81-Saturday 10:30 pm, Ishida House-
"You two could've snuck in."
"It's not like it didn't cross our minds."
When Amy's brother brought Jake home, the rest of his family were worried about his early return and even more worried about the incident that had occurred. His mother frantically asked questions, checked his face for bruises. After calming down upon finding nothing wrong, she served him tea and went to bed. The siblings retreated to his bedroom to talk, away from their mother's ears.
"You could've scared him by changing your eyes between red and their normal color."
"I had ideas to scare him, but none of that happened. I didn't want him to cause a scene or else my picture would've been taken and sent to some nutty conspiracy group. I don't need Lance and the rest to interrogate me."
"'Guess what, supernatural enthusiasts! The Crimson Guy of the Sentai 9 is among us!'" Tina waved her hands dramatically while making whooshing noises. "That headline will catch the attention of weirdos."
The boy snorted. "Yeah, probably." His face softened as he eyed the girl carefully. "How are you?"
The young girl snorted. "I'm fine, you don't sense anything do you? If you did, you'd be on edge."
Jake grimace. "I don't, but I still need to know."
"Jake." Tina sighed. "All I feel is an attachment kind of issue. A gift from grandpa is gone. Luka wants to see me on Monday, and I'll use that day to see it."
"Hmm." Jake nodded. "Okay."
"And don't blame yourself if something happens." Tina scolded. "Besides, you promised to protect me."
Jake grinned. "I intend to keep that promise"
Suddenly the closet door suddenly opened, causing them to jump in surprise. Jake quickly transformed, but fortunately, it was just Reinstar.
"Yo." she waved casually.
"Damn it!" Jake reverted to normal. "Why?"
"It's a classic reenactment of our first meeting. Also, Pilot's back. Report to Hub tomorrow around 10am. Got it? Wonderful. Bye bye."
She quietly and slowly closed the door, staring at them with a mischievous grin. Once the door shut, Keiko immediately burst into the room with a bat
"What happened?"" She yelled out, looking around the room.
Tina scoffed. "A strange woman emerged from Jake's closet."
"Oh." Keiko let out a relieved sigh, but then paused. She turned to the closet, then back at them. "Wait, what?"
Jake held up his phone. "Sorry, just a clip on the internet. Shouldn't have put it on full blast."
The mother giggled. "As long as you're okay. I'll be in bed. Get some sleep, kids." She immediately went to her bedroom and closed the door.
Jake smacked his face, an exasperated groan left him. "She did that on purpose!"
"She's just reminiscing about your first meeting."
"That was the second, the first was briefly with Pilot." He paused, realizing what the elf woman said. "Wait… did she say Pilot's back?"
Tina perked up. "Yeah. Looks like we'll be seeing him again."
"Great." Jake's tone was less than enthusiastic. "Wonder if he will be mad.""
-Sunday, The Hub, Conference Room-
Pilot stood before the seated Radiant, his expression unreadable. The air in the room felt tense, making the group feel nervous. He crossed his arms and gave a small nod
"First, I want to say I'm glad you all successfully completed your missions while I was away. Jake, Christina, Tanya, Sam, Amy, and Ryu, congratulations on improving yourselves."
The group nodded, each saying thanks.
"Jack Vincent, Lina O'Grace, and Blair Agnes, congratulations on the success of your missions and safe return."
"Thank you, sir." replied Jack. "Heard a lot about you."
Blair gave an awkward nod, while Lina simply said, "Aye."
"I read all the reports." The canokian grimaced. "I agree with Guardian's decision to classify the temple as off limits. I'm relieved you chose not to sacrifice yourselves for a temporary solution."
"Lina made the decision." Amy interjected. "We just followed her choice."
"I wanted more details." Lina said. "I was curious about their intentions and whether there were repercussions to the wishes. The exact phrasing of words and whether it drew power from itself or the user made me extremely cautious."
"Right," Christina nodded. "We shouldn't trust something like that, even if we think we worded it perfectly.
"Correct." stated Pilot. "Every choice we make will have an impact on the future. Piper's decision eliminated him. While his intentions might seem noble from one perspective, I'm sure you've thought about the repercussions had he accomplished his goal.
"Agreed." the terra warrior nodded. "Too many disasters, especially if it is an actual djinn."
"And the situation in Rye." said the red headed canokian. "The Count's actions cost that town their lives. I spoke to Luka about the situation. She informed me that three colleagues from Galvania will be checking on them for a year. Despite their decreased lifespan, they want to know if the children are able to live past their adolescence."
Blair looked hopeful. "Will they?"
Pilot sighed. "Before you all acquired the crystals, you had enough mana for your entire lives. They believe there is a slight chance the younglingsmightregain their mana since they are young."
"But." Jake interjected, frowning.
