Serena remained seated in the center of the training room, the small leaf resting carefully between her fingers.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the paper windows, filling the quiet room with a warm, golden glow. Dust particles drifted lazily through the beams of light, while the faint scent of cedar and incense lingered in the air.
The temple itself seemed to have fallen asleep.
Yet Serena's mind was anything but quiet.
The faint sensation she had experienced earlier was still there.
Barely noticeable.
Almost impossible to describe.
Spiritual Energy did not feel like heat or electricity. It wasn't something she could simply grab with her hand and hold in place.
It was more like a presence surrounding her, woven into the world itself without ever announcing that it was there.
Tamayo had told her not to force it.
She had to feel it.
Serena slowly closed her eyes.
She took a long, steady breath and allowed her shoulders to relax.
The room gradually became quieter.
She could hear the gentle movement of the curtains beside the window. Outside, the cedar trees rustled softly in the mountain breeze. Somewhere farther away, a temple bell swayed gently, producing a distant, almost soothing sound.
Serena focused on those sounds.
She remembered Tamayo's demonstration.
Don't create Spiritual Energy.
Gather what's already there.
Serena loosened her fingers around the leaf.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
She remained patient.
She continued breathing.
Then she felt it.
A faint warmth traveled through her fingertips.
Serena kept her eyes closed.
There.
The sensation was subtle, but it was definitely there.
Something was moving.
Something was responding.
Carefully, Serena guided that sensation toward the leaf.
A faint blue glow appeared around its edges.
Her eyes immediately snapped open.
"It worked!"
The moment the words left her mouth, the glow flickered.
Then it disappeared completely.
Serena stared at the leaf.
Her excitement vanished.
"...Huh?"
Across from her, Tamayo remained seated.
She hadn't moved at all.
"You lost your concentration."
Serena frowned at the leaf.
"I know."
"You became excited."
"I was happy because I actually did it!"
Tamayo gave her a knowing smile.
"And that's exactly why it disappeared."
Serena looked up at her.
"So I'm not allowed to be happy?"
"That's not what I said."
Tamayo leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on her knees.
"You became impatient."
"I was concentrating."
"You were concentrating on succeeding."
Tamayo gently pointed toward the leaf in Serena's hand.
"There's a difference."
Serena's eyebrows tightened.
"Then what am I supposed to concentrate on?"
"Nothing in particular."
Serena stared at her.
"Nothing?"
"That's right."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It will eventually."
Tamayo's voice remained patient and calm.
"Spiritual Energy responds to your state of mind. The moment you become desperate to control it, you begin interfering with the process."
Serena lowered her gaze toward the leaf.
"So I have to stay calm."
"Yes."
"That's it?"
"For now."
Serena's expression became doubtful.
"That sounds easy."
Tamayo let out a quiet laugh.
"If it were easy, everyone would master it."
She gestured toward the leaf.
"Try again."
Serena sighed.
"Fine."
She adjusted her posture and closed her eyes.
This time, she made a conscious effort not to become excited.
She breathed slowly.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
She listened to the world around her.
The wind.
The trees.
The distant bell.
The wooden walls.
The faint sounds of the temple beyond the room.
Little by little, the familiar sensation returned.
Spiritual Energy seemed to gather around her.
Serena carefully guided it toward the leaf.
The leaf began to glow.
A faint blue light appeared across its surface.
Serena's lips curled into a small smile.
I'm doing it.
The moment the thought entered her mind, her concentration shifted.
The glow vanished.
Serena opened her eyes.
She stared at the leaf.
"...Again?"
Tamayo simply nodded.
"Again."
Serena looked at her sister in disbelief.
"This is too hard."
Tamayo smiled.
"It wouldn't be training if it were easy."
She adjusted her position on the cushion.
"You're struggling because you're still trying to learn something."
Serena let out a heavy sigh.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"It should."
"It doesn't."
Tamayo laughed softly.
Serena looked back at the leaf.
She wasn't accustomed to this kind of training.
Geist combat had always made sense to her.
Move.
Attack.
Defend.
React.
Repeat.
There were clear objectives.
Clear movements.
Clear results.
If she swung her weapon correctly, she hit the target.
If she dodged correctly, she avoided an attack.
If she made a mistake, she immediately knew what she had done wrong.
But this?
There was nothing to strike.
Nothing to dodge.
Nothing to overpower.
