“And today we’re lifting the sword of rebellion!”

Florence, slightly more courageous than before, believes it’s time to go through his rebellious phase. Quitting school after doing the bare minimum, he intends to just deal with menial labor while rescuing people as a Dream Catcher. Though Franky still is a rather diligent student, he too is unsure whether or not he should continue educating himself. His parents would want him to continue yet he’d rather just chase after his friend. Their absence doesn’t help.

However, just recently, he’s wondered if he’s actually chasing after his friend. This past month, especially the last week, Florence has changed into something Franky wasn’t expecting at all. He’s unsure whether or not he likes that change yet he doesn’t want to stop Florence from being his true authentic self.

“So… Why are we heading towards a "choco-something"? Aren’t those things expensive?”, he asks.

“It’s not just a thing, it’s a boulangerie.”

Perplexed, Franky cannot help but wonder what could cause such a sudden change. He desperately wants to know more but cannot push for more answers as he feels like they’re not close enough to be asking these kinds of questions. What if he pushes him away? What if these questions are far too intrusive? He can’t help but feel like it’s too much of a risk.

“So… Do these things open this early?”

For some reason, Florence hadn’t considered whether or not every shop would be open. Though it is strange that his beloved boulangerie isn’t open, it shouldn’t be all that unexpected considering a lot of restaurants, food courts, and less-visited establishments don’t open before ten. With time to kill and lots of questions, they decide it’s best to just head to school.

“We can still order food, right?”, asks Franky as some kind of consolation prize.

“I don’t have a credit card and I’m not carrying a lot of cash and where would we even pick up our food?”

“I’ll just tell Ben to order for us. He doesn’t have anything else to do, so might as well boss him around.”

As always, Franky displays his might over Ben by being demanding and cruel. Especially now, not long after he had broken up with his controlling girlfriend that deprived him of friends, Franky could be a lot nicer to Ben. Sometimes Florence wonders whether or not Ben is being taken for granted by everyone around him. Though he still believes that kind of relationship is preferable to that of his and his siblings.

“Is that how my brother felt when he left? Did we take advantage of him?”, thinks Florence before being cut short by Franky.

“Hey! He’s asking where you’re ordering from. Did not having a fancy breakfast take your tongue?”

“Anything with Nuggies and Wings is fine.”

In just under half an hour, Ben delivers their meals. Going out of his way to get a rather ungrateful brat his desired meal, he smacks Franky on the back of the head and leaves without saying a word.

“Why’d he do that?”

“I forgot he was sleeping in today and woke him up with that phone call.”

“Would he have hit me if he found out that I asked for the food?”

“He doesn’t have the balls.”

With their meals, mostly Florence’s meal, in hand, they head toward their classroom. Abusing the might of his divine key, Florence simply unlocks the door and locks the door behind them.

“I didn’t know you can open doors with that,” adds Franky.

“I do it all the time,” he says as he pushes another desk toward theirs. “It’s convenient for breaking and entering without being caught and even more so for when you forget your keys.”

“Breaking and entering?”

“I’m not commenting on that.”

Lying down on those two desks, he makes himself comfortable as he shovels fries down his throat.

“You can call me if you ever forget yours. I can start a car and all that kinda stuff too so I guess it is perfect for everything.”

“What can’t it do? Isn’t that kinda overpowered? I mean-”

“Not really,” interrupts Florence. “Its defensive capabilities are great but aside from that it’s not a very useful weapon. I’m doing most of the work when sparring with Elena.”

“So you already knew, huh… Since when?”, replies Franky.

“Like Wednesday? I wondered why no one except for you, Elena, and Prometheia could see it but then I realized that you would be the odd one out among the four of us. How could you see that key without being special? I mean Iqbal could see it too but I think that’s only because-”

“Iqbal?”

“A kid I met in a domain last Saturday. Cute and precious, just like me.”

No reaction.

“Tough crowd, huh? Well anyway, he can’t see it without residual magic or one of the rings on him so that means you must be at least half as special as I am.”

Silence fills the room as they reflect and reconsider the time since they’ve been aware of magic.

“Wait… How long have you been doing this?”, asks Florence

“Two months,” answers Franky. “I wanted to tell you but those white cats that call themself Zs insisted that I tell no one. I told Ben and he freaked out talking about safety and not trusting sketchy people like Hellfire and stuff.”

