The sun hung low in the sky, painting the forest in shades of orange and gold as the group finally touched down in a small clearing. Sol's legs wobbled slightly as he landed, still getting used to flying with Blue's help. Fallen leaves crunched under their feet as they surveyed their temporary home for the night.

  "Finally," Neiva groaned, dropping her massive travel bag with a thud that scattered a few nearby birds. She rolled her shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness from hours of flight. "I never thought I'd miss solid ground so much."

  Angelo's wings of orange light dissolved into sparkles as he touched down. "Let's get the tents up before we lose daylight." He started unpacking his gear, energy tendrils of light helping him sort through the equipment. "Red, Blue – give me a hand with these."

  "Oh, so now I'm useful?" Red materialized with his trademark wild grin, grabbing tent poles with unnecessary enthusiasm. "What happened to being everyone's last choice?"

  "Just try not to break anything," Blue appeared with his usual perfect posture, methodically laying out the tent pieces in precise rows. "These need to last the entire journey."

  Sol worked on his own tent nearby, sneaking glances at the trio as they moved in perfect sync despite their constant bickering. It was like watching a well-rehearsed dance where the dancers couldn't stop arguing about the steps.

  "I can't believe I agreed to this," Neiva whined, halfheartedly poking at her rolled-up sleeping bag. "Camping is the worst."

  Angelo looked up from where he was hammering in tent stakes. "Pretty sure nobody forced you to come."

  "You know I couldn't just stay behind!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "I go wherever you go!"

  "Oh?" Sol's eyes sparkled with mischief as he paused in his work. "So you two are lovebirds after all?"

  The silence that followed was deafening. Neiva's face went dark as she suddenly became very interested in organizing her backpack.

  "I believe," Blue cut in diplomatically, "that topic might be better left unexplored."

  "Let's focus on getting camp set up," Angelo's tone left no room for argument. "Daylight's burning."

  Thirty minutes later, their little camp had taken shape. A cheerful fire crackled in the center, surrounded by logs Angelo had cut for seating. The flames cast dancing shadows across their faces as they settled in for the evening.

  Sol sipped from a steaming cup of tea, trying to break the lingering awkwardness. "See? This isn't so bad."

  Neiva shot him a look that could have frozen his tea solid. "Really? And what about basic hygiene? You know, showers? Toilets?"

  "Well," Sol gestured expansively at the surrounding forest, "nature's facilities are always open." He chuckled at her horrified expression. "But seriously, we might find one of those metal barrel setups in the next town – heat some water underneath, instant shower."

  "And when exactly do we reach civilization again?" Neiva's voice dripped skepticism.

  "Careful there," Red snickered, dropping an armload of firewood. "You pressed his nerd button."

  Blue appeared behind her, making her jump. "Based on our calculations using map landmarks and Sol's timer, we've been traveling at approximately fifty miles per hour. We should reach the next town in roughly two days."

  Just as Neiva started to relax, Angelo cleared his throat. "Don't get too comfortable. Training starts now."

  The color drained from her face. "What?"

  "Remember our deal in Ashford?" Angelo crossed his arms, his stern expression reminding everyone why criminals feared the Angel of Death. "You wanted to stop feeling useless during attacks. Well, this is how we fix that."

  "And what makes this training so special?" Sol asked, clearly amused by Neiva's growing dread.

  A rare smile crossed Angelo's face – the kind that made Neiva want to run for the hills. "Because she's getting the world's worst teachers." He gestured to his duplicates. "I handle practical skills, Blue covers theory, and Red..." He paused meaningfully. "Red makes sure she's doing everything properly."

  "They're three extremes!" Neiva's voice carried real panic now. "This is going to be torture!"

  Sol looked between them, understanding dawning. "Ah... extremely tough," he pointed to Angelo, "extremely boring," to Blue, "and extremely..."

  "Annoying," Blue finished primly. Red just grinned wider, which somehow made it worse.

  "Right then," Angelo's voice carried the finality of a judge passing sentence. "Get changed into workout clothes. We found a perfect clearing nearby."

  As Neiva trudged toward her tent like someone heading to their doom, Sol called after her: "Good luck! I'm rooting for you!"

  She turned back with such a haunted expression that Sol's encouraging smile withered and died. Clearly, he had no idea what he was about to witness.

  A cool breeze rustled through the forest clearing as Neiva adjusted her workout clothes – black sweats with electric blue stripes that made her feel a little more confident about what was coming. She pulled her bright red hair into a tight ponytail, trying to ignore how her hands shook slightly. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves above, creating shifting patterns on the grass beneath her feet.

  Angelo stood before her like a martial arts instructor from the movies, arms crossed and expression serious. Red lounged against a nearby tree, scanning the woods with predatory attention while pretending not to care. Blue maintained his usual perfect posture, ready to jump in with explanations at a moment's notice. Three teachers, three completely different approaches – Neiva's stomach did another nervous flip.

  "Let's start with the absolute basics," Angelo said, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "What do you actually know about Aurons?"

  Neiva shifted her weight from foot to foot, suddenly feeling like she was back in school being called on without knowing the answer. "Well... just what everyone knows, I guess?" She tried not to wince at how uncertain she sounded.

