Ravela waited outside Ma Stone’s house for her two newest students.

One month had passed and they were incredibly fast learners. Safora managed to get a hang of her flying ability after two weeks. Exploring the emotions and states of mind that led to her being able to defy gravity.

Her ability didn’t just allow her to float in the air, but she could steer her flight at will. She only needed the will to stay in the air. There was seemingly no limit to the duration.

Ravela felt the sting of envy whenever she saw Safora float about during their training. Her other pupil turned out to be extremely adaptable and gifted in hand-to-hand combat. Where Safora struggled Laena’s incredible reflexes and perception allowed her talent to take full effect.

Thankfully, Ravela was extensively drilled in combat, had ample practice, and saw it as her mission to keep the young woman’s ego from getting overconfident.

She had the reaction time, she had the perceptiveness, but she lacked almost every other skill regarding single combat. Starting with footwork, orientation mid-fight, situational awareness, and awareness of her surroundings.

Fighting a superior opponent who could call on a flying tag in to test her in a split second made the fights uneven for quite some time, but it brought paired with her natural talent and power fantastic gains. Laena became better with each passing day and if she kept her current pace could fight an opponent that was superior in strength without taking severe damage. Safora however was not like her friend. She was dexterous but not as gifted in learning these new skills.

Ravela took it slow with her. Teaching her about out-of-the-box ways to fight her opponents. Her ability to fly and float in the air gave her a level of mobility and freedom no earthbound fighter could ever hope for. Which made her in many ways uncharted territory. But even so, she got better in gravitationally challenged combat too. Her progress was slow but sparring with Laena and Ravela taught both girls a great deal about control and evaluation of one’s opponent properly.

Ravela during this one month made great leaps in her academic pursuits. Keeper Namon was impressed with her progress and was in talks with the headmaster about getting the evaluation done within the next month. Ravela was eager to prove herself and finally fit into society in a meaningful way

Ravela was pulled from her thoughts when Laena came out of the front door yawning and grumpy. Safora however kept them both waiting another five minutes.

Considering Laena only had to fall out of bed it would be wrong to chastise Safora for coming a tiny bit later.

It didn’t matter. Ravela started to jog down the path without snippy comments. They were doing well enough and she wasn’t that much of a tyrant.

“So Ramiel I’ve been thinking,” Safora started another round of questions. The girl never seemed to tire of probing new angles. “Are you perhaps an alien after all?”

Ravela looked at her skeptically. Maybe she had been wrong about Safora and she ran out of questions.

“No.”

“But what if by alien I meant. Are you not from this planet originally?”

Ravela slowed down hit unexpectedly by the first question that wasn’t dodgeable by bending the truth in her head a bit. Catching back up with Safora she tried to think of a way to dodge the question without lying.

“I don’t believe that it changes the overall premise of your word though.”

Safora narrow her eyes. “And I don’t believe that is an actual answer to my question, Mr. Roice.”

Ravela grinned at Safora. “So I am an alien then after all?” The next best attempt at answering truthfully but making it sound like a question. A narrow dodge if one’s conversational partner wasn’t paying full attention. Ravela was banking on the teenager's own short attention span and nose for finer details.

Safora fell silent again. All three kept running. Upon reaching her favorite spot Ravela stopped. Her two students already knew the spot by now and didn’t miss the stop.

“You two have come a long way since we started our training. I learned much from seeing you both grow. Safora your ability to fly is an incredible gift and if you manage to become proficient in hand-to-hand combat your gift will make you nearly unbeatable by grounded foes. Laena your abilities, if properly refined, can make you unbeatable in hand-to-hand combat against anyone, even those who may be stronger than you. You will be able to outlast anyone just on your reflexes in normal combat, once your training is complete.”

Ravela looked at them.

“It may be that, growing up, you become stronger still. How long are you two still going to school?”

Safora and Laena looked at each other. “Um, three more years till we graduate. Why?”

Ravela considered the time they had till both of them graduated from school. “So you have three years left before you graduate. That leaves you with enough time to properly master your abilities. Honing your abilities and giving you a good start in your life. Self-control is the first step to fitting in with everybody else. You both have made strides in that department. You can be rightfully proud of that.”

Safora puffed her chest out at the praise while Laena seemed uncertain how to take Ravela’s words.

“Tell me about your plans for the future. What do you want to do after you finished school?”

Now the picture inverted as Laena began to grin from ear to ear and Safora deflated.

“I am going to Akasha Ulundi State University. I am thinking about studying forensic science. I got my grades in order and if this slacker here,” she poked her elbow into Safora’s side, who jumped in surprise. “doesn’t start getting better at math, I will leave her here to work at Betty’s Diner!”

“Ey, what’s that supposed to mean?! I am doing just fine. It isn’t my fault that math is so hard!”

Ravela laughed at their youthful energy.

