Chapter Three: Awaken

The room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the steady ticking of the wall clock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. T.LAC sat on the couch, fingers running through his hair in frustration, wrestling with the weight of the situation.

“This is a waste of time!” he blurted out, standing abruptly. “Mara needs us!”

His eyes darted toward Yozora, who sat with a calm expression that didn’t quite match the situation. But T.LAC knew better. He could see it, the subtle almost imperceptible shift in his best friend. Yozora’s usual carefree demeanor had vanished, replaced by an eerie stillness. His starry eyes, which normally sparkled with lazy indifference, now swirled like galaxies in motion, a storm quietly brewing.

T.LAC hesitated. He’d seen this transformation before: Yozora’s uncanny ability to flip from laid-back to a force of nature in an instant. Taking a deep breath, he redirected his frustration.

Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Tenebris he said firmly “Look, all of this can wait. Right now, we need to know how to get our powers back. Mara doesn’t have time, and we need answers, fast. What’s the plan?”

Mr. Tenebris sighed, rubbing his chin. “First, you should understand the basics. Tuners are individuals capable of harnessing the Toro, a unique energy field generated by the heart and brain. The energy generated by the Toro is called Hindo.”

He paused, his expression darkening. “Both of you have cut off from your Toro. It’s what we call being ‘Zeroed’. The process is… devastating. It’s like losing the function of your lower body. Painful, debilitating. Making you a literal mere husk of your former selves.

Yozora’s voice cut through the room, sharp and cold “How could something like that even happen? How could parents do this to their kid just to give them a shot at a ‘peaceful’ life?”

The question landed like a dagger, and guilt flashed in Mr. Tenebris’s eyes. “I… I don’t want to give you false hope. Being Zeroed means losing who you were. You’ll have to start over from scratch.” He exhaled heavily, his voice softening. “But… thankfully, my brilliant wife thought of everything.”

Mrs. Tenebris shot to her feet with sudden energy, her knuckles cracking as she clasped her hands together, the aura of a seasoned martial artist radiating from her. Her sharp gaze locked on Yozora.

“Zora, do you have the pendant I always make you wear to keep your locs up?”

Yozora glanced at her sideways, skeptical. “You mean the one you force me to wear, even when I don’t want to? Yeah, I’ve got it.”

“T.LAC,” she continued, “the anklet I gave you. Break it. Pull off all four of the blue beads.”

The two exchange baffled looks but complied. T.LAC snapped the anklet, his fingers fumbling with the blue beads. Yozora removed the pendant from his locs, holding it in his palm.

“Now,” Mrs. Tenebris instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument, “T.LAC, swallow the beads. Zora, swallow the pendant.”

“What?!” T.LAC recoiled, his face scrunching up in disgust.

Yozora didn’t flinch. Without hesitation. He popped the pendant into his mouth and swallowed it with a grimace. T.LAC, watching in disbelief. “Man, this is disgusting,” he muttered before shoving the beads into his mouth. The moment the slimy texture hit his tongue, his face scrunched in revulsion. “Ugh! It’s like eating rotten grapes dipped in vinegar!”

Mrs. Tenebris crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning between the two. “The pendant and beads won’t restore your powers, completely,” she explained. “But they’ll restart your Toro.” She nodded. “You’ll be limited to about five percent of your original capacity, and it’s not going to be instant. This is just the first step, it’s going to be tough.”

Yozora said nothing, his gaze locked on the floor. T.LAC wiped his mouth, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the taste of his reluctant meal.

Mrs. Tenebris voice softened. "We’ve got less than nineteen hours now, if you’re going to save Mara, every second needs to be focused on the fundamentals of the Toro."

"Honey," Mrs. Tenebris glancing at her husband. "Set up a portal to the Control Test Site."

Mr. Tenebris gave a firm nod and replied, "Acceleration Fumi: Nomad’s Portal." With a precise motion, he conjured a swirling vortex of energy. The air rippled as the portal spiraled open, with iridescent hues.

