The office of the chief was bathed in pale sunlight, filtered through heavy clouds. The two orange-eyed espers, David and Anastasia, stood before the desk, their postures straight but their expressions subtly wary.

“David, how is the training going for the three?” The Director inquired, who was sat on the chief’s desk. The chief stood behind him, their silhouettes traced a fine white from the light coming from the window.

“Nero progresses at a regular rate,” David began, his voice even but professional. “He doesn’t grasp things quickly at first, but once he does, he catches on fast. However, he has a bad habit of generating explosive energy bursts. As a result, he burns through his aura too quickly.”

“Is that so…”

“Yes, sir. As for Grant, he’s slower on the uptake. He’s rigid and inflexible. Something in his mind must be holding him back. But he’s persistent and pushes himself hard. His progress is… well, at the very least, he’s progressing faster than we did when we first became espers.”

Chief Vivian interfered, “So you’re saying it’ll take another year or two before he becomes useful in the field.”

“I wouldn’t say that, but… baby steps, I suppose.”

“And as for Isabelle Castella?”

David hesitated, his gaze lowering to the floor, “As for her, she’s...”

“That’s to be expected. Given her background, it’s only natural that she’d barely scrape by.” Chief shrugged with a disappointed look, expecting the silver-haired girl to lag behind.

“No, it’s actually the opposite. Her progress is abnormally fast.” David clarified, shaking his head, “She started off releasing all of her energy at once, but in the past few days, she’s already learned how to minimize and use it effectively. She still has problems, but she’s incredibly quick to overcome them.”

“Considering she already has full access to her psychic abilities, she’s already more powerful than all of us.” Anastasia added.

“You must be exaggerating.” The chief scoffed.

“I’m not, sir. I would go so far as to say she’s almost on par with Nero or Felix in terms of combat.”

“I ran a background check, she was just a normal woman before we picked her up. How is she progressing faster than the assassin and the bounty hunter?”

“I don’t know what else to tell you. It’s not just that she’s eager to learn, it’s that she learns too quickly. My guess is... If Isabelle was a fourth stage like Felix, you’d have yourself a monster.”

“Is that a suggestion?” The Director humored the assertion, “Should we attempt to turn her into a fourth stage?”

“If she could survive it, then maybe…” David considered.

“Perhaps Isabelle is an anomaly, but her heart is too soft.” The Chief interjected. In those few short words, she implied everything she needed to say.

David looked up and responded, “Ah, it’s as you say, sir. She’s very soft-hearted. I’m afraid that she might not have the stomach for what we do.”

The air in the office suddenly grew heavy as the Director spoke.

“Don’t forget,” He opened his other eye, revealing its amber glare, and dark sclera, “I was the one who found her, and I chose her for a reason.”

Agitated and cold, the Chief clutched her chest, feeling it tightening.

Even two of the top agents felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand up, feeling the weight of his gaze.

But as he closed it, he gave a small, jovial smile, “She just needs a little push.”

The three individuals felt like they were allowed to breathe once again.

He then shifted his attention towards the red-haired woman, “Anastasia, how’s Felix?”

The red-haired woman gulped, then answered, “Sir, he’s progressing at a normal pace as expected. So far he’s learned how to manifest psychic energy in his hands.”

“But he can’t use it on his whole body yet?”

Stolen story; please report.

“He can…” She clarified, “But he can only do it on instinct, not on command.”

“Is that so?” He responded, almost disappointed.

“Right now, I think he and Nero should be on the same level.”

“I see. Then, how about we see for ourselves the fruits of your hard labor.” The Director’s lips curled lightly, letting out a smile ever so slight as he scratched his beard, “Thank you for the suggestion, Anastasia.”

“I, um… you’re welcome, sir?”

The old, polar-bear like man got up from the chief’s seat, “You’re free to go.”

“Director. Where are you headed?” Chief Vivian asked.

“I’m going to see an old friend.” The Director answered as he walked towards the door.

The two amber-eyed operatives looked at each other with a shrug, then headed for the door as well.

But as they walked, the chief spoke, “Anya, wait…”

Anastasia turned around while David exited the door.

“While you’re still here, I’m assigning you on an urgent mission.” A holographic projection appeared in front of them.

*

Rattling metal could be heard in the slowly dimming training room, the bright sunset slowly sank from the windows, while a frustrated man with red eyes struggled to hit the mark he set out for himself.

“One more time.” Grant grunted as he gripped his chain. The room gradually darkened, making his glowing eyes the last source of light.

