The days went by as everyone focused on their training. Carla worked tirelessly to materialize chains, immersing herself in the sensation of a real chain. Yumé and Kenny were honing their skills individually, while Ikku struggled to figure out what Brand he wanted to develop. The conversation with Zéno replayed in his mind over and over, but he still couldn’t decipher what the master had meant.

On the fifth night, while the apartment was silent, Carla finally succeeded. Not one, but two chains materialized before Ikku’s astonished eyes. One chain extended from her right wrist, ending in a sharp point, while the other emerged from her left wrist, with a small metal ball at the end.

“That’s incredible!” Ikku exclaimed. “What do these chains represent?”

Carla smiled proudly. “The one with the sharp end is for attacking, and the one with the rounded end is for defending. But there’s a condition for using them: I have to be attacked first. I’m not the type to throw the first punch.”

“That’s such a great idea, Carla! You’re amazing… not like me,” Ikku said, lowering his head. “I’m useless.”

“Don’t say that, Ikku!” Carla protested gently. “Everyone grows at their own pace. I know you’ll find what you’re looking for soon. I believe in you.”

Ikku looked up, his expression softening. “Thanks, Carla.”

“Anytime,” she replied with her radiant smile.

The two sat side by side. Without realizing it, Carla’s hand rested on top of Ikku’s. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stop. Slowly, their faces moved closer together, until only a few millimeters separated them. Acting on instinct, without overthinking, Ikku pressed his lips to hers.

It was his first kiss, and he let himself get lost in the moment, all other thoughts slipping away. As their lips parted, they gazed at each other again, trying to process what had just happened.

“Carla, I…” Ikku started, but before he could finish, the sound of a door opening interrupted him.

Yumé walked into the living room, visibly exhausted but brimming with joy. His clothes were torn, and his hair stuck out wildly in every direction.

“Hey, everyone! I’m back!” Yumé called out, his eyes sparkling. “I missed you guys!”

Ikku quickly straightened up, his embarrassment hidden. “Yumé! Good to see you again. Did you finally figure out your Brand?”

“I sure did!” Yumé replied triumphantly. “It was tough, but I managed to get it done.”

“What’s it like?” Carla asked, curious.

“You’ll find out during the mission,” Yumé said teasingly.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Carla wrinkled her nose and sniffed. “Well, before that, you need a shower. You stink!”

“It can wait…” Yumé began, but Carla cut him off.

Without hesitation, she swept Yumé off his feet and grabbed his legs, dragging him toward the bathroom.

“Ikkuuuu, help me!” Yumé cried out dramatically.

Ikku couldn’t stop laughing as he watched the scene unfold. Just then, Kenny walked in, looking satisfied after his training session.

“Yo, Ikku. Where’s everyone else? And how’s your Brand coming along?”

“Well,” Ikku began, still chuckling, “Carla’s giving Yumé a forced shower. As for me, I’m the only one who hasn’t figured out my Brand yet.”

Kenny shook his head with a smirk. “Carla made the right call. With my sharp sense of smell, there’s no way I could sleep with him reeking like that. And don’t worry about your Brand, Ikku. The hardest part was awakening your spiritual energy. The rest is just about imagination and time.”

“You’re right,” Ikku said, feeling a bit more confident. “There’s no need to rush. We should get some rest, Yumé can join us after his shower. Our first mission starts tomorrow.”

“Good idea. Let’s call it a night.”

Ikku headed to his room with Kenny. As he lay down, he couldn’t stop replaying the moment he had shared with Carla earlier.

Maybe I should talk to her about it tomorrow… he thought. No, better to wait until after the mission.

With that, he drifted off to sleep.

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The morning sun rose, and Ikku was the first to wake. Not wanting to disturb the others, he decided to wait for them in the living room.

A few minutes later, Carla, still half-asleep, heard a knock on her door.

“Who is it?” she mumbled groggily.

The door opened slightly, and Yumé peeked his head inside.

“Carla, it’s me,” he whispered.

“What do you want, Yumé?” Carla asked, rubbing her eyes.

“I had the best idea,” Yumé said, his grin mischievous.

“What kind of idea?”

He leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Carla burst out laughing.

“Yumé, you’re completely crazy. But give me a high five, I’m in!” she said, her grin matching his.

Back in the living room, Ikku sat patiently. He raised an eyebrow as he saw Yumé and Carla sneaking through the room on tiptoes, Yumé holding a small basin of water.

“What are you two up to?” Ikku asked, puzzled.

“Shhh!” Carla hissed, motioning for him to stay quiet.

Ikku sighed, unsure of what to make of it, and let it go. Moments later, a loud scream echoed from Kenny’s room.

“YUMÉ!!! CARLA!!! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!”

Kenny, drenched and furious, charged out of his room while Yumé and Carla bolted, laughing hysterically.

“Run!” they shouted in unison, as Kenny now in his panther form chased after them with murderous intent.

Ikku watched the chaos unfold, shaking his head but unable to suppress a laugh. Nothing like a good prank to lighten the mood before their first mission.

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A few hours later, the group gathered at the training grounds, where Zéno was already waiting.

“Good morning, kids,” Zéno began, his voice as calm as ever. “I trust you’ve been working on your spiritual energy. Now, I’ll explain your first mission. Your task is to stop a gang of delinquents who have been terrorizing the villagers of Kaslow in Isru. On the surface, it seems straightforward, but eyewitness accounts suggest these individuals might be spiritual energy users. Be on your guard. Every mission puts your life at risk, so never drop your focus.”

“Yes, Master!” they replied in unison, their expressions serious.

“How are we getting there, by the way?” Yumé asked.

“Kul-Elna has its own airport and hyper-jets. We’ll be there in less than an hour,” Zéno explained.

“Okay, that’s pretty awesome,” Kenny admitted.

“Prepare yourselves,” Zéno warned, his tone firm. “Your real test as Nexus agents begins now.”