As the portal sealed shut behind them with a low hum, a sharp gust of wind struck the boys, cutting through their clothing and chilling them to the bone. The icy air stung their faces, T.LAC shivered, instinctively rubbing his arms for warmth. Yozora, though the cold gnawed at his senses, feeling comfort in the cold, he couldn’t help but look around in awe. His breath forming clouds in the frozen air, which sparked faintly in the dim light.

"Mom, what is this place?" Yozora asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and unease.

Mrs. Tenebris stood tall, unaffected by the freezing environment, her expression severe and unyielding, her tone cutting through the icy air. "Son, this is S.T.A.R.S. Development Base Alpha, also known as the Forest of the Unworthy. Here, you and T.LAC will be forced to harness the Toro. If you fail..." She let the silence hang in the air, heavy with consequences. "You’ll freeze to death in under two hours."

Yozora’s eyes widened slightly, The icy threat sent a jolt through him, but before he could respond, her voice cut through his thoughts. "As of now, I am not your mother, and your father is not your father."

The weight of her words hit Yozora like a blow. He swallowed hard, his mind racing to process the cold detachment in her voice. The familiar warmth of family had vanished, replaced by something harsh and alien. His chest tightened, and for a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossed his face—but he quickly masked it.

He glanced at T.LAC, who appeared equally unsettled but remained silent. Under his breath, Yozora muttered, "Should’ve expected that after your parent zeros you."

A cold, defiant smirk tugged at his lips as he looked back at his mother—or rather, the woman who had renounced that title.

"Then what should I call you?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Without hesitation, she answered, her tone devoid of emotion. "Instructor Selene." She gestured toward Mr. Tenebris, who stood silent and stern beside her. "And Instructor Zephyr."

Turning away from the boys, Instructor Selene’s voice sharpened into a commanding bark as she strode toward a large, jagged boulder. "Blair, initiate protocol—function name Control."

Her words reverberated through the frozen forest, heavy with authority. From the distance, a playful voice called out, tinged with amusement. "Selene, is that you? Oh, and Zephyr too! Wow, oh wow, what a surprise!"

The voice grew louder, closer, until Yozora felt a sudden poke that made him flinch.

"And who are these two handsome boys?" the voice teased playfully.

Selene’s shot a sharp glance at Blair, her expression a mix of irritation and amusement, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips. "Now isn’t the time for your antics, Blair," she said firmly. "We can catch up later. Trust me, you’ll remember who these boys are in about five minutes. Right now, I need you to activate Protocol—function name Control. That’s an order."

Blair blinked, clearly caught off guard by Selene’s uncharacteristically stern tone. With exaggerated dramatics, she pulled down her lower eyelid with one hand stuck out her tongue. "Blah blah, yeah, order me around! What’s got Granny’s panties in such a bunch?"

Selene’s face darkened instantly, her voice dropping to a low, menacing tone as a shadowy aura flickered around her. "Blair!" Her tone carried an unspoken warning. "I won’t repeat myself."

Blair's teasing demeanor vanished. Her expression shifted to one of sheepish submission, not unlike a scolded puppy. Waving her hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I’m going!" she muttered before stepping forward to comply.

With a graceful motion, Blair moved ahead of the group. Closing her eyes, she stood still as the icy wind around them intensified, growing harsher with every passing second. Her voice was calm, as she called out, "Acceleration Art: Perfect Cube."

Before their eyes, a brilliant sparkling cube materialized in the air.

Yozora’s blinked in awe. "Blair, right? What does that cube do? What’s it made of?"

Blair turned to him with a playful smirk, clearly enjoying the attention. "Oh, you really want to know, huh?" she teased, placing a single finger on Yozora’s lips. Her hips swayed as she leaned slightly toward T.LAC, her movements deliberate, and self-assured, her posture calculated to drawing attention.

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"For a price," she purred.

Yozora, face turned crimson as he stammered, throwing up his hands in embarrassment. "Uh, never mind!"

T.LAC, far less bashful, grinned openly, clearly unbothered by her teasing. Blair caught his gaze and winked over her shoulder, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Well, if you insist," she said, straightening up. "This cube is made of two tons of pure diamond."