“Hellfire?”

“He’s the second Dream Catcher I met. Before that, I met Elena but I haven’t met that Prometheia person you just spoke about.”

Perplexed, Florence wonders whether or not Prometheia is an anomaly among Zs.

“When’s the last time you’ve seen a Z?”

“A month ago. I’m not patrolling as much on the outskirts of town. There’s no point in doing that when Hellfire and other Zs are around.”

“I’ve only been doing this since last Saturday… So I guess you’re my senior,” adds Florence.

With a boost of confidence, Franky declares, “Well then! Treat me like your awesome superior! Bow down to your supreme senior, King!”

Jokingly, Florence squirms, “Oh what would I, Hyperion, do without you!”

Moving on from their theatrics to eating fries, chicken nuggets, and chicken wings, they ponder on what they should do from now on. Franky knows that his parents, despite being absent most of the time, will force him into going to school for two more years so he can get a proper high school diploma, go to a university, and be the model student they can brag about.

One thing they have in common is their nonstandard parents. Their behavior is rather damaging to their children. In Florence, it manifests as insecurity, indecisiveness, and attachment issues. In Franky, it manifests as being tone-deaf to the issues of the average person, the inability to connect with people he deems normal, and attachment issues. Franky is made for Florence while Florence is made for Franky. They’re a perfect match for each other's needs.

“So, what do you want to do from now on? You’re not planning to go to school and you don’t have any other ambitions. What are you going to do from now on?”

“Nothing, I guess? I can finally take a break and everyone is telling me to do this or that but working part-time at a random grocery store doesn’t seem that bad. At least for now I can do that and be a Dream Catcher while doing that.”

“But shouldn’t you be striving for more?”

“Why?”, counters Florence. “I’m perfectly fine with just "wasting away" for now.”

Franky himself has nothing else to add to that. It’s not like he is overly ambitious or has any kind of concrete goal. He admires his friend’s ability to just not be someone striving for more. Maybe he’ll follow suit and just allow himself to relax for a while.

After their short, but rather unnecessary ceremony of handing out report cards and their teacher acting as if they care about what any of them will do in the future, they move on with their day and discuss their plans for now.

“You know, me and Ben are spending this afternoon together and I was wondering if you still don’t want to come and hang out with us. Would you like to come or…?”

“Sure, it’s not like I have anything to do,” he says.

Realizing that that may make him come across as this person with so much more importance, he adds, “I mean I’d love to. I’m not coming just because I don’t have anything to do.”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“I don’t mean it like-”

“Stop.”

However, an interloper with the name of Elena has made the decision to call Florence. Their plans may be cut short depending on what she wants or needs right now. The fate of their afternoon rides on Elena’s whims.

“Are you busy today?”, she asks.

“Ah, right… I can’t come to our training session today. I’m with a friend right now and I’ll be busy later.”

“So you’re with King, huh? Then get him to come too.”

Florence can’t grasp how Elena would know Franky would be with him. Using his relic, he quickly scans the area before giving Elena an answer. Spotting Prometheia on a roof as a white cat with red eyes. No one seems to notice it though other than him and Franky.

“We’re kind of busy later. I don’t think we-”

“It won’t take long. Just a few hours so we’d be done by like 2 pm,” she claims. “Also, saving others comes first. That’s kinda what you agreed to, didn’t you?”

He has nothing he could counter with.

“Then I’ll send you the address. Get there as soon as you can, okay?”

She hangs up. The two of them can’t disagree with anything she demands because of her seniority. Florence signed up for it as soon as he agreed to train with her and become a Dream Catcher that can save others. Franky feels rather iffy as he’d rather not see her again. There seems to be bad blood between the two of them that may relate back to when Franky became a Dream Catcher.

“That was fast! How are you?”, says Elena trying to chat up a conversation. She can see that Franky is rather annoyed by her.

“If it were a demon, you’d tell us where it is and tell us to handle it. If it’s some kind of errand, then you’d have us pick up whatever item you wanted to hand us. So why do you want us here right now?”, he asks. “Are you just trying to waste my time? Maybe Hyperion can stand you and your bullshit but I don’t so get to the point.”

“I need you two to pick up what fits you best. Florence needs a-”

“It’s Hyperion. Don’t address him like you’re friends,” demands Franky.

