The sun had barely risen over The Arcane Order's post. The air was crisp, and faint traces of morning dew glistened on the grass as Lucious walked quietly toward his training place.
His thoughts drifted to the mission from the day before—the dragon, the Shadow Veil and the Crimson Claws.
As he was going to start training he remembered the mysterious man
Who was he? Lucious wondered, gripping the hilt of his sword. Will he show up again?
He shook off the thought as he reached the center of the field. Without wasting any time, he drew his blade and began his usual drills. His movements were precise, smooth, almost automatic as he worked through different techniques. But his focus was elsewhere.
"Training alone again, I see."
Lucious stopped mid-swing and turned to see Aldric approaching with a lazy grin. Right behind him was Elara, who gave Lucious a gentle smile.
"Are you alright?" Elara asked, concern in her voice. "After yesterday's mission, you should be resting. You used up a lot of energy."
"I'm fine," Lucious replied, sheathing his sword. "Why are you two here?"
Aldric scratched the back of his head and sighed dramatically. "I didn't want to train with you either, but Elara insisted."
Elara gave him a pointed look before turning to Lucious. "We're a team," she said. "If we want to be better in battle, we have to train together."
Lucious raised an eyebrow.
Elara stepped closer and crossed her arms. "Yesterday, when we fought the dragon, Aldric rushed in alone without cover, and it cost him a broken arm." She glanced at Aldric, who muttered something under his breath. "And you used up all your energy to teleport us because we weren't coordinated."
Lucious nodded slowly. She wasn't wrong.
"If we work on our teamwork, we won't have to make those same mistakes again," Elara added.
Lucious considered Elara's words for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's train."
Aldric's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Wow, no argument? You must've hit your head harder than I thought yesterday."
Lucious rolled his eyes, and Elara stifled a laugh.
"Let's focus," she said, stepping forward. "We need to work on covering each other's weaknesses. Aldric, your speed is great, but you can't just charge in without a plan. And Lucious, you've got versatility, but you can't do everything alone. We have to trust each other."
Aldric sighed but didn't argue. "Fine. What's the plan, boss?"
Elara smiled. "Let's start with a basic drill. Aldric, you'll simulate rushing in to attack, and Lucious, your job is to cover him with your teleportation. We'll practice timing it right so you don't waste energy."
Lucious drew his blade and nodded. "Alright. Let's not waist time any longer."
Aldric grinned and flexed his arms. "Try to keep up, Lucious."
He activated his lightning magic, and in a blur of speed, he dashed toward the center of the training field. Lucious focused, waiting for the right moment.
"Now!" Elara called.
Lucious concentrated, activating his teleportation magic—but something went wrong. Instead of teleporting Aldric to a safe spot behind him, Aldric reappeared right in front of a tree.
"Wait, wha—?" Aldric barely had time to react before he smacked face-first into the trunk with a loud thud.
Elara gasped, covering her mouth in shock, but Lucious just stood there, blinking in surprise.
Aldric slowly peeled himself off the tree, rubbing his nose. "Ow... Seriously, Lucious?"
Lucious coughed, trying to hide a laugh, but Elara couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing, doubling over as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
"I—I'm sorry!" Lucious said, finally laughing too. "I didn't mean to—"
Aldric shot them both a mock glare, though there was a twitch of a grin on his lips. "You're lucky that tree didn't punch back."
Elara wiped her eyes, still giggling. "Okay, let's try that again... but maybe aim better this time, Lucious."
Lucious took a deep breath, still chuckling. "Right. Got it."
Aldric activated his lightning magic again , and in a blur of speed, he dashed toward the center of the training field. Lucious focused, waiting for the right moment.
"Now!" Elara called.
Lucious teleported, appearing just in time to block an imaginary counterattack aimed at Aldric.
"Not bad," Aldric said, breathing slightly heavier.
Elara clapped her hands. "Good! Let's do it again."
They repeated the drill several more times, each time improving their coordination.
After a while, Aldric collapsed onto the grass, panting. "Okay, okay, timeout! I'm fast, not indestructible."
Lucious lowered his blade and glanced at Elara. "We're getting better."
Elara nodded. "Yes, but we still have a lot to work on. In a real battle, things won't be as predictable."
Aldric sat up and grinned. "So, what's next, boss?"
Elara tilted her head thoughtfully. "How about a little dual between you two? in this fight try to find each other's weak spots
Aldric's grin widened. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Lucious sighed but stepped into position, gripping his blade. Aldric cracked his knuckles, still lounging on the grass.
"Any time you're ready," Aldric teased.
Lucious didn't reply. He simply vanished.
Aldric's eyes widened, and he quickly activated his lightning magic. Sparks danced along his arms as he scanned the field, trying to predict where Lucious would reappear.
