“Crisis is one of the greatest catalysts of power. Everything about you is made to survive and so when your life's on the line if a limit needs to be broken your body and spirit will cooperate.”

~ Grand Councilwoman

Daimyon

It’s been two weeks since Bones and I started my super training, and though I’ve become more adept at using the Wind Compression technique, I’m quite disappointed in my progress overall. I’m sure that Bones feels the same way. He walks towards me to lecture while I catch my breath from our last sparring exchange.

“Daimyon, it’s been two weeks since we have started this training, and though you’ve become more adept at using the Wind Compression technique, I’m quite disappointed in your progress overall.” That confirms my belief with creepy accuracy. I stand to my feet.

“What am I not getting about it? Wind Compression has only been getting easier, and yet...I don’t know.” My frustration is building. It’s becoming more apparent each second that I don’t have the skill for this technique.

“You need to take a break. Your arcana control is improving but you’re not ready to use the Skywave Cannon yet. For now, focus only on Wind Compression.” He says as he walks past me on the way out of the training grounds. “We’ll meet again after the weekend. Take some time off and allow your body to heal. Don’t attempt to use the Skywave Cannon anymore.” I hit the ground with my fist before taking a deep breath. He’s right. I’ll be able to do a lot better once I get some actual rest. Every day it’s been classes, then training, a little sleep, and then classes again. Even though it’s a lot of fun and I’m learning much faster, the double schedule is definitely exhausting. I get up and head back to my room, then change for bed. Within an hour or so I’m nearing a deep sleep but, of course, someone knocks on my door. Maybe it’s Bones coming back to let me know of something that can help me? The thought excites me and I hop to the door, but it’s not Bones. It’s Chase, I realize immediately that we haven’t talked since we started training.

“Chase!” He waves at me.

“Yo, Daimyon. How are you doing with your training?” He seems much stronger already, not to mention more confident.

“I’m making progress. You seem to be making a lot of progress yourself.” My response causes him to chuckle lightly.

“Heh, A bit, yes. That’s not why I came, though. I’m leaving tomorrow morning to visit grandpa for the weekend and I thought you’d like to come. Oh and don’t worry about the curfew, I got special permission from Mistress Kareasa.” My eyes light up. Chase’s grandfather was the closest thing I had to a parent when I was younger, I mean other than Daigo. A disembodied spirit isn’t really the same thing though. When I met Chase, I was foraging for food in the forest near my home. He introduced me to his grandpa and his younger sister, Pip. From then on, they were like my new family. I haven’t seen them since I left.

“Yeah, of course! I’ll pack up right now!” I’m super excited. This is a great way to rest and clear my head and it’ll also be good to see them again. We nod at each other and he leaves, allowing me to prepare for our trip in private. Well, almost private. Daigo wanted to share an opinion with me.

“You seem refreshed from hearing that news.” He says with more surprise than I expect. “I thought you told Chase’s grandfather that you would not return to see him until after your first year was complete.”

“Yeah, but I want to see how they’re doing. Now that I’ve been here this long, I kinda miss them. Plus it’ll be good to get away for a bit.” I finish packing up and prepare to head to bed, but there’s another knock at the door. This time, it was Kiyonna. Chase is one thing but I’m a little shocked that she came to visit this late at night.

“Hey, Kiyonna. What are you doing here so late?” She looks almost wide awake even though she’s also in her sleepwear.

“Hey, I just wanted to see how you were. I didn’t want to disturb you since you’ve been training so hard and need your rest so I went to visit Chase, but he said that he was planning to ask you to go with him for the weekend. I thought you would, so I came by to see you off.”

“Thanks. What will you do while we’re gone for the weekend?” I can’t help but wonder. Ever since the incident, the Grand Council has forbidden Kiyonna from leaving the academy.

“Probably just study. I’d like to learn more about my sacred spirit. That way I can help you guys.” I smile.

