The temporary hideout for the Sun and Moon Squad is a hidden underground bunker entered by telling the barkeep “The Moon covers what the Sun does not wish to show”, and a secret entrance is opened in the backroom that leads to the bunker.

Normally, a kid like myself would not be allowed in a bar. Special exception for this case I guess. The rumors that would spread from the regulars of the bar will be entertaining to hear at least.

Once in the bunker, Owen and Alex threw Gren into a cell that had no windows, and a magically sealed door with a magic one-way window that lets anyone outside the cell see inside it, but not inside from Gren’s point of view.

“Is this a magical artifact? I have never heard of an item like this” I asked the group, who seemed to be debating how much they could tell me. Eveline spoke up and said, “Magical engineering is a newer creation of humanity, and uses research of different races in concert with each other to produce artifacts like this window. We are not privy to the details to give you much more of an answer than that”.

“I understand, thank you for humoring a child like me anyways” Owen and Alex looked at me, and I could tell they were thinking “Is he actually a child?”. Selene trusted them, and I will believe in Selene’s judgement for now and not try to put up the child facade as I smiled at them. Smiling at them like a normal kid was just because I found it entertaining to throw the twins off.

Eveline also seemed to find the situation amusing, and led us to a meeting room of the bunker. Large wooden table that could host 12 members comfortably, with luxurious brown leather chairs to complete the image. The facility seemed grander than an impromptu “temporary base” would be. I started to suspect that this was actually some kind of permanent station that was already prepared for the squad’s use when they arrived. Eveline sat at the head of the table, and motioned for me to sit in the chair closest to her on the side of the table. Alex was kind enough to silently stack a few of the seat cushions from the other chairs so that I could remain at a relatively standard eye level to the rest of the group. Bowing my head in thanks to him, he sat down across from Owen.

“Do the twins know of Selene or myself?” I asked Eveline, using the mental magic of Selene. “They know of Selene, and that you’re of a special status to not ask questions that are not necessary. Selene has put a strict gag order on mentions of you in any official documentations, and knowledge of you is strictly spoken directly and forbidden to be written”.

Way to go Selene. I was worried there was some secret dossier in the military waiting to swoop me up at the “right” time.

Owen looked at Alex with hesitation, and then asked Eveline, “Captain, could you tell us why we brought Lucian to the base?” Eveline looked at Owen and said, “Selene favors this child highly, and does not wish for him to come of any danger. I am personally making sure there is no risk to himself or others as a favor to her”. Owen and Alex looked at me with fear, which was not a pleasant feeling to experience again. “No need to worry about me. I just happened to catch Selene’s eye at a bookstore, and she is helping me figure out some stuff as a favor.” I shook my head at the twins and hoped that would smooth things over.

“First, I think we should introduce ourselves to Lucian. As modest as he is, he is likely to be someone who reaches a height we won’t in life. Perhaps he can remember us when he gets to those high peaks? Owen, you can go first.” Eveline winks at me, and I am caught off guard by the playful attitude.

Owen stood up and saluted me as he said, “Sir! My name is Owen Dunkirk, son of Lisa and Gabriel Dunkirk, sir! I am a Tier 4 Wind Mage, and junior member of the Sun and Moon Squad, sir!”. Speaking as a former leader and known for strict discipline, his salute was off. Elbow was bent too low, and he was standing stiffly, which led to his form being curved, not straight– No, I am no longer Callum, but Lucian.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“No need to address me as anything but Lucian. Despite the circumstances, I am still a five year old that deserves no special treatment from any of you” I tell the group, and Owen quickly sits down and tries to relax. We look to Alex next, and he quietly says, “My name is Alex Dunkirk. Tier 4 Fire Mage”. Truly a man of few words.

Eveline looks at me directly in the eyes and says, “I am Eveline Grace, daughter of the Count Charles Grace, and Captain of this division of the Sun and Moon Squad. Sworn to defend the kingdom from external, and internal threats. Our information on you is minimal at best, and Selene asked that I watch over you as long as I can, until she returns in three years, if everything goes as planned”. Her eyes betray a hint of worry, and I could tell that Selene was important to her, and she was worried for a reason.