“And what are your plans?” Ravela asked Safora directly.

Safora looked nervous. “I-I want to study too. Also at Akasha Ulundi State University. B-but I want to study cinematography.”

Ravela considered her words. They fit her passion since all she talked about for the past month was the movies she watched. At least when she wasn’t pelting Ravela with questions. They fit in with her family too. “Sounds like you have great plans that fit your interests.”

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Ravela turned toward Gradjia. “Akasha Ulundi, not the first time I hear about this city. Tell me about it, please. I too search for a new purpose in life.”

Safora and Laena sat down beside Ravela. “It is the biggest city in the Unified States. It is a state in its own right. It is the central place of commerce and international trade. The puls of America run directly through that city. Imagine nine million people toiling tirelessly on the east coast. It was the biggest hub of arrival during most of our nation’s history.”

“Yeah, and art there is thriving. Fashion, paintings, and film, you name it. Akasha has it all.” Safora added.

Ravela leaned back. “That sounds like a good place to thrive. There are so many things I want to do. I hope the next years bring some clarity for me too.” Snapping out of her thought, Ravela clapped her hands.

“Alright, quick spar. Today Safora vs. Laena no flight. Go!” Ravela announced to her trainees.

They got into position.

“Last time we talked about proper kicks and grapples. Let’s see what you remember.”

Safora got bullied by Laena despite her considerable edge in strength. It didn’t take long before she taped out. Ravela took over her place. While Laena’s reaction time and perception were almost ludicrous, Ravela still beat her with ease on technique and knowledge alone. She didn’t need to rely on telekinesis or just experience, for now, she still had the technique and knowledge edge. But the day would come when Ravela wouldn’t be able to fight Laena without relying on telekinetic powers. The thought worried Ravela. Laena may need something to help her overcome an opponent that had a power like hers or something she couldn’t fight her way through. Ravela stopped the spar.

It was time to run on. She had a new line of thought for the rest of the run.

After their morning run breakfast was a worthy prize to Ravela. Laena too ate well and Ma Stone seemed happy that her granddaughter finally had a proper appetite.

The teenagers went to their cheerleader training and Ravela visited the library. Once more, Keeper Namon excused himself to meet with his brother.

Ravela sat down in her secluded little room. She pulled out an empty notebook. Ravela was far ahead of her schedule and felt confident in her abilities. Now was her chance to let her mind lose on different problems.

She began to sketch technical drawings. For Safora a face mask with a respirator and eye protection. Her mind overflowed with different designs. She scrapped the ones requiring a tube to breathe. Her movement should be as free as possible. The creativity flowed as did the ideas in her head.

Different masks with different kinds of respirators and optics found their way onto the paper. Full visor, binocular layouts, with mirroring glass or seethrough. A closed helmet, a detached two-parter. The thought of build-in communication shot through her mind which led to her scrapping a bunch of her current designs. The glasses are connected to an earpiece.

New ideas came to mind with partially receding visors and adaptable respirators. A simple capsule adaptor allows for a quick conversion into an underwater mask.

Her mind ran hot with ideas. The thought of Safora wearing and flying in her heavy plate made Ravela feel a certain kind of dissatisfaction that could only be known to a designer thinking off the ugliest design for a given situation. The idea for a different fiber came to her thanks to the magical knowledge potion she got from indigo.

A mash fiber of different combined materials manteling hexagonal scale protection would grant enormous protection against explosions, fire, cold, hazardous liquids, and once Ravela was done with it direct projectile hits too. Not that the girls would be vulnerable to most firearms, but their costumes should be as resistant as the girls were. Nobody wants a wardrobe malfunction mid-heroics.

Ravela let Safora’s design rest for the moment and thought about Laena’s needs. The respirator systems from Safora could still be useful for Laena, although much less pronounced the water-breathing adaptor would remain.

With great glee, she worked on the design for Laenas suit. Her gloves and lower arms get plated protection in her concept drawings. The boots and lower leg get the same treatment and on top of it, some spring elements allow support for Laena’s agility.

She drew a belt that could hold some helpful gadgets and redesigned the gloves and boots so that holding onto and climbing a smooth surface wouldn’t be a problem.

Ravela was lost in her work. As she was about to overhaul the optical device for Laena the door to her room opened. Her drawings and notes vanished from the table in an instant.

To her surprise, Safora came together with her brother and not with Laena.

Ravela didn’t like where this situation was going. She frowned.

“This better not be what I know it will be.” Ravela attempted to dissuade the conversation from happening.

“Ramiel, hear us out.” Safora started.

Ravela took her bag and got up. “No.”

“But Markus already knows.”

Ravela turned around put her finger right in front of her nose and said once again. “No.”

Markus looked at his sister and back at Ravela and deflated slightly.