“I know you’ll do well, Kiyonna. Just give yourself a try.” She nods happily and walks away. I’m glad to see her, especially in cute pajamas but now I can finally go to bed.

The next day…

We meet at the portal, ready to go. Chase’s grandfather lives in Doth, the city where I was born. It’s a little farther from the academy than Echelon but still the trip shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours. Exiting through the portal, we begin our journey by catching up.

“So Chase, who's this mysterious trainer you’re working with?”

“His name is Kouki. He’s mostly just given me tasks so far. I’m supposed to complete them by the time he gets back from some secret mission.”

“Man, these older naturalists are so mysterious. How powerful do you really think they are?”

“Who knows? The textbooks only speak of legends vaguely. Active naturalists seem to keep their real abilities as underwraps as possible.”

To be honest, I don’t really think either of us has any kind of clue. We just got to the academy and all of a sudden we’re being trained by some crazy strong dudes.

“One thing I can say is they’ve clearly been through alot. You can kinda just tell by their demeanor.” Chase offers. We look at each other and laugh.

“Anyway, I’m training to protect Kiyonna. What are you training for, Chase?” He looks to the sky.

“Well, I want to be strong too. Not just because you are. I want to do my part as a naturalist. I read about all of these legends and I wonder to myself, can I be like them? I wasn’t born super talented or with great power. I’m smart, I pay attention, I listen and take directions. I’ll use those strengths to make my mark on the world.” We arrive in Doth, and eventually our old home. Chase’s grandfather was standing outside with Pip, waving us down. Pip runs down to us and jumps up to hug me.

“I missed you!” Then looks over to Chase. “And you too, I guess.” He frowns at her, causing her to stick her tongue out at him, causing me to laugh.

“Grandfather, it is good to see you again.” Chase says, shaking his grandfather’s hand. He produces a strong grin looking at us both.

“Chase, Daimyon. Welcome home. You both look strong.” His grandfather always treated me like his own grandson, and opened his home to me. I owe them a lot.

“Well, we’re pretty strong but we’re still training hard.” I respond, scratching the back of my head. We enter the house and Grandpa Matthews puts on a pot of tea for us.

“Daimyon, guess what? I can use arcana now!” Pip exclaims, smiling.

“Wow, Pip! You’re still only eight years old! I’m nearly twice your age and I’m barely able to manifest arcana. What’s your affinity?” She hops out of her chair and inhales deeply before blowing a tiny ball of flame at my teacup, causing it to steam.

“Grandpa said I can go to the academy next year!” Chase and I both shoot eyes toward his grandfather, who’s sitting quietly sipping tea. Chase’s face turns serious.

“I thought a naturalist had to be at least fifteen to enroll in the academy, grandfather?”

“Pip is going to attempt the aptitude test next year to see if she can enter early. I’ve been teaching her in the meantime how to maintain control of her arcana. She’s...coming along. I’ve had to replace a few things.” He laughs. I suppose even though he’s not a naturalist himself, his wife, daughter and stepson were. Not to mention his two grandchildren are. He must have some degree of knowledge of how controlling arcana works. I look over at Pip.

“Well, well. We have a little genius sister. That’s news to me, for sure. But I think you can do it, Pip!” Hearing that she was going to take the aptitude test next year inspires me even more to work hard on my own training. But, first I’m going to enjoy this weekend with my family.

Kiyonna

The weekend is here already, much to my dread. I don’t know what to do. My sister’s gone, Daimyon and Chase are also gone and there’s no classes to keep me busy. Maybe Aurora’s right. Maybe I need to make some more friends. Or at least make friends with someone who isn’t off training all the time. I sigh as I exit my room to head to the cafe. If I’m going to start studying, I need to eat first.