With a fiery red haze, it burst forward and missed the wooden target ahead of it. He then pulled back his arm, trying to use the momentum that launched it, before suddenly feeling the strain of trying to pull back an anchor.

“Ahrk!” He grabbed his own aching shoulder.

He sighed as he pulled back his arm, expecting the chain to return. But it remained in the air, stiff and steady like a broadsword, wrapped in a red glow.

“Come! Back!” He grumbled as he waved his arm around, but the iron-ball remained suspended in the same spot, while the rest of the chain followed along with his arms movements, making a soft clatter.

“URGH! Why won’t you work?! Listen to me!” He growled in frustration.

“It’s because you’re doing it wrong.” A figure spoke from behind him.

“Ahk!—” Startled, the red energy on the chain dispersed and it fell to the ground with a heavy gong. When Grant looked at the figure, he sighed and asked, “Maria... when did you get here?”

“You left the door open. I’ve been watching for five minutes.” She cheerfully replied.

“Huh…” He let out a resigned sigh, “What am I doing wrong, then?”

“You’re thinking of how it should move, trying to dictate how it should be. Don’t you hear the chains rattling? What you have to do is let it move on its own. Even a bystander can figure it out just by watching how you use your psychic energy.” She sharply remarked.

“That’s what I’m doing.”

“It’s not. You’re imagining where the chain should go and trying to dictate its every move. That’s not how it works. You let the head lead, and everything else follows. Once you’ve got that down, learn to use your energy to create a vacuum through the surrounding air, removing as much friction as it swings.”

“But Isabelle was able to...” He weakly protested.

“You’re not Isabelle. You’re you. It’s the same power expressed differently. From how I understand it, what Isabelle’s doing is pre-calculating a dozen possibilities for her trajectory, so the bullet is pre-programmed to react in a certain way before the gun is even fired. But with you, you’re doing it in real-time, so don’t think of the chain as something you control, but something you guide.”

“You mean… like a snake?”

Maria nodded.

Grant attempted once more. The chain ball shot forward, and as it missed its target, he moved back his arm and the chain followed, only to miss again.

“You’re still doing it wrong. Learn to use momentum to your energy’s advantage.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“When you use a hammer, do you still think about the hammer in your hand? About what you’re gonna do next?”

“N-no?”

“Yeah, it’s the opposite of that.”

“Ah… huh?” His glowing eyes focused on the chain in his hands.

“It probably sounds counter-intuitive, but you need to remember that psychic power is mental power. Now, picture it in your head and try again.”

One more time, he took a deep breath. He closed his crimson eyes, a single, red dot formed in his vision. In the darkness, that dot expanded into a burning red sphere, like a star in the center of vast nothingness.

Grant’s grip on the chains tightened, in his headspace, the red sphere grew and expanded into a growing red cylinder. His eyes curled, and the cylindrical structure curved with it, gradually transforming into the link on the chain.

His fingers ran across the weapon in his hand, feeling every link and separation. The texture, the form, creating a vivid image in his head. One that burned with crimson glow.

“Psychic energy flows from inside your body, and exerted out into the real world, flowing into that chain.”

The metal warmed up as it gradually became enveloped in a thin crimson fires of his energy.

He pulled back his arm, and feeling the burning aura course through his veins. He struck once more and missed his target, but as he held bated breath, his fixation tightened towards his goal, and the chain curved, pulled by his aura, following his will.

But it was still incomplete.

Not content with the outcome, Grant grit his teeth and pulled up arm, causing the chain to turn once more.

It sharply whipped across air and wrapped around its target, coiling around until it smashed against it into bits.

Grant let out a heavy exhale, and the thick iron ball fell with a thick thud, followed by a metallic clatter, “It… worked.”

“Well, it’s a start. At least you get the gist of it.” She placed her hand on her hip.

He wiped the drop of sweat sliding down his cheek, “I’m not sure I have the luxury to think while in the middle of a battle.”

“That’s why you have to train until it becomes second nature. Now that you have the feel for it, it should be smooth sailing from there.” She smirked. Her dark eyes gaze then landed on his preferred weapon, “Why a chain, anyway?”

“It was the first thing I was able to work with… everything else just seemed… so much more difficult to use compared to this.”

“That so? Might have imprinted on you. A sense of justice, maybe? Anyways, keep practicing until it hits like a cannon ball.” She patted his back before heading towards the door.

“Maria... Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She replied without even bothering turning around.

~