I really hate my big mouth... If I could go back in time I'd definitely punch myself in the face. How in the world could I be so [Expletive Redacted] stupid to act so cocky. I'd rather be shot by Lucian 10 times over than deal with any [Expletive Redacted] training Seraph has ever put us through. Past me, you're so [Expletive Redacted] dumb you stupid mother [Expletive Redacted] piece of [Expletive Redacted].

Ugh... Sorry, where was I? Oh yeah back to the story.

It's been three months since we began our training in the Akashic Arts. During that time we were vigilant of any possible sighting or attack by Lucian. Which ironically had no signs of even appearing. Uncle Donnell used his assets to run patrols all over the Prime System since the Necron Arcadia incident. Nova Astra also spared no expense in trying to find that sly fox. Though despite all of our efforts, Lucian didn't even show up once.

Even with Xain's intel, our enemy managed to completely evade us. So to keep ourselves from getting too restless we decided to continue our training. Andrew, Claire, and I trained with Seraph since we were the frontline fighters. Alice would join us sometimes between her work and training with the other girls. Edwin had taken over their training since their abilities were more supportive than ours. I can't even believe I'd rather be trained by the creepy Death guy than my demon of a sister.

Our main theme of the training was coordinated attacks and using our Markers as fluidly as we thought. It wasn't very easy in the beginning since the first exercise we were banned from using them in the first place.

Honestly, if someone asked me how I was spending my November, getting my ass kicked repeatedly in daily sparing matches wasn't one of them. On the bright side, I at least got used to using Zero Dark although the thing still bothered me. Plus in the hours I spent not training I managed to get through three seasons of Go Raiser without too much of a hassle.

Today however was going to be different. It was November 9th, 3999. These long months of training were going to finally pay off. Of course, there was no way we were going to beat Seraph today or ever for that fact we could at least take pride in the fact we will complete her hellish training.

I made sure to wake up early to catch a shower and some breakfast. Then the first thing I'd do is practice Clarke's exercise. I never left my room without doing so. After a mental exercise came warm-ups. 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, and 5 pull-ups. For the last one, I made a point to do without the prosthetic.

Then came my duties as Commander which took some getting used to. I'd spend a portion of my morning in the briefing room with Claudia and Minerva. Filling all of Talia's requisition orders was a pain most of the time then there was making payroll was fulfilled. Without Claudia, I'm sure I would've been buried in this paperwork. But my mind had been set on one thing and one thing alone. Afternoon training.

As noon came I set out to meet with Andrew and Claire. We'd always meet in the officer's quarters before any training to get ourselves hyped up beforehand. When I arrived the two had been waiting for me as expected.

"Yo Snow White, you sweet?" Andrew greeted

"Better than that bro," I said. "I'm a little fired up.

"You better be," warned Claire. "I don't want to have to pummel you again."

"Jeez... Still holding that over my head as usual."

Claire folded her arms, staring daggers at me. "Until you prove yourself I will. Now come on bunny boy, we can't keep Seraph waiting."

Claire led the way today which was normal given how eager she was to fight. I swore the difference between her and her brother was like black and white. Who knew such a tiny girl could pack so much anger and hostility?

As we arrived at the sparing hall, Seraph had been waiting for us. She'd taken a liking to her role as Seraph-Sensei. Opting to wear training Gi every time she trained us. She'd been kneeling on the floor with a wooden sword placed right in front of her.

"Ah... My pupils have arrived," spoke Seraph. "I wonder if they will best their teacher today?"

There was no way we could but I wasn't going to say that aloud. We all took a seat right in front of her awaiting her instructions for the day. She smiled, then took up her sword.

"Today's lesson will be extra special," Seraph announced. "It will be a 3v1 duel. Of course, the rules of equally matched aggression will apply. All you need do is land one strike upon me."

Easier said than done but whatever, challenge accepted. Because unlike the past three months today we stood a chance of winning. For once, I was glad Talia got mad at me.

The three of us began to spread out forming a circle surrounding Seraph. One after one we called upon our Astras. I even had Zero Dark ready to draw on a moment's notice.

Seraph closed her eyes and held her sword firmly with both hands. Taking a deep breath she stood there serenely taking in her surroundings.

"Strength is not having power or skill," She spoke as she opened her eyes again.

"Strength is one's will to do as one pleases..." The three of us spoke in unison.

Andrew made the first move, and a flash of blue light emitted from his sword. It didn't look like he moved at all, yet at the same time Seraph moved a few inches to the right and a myriad of bolts of lightning struck at the spot where she stood. Two more flashes of light shined from the hilt of Andrew's blade and more bolts of lighting crackled from above striking empty spaces as Seraph danced in between them.

Even though I couldn't see it I knew exactly what Andrew was doing. Over the past few months, Andrew developed a technique to turn parts of his body into lightning. So by turning his arm and blade into lighting he could fire off bolts at rapid speeds. To the naked eye, it only appeared as a flash of light.