I take a seat to eat and quickly notice that no one else is eating by themselves. I must look really pathetic here all alone. Perhaps I can try talking to someone? But talking to someone that’s already in a group feels weird, and everyone in line seems like they were more interested in getting food. The longer I think about it, the worse the idea feels. Is there really no one else like me here? It’s eating me alive so much that I begin pacing back and forth in the cafe with my head down until I eventually bump into someone else, a girl that was heading to her seat. She scrambles to catch her plate, but drops it right in front of me, causing my face to light up red with embarrassment.

“Hey! Look what you did!” My heart races as I search for the appropriate words to apologize. Before I can speak, she grabs me by the hair and puts her face in mine. “What are you gonna do about it?” Clearly she was stronger than me, and likely a better naturalist. She balls up her fist to strike me, and I close my eyes and wait anxiously for my punishment. Instead, I hear another woman’s voice.

“Move, you. You’re in the way.” Unfortunately, this only makes my attacker even more angry, and she lets go of me to turn and face her. Her reaction is very different from what I expected. My attacker begins to tremble at the sight of the woman, surprisingly.

“S-sorry...I didn’t know it was you, Miss Soniya.” She throws her head down bowing and steps out of the way. So her name is Soniya? It’s a very pretty name. She strides past her to a table that she had all to herself, sits down with her cup of coffee and begins to read. There’s a radiant aura about her, with beautifully short cut red hair and a magnificent body that even I want to compliment. Everything about her screams “Popular Girl” if it weren’t already apparent. I can’t dare to approach her. I quietly go to clean up the girl’s plate who’s still shaken from the encounter.

“I’m very sorry about this. I can get you another, um...if you’d like.” My offer goes unnoticed. Her eyes are fixated on Soniya, who doesn’t look up even once from her book. Even more surprising, she speaks to me.

“You on the floor. Come and sit with me. Leave that mean girl to clean up her mess.” I’m beyond shocked. My stomach balls up in a knot as I point to myself for clarification.

“A-are you talking...to me?” She sighs disappointingly.

“Who else would I be talking to? Come on now, I won’t bite you. Probably.” I race over to the seat, so as to not offend her. She takes a sip of her coffee and continues to read silently. This confuses me even more. I’m not sure whether I should say something to her or not.

“Um...excuse me?”

“Hang on, almost finished.” She never looks away from her page, only moving to sip her coffee. She’s stunning to watch. There’s a tranquility about her that spoke volumes of her confidence and power. Finally, she closes her book. “What’s your name?”

“It’s Kiyonna, miss.” She scoffs.

“What’s with the miss? Don’t call me that, it makes me feel old. Soniya is my name, use that to address me from now on.”

“Okay, Soniya.” She looks directly in my eyes before looking away to the other side.

“You don’t have many friends here, huh?” Has she watched me this entire time? Why? I have no choice but to reply.

“No. Unfortunately my friends are gone for the weekend so I’m passing time. I was going to study today after lunch.”

“Well, well. Don’t let me stop you from studying. The next time you see me here though, come and sit with me.” I look up and smile, which causes her face to twist up a bit. At this point, it doesn’t matter why she’s talking to me. At least not right at this moment. I’m so excited.

“Okay! Can I meet you here after I finish studying?” She shrugs.

“Sure. If I’m here.” My eyes light up. I wanted to leave right now and tell my sister but then the realization hit that she was also gone, and my overwhelming sadness returned to me. I’m ready to go study, but before I go, I have to get clarity.

“Excuse me, Soniya. Why did you ask me to sit with you?” I ask in a low tone. She looks at me and chuckles.

“I don’t know, there’s something about you that makes me want to look out for you. You’re like my sad little sister walking around with your head down.” She stands up preparing to leave. “Anyway, I have to go to class. I hope that when you’re finished studying, you’ll come back to meet me here.” She grins, revealing a gorgeous row of teeth as she walks off. She already has my admiration. Something about her was just so...majestic. She reminds me so much of Aurora. I miss my sister dearly, but at least now...maybe I don’t have to be alone while she’s gone.

End~