"Wait, diamond?" Yozora asked, taken aback.

Blair nodded, pride shinning in her expression. "Yep, pure diamond. But it’s not just for show. This cube is part of your Control Test. It’s designed to help Tuners identify their class type and harness their Toro effectively. If you can control the Toro, the cube will activate, revealing your Tuner classification and grade."

"Classification and rank?" Yozora repeated, furrowing his brow.

Blair began her explanation, gesturing to the cube. "Tuner classifications are broken down as follows: Augmenter/Reducer, Cemi/Vector, Benders, and Beyonder. When you touch the cube, it will react, revealing your classification. Your grade D, C, B, A, or S, will also be determined by the intensity of your reaction."

T.LAC chimed in, his curiosity piqued. “How does each Tuner classification affect the cube?”

Blair hopped onto the cube, sitting cross-legged as she began to explain. "If the cube multiplies, grows larger or smaller, and then resets to its original form, you’re an Augmenter/Reducer."

“Augmenters/Reducers can enhance or reduce anything they touch matter, emotions, even concepts. They can augment their own abilities, alter DNA, and shape their environment. They’re the top choice for assassinations and masters of adaptation, making them devastating in combat.”

She continued, "If you phase through the cube, or cause it to levitate, you’re a Cemi/Vector,"

“Cemi/Vector Tuners focus their Toro conversion in the brain rather than the heart. This allows them to manipulate the flow of matter and energy, essentially bending physics to their will. They’re strategists, controlling the battlefield with precision and intellect rather than brute force."

Blair leaned back slightly, shifting her tone. "If the cube changes its state of matter—solid to liquid, gas, or plasma—you’re classified as a Bender."

"Benders balance Toro function between the heart and brain, enabling them to manipulate matter at the atomic level and even create new elements. They're versatile and incredibly powerful in both offensive and defensive applications."

Her voice darkened as she continued. "Finally, there’s the Beyonder."

Blair’s expression turned serious. "Beyonders are legends. They transcend the boundaries of any single classification, blending powers from multiple classes and rewriting the rules of the Toro itself. They are rare, immensely powerful, and feared. Only twelve exist today, known as the Ochie Twelve. If you encounter a Beyonder as an enemy..." She paused for emphasis. "You’re already dead."

Selene stepped forward, her tone steady and commanding. "Before we begin the test, you need to understand the Toro itself. Everything starts there."

"The Toro is divided into three sections: the Gaisō, Naisō, and Chūshin," Selene began.

Yozora’s gaze wandered to the snowy treetops, though his sharp ears caught every word. His calm demeanor betrayed the intense focus simmering beneath the surface.

"The Gaisō is the outermost layer," Selene continued. "It shields you from external threats and enhances your ability to detect danger. The reason you can block attacks and sense threats stems from this layer."

Tapping his finger thoughtfully, Yozora asked, "So the Gaisō is automatic protection?"

Selene’s face lit up with pride. "Good question, Yozora. The short answer is no. Each Tuner classification utilizes the Gaisō differently."

Crossing her arms, she elaborated, "For example, Cemi/Vectors typically have the strongest mental barriers. They can cast a shield over their entire body, offering protection against certain physical attacks. On the other hand, Augmenters/Reducers boast unparalleled physical defenses."

After a quick stretch, Selene continued, "Next, we have the Naisō, the inner layer of the Toro."

She placed a hand over her heart. "This is where your true power resides. Using a technique known as Keyta (pronounced Key-Ta), Tuners harness the energy generated by the Toro, called Hindo (pronounced Hen-Dough). Think of the Naisō like a heart—it doesn’t pump blood, but instead stores and distributes Hindo throughout your body."

Looking at her hands, Selene explained further, "To manage this energy, we rely on the Moderari."

"Moderari?" Yozora repeated.

Selene nodded, her expression serious. "The Moderari regulates the flow of Hindo and prevents Conversion Loss."

