The early morning air carried the crisp scent of dew, and the sky was painted in soft hues of pink and gold as the sun slowly climbed the horizon. Hikari exhaled a steady breath, his footsteps barely making a sound on the stone path as he arrived at the Love Bridge.
Honestly, the morning run had been an excuse, a convenient reason to be out here before the world fully awakened. But in truth, he wasn't here for exercise—he was here for training.
Master Ryu leaned casually against the rusted railing, arms crossed, his dark silhouette standing out against the soft morning light.
"Isn't it romantic?" he teased, his lips curling into a smirk. "Meeting under the Love Bridge at sunrise. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to woo me."
Hikari gave an unimpressed look. "Cut it out," he muttered. "You said we'd be training."
The smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "You're in more danger than I initially thought," Master Ryu admitted, his voice low. "I've been neglecting your training, and that's on me. I'm sorry for dragging you into our world so abruptly."
Hikari lowered his gaze, but his resolve didn't waver. He clenched his fists, recalling the events of the previous night. The fight. The fear. The realization that he had been utterly useless.
He had no power, no way to protect himself, let alone the people who mattered to him. That was unacceptable. He wasn't going to let himself be weak—not when his parents were completely oblivious to this hidden world.
"I need to get stronger," he said, his voice firm. "Not for revenge. Not to show off. But because if I don't, I'll be nothing but a burden. There are people I need to protect."
Master Ryu studied him for a long moment before nodding. "What a filial son you are," he said, his tone neither mocking nor amused. Just observing. "Alright, then. Let's start your training. First, I want you to practice shifting between your shadow form and your physical form."
Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Shadow form? Like what you did last night?"
Master Ryu smirked. "Exactly. It's one of your core abilities, but you'll never get the hang of it if you don't practice." He straightened and took a step forward. "I find it helps to use a command. Something simple that you can say in your head. I use 'Shadow Form' and 'Physical Form.' Watch closely."
With a blink-and-you'll-miss-it speed, Master Ryu's body darkened, his form dissolving into the shadows beneath him. He moved with fluid grace, flickering like a ripple across the ground, only to reappear a second later in his solid form, standing just a few steps away. "Did you catch that?" he asked, tilting his head.
Hikari's eyes widened. "That was so fast... It almost looked like you teleported."
Master Ryu chuckled. "Speed is one of the advantages. Now, it's your turn. Close your eyes and focus. Picture yourself sinking into your shadow. Feel the shift, the way your body disperses into something less solid, more fluid. And when you're ready, use a command."
Hikari took a deep breath, grounding himself. The morning breeze whispered against his skin, carrying the distant chirping of birds as the city slowly woke up. He closed his eyes and focused on the darkness beneath him—the shadow that stretched out with the golden sunrise. He imagined himself melting into it, becoming one with the dark.
"Shadow Form," he whispered in his mind.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, he tried again, putting more intent behind the words. "Shadow Form."
A strange sensation prickled over his skin. For a moment, he felt lighter, almost as if gravity itself was loosening its grip on him. The edges of his vision darkened, and his body tingled, like stepping into cold water.
But before he could fully grasp the change, his body snapped back, solid and unmoving.
Master Ryu sighed. "Not bad for a first attempt. You're starting to feel the shift. Try again, but this time, let go of your hesitation. The shadows aren't your enemy—they're part of you."
Hikari inhaled deeply, then exhaled. Let go, huh? He closed his eyes once more, this time embracing the unfamiliar sensation rather than resisting it. The cool touch of the shadows wrapped around him, and with a final push—
His body melted away.
For a second, there was nothing. No weight, no shape, just a formless existence drifting within the darkness. He felt like he was everywhere and nowhere at once, like an extension of the very ground he stood on. But just as quickly as the sensation came, panic rushed in. His instincts screamed at him—he wasn't supposed to be like this. This wasn't normal.
His concentration broke, and in the blink of an eye, he snapped back into his physical form, stumbling slightly as he reappeared on the stone pavement. His breath came out shaky, his hands trembling slightly from the rush.
Master Ryu gave an approving nod. "You did it."
Hikari steadied himself. "That... felt weird."
"Of course it did," Master Ryu said. "You just turned yourself into something that defies human logic. But you'll get used to it." He crossed his arms. "Now, do it again. And this time, stay in shadow form longer."
Hikari groaned inwardly but nodded. The sun had risen higher now, casting long shadows across the ground. He glanced at his own shadow, stretching beside him, then closed his eyes again.
This time, he didn't fight it. He let himself dissolve into the darkness, feeling the cool embrace of his shadow swallow him whole. The strange weightlessness returned, but he didn't panic.
He focused on the way he could move—not by stepping, but by flowing. He willed himself forward, and to his surprise, he shifted effortlessly across the pavement, gliding like liquid over stone.
Then, with a single thought—"Physical Form"—he re-emerged, standing several feet away from where he had started.
Master Ryu whistled. "Not bad. Not bad at all." He slowly clapped his hands.
Although it wasn't perfect, and he wasn't expecting it to be, Master Ryu could see his potential. With just a little bit of practice, he knew that Hikari would master it in no time.
Hikari couldn't hide the small smirk of satisfaction tugging at his lips. "I think I'm getting the hang of it."
"Don't get cocky," Master Ryu warned, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "That was just the first step. You still have a long way to go. But if you keep up this pace... maybe you won't die as quickly as I thought."
Hikari shot him a glare. "Encouraging."
Master Ryu chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "Take a short break. Then we move on to the next lesson." He gestured at the golden sunrise stretching across the city skyline. "Enjoy the morning while it lasts. Your training's only going to get tougher from here."
Hikari exhaled, already feeling the weight of the day ahead. But deep inside, something had changed. For the first time, he didn't feel powerless. He clenched his fists, wondering if he could really get the hang of it in a short time.
"For now, let's just keep practicing." Hikari muttered to himself as he tried doing it once again.