“Holders?” The woman tilted her head, her yellow hair catching the light as she scanned the room with keen eyes. Her gaze settled on our group, huddled near the corner like misplaced puzzle pieces in this high-tech facility.

“Ooh, new faces,” she purred, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. She began to saunter towards us with the grace of a cat stalking its prey. “Who are they, Keller?”

Keller’s voice carried a hint of exasperation, as if he were used to her antics. “They are people like you, Lyra. They possess supernatural powers.”

The woman - Lyra – froze mid-step, her eyes widening with interest. “Is that so…” Her gaze locked onto me, piercing and analytical. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I nodded slowly, suddenly feeling like a specimen under a microscope.

For a heartbeat, Lyra remained motionless. Then, in a blur of motion that my eyes could barely track, she appears before me. A rapier materialized in her hand, its blade whistling through the air towards me. Pure instinct took over – my bow appeared in my hands, deflecting the strike with a resounding clang.

image [https://i.imgur.com/stQkWcl.jpeg]

The room erupted into chaos. Chairs scraped against the floor as people leapt to their feet. Noarin’s sword materialized with a flash of light, its tip hovering mere inches from Lyra’s throat. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

“I see,” Lyra’s face split into a wide grin, her rapier vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. “Sorry for startling you. You’ve got good reflexes there.”

I felt my heart hammering in my chest as my bow dissipated. “Thanks…?” I managed, my voice coming out more like a question than a statement.

A deep sigh cut through the tension. The man with the headband approached us, his scarred face set in an expression of long-suffering patience. “Sorry,” he rumbled, his voice deep and gravelly. “She likes to do flashy things.” He bowed slightly. “My name is Darius Aogami. This reckless girl here is Lyra Celeste.”

“Nice to meet you!” Lyra chirped, bowing with exaggerated formality, all traces of her earlier intensity gone.

I cleared my throat, willing my voice to steady. “Ah, right. Nice to meet you too. I’m Aruta Kuroyuki.” I gestured to each of my companions in turn. “This is Noarin Otorii, Kai Yosuga, Rishia Ninomi, and… Saria.”

Lyra and Darius’s eyes locked onto Saria, who was sitting on my shoulder. Their expressions morphed from polite interest to utter bewilderment, eyebrows shooting up and jaws slackening.

Saria, clearly enjoying their reaction, decided to break the ice. “If you haven’t gotten the hint yet, yes, I’m no ordinary cat,” she said, her tiny voice dripping with amusement.

Lyra’s face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. “Wow!” she gasped, leaning in so close I could see the flecks of gold in her bright eyes. “The cat can talk!”

Saria let out a long-suffering sigh that seemed too big for her tiny body. “So I guess you two don’t know what a Holder is?” she asked. Darius and Lyra shook their heads in unison.

What followed was a condensed version of Saria’s earlier explanation. Darius listened with an intensity that belied his stoic expression. Lyra, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement, her eyes wide and sparkling as she hung on every word.

“I understand,” Lyra said when Saria finished, her gaze ping-ponging between me and Noarin. “So you two are the ones who defeated the darkness on that island?” We nodded, and I couldn’t help but notice how Noarin unconsciously moved closer to me.

Lyra’s eyes narrowed, a sly grin spreading across her face. “You two are dating?”

The question hit like a thunderbolt. I felt heat rush to my face so quickly I thought I might combust. A sideways glance at Noarin showed her usually pale complexion had turned a shade of red that rivaled a tomato. We both sputtered, trying and failing to form coherent words.

“Ack!” Lyra’s teasing grin morphed into a grimace as Darius’s hand connected with the back of her head with a solid thwack.

“Do you really have to point that out?” Darius sighed, the weariness in his voice suggesting this was far from the first time he’d had to rein in his partner. He turned to us and bowed again, his expression a mix of apology and resignation. “Please forgive her… enthusiasm.”

As I watched their interaction, a question bubbled up in my mind. What exactly was the relationship between these two? They seemed as different as night and day, yet there was an undeniable synergy between them.

As the commotion settled, Keller cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand. “Now that we’ve all been… properly introduced,” he said, throwing a pointed look at Lyra, who responded with an unabashed grin, “let’s focus on our primary objective: how to introduce magic into society without causing widespread panic.”

