-Oct 6th, Thursday, Orlando Household 11:45am-

When the princess visited Ryu's house, the electric warrior showed off his comic book and manga collection. At least two boxes housed his physical copies, while the rest were stored on his tablet. Over the past two hours, the princess skimmed through the media, which Ryu found a bit unnerving.

"Uh... your highness, you don't have to read all of it."

"You find this intriguing, Mr. Orlando. I'm curious about why they captivated you and the others."

He chuckled nervously. "Man, this feels like one of those annual reports at my dad's job. Am I going to be fired?"

"No." she giggled. "I am not partitioned in fire adroits. I do have flint."

"What?"

"Kidding." she reassured him with a smile. "I know you like to joke and play pranks, Red Menace."

"I can't believe they put that persona in my profile report. That's no good. What will all the clients say when we go on chaos-busting missions?"

She giggled. "Only Guardian has access to your records. Others, including my father, would need permission. It was in the signed agreement when Guardian was first established. No need to panic."

"Makes sense. You wouldn't want dangerous villains to find our weaknesses."

She nodded while staring at the tablet. After a moment, she looked toward him. "I never pranked anyone. Why did you do it, and does it relate to how you earned the title of Red Menace?"

"I gave myself the title. Secretly, I pulled harmless pranks to get people to laugh." He scratched his head. "Then it escalated to playing a prank on bullies. Then, I did another prank on another bully. Eventually, I made a costume, patrolled the halls where injustice was heard, and left calling cards made from newspaper clippings. I did this carefully, with only a few friends noticing. Somehow, I got away with it. The avenger, Red Menace, became an urban legend from middle school to high school. My last prank and retirement from the Red Menace identity was returning pizza day."

"Hmm, reading all the comics inspired you to want to become a hero."

"Not exactly a hero." He frowned. "I wanted to make people laugh without knowing it was me and to humiliate the bullies. Sounds childish? Yep, but I did it anyway and got away with it."

She chuckled. "Hearing you say this makes me relieved he never followed me here."

"Who is he? Someone important?"

"My attendant. He... means well, but he can be insufferable at times. Take no offense, but hearing your exploits would make you a target."

"So," Ryu had a smirk. "My nemesis."

"Oh, you relish the idea of earning his spite." She smiled. "You already are being criticized even though you aren't in the same dimension."

"Now you have me picturing this guy having a massive stick up his ass that as soon as you yank it out, all the hot air will disappear."

The princess nodded. "An unusual description, but accurate in its own way. He does have his moments." She gazed at the tablet. "Although he would question your qualifications with a belittling tone."

"Isn't that why you are here?"

"I want to understand you, not to believe you are not fit for the role of the Radiant."

"Yeah, but if there are people like that attendant, then that's going to be annoying." The crimson, spiky-haired teen fell on the bed. "The crystal came to me out of gazillions in both worlds." He turned on his back and placed his hands behind his head. "I admit I was too excited to leap in on the action and adventure train that I did not fully understand until Raging Marge used a car to steal all the rage. She upped her game right there. I admit I thought she would've infected one person per week until she got serious, then we fight a mid-boss she randomly found, then finally faced her in the final conflict." He chuckled. "When she snared the town and hypnotized my family, that was when I felt like an idiot." He gazed at his hand as it was enveloped in yellow mana. "That and other events made me think I need to take this a bit more seriously, but I still want to crack a joke or two if only to get a chuckle."

"Humor does have that effect."

He sat up to face her. "Valron's prehistoric message made me scared the others would leave, so I tried to reassure them. Not through humor, but by asking not to give up. Even if my words did not mean much, I tried to express it through my face."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"I have not experienced it myself, but they say Valcron's Manuscript is... dreadful."

"That's not a strong enough word, but yeah." He sighed. "I am excited about getting powers and fighting supervillains, but I will take the role of the Lightning Radiant seriously. I have to keep my family safe, and I like you all. You're the coolest aliens I have met."

Rikari-mi giggled. "Interesting, I did not expect an answer like that. I was not thinking less of you, but my opinion of you has changed."

"Sometimes you have to surprise people. Blow their view of you wide open." He made an explosion noise as he spread his arms. "Like what I did with you."

"Indeed you did."

Ryu perked up. "You like nachos?"

"Never had them."

"They're good with the right ingredients. Come on. Let's head to the Hub."

She nodded and followed after him. This boy was more interesting than she thought. She would need to figure out the proper skills for him to learn while in Galvania.