"That's something Luka and the others are hoping for, despite evidence suggesting the opposite. Perhaps this will be the rare exception." He grimaced. "As of now, the younglings have not regained a miniscule of their mana. The team will monitor them for a year until evidence shows itself or lack of."
"How horrifying." whispered Tanya. "I hope that braggart feels humiliated in prison."
"All because he thought it was his right." the light warrior closed her eyes. "Just a selfish man."
"There are artifacts that steal your mana, but you are able to regain it naturally or by disposing of the objects. However, the speculums and the transfer method are examples of an artifact that should be eliminated. The gateway has been destroyed."
"Oh." Ryu perked up. "So… there won't be a situation for them to return?"
"The Mirror World is permanently cut off." stated Pilot. "Just as the Temple of Desire, no one shall ever walk the grounds and the Count is locked up for life." He shook his head. "I heard he was very indignant at first, but Zeracakja silenced him with fear. Many in Guardian won't tolerate his verbal abuse. If he knows what's good for him, he will silence himself in prison."
"Or pick on the biggest guy in the yard to prove he's stronger." snarked the lightning warrior.
"Unlikely." The Crimson Blade. "He'll most likely be killed if he tries to fight or negotiate. Many of our prisoners won't tolerate an outsider trying to persuade him. Guardian was very clear. So far, he's behaving."
"Too bad." scoffed the terra warrior. "But he'll most likely try." He stared at Blair. "It's best to leave him out of your mind."
The shadow warrior gave a silent nod.
"Agreed." stated Pilot. "I'm glad you kept up with your training alongside other projects. The princess and the Emperor send their regards."
"Even the Emperor." whistled the wind warrior. "We haven't met the big man, and it feels like the pressure is on."
"When you arrive in Galvania, you won't see him immediately. You'll stay in Havenguard, the city Guardian HQ is located in. Havenguard is situated between the Kingdom of Chiara and another province. You may visit Chiara or other places when you have the opportunity. The princess would love to see you again, but visiting another world gave everyone anxiety." He turned to Jack. "I commend you for leading her away from thugs, even if she could fight them. There doesn't need to be an incident."
Jack gave a curt nod. "Understood."
"Good. Learn what you can from the recommendations. Let it be something that benefits you." His tone shifted, expression darkened. "There is another matter that needs to be addressed. Jake, you should've told us about the feather as soon as you sensed mana."
Intimidated, the fire warrior nodded. "Yes sir."
"We don't need more enigmas added on to an already list of problems. You are the leader, Jake Takeshi Ishida. You should've brought the feather to us, regardless of how your sister feels. Any object with the slightest trace of mana should be reported immediately. I hope you're ready for the full weight of your responsibility because the promise you made to her feels hollow."
The boy felt a lot of weight on him after hearing his full name. The tone cut deep, leaving him bitter and sullen. When he looked into the man's disappointed gaze, the sting of letting down someone who helped train him made him feel bad. Many thoughts swirled in his mind: Would he be dismissed? Would the crystal be taken? Shaking his head, he forced the negative thoughts aside.
"Yes, sir," he said firmly
The Crimson Blade closed his eyes. "There are artifacts that may not seem dangerous, but if used improperly will cause repercussions. Reinstar and the others chose to observe. Personally, I would've confiscated it. My experience has taught me to be wary. It's fortunate it protected Tina from the Piper, but now it's under observation. Christina, Tanya, Sam, Amy, Ryu, you all should've encouraged him to report it. I don't need to know why you didn't, but do so in the future. Am I clear?
"Yes, sir!" replied the five teens.
"Jack, Lina, Blair," Pilot's tone firm. "This applies to you as well."
"Yes, sir!"
Pilot nodded. "Good. Every artifact you discover must be reported to us. Failure to do so invites disaster upon us. You've already seen three examples of what happens when an artifact is left unchecked. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." They replied in unison.
"Good," The canokian moved toward the door. "Follow me to the Training Room."
The transformed teen and Pilot entered the Training Room, which had morphed into an eerie setting of a deserted, rundown village lit under a full moon. The air was thick with an unsettling chill. A rusty creak broke the silence, making them jump and spin around, only to find a broken door swaying slowly on its hinges.
"We never programmed a location like this." Lumina's voice trembled.
"It was always deserts, fields, or forests," said Aqua. "Is there a reason why you change the scenery to an abandoned village?
"This village holds significance." The canokian viewed the scene with disdain. "This could have been Salem if Mistress M wasn't stopped.
"But…" Frost flinched. "This doesn't appear to be Salem from 300 years ago."
"It's not." Pilot faced them. "As you know the Training Room was designed based on locations from Galvania and Earth. This was once a thriving town, now it's a Pestiferous Zone."
