TIME: 18:30 (EVENING)

Lead sat in his chair with both hands' fingers crossed. Marco noticed Chloe returning to the lodge.

"It looks like someone had enough shopping today," Marco remarked.

"It’s Chloe?" Lead asked.

"Yeah, and Saber has returned too. Looks like they had a blast today."

"Not for long. Remember? We have the last gate opening day after tomorrow, right?"

"No, didn’t forget. But it’s just that a lot has happened in just two days."

"Can’t say ‘a lot,’" Lead responded.

"But at least for a certain ‘someone,’ right? Chloe is not very close to Argil since he’s a very quiet kid and doesn’t socialize even with the members," Marco pointed out.

"Can’t agree more, but I like kids like him," Lead admitted.

"Soon he, Chloe, and Saber are going to leave the team and pursue their dreams. What’s on your mind with this, Lead?"

"I guess we’ve to dismiss the party once that happens," Lead replied thoughtfully.

"To be honest, now that the topic has started, I’m gonna miss you guys," Marco confessed with a chuckle.

"Indeed. Don’t worry, at least you and I can hang out sometimes, drinking in the bar and laughing at these six years we lived together," Lead assured him.

Marco smiled and looked out the window.

"I think tomorrow’s going to be our last main event together, right?" Lead said.

"Yeah, the admissions of the sorcery schools will open within 10 days… So, the kids are gonna be busy with the preparations."

"How time flies, huh, Marco?" Lead mused, sitting straight. "What are the plans for Ergo? Have you ever discussed it with her?" He took a sip of water.

"I think she said she’s gonna try the… Imperial Mage Entrance Exam," Marco replied.

Lead choked on his drink, spitting it on Marco. "Imperial Mage!? How old IS she?"

"20," Marco said, wiping his face.

"No way? The way she acts and looks, one will think she’s at least around 30."

Tina, hidden near the door and feeling uneasy, added, "And she’s a pedophile too."

"What are you even doing here?" Lead asked.

"Gotta go," Tina said, shutting the door, then opening it again.

"So? What’s the plan?" Marco asked.

"Well, for tomorrow, we’ll book the ground and take a final polishing of the moves." Lead stood up. "Well, Marco, can you do it while leaving?"

"Got it," Marco agreed.

Lead walked past him.

"Old friend..." Marco said sadly.

Lead paused, smiled, and left.

THE NEXT MORNING

The group gathered on the ground.

"Fire Ball!" Ergo shouted, shooting a big ball of fire that exploded with a boom.

"Nice as ever, Ergo," Lead praised, then looked at Saber. "And now you." He pointed a finger at Saber.

"Alright. But…" Saber pointed at Argil. "Argil is with me this time."

The others were shocked.

"I think… Argil should…" Ergo began.

"It’s fine. I hope you have a plan for this choice," Argil said.

"I do have one but can’t guarantee success," Saber admitted.

Argil whispered in Saber’s ear, "Then let’s get this old drama llama."

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Saber burst into laughter. The other four were in shock.

"Is it me or did Argil just talk to Saber?" Ergo asked.

"I guess the lotus blooms in winter too," Marco remarked.

"Did my eyes deceive me, or is it really happening?" Chloe said.

"Why do I feel like I got hit with an arrow?" Lead said, looking sick.

All three had taken positions.

"Hey kid! Let’s make a bet. If you both are able to make me land on both knees, then tonight’s drinks are on me," Lead proposed.

"Got it!" Saber agreed.

"But in return, I’m not going to hold back," Lead warned, taking a stance.

"Come on Argil, if we win, you can drink all the Oran juices you want," Saber said.

"I get it, give me the signal, got it?" Argil replied.

"Sure, start doing your thing."

"Right." Argil dug his spear into the ground.

Saber ran in a circular motion around Lead.

"Same spinning run again?" Chloe said in shock.

"I don’t know what happened in your previous training but…" Ergo began.

"Saber’s facial expression is different, as if… he’s sure about something…" Marco observed, noticing Saber’s smiling face and Argil’s defensive stance.

"Same move again?" Lead said, clashing swords with Saber. "Not a smart move, kid!" He grabbed Saber by the neck. "Don’t you know, beasts don’t tend to fall for the ‘same’ trick twice?"

"Just like last time," Chloe noted.

"Was this on purpose?" Marco wondered.

"Yeah, but… beasts tend to fall for every ‘new’ trick, right?" Saber said, struggling.

Lead looked back.

"Paralyze!" Argil shouted.

Lead screamed in pain. The other four were surprised. Saber kicked Lead’s stomach, releasing the grip.

"When did he even learn that?" Ergo asked.

"Was Argil hiding this the entire time?" Chloe wondered.

"More importantly, why and how does only Saber know?" Marco said.

"Actually, I saw him going to Argil’s room last night," Chloe recalled.

Lead stood in smoke.

"I see, so that spear is lightning-enhanced, huh? Then I’ll just…" Lead moved with speed. "…get rid of you first!"