The room fell Into a contemplative silence, the weight of the task ahead palpable in the air. It was Rishia who broke the silence, her voice soft but steady. “Perhaps we could start with a controlled release of information? Introduce the concept gradually, starting with smaller, more manageable abilities?”

Kai nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, like maybe we could demonstrate some harmless magic tricks on social media? Make it seem fun and non-threatening at first?”

One of the military officials, a stern-faced woman with close-cropped gray hair, shook her head. “That could backfire. If we trivialize it, people might not take the potential dangers seriously.”

“What about a scientific approach?” A bespectacled man in a lab coat suggested. “We could frame it as a newly discovered natural phenomenon, release peer-reviewed studies…”

“And how long would that take?” Lyra interjected, leaning back in her chair. “By the time your studies get through peer review, half the city could be on fire from people who can’t control their new powers.”

The debate continued, ideas flying back and forth across the table. I found myself overwhelmed, the magnitude of the task ahead of us seeming insurmountable. A gentle touch on my arm drew my attention to Noarin, her eyes reflecting the same mixture of determination and apprehension I felt.

Suddenly, Saria’s voice cut through the din. “If I may,” she said, her tiny form zipping to the center of the table. “I believe we’re approaching this from the wrong angle.”

All eyes turned to her, the room falling silent once more. “You’re trying to figure out how to introduce magic to your society,” she continued, “but you’re overlooking a crucial factor: the people who already have these powers. Before you can hope to integrate magic into your world, you need to understand it yourselves.”

She turned to Lyra and Darius. “You two are prime examples. You have these abilities, but you don’t fully comprehend them or their origins. How can you expect to explain it to others when you yourselves are in the dark?”

Darius nodded slowly, his one eye narrowing in thought. “The cat… Saria… has a point. We’ve been fumbling in the dark, relying on instinct rather than understanding.”

Saria’s eyes gleamed with approval. “Exactly. Which is why I propose this: let us train you. Let Aruta, as an Absolute Resonator, work with you to explore the depths of you’re abilities. Through this process, we can gain valuable insights that will inform our approach to introducing magic to the wider world.”

The room buzzed with murmurs, the idea taking root. Keller leaned forward, his interest piqued. “And how exactly would this training work?”

“Well,” I found myself speaking up, surprise at my own boldness evident in my voice, “we could start with basics. Understanding the nature of their ornaments, the limits of their powers. Then move on to control exercises, maybe even some sparring sessions to see how different abilities interact.”

Noarin picked up where I left off, her voice gaining confidence as she spoke. “We could document everything, create a sort of… magical curriculum. It could be the foundation for future training programs once magic becomes public knowledge.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Lyra’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Ooh, magical boot camp! I’m in!”

Darius rolled his eye, but there was a hint of a smile on his scarred face. “It does sound like a logical first step.”

Keller nodded, a look of relief washing over his features. “This… this could work. We’ll set up a secure training facility. Agent Chen, can you handle the logistics?”

Chen, who had been quietly observing from the corner, gave a curt nod. “Consider it done, sir.”

As the room buzzed with renewed energy, Saria floated back to my shoulder. “There’s one more thing we need to discuss,” she said, her voice low enough that only our immediate group could hear. “Belzad.”

The name sent a chill down my spine. Noarin tensed beside me. Kai and Rishia leaned in, their faces grim.

“What about him?” Keller asked, his voice sharp.

Saria’s expression turned grave. “While we prepare, so does he. We need to consider his potential plans, his goals.”

“From what we’ve seen,” Noarin said, her voice tight, “he seems intent on causing chaos.”

I nodded, memories of that night flashing through my mind. “But it’s more than just chaos for chaos’ sake. He’s after something specific.”

“Power,” Darius rumbled, his eye narrowing. “Men like him, they’re always after power.”

Lyra, for once, looked serious. “But what kind of power? And how does he plan to get it?”

Saria’s tiny form seemed to shrink even further. “There’s… a possibility we need to consider. One that I’m loath to even mention, but we must be prepared.” She took a deep breath. “Belzad might be seeking a way to become an Absolute Resonator himself.”

The words hung In the air, heavy with implication. The room fell into a stunned silence.