A technique he called, Raikirimaru in which he had the habit of shouting at first. The first few times he unleashed the technique a few times keeping Seraph moving for us. Next Claire charged in armed with her Astra, Sekhmet. The pair of gauntlets she sported when she beat me silly.

The funny thing about Claire was since she wasn't an Esper before gaining a Marker she hadn't awakened to any kind of power. When she did she noticed she could see auras almost like me. The difference being I could only see Arcadians whereas she could see everyone.

As she approached Seraph the gauntlets glowed a dark shade of purple and she threw out a left jab. Seraph ducked to the side though she didn't get the opening to attack. Claire threw two more jabs keeping Seraph on the defensive for a second.

Planting her right foot on the ground, Claire twisted around pivoting in such a way she'd bring her other leg around for a roundhouse kick, forcing Seraph back some more. Still no dice.

So it was time for me to bring up the rear. Ninth Light's blade crackled to life from the emitter and I charged to the side creating orbs of flame that revolved around me. Andrew fired off some more Raikiris around Seraph while Claire would close in again from the opposite side where Seraph would dodge. Meanwhile, I'd fire off a ball of flame like a mortar shell to try and catch Seraph before she could duck in another direction.

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Between the bolts of lightning, fireballs, and punches from angry teenagers, Seraph seemed like she was having a hard time keeping up.

"How ruthless of you all," yelled Seraph. "But good you're on the right track."

Before another cycle of our attacks could begin she jumped into the air and held out her free hand. She summoned a javelin and chucked it straight at Andrew. His body turned into a flash of blue light and he reappeared a few feet to the left.

As Seraph landed, Claire charged her once again throwing jabs and hooks aiming for the body. Dropping the wooden sword, Seraph waved her hands knocking each jab out of its intended trajectory and blocking each hook as it came.

Claire threw one more right jab yet Seraph bashed her fist out of the way. Though this time Seraph countered with a left jab aimed right at Claire's jaw. The latter stumbled back a bit seeming dazed by the strike. But Claire didn't go down, she bit down hard on her tongue to keep herself conscious. A crazy way of doing that but you wouldn't find me complaining

"Right you're the tough one," said Seraph.

I fired another fireball at Seraph while Andrew unleashed another Raikiri at the same time. They both missed but that was fine, wasn't the point anyway. Claire needed to take a back seat for a moment. Just a little more and she can have her opening. It was time to be predictable.

Rushing in, I drew Zero Dark and fired two rounds. Both whizzed right by Seraph's head doing nothing but elevating the aggression levels. A pistol took shape in her hand and she charged me holding it close to her chest while having it pointed at me. Perfect, just what I wanted her to do. Sliding Ninth Light on my belt I switched my shooting hand and my prosthetic began to morph. The forearm split and the hand retracted into the metal. Slotting Zero Dark into the arm I began to funnel power into both the weapon and appendage. As soon as Seraph got close enough, she ducked low and rammed her shoulder into my chest, and began pushing me against the wall. I couldn't get my prosthetic steady enough to get a clear shot as she kept a hold of the barrel to keep it from firing while unloading a few rounds in my stomach. Luckily it was just hard paint rather than actual bullets.

Seraph did have me pinned against the wall which was bad for me but good for the others. I wrapped my free hand as tightly as I could around her to hold her in position while I could see Andrew holding his blade charging electricity throughout his body.

Now! I shouted as I felt my grip slowly loosen under Seraph's strength.

"Lightning Cage!" Andrew bellowed, raising his sword high above his head and firing lightning from his blade. The lightning surrounded us creating a cage and before it was fully developed, Claire charged into it.

Seraph stopped shuffling about, seeming to realize what was going on. That's when I'd get three rounds in the stomach again as well as a rising headbutt in the chin. I could've sworn I heard a few things cracking in my jaw. She then turned around, throwing away her pistol in exchange for another one. Must've run out of ammo at that point. But if she turned her attention I could at least get away with a surprise. Drawing my sword and thrust forward aiming straight for her back. Seraph barely managed to shift to the left, then reached from behind grabbing my neck.

Whoops... Forgot about her flexibility on this one. With one hand she managed to lift me off the ground and slam me in front of her on my back with enough force to daze me. At this point, I was done for but it left an opening long enough for Claire to close in.

Claire raised both hands high above her and slammed them straight into Seraph's head. A clean hit finally. The purple glow from Claire's gauntlets began to shine brightly as a portion of Seraph's aura was sapped by Claire.

After three months our strategy finally paid off. Our blood, sweat, and pools of tears finally had been worth something. That is until the sight of Seraph made my muscles tense up suddenly. Red horns sprouted from her forehead. The pistol she once held in her hand was replaced with a katana. Emanating from her body was a seemingly endless abyss much like she displayed at Necron Arcadia.