“FLORENCE needs a weapon that he can use in combat. His relic may have great defense and mobility, but for now, he can’t really do all that much with it. Maybe you can find yourself something that-”

“I don’t need anything. After that we can leave, right?”

She sighs.

They’re led into a shopping center, the biggest and most popular one they know of, and head all the way to the back. There they find a small shop with rather colorful clothes manned by one child just old enough to attend elementary school. With dead empty eyes, he walks up to them and greets them.

“I’m Akasha, your personal assistant when it comes to picking out drugs, gadgets, and weapons in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Lichtenstein. How can I help you today?”, he asks with that deadpan voice of his.

“I’d like to talk to you with some friends. Would that be okay with you, Uri?”, she asks lowering her head to his level.

His eyes gain life and are rekindled by Elena as space shatters to reveal a pristine lake reflecting a blueish-green aurora. The aurora leads toward a pillar of light. The snow beneath their feet isn’t cold at all. It’s oddly comforting and it feels like a weight is lifted off their shoulders whenever they take a step.

The lifeless child with a gray shirt and gray shorts now wears a rather colorful winter wear. A rainbow snow coat, turquoise boots, white snow pants, black winter boots, a blue scarf, and a red beanie. He looks incredibly lively while building a snowman. Jumping up into Elena’s arms, he greets her with a hug.

“Ellie! It’s been so long Ellie! I thought you’d never come back!”, he says with absolute enthusiasm. “Why’d you wait so long?”

“I’m sorry… But to make up for it I have some friends with me. They’ll visit you and play with you from now on whenever they’re free, right?”

“Sure… But only if you can catch me, Uri!”

Running away, Florence, without question, does as told and plays with Uri while Franky is trying to make sense of Uri and this shop.

“Why is he here?”

“He has the ability to split himself apart while also maintaining several domains. He’s always been kinda special so he’s been groomed to do this,” she states. “Someone has to take care of our equipment and he’s one of the few children bred for this. Just don’t tell anyone I let you play with him.”

Enraged, he asks her, “How dare you use him like livestock! He’s not just some thing you-”

“I’m not the one that put him into this position. Someone else is forcing him to uphold this position and follow orders no matter what.”

“Couldn’t you bust him out and then as a senior just declare that he is-”

“I’m not some kind of god or in a position to even offer a homeless child a home. I don’t have a lot of control over anything other than Dream Catchers originating from Lower Bavaria and Swabia,” she says. “Even then, if anyone higher up the chain demands that I operate differently, I’ll have no choice but to oblige.”

“Then why even ask us if we want to join you?”

“I gave the two of you a choice to forget and move on with your lives. If it hadn’t been for me, someone else would have recruited the two of you at a more vulnerable time when you’d be far less inclined to say no!”

She’s not lying but she’s also omitting part of the truth. Even now, she’s already gone too far by talking about the Akasha and letting its core run wild within its own mind.

“Will you visit him?”, she asks annoyed by Franky.

Franky doesn’t respond as he is rather overwhelmed by this revelation.

Still, he cannot help but resent her for personal reasons unrelated to the Akasha.

Still, he just wants to distract himself by heading home and dealing with his dinner with Ben.

Elena sadly has to cut their little playdate short. She has other matters to attend to and would love to play more but cannot just abandon her duties as a Dream Catcher.

“I promise I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”, she promises with a pinky promise. “Maybe I’ll even bring Florence and Franky again, okay?”

“Really?”, he asks rather uncertain and shaken.

“Of course!”

Space shatters once again to teleport them into an endless corridor lit up by bright white ceiling lights. The walls are littered with all kinds of bottled drugs from pills to ingestible liquids, to syringes and capsules.

“We’re looking for rifles,” she says. “Hyperion could become an excellent sniper and will probably remain ranged, right?”

He nods.

“Then… The cheapest GS2 you can find, just one SS, a cheap DH, and the RSL: Abyss Petal replica,” she demands. “Can you add a Soul Bind to those weapons so they don’t get lost? I’d also like to test them on your shooting range unless it’s still under maintenance.”

The walls start to move instantly accelerating to a point where it’s becoming too fast to spot any kind of object on it. Florence has to look away as he’s still not quite used to eyes that can focus on every little detail. The first weapon he’s handed is a white grenade launcher with golden inscriptions. Upon further inspection, he can make out a name. Apparently, its maker was arrogant enough to include their own name on every weapon they invented. His name was Arles.