“Is that even possible?” Rishia whispered, her eyes wide.

Saria shook her head. “I don’t know. The existence of Absolute Resonators is shrouded in mystery. Before Aruta, the last one lived over a millennium ago. But if it happened once…”

“It could happen again,” I finished, a cold dread settling in my stomach.

Keller’s face had turned ashen. “If this Belzad were to gain such power…”

“He could control all ornaments,” Noarin said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He could rule this world and the other.”

The gravity of the situation settled over the room like a heavy blanket. The earlier enthusiasm about training had been replaced by a grim determination.

“Then we have no time to waste,” Darius said, breaking the silence. “We need to start this training immediately. Not just to understand our own powers, but to prepare for whatever Belzad might throw at us.”

Lyra nodded, all traces of her earlier playfulness gone. “We’ll need to be ready for anything.”

Keller stood, his posture rigid with resolve. “Agreed. We’ll begin preparations immediately. Agent Chen, expedite the training facility setup. I want it operational within 48 hours.”

As the room burst into activity, plans being made and orders given, I found myself locking eyes with Noarin. In her gaze, I saw a reflection of my own feelings – fear, determination, and a glimmer of hope.

Saria’s tiny paw rested on my cheek, her touch surprisingly warm. “Remember, Aruta,” she said softly, “you are the key. Your ability to resonate with all ornaments… it might just be our greatest weapon against Belzad’s ambitions.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders.

As the initial shock of Saria’s revelation about Belzad’s potential plans settled, the room erupted into a flurry of overlapping conversations. The gravity of the situation seemed to weigh heavily on everyone present, transforming the earlier excitement into a palpable tension.

Keller raised his hands, calling for silence. “Alright, everyone. Let’s approach this systematically. We need to break this down into manageable tasks.”

Agent Chen, who had been quietly observing from the corner, stepped forward. “Sir, if I may suggest, we should prioritize three main areas: training, intelligence gathering, and public preparation.”

Keller nodded appreciatively. “Good thinking, Chen. Let’s start with training. Saria, you mentioned working with Darius and Lyra. Can you elaborate on what that might entail?”

All eyes turned to the cat on my shoulder. Saria hop to the center of the table, her small form somehow commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

“Of course,” she began, her voice clear and steady. “The training I propose would be comprehensive, covering not just the use of their abilities, but also the theory behind them. We need to understand the nature of the ornaments, how they connect to their wielders, and the limits of their power.”

Lyra leaned forward, her earlier playfulness replaced by intense focus. “And how exactly would we do that? It’s not like there’s a user manual for these powers.”

Saria’s whiskers twitched in what I’ve come to recognize as her version of a smile. “No, there isn’t. But we have something better – an Absolute Resonator.” She gestured towards me with her tiny paw.

I felt a flutter of nervousness in my stomach as all eyes in the room turned to me. Noarin’s hand found mine under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Aruta’s ability to resonate with all ornaments gives him a unique insight into their nature,” Saria continued. “He can sense the connections, understand the flow of power in a way that no one else can.”

Darius’s one eye narrowed thoughtfully. “So, he’d be able to… what? See how our powers work?”

I cleared my throat, surprised by how dry it felt. “It’s more than seeing,” I explained, my voice growing stronger as I spoke. “When I resonate with Noarin’s power back then, I can feel its essence, understand its purpose. It's like... like reading a book in a language only I can understand.”

Kai chimed in, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “It’s pretty cool to watch, actually. When Aruta resonates with Noarin, you can almost see the connections forming.”

Keller leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. “This could be invaluable. Not just for training Darius and Lyra, but for understanding the nature of these powers on a fundamental level.”

“Exactly,” Saria said. “But it’s not just about understanding. It’s about control. Many of the incidents we’ve seen so far have been caused by people unable to control their newfound abilities. By working with Aruta, we can develop techniques to help people master their powers safely.”

The room buzzed with excited murmurs. I could see the hope dawning on people’s faces – finally, a concrete plan to address the chaos that had been unfolding around us.

Noarin spoke up, her voice calm but filled with determination. “We should also consider defensive training. If Belzad is planning something, we need to be prepared to protect ourselves and others.”

Lyra’s eyes lit up at this. “Ooh, magical sparring sessions! Count me in!”