"A pestiferous Zone?" Ivy perked up. "Is that what you call deserted venues?"
"Yes, Pestiferous Zones are nearly uninhabitable areas that are difficult to cleanse, near irreversible. There are few on Galvania and Earth. Only those truly insane would live in those places and as you experienced in Salem, you could feel an eerily atmosphere if you aren't adept in conjuring mana."
"And Parkerville was about to become a similar place." Bolt sighed. "Or would it just be Marge's territory?"
"It would've been her territory, until circumstances forced her to step down." Pilot replied with a sneer. "What you need to know is this kind of devastation can happen. There is a field that took a thousand years to cleanse after the Radiant emerged a second time. Others were abandoned because of not discovering the correct method to purify them. Fortunately they're few."
"Margeret absorbed the Rage into herself to self-destruct." scoffed the ice warrior. "She cleansed the city herself with her last gambit."
"That was fortunate," the Sword Unit leader breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm showing you this to help develop a better understanding of the threats you'll face and to practice against a foe."
"Who is the punk we're fighting?" inquired Aero.
In response, a construct materialized, drawing their attention. It took the form of a gruff-looking aviana with a medium build frame, slick gray-colored feathers with a torn right wing. His presence made the group flinch with his piercing gaze.
"That is Brakt." Pilot said, approached the replica. "This is his form from ten years ago. We have not updated his inquiry since then, as he disappeared and was only mentioned recently. His wing was damaged from a fierce battle, but he hasn't let it hinder him during battles."
Immediately, the replica formed a pair of bronze tonfas and assumed a fighting stance.
"This simulation doesn't reflect all of his abilities, but his use of the tonfa will be beneficial to you, Amy." He glanced at the girl. "You're first."
Lumina hesitated, but stepped forward, manifesting her own tonfas as she approached the construct.
"There will be times you will fight in a group or solo." He had a solemn expression. "When alone you must rely on your knowledge and skill to either hold off your opponent or neutralize them. Amy, don't be swallowed by fear if you have no allies around you. That makes you the weakest link the enemy can exploit."
Her eyes widened, and fear flickered across her features. "I don't want that!"
The canokian nodded. "Good, and Blair. Selen-ja won't alway be present. You will journey alongside unfamiliar allies. It may be difficult to adapt, but you must learn to overcome your insecurities."
The shadow warrior nodded, scratching her cheek
Turning back to the light warrior, the canokian addressed the group. "Everyone will face this one-on-one. This isn't a full representation of Brakt's abilities, but it should give you insight into his combat prowess. Learn from this." He crossed his arms. "Now, begin!"
The construct charged at with surprising speed, faster than she had anticipated. The light warrior jumped back before being struck from the tonfa. However, the being quickly unleashed a sidekick, which she managed to block using her tonfas. She retaliated by channeling non-elemental mana in her leg and delivering a swifty, powerful kick.
Tangerine Stamp.
The kick sent the construct flying through the air, but it landed gracefully on its feets and immediately rushed her again. It launched a fierce assault, forcing her to dodge and block another strike from the tonfas. Then the construct coated its tonfas with wind, and struck her side before she could react. The impact hurled her across the street and into a pile of broken barrels.
"AMY!" Aqua and Blaze shouted.
"Damn." the wind warrior grimaced and glanced at the copy. "So Brakt has an affinity to wind."
"Remember," the flora warrior narrowed her eyes. "Every person has a natural affinity to an element. In Brakt's case, it's wind. For us, it's the matter of fact of our affinities since we accepted the crystals."
"And unlike everyone else, we can't learn a second element." added the shadow warrior, a hint of disappointment. "Being a Radiant comes with that limitation."
"That makes it more challenging." the terra warrior looked between Lumina and Brakt. "Mastering more non-elemental adroits will make our battles more manageable."
"Strategy is the key." Pilot crossed his arms, noticing Holo-Brakt charging forward. "Don't shout, let her stay focused."
Aqua clicked her tongue as she watched the battle, while Blaze stared intently.
Lumina's eyes shot up as the construct rushed at her. She dove out of the way just as it struck the barrels. It turned around, quickly coated the tonfas with energy and charged at her like a relentless train. The light warrior infused her tonfas with light mana and prepared for the attack. The construct attacked with ferocity while Lumina defended with the same ferocity. They moved across the street while trading blows, each crack of the weapons resonated across the field.
The light warrior face showed concentration, but she felt herself waiver under the intense gaze of the construct. It feinted a strike causing Lumina to block nothing except air. Taking advantage, the construct spun around, thrusting the back end of the tonfa into her stomach, before delivering a swift kick that sent her off her feet.