Another weapon he’s handed is a lone glass structure whose purpose he can’t quite figure out. Its center is a cube with thin cuboids protruding from each side to the length of about a man’s hand. Its purpose remains a mystery for now yet he can’t help but keep on inspecting it just to figure out what it could possibly do.

Next up is a miniature M114 Howitzer, a weapon typically known for the destruction of tanks. However, this time its main purpose lies in striking down massive targets of the magical sort. Though he still has to wonder how he’d activate it.

His last shiny new weapon is a mere replica of the original. For some reason, it looks nothing like a rifle and is more akin to a revolver. Completely white and almost featureless, one would wonder how this weapon is operational. It bears no trigger, has two chambers, and has a ridiculously short muzzle yet this weapon is somehow worthy of the title “Luminous Sniper Rifle: Abyss Petal”.

“I can’t offer you any more than five minutes due to the recent rise in demand for the use of the Akasha System. If you wish to schedule an appointment for-”, says Akasha. But he’s cut short before he can finish his sentence.

“Five minutes is all I need,” she claims. “But I need you to leave, King. I can’t have you getting hurt just because you wish to stand near your friend like a pup.”

Akasha snaps placing them atop a mountain with a flat top in the midst of a gathering of mountains. With mountains far and wide in this grey and cold world, Akasha presents his products. His demonstration starts with the DH, “Death Howitzer”. It’s not very complicated since it's operated by magic alone. Upon the release of magic, Florence resizes it to its true form. Instead of wheels of its own, it rotates atop a platform for maximum mobility.

“To maximize its product lifetime, you should harden its joints with your spirit. Since you are quite inexperienced I believe that having Elena operate this test run is likely for the best,” states Akasha.

Elena hardens its joints, ensuring it doesn’t fall apart after just a few shots.

“Unlike normal howitzers, this product has no need for the supply of shells. Instead, it uses the resources within your body to create shells filled with light magic. To propel this shell forward, you’ll have to will it. While you gauge for optimal firing position and firing time, the shell will spin and accelerate its rotation till you’re ready to fire,“ he says as he reaches for Florence’s wrist.

Placing their hands atop where the barrel should be, they can feel slight vibrations stemming from within.

“Now, fire.”

Elena fires its first round into the nearest mountain top, a mountain top just a few kilometers away. A small explosion occurs upon impact followed by a massive explosion melting the entirety of the mountaintop. The flash blinds the three of them and is followed by a shockwave that would send the average person flying.

Florence is too stunned to speak yet he’s just supposed to move on and continue with the test run. His next weapon, GS2: Grénade's Swan Song is rather self-explanatory.

“Though its output is lesser than the Death Howitzer, it’s still a great tool. Since you haven’t purchased any grenade module fitted for the GS2, I’ll offer two on the house for your continued patronage of the Akasha System through various purchases. Would you like me to test the GS2?”

Elena declines allowing the three of them to move on to the last tool, Swan Song.

“Swan Song is usually a last resort tool meant to absolutely destroy your target. Though it can be used remotely by filling it to the brim with your own light magic. For rookies, that should take years. However, you can, at the cost of your own life, release all the magic within in a blast that will annihilate all life.”

“Obviously, Akasha cannot demonstrate that,” adds Elena. “So we’ll have to leave that to your imagination.”

“Then, would you like to confirm your purchase?”, asks Akasha.

“I, Ellie, would like to confirm my purchase.”

A spoken confirmation is all Akasha needs to send them their way. Within the blink of an eye, they return to the small shop they found Akasha in.

“Oh? You’re back?”, he scoffs still dissatisfied with Elena. Franky was waiting for the entirety of Florence’s absence allowing himself to let his thoughts wander. Waiting for the two of them, he has just a small request for Elena.

“I’m sorry,” replies Elena. “I’ll let you off for this weekend. The two of you deserve a break since you’ve been working so hard.”

“If you’re not busy, then I’ll have you come to our dinner,” he says while facing away from Elena. “The more the merrier, right? Just don’t do anything rude or stupid.”

Beaming with joy, she declares, “Then let’s celebrate with a shopping session! It’s your last day of school! That’s a grand spectacle!”