The Ytherrian Luminary

Morning dawned with a cool breeze that swept through the forest clearing where Xalin and his companions had made camp. As the sun rose, Terra wasted no time in starting Xalin's earthbending training again. Today's lesson was different—no offense, no flashy moves. Today, it was all about defense.

Xalin stood across from Terra, his feet firmly planted on the ground as he waited for her instructions. Lira and Kell sat on the sidelines, quietly observing.

"Today, we focus on defense," Terra said, her voice stern. "Earthbending is more than just moving rocks. It's about standing firm, protecting yourself and those around you. When everything's crashing down, you don't move—you make the world move around you."

Xalin nodded, already feeling the pressure. Yesterday's training had been grueling, but he had made progress. He had connected with the earth in a way he hadn't thought possible. Now, he needed to take it a step further.

Terra walked over to a pile of stones, gesturing for Xalin to follow. "This isn't about brute strength or flashy attacks. It's about resilience and precision. You need to be able to stop anything coming your way and hold your ground, no matter what."

She stomped her foot, and a wall of stone rose between them, separating her from Xalin. "I'm going to attack you. Your job is to defend yourself using earthbending. No running, no dodging. Stand your ground."

Xalin's eyes narrowed as he assumed a strong, wide stance, feet planted firmly into the dirt. He could feel the energy of the earth below him, steady and unyielding. Terra, on the other side of the wall, gave him a wicked grin before sending a barrage of rocks hurtling toward him.

Xalin's instincts kicked in. With a quick stomp, he raised a small earthen wall in front of him. The rocks crashed against it, but the force was too strong—the wall shattered, sending debris flying in all directions.

"Not good enough!" Terra shouted from behind the dust cloud. "Again!"

Xalin gritted his teeth and planted his feet more firmly into the ground. He focused, feeling the earth beneath him. Terra's next attack came fast—larger rocks, moving with greater speed. Xalin raised his arms, this time creating a thicker wall of stone, but again, the force of Terra's attack was overwhelming. The wall cracked and crumbled under the pressure.

"Focus!" Terra called out, her voice cutting through the air. "You're trying to force the earth to protect you. You can't force it. You have to work with it."

Xalin breathed heavily, frustration building inside him. His mind raced with thoughts of his past battles, the ease with which he controlled air and water. Earthbending was different—he couldn't just flow with it. He had to stand firm, be resolute.

Terra stomped the ground again with a series of punching movements sending a wave of stones crashing toward him. This time, Xalin took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He felt the earth beneath his feet, solid and steady. Instead of forcing the earth to bend to his will, he allowed the energy to flow through him.

When the rocks reached him, Xalin moved his arms in a sweeping motion, and a thick, reinforced wall of earth rose in front of him. The rocks slammed against it, but this time, the wall held. The stones bounced off harmlessly, and the ground beneath Xalin stayed solid.

"Better!" Terra called out, a hint of approval in her voice. "You're getting it."

Xalin lowered the wall, panting slightly but feeling a sense of accomplishment. The connection with the earth was becoming clearer. He had to stop treating it like water or air—it wasn't something to be shaped. It was something to be solidified.

"Alright," Terra said, walking over to him. "Now we take it up a notch."

She bent the earth again, this time creating multiple pillars around Xalin, each towering high above him. The pillars began to shift and move, crashing toward him from all sides.

Xalin's heart raced, but he remembered Terra's words. He couldn't run. He had to stand firm. With a deep breath, he planted his feet and spread his arms wide, feeling the energy of the earth flow through him.

The pillars came crashing down, but Xalin raised a massive dome of stone around himself, the earth moving seamlessly to protect him from all sides. The pillars smashed against the dome, but it held strong, not a single crack forming.

Lira and Kell watched in awe from the sidelines. "He's really getting the hang of it," Lira said, impressed by Xalin's progress.

Kell nodded. "Yeah. He's learning fast."

Inside the dome, Xalin could feel the weight of the earth pressing down on him, but he didn't waver. He stood his ground, letting the earth be his shield. Slowly, he lowered the dome, letting the stones fall away as the dust settled.

Terra crossed her arms, a small smile on her face. "Not bad, sparky. Not bad at all."

Xalin exhaled, his chest heaving from the exertion. "That was… intense."

Terra laughed. "Get used to it. Earthbending is all about pushing yourself to the limit and then pushing some more."

Kell and Lira walked over, both of them smiling. "That was impressive, Xalin," Lira said. "I didn't think you'd get the hang of it so quickly."

Kell added, "You're starting to look like a real earthbender."

Xalin wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. "Thanks. But I still have a long way to go."

Terra clapped her hands, drawing their attention. "Alright, we're not done yet. One more drill for today."

She bent the earth again, this time creating a wide pit in the ground. "I want you to fill this pit, Xalin. Not with one big chunk of earth, but with precision. You need to be able to control the earth piece by piece."

Xalin nodded, though his body was already feeling the strain of the day's training. He stepped toward the pit and lowered himself into a stance. He felt the earth beneath him, the energy still flowing through his body. Slowly, he raised his arms, and small chunks of earth began to rise from the ground, filling the pit one by one.

It was slower than he expected, but Xalin focused on control. Each piece of earth had to fit perfectly, like a puzzle coming together. As the minutes passed, the pit began to fill, the earth settling neatly into place.

Terra watched closely, nodding in approval as Xalin worked. When the pit was nearly full, Xalin raised one last chunk of earth and carefully placed it into the center, completing the task.

"Good," Terra said, a rare note of praise in her voice. "That's enough for today."

Xalin straightened up, his body aching from the effort, but there was a sense of pride swelling in his chest. He was getting stronger, more connected to the earth. Each day, he was one step closer to mastering the Luminary state.

"Tomorrow," Terra said, "we're going to test your endurance. So get some rest. You're going to need it."

Xalin nodded, grateful for the break. As the group made their way back to camp, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had come a long way since the beginning of his journey, but he knew there was still much more to learn.