stood a short distance from the falls, watching water tumble over smooth dark rocks.
Immira closed her eyes, exhaled, and smiled calmly. "Isn't this just beautiful?"
Koya nodded. "Yeah… it really is."
They stood in silence for a few moments, letting the negative energy drift away with the mist and wind.
Then Immira spoke. "Koya… that day you made the falling leaf land gently on Ikua's arm — how exactly did you do it?"
Koya stared at the rushing water for a second. "I just stood still and listened… learned the sound the leaf made as it fell, how fast it dropped, and adjusted my speed to match it."
A calm grin spread across Immira's lips. "That's beyond impressive. But the problem is, after you learned that, you stopped. Koya… everything makes a sound. Someone moving, blinking, breathing… even teleporting. Today, I'm going to help you learn how to hear those sounds."
Koya looked forward, head slightly bowed, breathing calmly.
"Go stand on the rocks in front of the falls," Immira said.
Koya raised her head, stared at the wet stones for a moment, then stepped toward them. Water flowed steadily over the rocks.
"Koya, wait."
Koya turned.
Immira used a gentle gust of wind Flow to send a piece of dark cloth floating toward her.
Koya caught it and looked down.
"It's a blindfold," Immira said.
Koya nodded, turned, and faced the rocks once more...
Koya stepped onto the wet rocks, exhaled slowly, and tied the blindfold around her eyes.
Immira's voice drifted from a short distance away, calm and steady.
"Koya, focus. Not on my voice, not on the wind, not on the trees — only on the waterfall."
Koya breathed in deeply, trying to center herself.
All the sounds clashed at once.
"With that said, let me tell you how my day went," Immira added lightly.
The wind grew stronger, rustling leaves and whipping through the trees. Immira's voice seemed louder than before. Birds chirped from every direction. The constant roar of the waterfall mixed with everything else until it became an overwhelming wall of noise.
Koya tried with everything she had, but the sounds swallowed her.
She ripped the blindfold off, frustration clear on her face.
"Immira… I can't."
Immira studied her for a moment, then spoke gently. "Doubt… your greatest weakness."
She turned and began walking back toward the Flow Star.
"But I guess we'll have to start with baby steps."
Koya stared after her, confused.
They returned to the Flow Star. Immira led her to a small, empty room with open windows. A gentle breeze flowed through, carrying only the soft sound of wind.
"You'll stay here and meditate," Immira said. "Not too many sounds — just the wind. Focus on it until the sound goes completely mute in your ears."
Koya opened her mouth to ask a question, but Immira had already walked out.
"Good luck," her voice echoed from the hallway.
Koya exhaled, removed Ikua's arm from her back, and placed it gently on the floor. She sat down, crossed her legs, rested her arms on her knees, and closed her eyes.
Darkness.
The wind sounded loud at first — cutting through the room, whistling softly around the window frames. She breathed calmly, repeating silently to herself: Focus… focus…
....
Classes were in full swing across the Flow Star.
Carers stood in front of boards, teaching the next generation of the children of the dawn. In one room, kids practiced basic water Flows, giggling as they formed tiny spheres. In another, young earth users shaped small clay figures. The whole sanctuary buzzed with energy and laughter.
Immira moved from room to room, checking on the children. Many were excited — it was almost time for their own Flow Tests. Some played around, throwing harmless water balls at each other or using weak gusts of wind to ruffle hair. Immira smiled as she watched a carer preparing lunch, using gentle Flows to stir pots and carry ingredients.
Time flew.
It was late afternoon when Immira finally returned to the meditation room. She had left Koya there shortly after ten in the morning.
Koya sat perfectly still.
In the darkness behind her eyelids, the wind had grown quieter… quieter… until it was nothing but a faint whisper. Then even that disappeared. Silence. Pure, deep silence.
Her mind felt calm. Free. Empty of everything except the present moment.
A gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
Koya's eyes snapped open.
Immira stood in front of her, smiling warmly.
"Immira… how long have you been here?" Koya asked, voice steady, breathing calm.
"More than ten minutes now," Immira replied, eyes sparkling with pride. "You seriously didn't notice? I barged in pretty loudly."
Koya shook her head in quiet disbelief.
Immira pulled her into a tight hug.
"You did it!"
She pulled back, hands on Koya's shoulders, beaming.
"Ready for the next step?"
Koya looked at her with fresh determination and nodded gently.
To be continued…