Her tone sharpened. "Among all the Toro's components, mastering the Moderari is non-negotiable. A weak Moderari leads to Conversion Loss, which can damage your Toro and leave you defenseless."

Raising his hand, Yozora asked, "What exactly is Conversion Loss?"

Selene replied, "Conversion Loss measures how efficiently your Moderari converts input Hindo to output Hindo. In simple terms, it’s the amount of Hindo a Tuner loses while forming or executing a technique."

She paused, letting the information settle, then continued, "The final section is the Chūshin, the core of your Toro."

"The Chūshin doesn’t just form the center of your Toro; it’s also where your Torozon manifests," she said, her voice carrying weight.

A grin spread across T.LAC’s face. "Torozon, huh? Let’s hear more about that."

Selene smirked. "Don’t get too excited. While you used to have a Torozon, your Chūshin doesn’t currently generate enough Hindo to even spark it. The Torozon is the manifestation of a Tuner’s inner realm, a reflection of their spirit and power."

Before Selene could elaborate, Zephyr stepped forward, his voice cutting in. "I’ll take it from here! Alright, listen up. Since time’s short, we’ll focus on teaching Keijo, Kakusu, and Fumi."

Zephyr’s tone dropped, growing more intense. "Keijo—meaning ‘First Form’—is where a Tuner’s primary ability is forged. Your Keijo is shaped by your classification, experiences, emotions, and even trauma."

He leaned forward slightly, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Kakusu is a stealth technique used to conceal your core, making you invisible to others. Perfect for espionage, evasion, or assassination. Keep in mind, though, it takes practice—most of you will barely manage a basic level for now."

Crossing his arms, he continued, "Finally, there’s every Tuner’s favorite technique: Fumi, which means ‘Flavor.’ Fumi is what lets you modify the way your abilities, skills, and techniques function."

T.LAC tilted his head, confusion in his voice. "So, Fumi does what exactly?"

Zephyr raised a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "Let’s say a Tuner’s Keijo is fire-based. Fumi allows them to decide how to use that fire—whether it’s launching fireballs or creating a flamethrower. Essentially, Fumi gives you creative control over your Keijo and even your Kakusu."

Yozora raised his hand again. "And the Moderari regulates all of this?"

Pointing at Yozora, Zephyr confirmed, "Exactly. The Moderari controls how much or how little Hindo is infused into your abilities, skills, and techniques. Without proper regulation, you’re wasting energy and leaving yourself vulnerable."

Blair, leaning casually against a tree, chimed in with a sarcastic tone. "Great. Guess we’re all heading back to school for another round of Toro 101. Anyway, let’s get started!"

She glanced between T.LAC and Yozora, weaving her finger back and forth. "Hmm… T.LAC! You’re up first!"

T.LAC sighed, taking a deep breath before stepping toward the training cube. "Alright, let’s see how this goes."

He stretched out his arm but paused, glancing at Yozora. "Well, screw it," he muttered, pressing his hand to the cube.

Instantly, the cube reacted, multiplying before his eyes. T.LAC stumbled back in shock. "Yo, that’s freaky as hell!"

Blair rolled her eyes. "Dramatic much? Reset the cube already."

Scratching his head, T.LAC grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. It’s just weird seeing anime stuff happen in real life." He stepped forward again, placing his hand on the cube and resetting it with ease.

Selene and Zephyr exchanged knowing glances, grinning as they gave Blair a thumbs-up.

"The kid’s still a natural," Selene remarked.

Blair smirked. "T.LAC, Augmenter/Reducer, Grade C," she announced with approval.

Like a light bulb flickering to life, Blair stared at T.LAC and whispered, “Pew, pew… Where do I remember that from?”

Selene nudged Zephyr with a knowing smirk. “Looks like Blair just remembered who T.LAC is from when they were kids. Tehe, she’s already blushing.”

Zephyr chuckled softly. “Well, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.”

Blair’s voice wavered, a mix of flustered embarrassment and dawning realization as memories started to connect. “Yozora, please… approach the cube.”