  "But what are they really?" Angelo pressed. "At their core?"

  "I... uh..." Neiva's mind went completely blank as three sets of identical eyes watched her fumble for words.

  Blue stepped forward smoothly, exchanging a quick look with Angelo. "Perhaps I should demonstrate?" When Angelo nodded, Blue's evolved aura sparked to life like a gentle blue flame.

  Neiva braced herself for another boring lecture, but Blue surprised her. His forged energy swirled between his hands, forming two glowing spheres that hung in the air like captured starlight. One was massive, easily the size of a beach ball, while the other was tiny enough to fit in her palm.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Think of it this way," Blue said, gesturing to his creation. The bigger sphere pulsed with gentle light, almost hypnotic. "The universe is like this large sphere – an endless ocean of pure energy just waiting to be used."

  Neiva found herself leaning forward despite her usual resistance to lessons. There was something captivating about seeing the concept brought to life. "Okay..."

  "And this smaller sphere?" Blue continued, making the tiny orb dance through the air. "That's you – or any Auron. We're like cups trying to catch water from that infinite ocean."

  "But we need a way to actually get the energy, right?" Neiva asked, starting to see where this was going.

  "Exactly. Using a phenomenon called 'Energy Connection' – invisible threads that energy flows in throughout the universe."

  Blue created a thin thread of light connecting the spheres. "This is your connection – like a straw trying to drink from that ocean. No matter how much power exists out there," he gestured to the large sphere, "you can only draw so much through such a tiny connection."

  Understanding lit up Neiva's face. "Oh! So that's why Aurons can't just use all of it, even though there's infinite energy!"

  "Precisely. And if you try to pull too much power at once..." Blue made the thread snap with a tiny pop that made Neiva jump. "Or try to hold more than your capacity..." The small sphere cracked like breaking glass. "Well..."

  "You'll die?!" Neiva's voice shot up an octave.

  Angelo rolled his eyes. "No, you won't die. But your stamina takes a massive hit. Like trying to run a marathon without training."

  "Don't sugar-coat it, Angie!" Red bounced over, his trademark wild grin promising embarrassing stories. "Tell her about all the times you pushed too hard and ended up with blood running from your nose!"

  "Ew!" Neiva wrinkled her nose in disgust.

  "Sometimes even his ears!" Red added with way too much enthusiasm.

  "Ew, ew, ew!" Neiva covered her ears, shaking her head like she could physically remove that mental image. When she finally recovered, something clicked. "Wait – is this why we did all that meditation back in Ashford?"

  "Exactly," Blue nodded approvingly. "Mediation lets you feel the connection in your mind, and the physical training lets you attune to it with your body."

  They all stared at him. "That's... actually really simple," Neiva said, surprised by how much sense it made.

  "Indeed." Blue allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "The basics often are. Though there are many advanced applications, these fundamental concepts form the foundation of everything else."

  "Huh." Neiva looked down at her hands, trying to imagine invisible threads connecting her to that infinite ocean of power. For the first time since starting this journey, the whole Auron thing felt a little less intimidating and a little more possible.

  Angelo clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Right, time for the real work. We'll start with physical training, then move to meditation later. Trust me – it's better to rest your body while training your mind."

  Colored light filled the clearing as Angelo, Red, and Blue's auras came to life around them. The trio spread out in a triangle, each focusing intently on creating a small orb of energy between their hands. Minutes ticked by as they worked, faces scrunched in concentration.

  "Seriously?" Neiva bounced impatiently on her toes. "Ten whole minutes just to make something a bit larger than a tennis ball?"

  "Because he doesn't want them to vanish!" Sol's cheerful voice made her jump. He strolled into the clearing, hands in his pockets. "Got bored at camp. Thought I'd join the workout."

  "Vanish?" Neiva's forehead wrinkled in confusion.

  Sol's eyes lit up like he was about to share a cool secret. "Ever heard of temporary matter? It's like..." He glanced around, then snapped his fingers. "You know how ice sculptures melt away? Similar idea, but with energy instead of temperature."

  Understanding sparked in Neiva's eyes. "Oh! Angelo mentioned something about that before."

  "Want to explain?" Angelo asked Sol, still focused on his orb.

  "Picture building something with real materials," Sol said, picking up a nearby stick. "Nature spent ages making this wood, right? But Aurons can create stuff instantly – temporary matter that looks and feels just as real, only it disappears when they power down."

  "Reminds me of my old console that would delete my save files every time I turned it off." Neiva said dryly.

  Sol grinned. "Exactly! Only this takes way less energy than creating permanent stuff. That's why they're spending so long charging these orbs. To use them while their aura's are off."

  "Use them for what?" Neiva asked.

  "Weights." Angelo said simply.

  "Weights?" Neiva watched as the trio used their glowing energy to create handles and attach them to various-sized rocks. When they finished, Angelo let his aura fade completely – but the makeshift equipment stayed solid, handles gleaming with stored power.

  "Anyone want some?" Angelo asked, gesturing to the collection of weights scattered around them.