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-Next Day, London-

When Rikari-mi arrived at Blair's house, she noticed the girl's bedroom appeared to have fewer furniture pieces, containing only a bed, a bookshelf and an entertainment system. The blonde princess learned the warrior would be moving to the United States in the following week to live with her uncle, while her grandmother would return to Greece. Most of her furniture had been packed and in the process of being transported. The princess noted the girl engaging while appearing nervous, her gaze wavering when speaking. The reports indicated transforming had given her a boost in confidence. It is something not uncommon, but hopefully, nothing to be concerned about. Currently the girl showed her pictures she drew, either a drawing tablet or a drawing book.

"Hmm." The canokian flipped through the pages. "You have a great talent for drawing, Miss Agnes. I like it."

"T-thank you." said the shadow warrior. "Drawing has been my passion since I was seven. I upload my drawings on a site for people to see."

"Do you make a profit off of them?"

"Once, I accepted an online commission," She twirled her hair as she softly spoke. "But t-they tried to deceive me." She sighed. "They wouldn't commit to the exchange. I made the price cheap, but after his c-crude language, I changed my policy."

"Swindlers are crafty. You did well with seeing through the deception."

"Thank you." the shadow girl shyly faced her. "You're nicer than I thought you would be."

"It's appropriate to treat people with kindness that you haven't met, unless they have shown me they are the type I should never associate with." She stared at her. "I want to understand you all and to help you acquire skills that may aid you in Gavania. For starters, your skill with the pen could benefit you by becoming a sketch artist or using your mana to sculpt from stone."

"Hmm, I wouldn't go that far." Blair raised her hand, her hand enveloping with black mana. "How w-would I use mana to sculpt?"

"They haven't taught you yet. It's not common because people want to preserve their mana, so they use tools. But in the event there is an emergency and no tools are available, you will have to use your mana."

Her eyes widened. "Like a chisel or a carving knife."

"Yes."

"Brilliant, but I p-prefer a tool over exhausting my mana."

"Some artists will use their mana most of the time because they feel they are putting all their essence into the craft as opposed to using a tool. They feel it makes them more natural and their art more refined." The princess raised her right index finger, producing a mana spark that acted as a blowtorch. "Careful precision and accuracy."

The shadow warrior nodded, her face beaming. "Do people still carve pictures from stone?"

"Not many. It's considered.... what you all call a niche market."

"Oh..., but." she raised her hand. "It w-would be fun to try."

"You might enjoy it." the princess suggested, then analyzed the petite girl. "Hmm."

The shadow girl blushed and looked away as the canokian observed her. "W-what? Did I do something wrong?"

"No." the princess reassured her. "Just wondering why you decided to take on the mantle of the Shadow Radiant. From your profile, you would appear less inclined to accept the power."

"I may not have accepted it." Blair sighed. "When the c-crystal came to me, I was depressed. I had lost an art contest I had invested myself in. I wanted to use the prize money that I wanted to buy a present for my grandmother. I was too distressed after I was not in the top three, then I ran out of the building and didn't stop until I found m-myself deep in the nearby forest, where I wept." She rubbed her eye.

"Does she know? I think she would appreciate you regardless if you won."

"She does not know, but w-would appreciate my gift regardless of the price." The warrior replied. "She believes it's the thought that counts, at least if it's from me."

"Why do you believe your outburst?"

"My breaking point b-burst after years of loneliness and frustration. I don't know how long I cried, but I did not notice the crystal and Selen-ja appearing before me until she spoke. What I saw was a person and a strange thing. Selen-ja's s-soothing voice greeted me, then informed me about being a Radiant, and that I was not forced into the role and could reject it." She gazed at the princess. "She didn't leave immediately. Instead, she sat with me for a while before I decided to go home. She was about to leave with the crystal until I grabbed it, which surprised her."

"Hmm, you became the Radiant in a moment of weakness?

"Or Selfishness." Blair lowered her head. "Her empathy was the reason I accepted the crystal. If she w-wanted my help, then I will do my best. It sounds shallow to join because a stranger was friendly, but I wasn’t emotionally well."

The princess nodded, understanding the teen girl more. "She could've been a swindler, but I understand you were not in a normal state of mind."

"I know m-my life could've been different if someone like Mistress M approached me." She sighed. "I wondered why it r-revealed itself to me. I don't look amazing, and everyone else is more eccentric. But it saw something in me." She clenched her fist. "Whatever it sees in me, I accept the responsibility. I will be the silent shadow that will tackle the angry, loud tide of chaos. I want to help you, Selen-ja, and everyone else protect both worlds from those who would want to turn it into ruin. I will give it everything I've got.

The princess nodded. She understood where she was coming from, but felt the girl was putting weight on herself.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself; you are not alone."

Blair giggled. "I know now, but I want to protect my new family."

The princess felt touched by her declaration. "Guardian and the others will protect you too, you know."

"I know." Blair showed a vibrant smile. "We all will support each other."

"I think I understand you. Support them, and they will support you."

"Right."