“What happened with Selene? Did something go wrong in the Fae Realm?” I asked Eveline. Why is she worried? Eveline hesitates to say anything at first, and then says, “Selene is caught in a matter of politics regarding Fae successions of noble bloodlines, and is currently unable to leave until those matters are settled. Leaving prematurely before the succession is complete will trigger a war on humanity as the Fae regards matters of succession most sacred. She left me a message saying she expects to be able to return in three years. I hope to train you personally in that time, to prepare for Selene’s return and your core formation”.

I had a fond distaste for politics. Speaking sugar coated sentences, with an abundance of hidden and false meanings. It is only a headache and a distraction to a warrior.

Eveline nodded and turned to Owen/Alex and told them, “Lucian will be training with us for up to three years as a favor to Selene.

“Training?! What kind of training are we giving a five year old? Captain, our training regime has a high chance of failure for adults, let alone a kid!” Owen shot up and slammed his hands on the desk.

This is not something I expected to see from Owen. He seems to care about the safety of kids. An energetic but nice guy.

Eveline looked at Owen sternly, but let the rudeness slide. “A five year old kid who managed to slay three men, and effectively crippled one to leave for interrogation without a risk to his health. Don’t hold him to normal standards”. Owen was about to say something and Eveline continued, “The physical training his young body can handle is limited also, so we will be focusing on his magical ability. Lucian, I saw that you used Fire, Wind, and Earth at the Tier 1 level. Are you able to use Tier 2 or higher?”.

This will be fun to see. “I… Might be able to do so, but have not tried it until now. If we’re being honest… I can also use Water at the Tier 1 level as wel-” and Owen and Alex both stood up and yelled, “YOU CAN USE ALL FOUR ELEMENTS?!”. Eveline looked surprised, but maintained her strong and cool image anyways.

To avoid further explanations, I held out my palm and infused a different element into four fingers, and summoned a small spark of each elemental energy. All four elements flickered like colored flames on my fingers. “I apologize for not being able to explain any further, but yes, I possess the ability to use all four elements. My speciality leans to offensive magic, but I can use the other types of magic reasonably well”.

The three squad members stared at the “flames” flickering on my hand, and sat down eventually. “Captain was not joking when she said you would be reaching a height far above us” Alex said. I could only awkwardly laugh in response.

Eveline looked like she was getting a headache, Owen was quiet for once, and Alex was examining me like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. “I want the both of you to train Lucian in the finer points of your elements, and I will focus on teaching him Water, and Wind if he can manage to reach the limits of his training with you, Owen”.

Alex and Owen nodded to Eveline’s order, and she continued, “He is an honorary member of our squad, with the protection and privileges it provides. No documentation of him is allowed, and he will not be doing any missions with us. Our investigation is first, and any help we can provide Lucian will be doing Selene a favor and increase his chances of surviving his core formation”. The twins looked somber when hearing the part about my core formation, which means they understand my chances are not amazing.

“Eveline, I wish to tell you about a training method I created to refine my mana channels in preparation for my core formation while waiting for Selene”. Selene didn’t mention it, so I won’t speak about the abyssal power I have hiding inside me, but I was curious what a Tier 6 Mage would think about my channel refinement technique.

Describing the process of using my mana to damage my channels, and then healing it with magic, and repeating the process had the room staring at me with sad eyes. Owen being so quiet with anger felt off to me, and he slammed his fist on the table and said, “A kid should not have to perform this kind of training just to have a better chance at survival”. Alex nodded to what his brother said, and Eveline just patted my head and looked at me with sad eyes, a direct contrast to the power normally in her gaze.

“You do not need to feel bad or anything, nobody asked me to do this. I chose to fight my chance at survival, and a little pain will not hinder me doing so. The power I will obtain in return for my suffering now makes it an easy choice to do” I told the group. The twins stood up, saluted Eveline and said, “Captain, we will train Lucian to the limit of our abilities when we are off duty. We will make sure he survives the core formation process!”. Eveline stood up and saluted them in return, a show of respect to her subordinates.

Being trained by professionals was an unexpected but exciting prospect. I will have to thank Selene for setting this up when I see her next!