"Oh? You lot finally did it..." She stood straight up and turned around, letting go of my arm. Both Claire and I backed up a few feet once we noticed the change. "Now... the real fun can begin," Seraph grinned.

"You dullard... You're not being fair," said Edwin who now appeared beside Seraph. As she faced him, Edwin hit her square in the face with the spine of a book he was carrying.

"Ow," she whimpered. "You know you could've just told me to stop.

"If anyone could get a battle junkie like you to stop with words our species would still be alive."

Edwin turned to me and smiled. "Now come young Xenthos. I was sent to collect you by the lovely Claudia."

Taking Zero Dark out of my prosthetic, I dismissed both of my weapons. This marked the second time Edwin saved me from getting totally destroyed.

"Hold up a moment," Seraph called as we started heading to the door. As I looked back I noticed Claire and Andrew following me too. Probably to avoid whatever hellish training Seraph could come up with next.

"You three did very well today," said Seraph, "But you still have a very long way to go. Lord Soran, you'll have to do better in close quarters as well as using both of your powers.

"Claire, you did a good job at close range but you need to think about using your power for midrange. You're one tough cookie but that doesn't mean you cannot be broken. I know you could've drained my life energy at a distance."

"Andrew, you're a much better close-range fighter. But you tried something new. Good job."

Out of the three of us, Andrew getting the biggest compliment did get on my nerves a bit but it wasn't undeserved. Every time we've fought Seraph he'd been the frontline fighter. Changing tactics like that worked a little better than I thought. Claire and Andrew did seem to feel a little better after their feedback was given so it'd be a bit selfish not to be happy for them

"That being said," Seraph continued. "I don't think you and Claire need to go with Lord Soran."

I'm sure that was the thing they were worried about because their happiness drained at that moment.

"That isn't for you to decide Seraph," Edwin stated. "However I can make an exception. Claire, you will remain here with Seraph since you need more training. Andrew on the other hand can come with..."

I swear I could see Andrew almost dance a little jig, yet if he did then I'm sure he'd probably get an ass beating similar to mine a few months ago. So instead he scurried toward the exit not allowing the girls the chance to catch him.

I tried to find something to say to cheer Claire up but she sensed that and just shook her head. "You're the commander, go do your job."

I just nodded and then followed Edwin out the door. As we strolled through the corridor Edwin opened the book he'd been holding. It was strange seeing once since everyone had an A.U.D. nowadays. But during the months I'd known him, Edwin had been very attached to older things.

"Do you want to inquire about the literature I am holding or what it is Ms. Claudia wants with you?" Edwin asked closing the book. I guess I'd been staring a little too hard.

"I kinda get the book, but what did Claudia need?"

"Good things come to those who wait young Xenthos... If I told you now then you'd zip through the ship again."

It took us half an hour but we made it to the briefing room. Awaiting us were Alice and Claudia who seemed to be engrossed in some documents they'd been reading on the board.

Claudia saw me first and gave her salute, Alice did the same as she noticed us.

"Come on Alice, I understand Claudia but we're friends."

"It's still good to show respect to your betters," Alice said.

"It's good that you came as fast as you did Commander Soran," greeted Claudia, "It's better that you hear this in person."

She tapped away on a datapad and the screen on the board changed to a live feed of Grand Arbiter Justinia.

"Good Afternoon, Soran Xenthos," she greeted.

"Good Afternoon, Grand Arbiter," I replied, bowing to her grace.

"Come now boy, I was the one who taught you not to stand on principle."

I only did it to tease her sometimes. It wasn't something I got to do back at the trial.

"How's tricks Granny," Andrew asked. Claudia seemed to shoot daggers at Andrew for the lack of respect but the Grand Arbiter didn't seem to mind.

"Oh, I'm fine little Pendragon. I seem to still owe you a round in that human game you showed me."

"Another time Granny Justice, you got something for us."

The Grand Arbiter's smile faded, she didn't seem to like getting straight into business. "Unfortunately you're right little Pendragon. The council has asked that the Commander of Nova Astra bring what... or rather who they found to Prometheus at once."

"I wouldn't have blamed you if you called me a thing," Edwin smiled. "It's a little understandable."

"Why to Prometheus?" I asked, "Wouldn't it be better to bring him to Neo Arcadia?"

"The council cannot convene at this time," the Grand Arbiter answered. "However I am free to meet with you. Executive Councilor Panopticon has allowed me the chance to meet with him first."

"More like you twisted their arm," scoffed Andrew. I elbowed him for that one.

The Grand Arbiter chuckled seeming more amused than the rest of us were. "It was either I met with you or President Cadmus... I'm sure you both didn't want that option."

She was right, that didn't seem appealing at all.

"Alright," I said. "I'll chart a course for Prometheus at once."