The sky was already darkening as the last of the evening's light faded, casting an orange glow over the academy's expansive training fields. Riko stood on the far side of the field, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, waiting for the lingering moment of calm before he began his practice. Aiden had long since collapsed onto the grass after his intense training session, breathing hard and tired from his own exertions. Now, it was Riko's turn.
Aiden had a lot to say about pushing boundaries and testing limits, but Riko wasn't the type to let emotions drive his actions. He approached everything with calculated thought and caution, always striving for control first. That's why, even though his powers were powerful, he needed to refine them. The mastery wasn't about strength; it was about finesse. And Phase Locking—his ability to shift parts of his body into a phase-shifted, intangible state—was something he needed to get perfect.
"Alright," Riko muttered to himself, stretching his limbs as he glanced over at Aiden. His friend was resting, but Riko couldn't afford to slack off. "Let's see what we can do."
He focused, pushing aside any distractions. Riko's mind settled as he let the familiar, tingling sensation of Phase Lockingseep into his body. He concentrated on locking his arm into the intangible state first. It was always the easiest for him—just a flicker of concentration and his arm would become like smoke, passing through objects without resistance. But today, he wasn't going to stop at just his arm.
Riko's heartbeat slowed as he concentrated harder. With a steady breath, he locked both arms into the phase-shifted state, his body half-transparent, the world around him warping slightly as the air bent and distorted where his hands passed through it. For a moment, he marveled at the sensation—the feeling of being both here and not here, of slipping through solid matter with no resistance.
Then, just as quickly, he focused on locking his legs, willing his lower half to become intangible as well. The sensation of phasing through solid objects, passing through the ground below him, was an odd one—almost dizzying. It was as though his own body was disconnected from the laws of physics, but not in a way that made him feel invulnerable. If anything, it made him feel more vulnerable, like a temporary ghost in a world full of solid objects.
For a moment, he swayed on the spot, feeling the pull of gravity try to drag him down, but his body was out of sync. He took a deep breath, struggling to balance his entire body in the intangible state. His legs wobbled beneath him, and for a brief second, he felt the sensation of being too light, floating a few inches off the ground before his concentration snapped. The feeling vanished instantly, and his body returned to its normal, solid form.
Riko exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Alright, alright… no need to get ahead of myself."
The challenge was finding balance. He had to lock his entire body into that intangible state—every part of him in sync. If his head phased too early or too late, it caused disorientation. If his torso didn't phase with his legs, he'd trip, or worse, fall right through the ground. Phase Locking wasn't about speed—it was about perfect synchronization, making each phase shift feel seamless.
After a moment to gather himself, Riko re-centered and tried again, this time concentrating harder, trying to keep his entire form in a single, solid yet shifting state. His arms faded away, then his legs. This time, when his feet started to lift off the ground, Riko adjusted, mentally pulling himself back down. This time, he maintained control as his entire body became intangible. The feeling was surreal, like a dream, but Riko pushed himself to stay focused.
He walked slowly through the training grounds, trying to test the extent of his Phase Locking. His feet barely touched the ground, and when they did, the earth seemed to warp around his steps. When he passed through a tree, the branches and leaves swayed as though his body was made of air, disturbing nothing as he moved through.
After several minutes of walking and adjusting, Riko found himself standing in front of one of the stone walls surrounding the training area. He eyed it carefully. This was the test. He could pass through objects, but could he phase through something that required precision? Could he make his entire body intangible and pass through something solid with perfect control?
With a deep breath, Riko stepped toward the stone wall and locked his body into the phase-shifted state, just as he'd done before. But this time, he didn't just phase one part of his body. His entire form became intangible, and he walked straight through the stone wall.
There was a brief moment of disorientation, a strange shiver in the air as his body phased through the solid surface. But then, he emerged on the other side, completely unscathed. It wasn't flawless—his body felt slightly out of sync, like he had just squeezed through a narrow space too quickly—but it was progress. He grinned.
"That's what I'm talking about," Riko muttered, his voice low but satisfied.
As he stood there on the other side of the wall, his body becoming tangible once again, he turned to see Aiden sitting up on the grass, watching him intently.
"Not bad," Aiden called out with a grin, his eyes bright with amusement. "Looks like you're getting the hang of it."
Riko smirked, brushing dirt from his hands. "It's all about precision. One mistake, and you could end up stuck halfway through something."
Aiden chuckled. "Yeah, I could see that being a problem. Anyway, I think we've both had enough for today, right?"
Riko nodded, his body already starting to feel the strain of constant practice. "You're right. I'm done for now."
The two of them walked back toward the academy, side by side, the sounds of the training grounds slowly fading as the night grew deeper. Riko couldn't help but feel a sense of quiet accomplishment. There was still a long way to go, but today had been a step forward.