Izai swirled the green tea in its metallic bowl and took a deep sniff. The scent reminded him of some of the herbs in Vilena’s office. The kaleidoscopic colours from the window reflected on Laelia. All morning, the more they talked, the more she held his gaze. It was different from when they’d first met, or even during their earlier Pure-Sap lessons.
“Do you think you’re ready for a shift?” she asked.
Izai mulled it over. Though he could handle a full three minutes on the Pure-Sap without feeling overwhelmed, focusing on his actual tasks was still difficult.
“I don’t really –”
“Come on,” Olav interrupted, jittery. The cigarette detox was clearly getting to him. “You just gotta do it. It’ll be good for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Izai took another sip. “I’ve been thinking. You know how all the KY fighters have Healers? Like Kin who work with Saps? They have Pullers, you know?”
“So?” Olav stopped jittering and sat up.
“You should start training to be one, man. I think I’ve got a real good shot at this. Like, I could go really far.”
“Hmmm...” Olav slumped back down. “I’ll think about it.”
“What’s there to think about?” Laelia tapped him on the shoulder.
“Yeah,” Izai chimed in. “How do you expect to ascend to Still Phase without a reason to give the government? I’ve got one now. You don’t.”
“I thought we’d go the black-market route.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t always go well. If you get caught, you’ll end up in prison. And sometimes the potions don’t fully unlock your Essence, so you’re crippled in a way.”
“True,” Olav nodded.
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Suddenly, a bright flash followed by a loud bang sent Izai flying against the wall. When he opened his eyes, the room was a blur of rubble, glass, and spilled tea. Dizzy, he used a broken chair to help himself stand. Once his vision steadied, he saw two men in red shirts tucked into white, flared pants. Their braided hair was hidden beneath owl-shaped wooden masks.
Koralo stood amidst the wreckage. “And this?” he spread his arms wide.
One of the men leapt forward, lightning sparking from his fingertips, aimed at Koralo, who rolled out of the way. As he stood, Koralo used his GaleStone to hurl debris – broken furniture, glass shards – at the two men, knocking them back.
Izai rushed to help Olav up.
“Manu!” Laelia called, leaping toward Manu, the old Libri man still unconscious, slumped in his broken chair.
Izai stepped outside. Kin were either fleeing the scene or crouching behind overturned Gale-Carts. Another flash, followed by a boom, sent Koralo crashing to the ground beside him, his clothes scorched. He tried to stand, but his arms gave out, and he collapsed again.
The two men in red were advancing, their pink wrists gripping titanium ropes ending in knife tips. One headed toward the tea shop; the other made a beeline for Izai and Koralo. Izai stood between them, taking a deep breath as a chilling Essence formed in his stomach. He channelled it down to his foot and stamped the ground. A crackle of ice shot across the cobblestones, freezing the man’s feet.
Without effort, the man broke free. He coiled his titanium rope back up his arm. “KY trainee, huh? Come on man show me what you’ve got.”
He moved in a rhythmic, almost dance-like motion, arms and legs loose, ready to strike. Izai awkwardly tried to square up against him.
‘Maybe I can get a lucky hit,’ he thought.
“Come on. Show me Belna,” the man taunted.
Izai lunged, landing a kick on the man’s ankle, followed by a strike to his back with his heel.
“Nice,” the man said. “My turn.”
Before Izai could react, the man’s heel slammed into his jaw, sending him crashing to the ground. He tried to stand, but his V-Cores were drained. A heavy, suffocating feeling settled over him.
He pushed himself up, only to feel the man’s heel slam into his back again. His body locked up. Arms and legs frozen, with his face pressed against the cobblestones, it seemed as if he were a statue. It felt like a giant snake was coiling around him, squeezing tighter and tighter. He was sure he was breathing, but it didn’t feel like it. Saliva dripped from his mouth onto the ground.
“Fuck off…” Koralo’s voice cut through the haze, followed by the sound of crashes and booms.
Izai felt himself being turned over. He stared up at the sky until Laelia’s face came into view, her white hair falling like a curtain.
“He’s in Cell-Lock!” she yelled.
Izai felt someone lift his legs.
“Help me get him up,” he recognized Olav’s voice. “The cops are coming.”
Laelia and Olav dragged him back into the tea shop, laying him down on the floor.
“I’m knocking him out,” Laelia said.
“What?” Olav protested.
“It’s better for him.”
And then, everything went black.