She simply had to remain still and allow herself to feel something that had always existed around her.
Somehow, that was proving more difficult than fighting a Poltergeist.
Serena took another breath.
She tried again.
The same thing happened.
A faint blue glow appeared around the leaf.
For a moment, Serena managed to hold it.
Then her thoughts wandered.
The glow disappeared.
Again.
She tried once more.
The Spiritual Energy gathered.
The leaf glowed.
She became impatient.
It vanished.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Time slowly passed.
The sunlight moved across the floor.
The shadows shifted.
The warm afternoon gradually became cooler.
Serena barely noticed.
She was too focused on the leaf in her hand.
Eventually, she opened her eyes and looked across the room.
Tamayo hadn't moved much.
She was still sitting comfortably across from her.
Her breathing remained steady.
Her posture was relaxed.
Her expression was peaceful.
Serena frowned.
"How come it's so easy for you?"
Tamayo opened her eyes.
"What?"
"You make it look effortless."
Serena held up the leaf.
"I've been doing this for hours."
Tamayo smiled.
"Because I've had more practice."
"That's not fair."
"Training rarely is."
Serena crossed her arms.
Tamayo laughed softly.
"There is another reason."
Serena's attention returned to her sister.
"What?"
Tamayo leaned forward.
"The amount of Spiritual Energy a person can manifest and control isn't determined solely by physical ability."
Serena's expression became more serious.
"Then what determines it?"
"Patience."
Tamayo paused.
"Calmness of mind."
Serena listened carefully.
"The calmer you are, the easier it becomes to perceive Spiritual Energy."
She raised one finger.
"And the more patient you are, the easier it becomes to control."
Tamayo smiled.
"And that's going to be a problem for you."
Serena's expression immediately became suspicious.
"What does that mean?"
Tamayo chuckled.
"You're my little sister."
She tilted her head.
"I know exactly how you behave."
"Tamayo..."
"You're impatient."
Serena immediately opened her mouth.
"I am not—"
"You're stubborn."
"That's different."
"You get frustrated easily."
"I don't!"
"And when something doesn't work immediately, you want to force it until it does."
Serena puffed out her cheeks.
Tamayo laughed.
"See?"
Serena folded her arms tighter.
"What's so funny?"
"You."
"That's not funny."
"It is to me."
Serena gave her an annoyed look.
Tamayo's smile softened.
"This may be the most difficult lesson you'll ever have to learn."
Serena's expression became more serious.
"Because?"
"Because it requires you to become almost the complete opposite of yourself."
Serena fell silent.
For once, she didn't have an immediate response.
Tamayo continued.
"But that doesn't mean your personality is a weakness."
Serena looked at her.
"Your stubbornness is one of your greatest strengths."
Tamayo smiled warmly.
"You've always been like that."
She paused.
"When things become difficult, you refuse to quit."
Serena looked away.
"You complain."
"Sometimes."
"You get angry."
"Sometimes."
"And you probably blame everyone around you."
"I don't blame everyone."
Tamayo continued as though she hadn't heard the objection.
"But you keep going."
She pointed toward the leaf.
"That's something worth preserving."
Serena lowered her gaze.
"You don't need to stop being Serena."
Tamayo's voice became gentler.
"You simply need to learn when to be patient."
Serena stared at the leaf.
The words stayed with her.
She understood what Tamayo meant.
At least...
She wanted to.
After a moment, Serena slowly nodded.
"Again?"
Tamayo smiled.
"Again."
Serena closed her eyes.
The training continued.
By the time Serena realized how much time had passed, the sunlight had begun to disappear from the training room.
The golden afternoon light had gradually turned orange.
Long shadows stretched across the tatami floor.
Outside, the cedar trees were becoming silhouettes against the darkening sky.
Serena was still sitting in the same place.
The leaf remained between her fingers.
Her stomach growled.
She ignored it.
Tamayo noticed.
"You haven't eaten."
"I'm fine."
"You skipped breakfast."
"I'm fine."
"You skipped lunch."
Serena opened one eye.
"I'm still fine."
Tamayo sighed.
"You've been sitting here for hours."
"I can do it."
"I know."
Serena looked down at the leaf.
Her hands were trembling slightly.
She was exhausted.
Her shoulders felt heavy, and her back ached from remaining in the same position for so long. Her eyes were tired, and her concentration was beginning to weaken.