Behind you!
Lucious reappeared with a flash, sword aimed at Aldric's back. But just as he swung, Aldric ducked, lightning surging through his legs to propel him forward in a burst of speed. He turned and threw a lightning-infused dagger at Lucious, who narrowly dodged it by teleporting again.
"Too slow!" Aldric taunted, his voice echoing through the field.
Lucious appeared a few feet away, breathing steadily. "You talk too much."
Before Aldric could respond, Lucious lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant. Aldric raised his arm to block, and their weapons clashed with a crackling burst of energy.
Elara watched intently, analyzing their moves. "Good, but don't forget to cover each other's blind spots!" she called out.
Aldric feinted to the left, then threw a dagger at Lucious' feet. Lucious teleported to dodge, but Aldric anticipated the move and was already mid-swing when Lucious reappeared. Their blades clashed again, sending a shockwave through the air.
"Nice try," Aldric said, grinning.
Lucious smirked. "I'm just getting started."
Before they could continue, Elara stepped between them, raising her hands. "Alright, that's enough for now. We're supposed to be training, not trying to knock each other out."
Aldric chuckled, lowering his daggers. "You're no fun, Elara."
Elara crossed her arms. "If you want to end up in the infirmary again, be my guest. Otherwise, maybe try listening for once."
Aldric shrugged, but there was a hint of respect in his eyes. "Fine, fine. What's next?"
Elara stepped back a few paces and took a deep breath. Her usual soft demeanor gave way to a determined focus as she summoned her magic. A shimmering, golden shield materialized around her, glowing softly in the sunlight.
"Alright," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Now, I want both of you to attack me."
Lucious raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? We're not holding back."
Elara smiled. "That's the idea. I need to strengthen my shields—and the best way to do that is by facing strong attacks."
Aldric exchanged a glance with Lucious and grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Lucious sighed. "You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
Elara planted her feet and braced herself. "Whenever you're ready."
Aldric wasted no time. With a crackle of electricity, he dashed forward at full speed, aiming a lightning-infused strike at the shield. His dagger met the barrier with a sharp clang, but the shield held firm, barely flickering from the impact.
Lucious appeared beside him in a flash, slashing his sword toward the barrier. Sparks flew as the blade connected with the golden light, but again, the shield didn't budge.
"Is that all you've got?" she teased, a bead of sweat forming on her brow.
Aldric laughed. "Oh, you're asking for it now."
He charged again, zigzagging to throw off her timing, while Lucious teleported rapidly, attacking from different angles. Each hit sent ripples through the shield, but Elara held firm, her eyes glowing with determination.
Just when it seemed like they might break through, Elara suddenly dropped the shield—and at the same time, unleashed a blinding flash of light.
Aldric stumbled back, rubbing his eyes. "Hey! Not fair!"
Lucious blinked rapidly, trying to regain his vision. "She got us."
Elara laughed, her usual gentle warmth returning. "You said you weren't holding back—so why should I?"
Aldric groaned but couldn't help grinning. "Alright, I admit it—you're tougher than you look."
Lucious nodded, impressed. "Your shield's getting stronger."
Elara smiled, wiping her brow. "Thanks. But we all still have room to grow."
Aldric stretched and yawned dramatically. "Well, that was exhausting. I think we've earned a break."
Lucious crossed his arms. "You always want a break."
"Yeah, and yet I'm still faster than you," Aldric shot back with a smirk.
Elara rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Come on, let's grab some water—and then maybe we can talk strategy. We're getting better, but we'll need to be even stronger for our next mission."
As they walked off the training field, Lucious glanced at his teammates and felt a strange sense of contentment. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't training alone—and it didn't feel so bad.
As they sat resting on the grass after their intense training session, Elara leaned back, her gaze drifting toward the sky. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her tone curious but light.
"We've been a team for three weeks now," she said thoughtfully, "but there's something I've been wondering. Why did you guys decide to become Arcanites?"
She glanced at them, her brown hair falling softly over her shoulders as she waited for their answers.
Aldric leaned back against a nearby rock, brushing off some dirt on his dagger as he smirked. "Well, since you asked… I became an Arcanite because I wanted to be the best. The strongest. Always have, always will. My goal is to get to S Rank, no matter what."
Elara tilted her head, her brown hair flowing gently as she smiled faintly. "And why do you want to be the strongest?"
Aldric shrugged, his expression briefly serious. "I've got my reasons. Let's just say... I have someone to surpass."
Elara raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
She turned to Lucious, who was leaning quietly against a tree, gazing at the sky as if lost in thought. "And you, Lucious? Why did you want to join The Arcane Order?"
Lucious leaned back against the tree, his eyes distant as if he were staring at something far beyond the horizon. He took a deep breath before finally speaking, his voice low and steady.