“Allow me to elaborate to both of you what this looks like to me. Next, Markus will tell his best buddy and before I know it he too will stand here. That is if this process doesn’t immediately kill Markus or disfigure him. What makes you two think it is okay to put this on me a third time? If this ends in tragedy what will you both tell your parents? And I mean that. What will you tell them? I refuse to even consider this until you wrote two lies you will tell your parents. One for the case that your brother turns to dust or a statue, DYING.” Ravela hissed that last words. “The second one for when he turns out crippled or with a “power” that will condemn him to a life of pain. Both of you think about that.”

Ravela turned to Markus. “Could you live your life vomiting highly corrosive acid without telling your parents who did this to you after one month? Scratch that, for one week. Can you look me in the eyes and lie to my face that you wouldn’t resent your sister after just one week?”

“But listen Ramiel.” Safora tried again.

“No, this is where you zip it and go inward and reflect on the things I just said. Laena was different. She wasn’t your direct family, plus she knew more than Markus.”

“B-But.” Safora tried once again.

“Write the statements. Think about what I just said and don’t you dare bring this up without them. Good day, Safora, Markus.”

Ravela got out of there before they could raise the topic with her. She went right to her room. She pulled out her suitcase and took the three crystals out. Putting two socks around them, Ravela hid them where she hid the sword and both pistols. This was too dangerous to leave it to teenagers' whims.

All thoughts about the fun she had this entire day drawing and planning were long out the window.

It would be hours before dinner. And now she had a whole new set of concerns. How much did Safora tell her brother? Did she adhere to their deal at all? Would they honor the agreement they struck with her?

For one month everything went well and now Safora had to ruin things by trying to get her brother's powers. Walking back outside, Ravela began aimlessly wandering the small park.

The optimism she felt for the last month had just evaporated.

New worries took their place. One day they would fall in love with someone and before Ravela knew they would stand in front of her again begging them to give the crystal to their beloved. Then they would break up and her problems would double. That would only be the case for as long as everything went as they hoped. The moment one of them suffered the consequences of their rampant risk-taking there would be a whole new world of pain and suffering.

Hours went by as Ravela roamed the park alone with her thoughts. But just like her path, her thoughts went in circles.

‘Damn you, Safora. Couldn’t just tell your brother what happened to you couldn’t be done for your brother, could you?’

As dinner drew closer Ravela made her way back to Ma Stone’s lovely hostel.

In the hallway, four men stood talking to Ma Stone. Ravela recognized the voice of one of them. The long-awaited mystery guests finally arrived. Ravela looked at the quartet, walking past them with a stoic nod.

Ma Stone was busy giving out the keys. Ravela didn’t have to wonder who of these four men was the one in need of protection. The European man with greenish facial tattoos was the obvious candidate. He was also the only one who looked casually dressed. The other men were all wearing long black mantles and hats.

A voice stopped Ravela as she reached the stairs.

“Mr. Roice?”

Ravela turned around to the man she’d considered of the same age as Ramiel. Smiling, she took her foot off the first step and fully turned around.

“May I have a quick word?” The man inquired politely already knowing that Ravela had signaled her willingness to talk to him.

“Of course, Mr. …? I am sorry I didn’t hear your name.” Ravela posed her indirect question to push the awkwardness of their interaction squarely into his lap. ‘Hot potato! Where are your manners?’

“Apologies, I am Detective Thorn. Yes, related to the sheriff. But that’s not the point. I just hoped I could implore you to not mention your new fellow guest to anyone outside. It would help our case a lot and would be paramount to the security of this location of which you are a guest.”

Ravela took on a serious face. “Don’t worry I won’t mention it to anyone. But I must ask. Will I need to be worried about my belongings with that man in the house?”

Detective Thorn shook his head. “Don’t worry he’s not a thief and my fellow officers will keep their eyes on him at all times. I’ve heard you like to run around the lake early in the morning, is that right?

“That is correct, Detective.” Ravela agreed.

“If you notice anyone unusual outside that is not me or these fine gentlemen you see over there could you let us know? The chances are slim, of course, but just in case an extra pair of eyes is never unwelcome.”

Ravela laughed and reached out her hand. “If it helps the police, I’ll keep both eyes peeled.”

Detective Thorn shook his hand eagerly. “I am glad to hear that. I wish more people in the big city had your spirit, Mr. Roice.”

“Let’s not stand on ceremony here, detective. Please call me Ramiel.” Ravela said with a wide grin.

Detective Thorn nodded. “Then please call me, Benoles. The two Officers over there are Detective Stouts and Gell.” Benoles Thorn introduced them. Then he tagged on a barb that spoke of brotherly intimacy. “They’ll try not to get fat during their working vacation I so generously organized for them.”

Ravela laughed with the two men. He already liked the dynamic of the trio. The fourth man however looked like he was continuously eating lemons.

‘Going to the dinner table on a high note wasn’t the worst that I could have imagined for the end of the day.’