Yet she refused to stop.
Every attempt had ended the same way.
She could feel the Spiritual Energy.
She could gather it.
But the moment she became impatient, it slipped away.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Serena slowly placed the leaf in her palm.
"I'll get it."
Tamayo watched her quietly.
"I know you will."
Serena closed her eyes.
She breathed slowly.
The room became quiet again.
This time, she didn't think about success.
She didn't think about failure.
She didn't think about how long she had been training.
She didn't think about dinner.
She didn't think about school.
She didn't even think about Haikirin.
She simply listened.
The wind.
The trees.
The wooden floor beneath her.
The faint warmth of the remaining sunlight.
Her own breathing.
Her heartbeat.
Nothing more.
Gradually, the world around her became clearer.
Then she felt it.
The Spiritual Energy.
It was everywhere.
For the first time, she could distinguish it.
The energy within the wood felt different from the energy within the air.
The energy surrounding the cedar trees outside felt stronger.
The energy within herself felt concentrated and familiar.
Serena remained still.
She didn't force anything.
She didn't try to pull the energy toward herself.
She simply allowed herself to become aware of it.
Slowly, she brought the different currents together.
The energy gathered around the leaf.
A faint blue light appeared across its surface.
Serena's breathing remained steady.
The glow grew brighter.
She didn't react.
She didn't celebrate.
She didn't open her eyes.
She simply maintained it.
The blue light remained stable.
For several seconds, nothing changed.
Then several more seconds passed.
Serena continued holding it.
She wasn't struggling against the energy anymore.
She wasn't trying to overpower it.
She was simply allowing it to remain.
Eventually, Serena slowly opened her eyes.
The leaf was completely surrounded by a soft blue radiance.
Her eyes widened.
She had done it.
She had actually done it.
The realization slowly reached her.
A smile appeared across her face.
"I..."
Her voice was barely audible.
"...did it."
Tamayo smiled.
"Yes."
Serena stared at the glowing leaf.
"I did it."
"You did."
Serena's smile grew.
The excitement she had been suppressing suddenly returned.
"I did it!"
She immediately tried to stand.
Her legs, however, had other plans.
The moment she put weight on them, they buckled.
"Whoa!"
Tamayo moved instantly.
She caught Serena before she could fall and steadied her.
"Careful."
Serena blinked.
"I'm okay."
Tamayo kept a hand on her shoulder until she was certain Serena could stand.
"You've been sitting for hours. Your legs are exhausted."
Serena looked down.
Only then did she realize how tired her body actually was.
Her entire body felt heavy.
Even standing required effort.
She let out a small, tired laugh.
"But I did it."
Tamayo smiled.
"You did."
Serena looked at the leaf again.
The blue glow was still faintly visible around it.
Her expression softened.
"That took forever."
Tamayo laughed.
"It was one day."
"That feels like forever."
"For you, maybe."
Serena leaned slightly against her sister.
Tamayo gently supported her.
"You did well."
Serena smiled.
"Thanks."
Tamayo glanced toward the darkening window.
"It's getting late."
She helped Serena straighten herself.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Dinner."
Serena's stomach answered before she could.
A loud growl echoed through the quiet room.
Serena froze.
Tamayo slowly looked at her.
Serena's face turned bright red.
"...Don't say anything."
Tamayo covered her mouth, trying to suppress a laugh.
"I wasn't going to."
"You were."
"I absolutely was."
Serena sighed.
Tamayo placed an arm around her shoulders.
"Come on, little sister."
They began walking toward the door.
"You've earned your dinner."
Serena took one last look back at the training room.
The small leaf remained on the floor.
A faint trace of blue Spiritual Energy still surrounded it.
It wasn't spectacular.
It wasn't anything like the overwhelming technique Tamayo had demonstrated earlier.
But Serena didn't care.
For the first time, she had successfully gathered Spiritual Energy and maintained it without forcing it.
It was a small achievement.
Yet it meant more to her than she expected.
She had spent the entire day fighting against something she couldn't see, couldn't touch, and couldn't overpower.
And eventually, she had learned that the answer wasn't to fight harder.
It was to stop fighting altogether.
Serena smiled faintly as she followed Tamayo out of the room.
Tomorrow, she would try again.
And knowing herself as well as she did, there was one thing she could already say with certainty.
She wouldn't stop until she succeeded.