Midair, Lumina dismissed her weapons and fired two Bright Shots. The construct rushed at her while dodging both adroits. Lumina reformed her tonfas just in time for the next strike. After the clash the fake aviana leapt back, coated itself in wind mana and charged at her with a sudden burst of speed that made the onlookers tense.
Lumina quickly jumped to the side, but was surprised by her opponent making a sharp turn by swiftly slamming his foot into the ground to change its course. She raised her tonfas, grunting as the construct rammed into her, forcing her backward across the field. With a scream, they both crashed into a rundown house.
"Damn it." Blaze shouted.
"That's enough." Pilot moved forward.
Inside the house, Lumina lay flat on her back as the construct stood over her with cold, unfeeling eyes. Fear on her face, she watched as it prepared for another attack, but stopped as soon as Pilot issued the command. The construct turned its back to her, and moved away. Lumina sniffed, covering her eyes. Those merciless eyes promised to bring harm to those it engaged with. Tears slipped down her face, mix of a frustration of defeat and sorrow for those who were unfortunate meeting the real Brakt
"Amy!" A familiar voice was heard. She uncovered her eyes to see Aqua and Blaze kneeling beside her.
"Are you okay!?" The water warrior asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry." the light warrior said softly.
"You don't need to be." Blaze grinned at her.
They helped her and led her out of the house. The others were asking how she was. She frowned when she spotted the construct move further away.
"Did he always have those eyes?" asked the light warrior. "I've never seen something like that before. Margaret was unhinged crazy, but that's something else."
"Like these." Pilot faced her, his eyes adopting showing the same intense glare. The group flinched collectively.
"Yeah, that's different from your last intense expression." shivered the lightning warrior.
"Different from that woman." The ice warrior whispered
"It f-feels different than b-believing you are superior." stammered the shadow warrior as she stood near Ivy, who grimaced.
Pilot closed his eyes. "Unfortunately, you'll encounter individuals with expressions like that. I have no doubt people in your world have or had those same eyes. Eyes that see you as nothing more than prey. There are those who enjoy fighting: to test oneself, to find a challenge and overcome it, or to defend the less fortunate. But there are those who let their bloodlust consume them, who savor power over all else, who wish to harm others."
He glanced at the construct. "I've never personally met Brakt, but I have heard he was respected for his leadership and strength. However, as you have learned, his image dwindled overtime to due to his methods." He faced them. "You may develop those eyes, but if there is anything you will learn from this. You are not cold-hearted monsters. Don't become the demon you fear, but learn to overcome and be the person you strive to be, am I clear?"
"Right?" They nodded.
"Amy." The canokian locked eyes with her.. "Spend some time with Selen-ja. She may not have the image of a warrior, but she is someone who still holds her heart."
"Yes." She gave a determined nod.
"Good. Sam, you're next."
Aero stretched himself before moving forward. "Boss, that sounds threatening coming from you, but I guess I'll get my ass kicked."
Lumina exhaled softly, hearing the chatter and the wind warrior's march. She stared at the replica across the field preparing to attack.
"Are you okay?" asked the worried water warrior.
Lumina sighed. "I will be," Her gaze fixed on Brakt's stance. "That man, I felt unconfident under his gaze. I shouldn't have. I'm dreading meeting him soon."
"If we fight him, it will be as a team." Aqua wrapped her arm around her friend's arm. "If it's the two of us, we'll hold him off."
"Yep."
Aqua smile lowered. "Although, with his background he might try to use his words to persuade us."
"Hmm?" Lumina furrowed her brows. "You think he might try to appeal to us?"
"Yes," The water warrior scratched her head as the wind warrior started the fight. "He might say things that might make sense, things we might agree with on some level. That's how people like him work, plant seeds of doubt or twist truths to make their ideals appear reasonable."
"Oh." Lumina frowned, then displayed a small smile. "I won't follow or agree with him. This was one of the topics you discussed in your debate club last year."
"Yes, we just can't be easily persuaded, see the lies hidden in their words.
"Many people in history have preyed on uncertainty." Lumina and Aqua perked. They turned to Geo who stared intently at the fight. "Fake visionaries with a hidden agenda." His narrowed his eyes. "Too many wars ignited because the foolish followed a egoistical, convincing idealist with selfish ambition. We just need to be smart enough to not be easily swayed."
"Well said." nodded the water warrior. "No matter what he says, stay grounded and not be easily swayed."
"Ja," He shrugged. "We won't be manipulated by an upcoming despot."
Blaze listened to their conversation while watching the Wind Radiant engage the construct. A thought struck him, Brakt could try to explain his reasons and appeal to them. Or the man was too egotistical to consider reasoning and believed his slight against him was something that should leave the two territories in ruin after he campaign was done.
As he watched Aero be defeated by the hologram and the eyes displayed from it, he knew this man was someone they needed to be careful with.