Argil was scared.

CLASH!

Marco’s eyes widened. Saber, moving with speed, clashed swords with Lead, changing his direction. Lead fell and landed fine. Saber skidded when landing.

"So you have control over your ‘Dash’ now, huh?" Lead observed.

"Was it just me?" Marco asked.

"What?" Ergo replied.

"Ergo, keep looking at Saber’s movements and tell me if they look similar," Marco instructed.

"Alright."

Saber dodged Lead’s attack with an opposite dash. One more dodge. One more. Lead grabbed Saber’s clothing. Saber turned and twisted to cross legs with Lead’s neck.

Ergo’s eyes widened.

"See something?" Marco asked.

"Indeed, his movements look similar," Ergo confirmed.

"If I’m correct, then Argil with ‘gust’ now and then spark it," Marco suggested.

"Now!" Saber shouted.

Argil swung the spear. Gust covered Lead and Saber. Argil shoved the spear into the ground and sparked up the tornado.

"I remember it now! That’s…" Ergo had a flashback of Argil and Carlos. "Carlos’s Wall Trap! He used to perform this with Argil when they used to get along."

"Thought so," Marco said.

"Now Saber will jump out."

"But that’s impossible, not even Argil knew how Carlos did that," Marco pointed out.

Saber dashed out and landed. The wall burst. Lead swung his sword at Argil. The Thunder shield blocked it.

"Now!" Argil threw the spear into the air. Saber grabbed it and swung both weapons at Lead. Lead blocked both, pushing both back. Saber rushed forward. Lead kept swinging the sword, and Saber dodged all in dance styles.

"NO WAY! Ergo, how did he even learn those moves?" Marco exclaimed.

"Even Argil can’t remember them all, so how did he get his hands on those steps?" Ergo wondered.

Flashback

In the distance:

"See you tomorrow then," Carlos said.

"You bet. WAIT!" Saber turned back.

"Before leaving, wanna learn a special move? This can save you in close call situations," Carlos offered.

Saber’s eyes widened. "Sure, why not."

"And for this second move, you’ll require the assistance of Argil, alright?" Carlos explained.

That’s exactly how it’s going, Carlos! Saber thought, dodging another attack with a wheel turn.

Carlos continued, "Lead is a rusty but agile grandpa and with an insanely high level too, so you’ll have to slow him down… So tell Argil to continuously supply electric currents in the ground. Even though the ground spreads the electricity, the electricity in Argil’s spear is special. It ‘travels’ in the ground because of low frequency and energy output, which makes you relaxed over time. This should slow him down…"

Saber kicked Lead’s shoulder.

"Then increase the supply when YOU’RE in the air because the spear doesn’t affect the user, so Argil will feel nothing," Carlos instructed.

Saber jumped back. Lead screamed in pain and landed.

"Once you land…" Carlos said.

A ‘dash’ tackled Lead.

"Go full throttle with Dash!" Carlos concluded.

Lead fell on his knees. Saber fell. Argil collapsed in exhaustion.

"Did they just…" Marco began.

"Make the Lead…" Ergo continued.

"Land on his knees?" Chloe finished.

"WOO!!!" the other three cheered.

Argil stood near Saber, who was lying down. "We did it."

Ergo jumped on them. "I’ll have my booze!"

Chloe joined in. "I’ll have the adult stuff for the first time!"

Marco offered a hand to Lead, who looked up. "Need a hand, senior citizen?"

Lead stood up. "I’m not that old."

He dusted off his clothes.

"Still have the same opinion about the kid?" Marco asked.

"I have to dodge that question. But more importantly…" Lead started.

"Indeed," Marco agreed.

"The kid somehow learned Carlos’s moves, but how is this possible? When that person isn’t even available anymore, it’s a mystery.

"I was shocked too to see that. The world itself is a mystery, Marco. We only ignore it. The kid’s probably the brother Carlos once mentioned, I guess," Lead said thoughtfully.

"That’s a possibility," Marco agreed.

"Better not bring this topic up. Remember and..." Lead smiled. "Let’s worry about it later, shall we? After all, the kids beat me fair and square, ‘old friend.’"

Marco looked shocked, but then smiled. "You’re right. By the way, when did you even notice it?"

"After the ‘wall trap’ show," Lead admitted.

"So you knew it was a wall trap," Marco chuckled.

"The gramps’s eyes are as good as ever, kid. But the kid is WILD! He didn’t hold back with that last dash," Lead praised.

"This is what happens when you piss off the kids," Marco remarked.

"I’m going to need that massage tonight," Lead said, rubbing his neck.

"I’ll bring booze too then," Marco offered.

"Great! Let’s have a night out then."

Lead turned to the group. "ALRIGHT LADIES!"

The group looked at Lead.

"As promised, tonight’s celebration is on me!" Lead announced.

"YEAA!!!" the group cheered.

"So go and wash that sweat and meet at the hall in 2 hours!" Lead instructed.

"What a pain in the ass," Lead muttered to himself with a smile.