As the discussion continued, delving into the specifics of training regimens and safety protocols, I found my mind wandering to the bigger picture. We were talking about fundamentally changing the way our world worked, introducing an element that, until recently, had been confined to the realm of fantasy.

I must have looked worried because Noarin leaned in close, her voice a soft whisper. “Hey, you okay?”

I gave her a small smile. “Yeah, just… overwhelmed, I guess. This is all so much bigger than us.”

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “I know. But we’re not alone in this. Look around.”

I did as she suggested, taking in the determined faces around the table. Kai and Rishia, my friends who had been with me from the start of this journey. Lyra and Darius, two strangers who were now allies in this strange new world. The ADF members, each bringing their own expertise to the table.

“You’re right,” I whispered back to Noarin.

Our moment was interrupted by Keller’s voice. “Now, let’s move on to intelligence gathering. We need to know more about Belzad’s movements and intentions.”

Chen stepped forward again. “We’ve already established a task force dedicated to tracking any unusual activity. But with this new information about Belzad’s potential goals, we’ll need to refine our approach.”

“What exactly are we looking for?” one of the military officials asked.

Saria floated up again. “Any signs of someone attempting to manipulate multiple ornaments at once would be a red flag. If Belzad is trying to become an Absolute Resonator, he’ll likely be experimenting with different ornaments, trying to forge connections.”

I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought. The idea of Belzad wielding the same power as me was terrifying.

“We should also be on the lookout for any spatial disorientation” Rishia added. “Belzad’s Absolute is a space attribute. He might keep opening a breach to this world, spreading more ornaments”

Keller nodded. “Good point. Chen, coordinate with our natural disasters division. Look for a way to detect any spatial abnormality.”

As Chen began taking notes, Kai spoke up. “What about the public? How do we prepare them for… well, all of this?”

The room fell silent as everyone considered the enormity of the task. How do you prepare an entire world for the revelation that magic is real?

“We need to be careful,” Noarin said, breaking the silence. “If we reveal too much too quickly, we risk causing panic. But if we wait too long, we leave people vulnerable and unprepared.”

Lyra nodded vigorously. “Yeah, and we don’t want people finding out about magic by accidentally setting their house on fire or something.”

Noarin jolt, glaring at Lyra. Lyra senses Noarin’s deep stare.

“Uhh… is there something wrong?” Lyra tilt her head in confusion.

“Ahh…” I look at Noarin, she turn her gaze downward. “She accidentally burn her house back when she realized her power”

Lyra covering her mouth “Oh…” a hint of guilt carved on her face “Sorry…”

Noatin shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it, I just surprised”

“Perhaps a phased approach would be best,” one of the scientists suggested. “We start with small, controlled releases of information. Frame it as a new scientific discovery at first.”

“And we could set up support hotlines,” Rishia added. “For people who suddenly find themselves manifesting abilities.”

The discussion continued, ideas flying back and forth across the table. Education programs, public safety measures, media strategies – every aspect of introducing magic to society was dissected and debated.

As the meeting stretched on, I found myself marveling at the surreal nature of our situation. Just a few months ago, my biggest concern had been passing my highschool exams. Now, I was sitting in a secret underground base, helping to plan how to introduce magic to the world and stop a powerful enemy from another dimension.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Keller called the meeting to a close. “Alright, everyone. We have our initial plans in place. Chen will distribute detailed assignments to each department. I want daily progress reports, and we’ll reconvene in 48 hours to assess our progress.”

As people began to file out of the room, Keller approached our group. “Aruta, Noarin, Kai, Rishia – I can’t stress enough how crucial your roles are in this. Your experience with magic, your connections to Saria’s world – they’re invaluable. Are you ready for what’s ahead?”

I looked at my friends, saw the determination in their eyes, and felt a surge of confidence. “We’re ready,” I said, surprised by the strength in my own voice.

Keller nodded, a hint of a smile on his usually stern face. “Good. Because the world as we know it is about to change, and we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

As we left the meeting room, stepping back into the bustling main area of the ADF base, I felt a mix of emotions swirling within me. Fear of the unknown challenges ahead. Excitement at the possibilities that magic brought to our world. Determination to stop Belzad