"I want to live my life on my own terms," he said, his tone carrying a quiet intensity. "No regrets, no fear, no holding back. Even if the world throws me into chaos, even if I'm tossed to the edge of death itself, I want to face it head-on—with all the madness, joy, and sorrow that life has to offer."
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I want to laugh, cry, fight, and savor every moment, no matter how bitter or sweet. I want to be true to who I am, without bending to anyone else's expectations. That's what it means to be truly alive… to be a real person."
For a moment, there was silence as Aldric and Elara processed his words.
Aldric blinked, then chuckled softly. "That's… deep. Unexpected, but deep."
Elara smiled, her yellow eyes soft. "You really mean that, don't you?"
Lucious shrugged, his expression unreadable. "of course i do."
A thoughtful silence followed Lucious' words, then followed
"Alright, Miss Team Leader," he said with a smirk. "You asked us, so it's your turn now. Why did you join the Order?"
Elara hesitated for a heartbeat, as if the question had caught her off guard. She brushed a lock of her flowing brown hair behind her ear and looked at the ground for a moment before answering.
"I guess… I joined because I want to make a difference," she said quietly. "There are so many people out there who need help—people who suffer because of things they can't control. If I can use my magic to protect them, to give them hope, then… maybe it'll mean that everything I've been through wasn't for nothing."
Her yellow eyes shimmered with quiet resolve as she looked up at them again. "I want to be someone people can count on. Someone who makes things better."
Lucious and Aldric exchanged a glance. For once, Aldric didn't have a snarky comment. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully.
"That's… a pretty solid reason," he admitted, his voice unusually serious. "Better than mine, anyway."
Elara smiled, a little shyly. "Thanks."
Lucious watched her for a moment, then gave a small nod. "I think you're already doing that," he said simply.
Elara's eyes widened slightly, and for a second, she looked surprised—and touched—by his words. But before she could respond, Aldric suddenly grinned and stretched his arms lazily.
"Well, that was deep," he said, breaking the moment. "But enough soul-searching for one day. Didn't someone say 'break's over'? Let's get back to training before we all turn soft."
Elara laughed lightly, the tension lifting. "Alright, alright. Let's get moving."
Lucious smirked faintly. "You're just worried you'll lose that edge."
"Damn right I am," Aldric shot back with a grin.
They resumed their drills with renewed energy, pushing themselves harder than before. They practiced coordinated attacks, switching roles, and covering for one another until the fatigue in their bodies threatened to slow them down.
By the time they paused to rest again, They hadn't realized it, but the sun had slipped below the horizon, and the sky was now painted in deep hues of indigo and violet. The soft glow of the rising moon cast pale light over the training field, and distant crickets began their evening chorus.
Elara stretched her arms with a sigh, her brown hair catching the faint silver light. "Wait a second… it's already night?" she murmured, blinking in surprise. "When did that happen?"
Aldric glanced up at the sky and whistled. "Huh. Guess we got a little carried away. Time flies when you're getting your butt kicked, right, Lucious?"
Lucious, who had been wiping sweat off his brow, gave Aldric a tired but amused look. "Says the guy who was on the ground half the time."
Elara laughed, shaking her head. "We've been at this all day… no wonder we're exhausted." She looked at her teammates, a warm smile tugging at her lips. "But we made some real progress. We're starting to fight like a real team."
Aldric grinned, his lightning-blue eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and exhaustion. "Not bad for a bunch of rookies, huh?"
Lucious didn't say anything, but he gave a small nod, his expression thoughtful. He had to admit, they were getting better. Slowly but surely, they were learning how to cover each other's weaknesses and build on their strengths.
Elara clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the moonlit sky. "We've still got a long way to go, but… I think we're on the right track."
"Yeah," Aldric said, flopping onto the grass with a satisfied sigh. "But right now, I'm on the track to sleep." He yawned loudly, stretching like a lazy cat. "Wake me up when it's time for breakfast."
Elara chuckled. "Come on, Aldric. We should head back before Elisa locks the gates."
Lucious sheathed his sword and dusted off his cloak. "She probably already has."
Aldric groaned dramatically. "Great. Guess we're camping out here, then."
"Or we could not do that," Elara said, rolling her eyes. She reached down and pulled Aldric to his feet. "Come on, let's go."
As the three of them began walking back toward the Arcane Outpost, their footsteps quiet on the grassy path, Lucious found himself glancing at his teammates. For the first time since joining the Order, he felt… something unfamiliar.
It wasn't just duty or obligation that kept him here anymore.
Maybe, just maybe, this team was starting to mean something to him.
And with that thought lingering in his mind, they disappeared into the night, their laughter echoing softly under the stars.