Yozora turned his gaze toward the glowing cube, his expression pensive. “Life really has changed,” he thought, before stepping forward and reaching out to touch it.

Nothing happened.

He frowned, confused, and glanced back at the others. “Did I… touch it wrong or something?”

Selene’s confident demeanor faltered, unease flickering in her eyes. “Yozora… we didn’t tell you everything. We weren’t sure if your classification would remain the same after you were Zeroed. You see, sometimes a Tuner’s Toro changes classification during the process. But you… and T.LAC…” She hesitated. “Your classifications stayed the same.”

Yozora’s brow furrowed. “Okay… so what’s my classification? Nothing’s happening.”

Selene exchanged a glance with Zephyr, her hand instinctively reaching for his as if seeking reassurance. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “There’s… a fifth type of Tuner, Yozora. It’s called Suits.”

Yozora raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “Suits? What kind of name is that? What can they even do? And why didn’t either of you mention this in all the lessons?”

Selene hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Because… Suits is an extremely rare classification. Only four Tuners in recorded history have ever held the title. You’re the fifth, Yozora.”

Yozora’s confusion turned to frustration. “If it’s so special, why didn’t the cube do anything? And why are you all acting like I’m cursed or something?”

Zephyr cleared his throat, stepping forward. “I’ll explain,” he said, though his voice trembled slightly. “Yozora, Suits is a classification feared by all Tuners.”

He looked up at the sky, searching for the right words. “Suits are unique. They can place abilities, skills, and techniques into objects—accessories, weapons, armor, even buildings. This process is called Forging or Crafting. A Suits-class Tuner has access to a private dimension called a Vault, where they store all their creations. Only the Suits can access it.”

Yozora stared at his hands. “So… I’m just a glorified blacksmith? Why would anyone fear that?”

Zephyr shook his head. “No, Yozora. Suits are feared because they have no limits. A Suits-class Tuner can forge gear that elevates others, turning even a low-level D-rank Tuner into an A-rank overnight. The number of abilities, skills, and techniques you can imbue into an item… it’s limitless.”

Zephyr’s voice grew heavy with emotion. “You may hate us for Zeroing you, but you were just twelve. You were constantly on missions, hunted by people who wanted to exploit your power. You endured so much as a Star-Crossed Tuner… and now, as a Suits, it would only get worse.”

He paused, his voice breaking. “You never smiled back then, Yozora. Not once. It wasn’t until after you were Zeroed that we finally saw your smile. Yes, we lied, but we did it to protect you. One day, when you remember the past, ask yourself what you would’ve done in our place.”

Zephyr wiped at his eyes, taking a moment to compose himself before continuing. “Now… this time, when you touch the cube, think of a superpower you’ve always wanted. Imagine it and send that thought into the cube.”

Yozora rubbed his arm, his frustration giving way to quiet resolve. “We can talk about the past later. Right now, I just need to figure out how Suits works.” He glanced at the cube, speaking aloud as he thought. “So instead of using Keijo to form an ability for myself, I use it to form abilities in an item…”

Turning back to the cube, he nodded. “I understand.”

He closed his eyes, placing his hand on the cube once more. Focusing, he imagined the Hindo flowing from his core to his hand and thought of one word: “Fly.”

The cube began to glow, pulsating with energy before shooting straight up into the sky at an incredible speed.

The group stared, wide-eyed, as the glowing diamond cube hurtled into the heavens. When it finally disappeared into the atmosphere, they turned to Yozora in stunned silence.

Selene’s thoughts raced. Why would he think to do that? He could’ve just said ‘float.’

Yozora, marveling at the result, grinned. “Ha! It actually worked. Who would’ve thought?”

Blair, glaring at him with an exasperated expression, groaned. “Yozora, did you… I don’t know… launch two tons of diamond into space?! Do you even realize how much Hindo it takes to form that much diamond?”

Yozora shrugged nonchalantly and turned to T.LAC. “T, that was insane, right? I mean, it just shot straight into space! Wonder how they’re gonna get it back?”

Blair let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Yozora… Suits classification, grade C.”