  "Don't mind if I do!" Sol grabbed the heaviest pair like a kid picking the biggest cookie. Neiva chose the smallest ones, while Angelo picked weights just slightly larger than hers.

  They spread out to begin their workout, following Angelo's lead through basic exercises. After a few sets, Sol couldn't help noticing something odd. Despite Angelo's clearly muscular build, he was using surprisingly light weights.

  "What gives?" Sol asked between reps. "You're way stronger than this."

  Angelo finished his set with a controlled exhale before answering. "This split condition – it's like having the parking brake on all the time. Cuts everything in half – strength, powers, everything."

  "No way!" Sol nearly dropped his weights. "Though I guess that makes sense. Three-in-one would be pretty unfair otherwise."

  "Trust me," Angelo shot an annoyed look at Red, who was doing one-armed curls while making exaggerated bodybuilder poses, "it's more curse than blessing."

  "Aw, come on!" Red draped himself over Angelo's shoulders like an affectionate cat. "Is that because I wake you up sometimes?"

  Angelo shrugged him off with the practice of long suffering. "Correction – it's a curse all of the time."

  Sol's laughter mixed with the sounds of Neiva struggling with her own weights, her face scrunched with effort as she tried to copy their movements. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves above, casting shifting patterns across their makeshift gym as the training session continued in earnest.

  Night had settled over their camp like a soft blanket, crickets chirping their evening song as stars peeked through the canopy above. The remains of their campfire cast a gentle orange glow across the clearing where Angelo, Sol, and Neiva sat cross-legged in meditation. Orange light flickered around Angelo like a gentle flame – his evolved aura making him look almost like a living lantern in the darkness.

  Neiva found meditation much easier this time, her aching muscles actually helping her stay still. Amazing how exhaustion could improve focus.

  "Okay, I have to ask," Sol broke the peaceful silence, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. "What's with keeping the fancy aura on while meditating?"

  Angelo cracked open his glowing orange eyes, meeting Sol's curious gaze. "Two birds, one stone. Meditation plus evolved aura training."

  "How does that work?" Sol leaned forward, genuinely interested.

  "Think of it like breaking in new shoes," Angelo explained. "At first they're uncomfortable, take more energy to walk in. But wear them long enough?" He shrugged. "Eventually they feel just as natural as your old ones. Same with evolved aura – spend enough time in it, and it becomes your new normal."

  "Man, I can't wait to evolve," Sol said with naked longing in his voice.

  Something dark crossed Angelo's face. "You know how evolution happens, right?"

  "Yeah..." Sol's excitement dimmed as quickly as it had come. He quickly changed the subject, a mischievous spark returning to his eyes. "You know what's been bugging me though?"

  "Mm?" Angelo's disinterest was almost comical.

  "That first time we met – when you cornered me?" Sol's voice carried a competitive edge. "I think we need a rematch."

  Angelo's eyes opened fully this time. Even Red materialized beside him, trademark wild grin spreading across his face. "Don't get cocky, pretty boy!" Red bounced on his heels. "We're not your average opponents!"

  Sol's confidence never wavered. "How about we level the playing field? Base aura only – no evolution."

  Angelo and Red exchanged knowing looks, like wolves sizing up prey.

  "What, is the big bad Angel of Death scared of a fair fight?" Sol's taunt hit its mark.

  Angelo let his evolved aura fade, eyes returning to their natural brown. "Please. I was taking down bigger threats than you before I even evolved." A small smile tugged at his lips. "But if we do this, Red fights with me."

  "Oh?" Sol laughed. "Can't handle one-on-one?"

  "That's the deal. You in or out?"

  "What about Blue?" Sol glanced at where Blue had materialized, perfect posture as always.

  "Blue?" Angelo actually chuckled. "Blue could probably beat you solo."

  "Really?" Sol's eyebrows shot up. "The brainy one's that tough?"

  "Raw power? Nah, I'm stronger." Angelo admitted. "But the bastard moves like water – impossible to pin down. Some kind of martial arts genius."

  "Now that I've got to see," Sol said. "Usually the smart ones avoid fighting."

  Blue adjusted his non-existent glasses. "That is correct. I do not enjoy combat."

  "Then how'd you get so good?"

  Blue spread his hands in an elegant shrug that somehow conveyed complete bewilderment.

  "Wait – you don't know?" Sol burst out laughing. "How is that even possible?"

  "Can you all PLEASE be quiet?!" Neiva finally snapped, her concentration thoroughly broken. "Some of us are trying to meditate here!"

  "Sorry, sorry," Sol held up his hands in surrender, but his eyes still sparkled with challenge as he turned back to Angelo. "So what do you say, Angel? Ready to dance?"

  Angelo paused "Nah, I'm too beat from training. How about tomorrow?"

  "Oh come on!" Sol laughed "Are you seriously chickening out? I'm just as beat as you are!"

  "Exactly, so we should go at it when we're both at a hundred percent." Angelo's logic brooked no arguments.

  Sol paused for a moment before closing his eyes, allowing his trademark smirk to return "Fine, fine, you win. Tomorrow it is."