The Ytherrian Luminary

Xalin stood at the edge of the training ground, looking out at the vast expanse of earth before him. His vision of Luminary Trasus still lingered in his mind, a reminder of the power he needed to master. Earthbending felt foreign to him—it wasn't fluid like water or swift like air. It was stubborn, unyielding, and required a type of strength Xalin had yet to fully grasp.

"Alright, sparky, enough standing around," Terra's voice rang out, snapping Xalin from his thoughts. She stepped in front of him, arms crossed with a smug expression. "Today's lesson is simple—stand your ground."

"Stand my ground?" Xalin asked, slightly confused.

"Yeah. You need to learn how to feel the earth and make it an extension of yourself. No fancy tricks. No bending around or flowing with it like you do with air and water. Earth doesn't move for you—you move it by becoming as solid and unmoving as it is."

Xalin nodded, trying to digest Terra's words. Kell and Lira watched from the sidelines, knowing this would be a tough day for their friend. Terra walked over to a large boulder and tapped it with her foot, sending it rolling toward Xalin.

"Your task is simple: stop this boulder from hitting you," she said, stepping back.

Xalin watched as the large rock slowly gained momentum. He braced himself, feeling the earth beneath him. He closed his eyes, remembering Terra's earlier lesson to connect with the ground, to feel it as an extension of himself. He planted his feet firmly and stood in a wide stance.

The boulder came closer, rumbling as it approached. Xalin gritted his teeth and raised his hands, attempting to bend the earth beneath the boulder. But it was too late—the boulder slammed into him, knocking him back with a force that sent him tumbling to the ground.

Terra sighed, unimpressed. "I said stand your ground, not roll with the punches, sparky."

Xalin groaned, rubbing his back as he got up. "I tried to bend the earth like you said."

Terra shook her head. "Earthbending isn't just about reacting. It's about facing whatever's coming head-on and refusing to be moved. You can't treat earth like you do air or water. You have to be the rock."

Xalin clenched his fists, determined not to fail again. "Alright. Let's do it again."

Terra smirked and sent the boulder rolling once more. This time, Xalin dug his feet into the earth and lowered his center of gravity. He spread his arms out, feeling the energy in the ground beneath him. The boulder rumbled toward him, faster now.

With a deep breath, Xalin stomped his foot, pushing his energy into the earth. He felt the ground respond, a surge of power rising beneath his feet. As the boulder neared him, Xalin thrust his arms gracefully from his back moving them downwards then thrusting them upward, creating a wall of stone in front of him.

The boulder crashed into the wall, but this time, Xalin didn't budge. He stood firm, his feet anchored to the earth, the boulder cracking and splitting in two as it came to a halt.

Terra's grin widened. "There we go! Now you're starting to get it."

Kell clapped from the sidelines. "Nice one, Xalin! That was solid!"

Lira smirked, impressed by the progress Xalin was making. "Maybe you'll get the hang of this sooner than I thought."

Xalin exhaled, feeling the energy coursing through him. He was beginning to understand the nature of earthbending—it wasn't about manipulating the earth to move for him; it was about becoming as solid and unyielding as the ground beneath his feet.

Terra stepped closer, her usual smirk replaced with a more serious expression. "That was a good start, but we're not done yet. You need to push yourself harder if you want to master this. The Luminary state won't wait for you to figure things out. You need to learn to control it before it controls you."

Xalin nodded, ready for the next challenge. "What's next?"

Terra motioned toward a cluster of boulders in the distance. "See those rocks over there? I want you to move them. Not one at a time—all of them."

Xalin looked at the large pile of boulders, some as big as houses. His eyes widened in disbelief. "All of them?"

"Yep," Terra said, crossing her arms. "You're not going to learn anything by playing it safe. Earthbending is about strength, and right now, you're not showing me enough."

Xalin took a deep breath and walked over to the boulders. He placed his hands on the ground, feeling the earth beneath him. He focused on the rocks, imagining them as extensions of himself. Slowly, he rose to his feet and spread his arms wide, commanding the earth to obey his will.

The ground rumbled beneath him, and the boulders began to shift. Xalin grunted with effort, sweat dripping down his face as he strained to lift the massive stones. One by one, the boulders rose into the air, hovering above the ground. But before he could move them further, his concentration faltered, and the rocks came crashing down.

Terra shook her head. "Not bad, but you're still holding back. Stop treating the earth like an enemy. It's not something you fight. It's something you become."

Xalin wiped the sweat from his brow, frustration building inside him. He had faced countless enemies, mastered multiple elements, and entered the Luminary state, but earthbending was proving to be his most difficult challenge yet.

Terra stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I know it's tough. But you have to trust yourself. The earth isn't going to move for you unless you believe it will."

Xalin nodded, her words sinking in. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting go of the frustration that had been building. He centered himself, feeling the earth beneath him once more. This time, he didn't try to force it. He let the energy of the earth flow through him, becoming one with it.

With a calm and steady breath, Xalin opened his eyes and raised his arms. The boulders rose into the air again, but this time, they moved with ease. He guided them with precision, lifting them high into the sky before gently setting them back down.

Terra smiled, a look of approval on her face. "That's more like it."

Kell and Lira watched in awe, both impressed by the progress Xalin had made in such a short time.

"Alright," Terra said, clapping her hands. "We're done for today. Tomorrow, we start on defense. Earthbending isn't just about lifting rocks—it's about protecting yourself and others. So get ready for a long day."

Xalin exhaled, feeling both exhausted and invigorated. He was beginning to understand earthbending, but he knew he still had a long way to go.

As the sun began to set, the group made camp for the night. Xalin lay down, staring up at the stars. His vision of Luminary Trasus echoed in his mind, reminding him of the responsibility that rested on his shoulders.

"I'll master this," he whispered to himself. "I have to."