Episode 12 — Twilight Reverie
Clover's eyelids fluttered, heavy but restless. The room around him melted into a soft haze of lavender and gold, like twilight spilling over a quiet meadow. He was not in his bed anymore. Instead, he stood on a cliff edge overlooking a sea of clouds, each one glowing faintly with the dying light of the sun. The air smelled faintly of rain and warmth, and a gentle wind brushed against his face. A figure appeared ahead, bathed in the soft twilight. She moved with the grace of flowing water, her hair catching the light in gentle waves. Her presence was radiant, almost impossibly serene. Clover's chest tightened—not with fear, but with a strange, aching familiarity. He wanted to see her face—but each step closer, the glow seemed to blur it further. The details dissolved into light, leaving only the sense of beauty and warmth. "…Who are you?" he whispered, voice barely carrying in the quiet. The figure did not answer. She lifted her hand slowly, as if beckoning him, then stepped into the clouds. A soft, playful voice echoed—not from her, but from somewhere close, warm and teasing: "Careful, Clover… not everything you chase is meant to be caught so easily." The figure lingered for a heartbeat longer, then vanished into the twilight, leaving only the glow of the clouds behind. Clover blinked, heart hammering. When the dream faded, he was back in his room. Moonlight streamed through the window, painting silver stripes across the floor. Aetherfang hovered quietly on its stand, the hilt faintly warm to his touch, as if it too had felt the dream. Aurora's voice, teasing and mischievous, whispered in his mind: "Curious, isn't it? Dreams like this… they're just a taste of what's coming." Clover groaned, rubbing his face. "Not again… the same dream?!" He sank onto the edge of his bed, staring at the ceiling. Something about that figure—the way the light wrapped around her, the softness in the air—felt familiar… important… and unsettling. Aetherfang's glow flickered as if in agreement. The hint of a pulse ran through the blade. Clover let out a shaky breath. "I don't even know your name… but somehow, I feel like I have to." The room was silent, save for the soft hum of the sword and the whisper still lingering in his mind: "Not everything is meant to be understood… yet." Clover shivered. Somewhere deep inside, he knew this was only the beginning.
Clover yawned and stretched, still half-lost in the haze of his dream. Aurora's light flickered across the room, playful and impatient. "You're awake," she purred. "And already looking like someone who doesn't want to start the day. Typical." "I wasn't asleep for that long," Clover muttered, rubbing his eyes. "But… that dream—ugh. I feel like I just ran a marathon inside my own brain." Aurora tilted her head. "Or someone else ran it through your brain. Either way… it's time you understand why your little pulse of energy wasn't just a dream." Clover blinked. "Pulse of energy?" "Essentia," she said simply, hopping onto the edge of his desk, her glow reflecting faintly on the walls. "Life energy. It's everywhere, in everyone. You feel it. You will use it. But first, you need to know what it is, how it works, and how people like… well, people like you—" She flicked her finger in a casual, teasing arc toward Clover. "—might actually make it sing." Clover groaned. "I don't know if I signed up for a lecture today." Aurora ignored him. "Alright. Let's start at the beginning. Essentia isn't magic. It's energy that you channel through your body, mind, and even weapons. Different people do it differently, and that's why there are… classifications." She waved a hand, and a soft holographic diagram floated in front of Clover, each type glowing with a unique color. Aurora's Explanation of Essentia Types.Enhancer: "Enhancers amplify their own physicality—strength, speed, endurance. They're the frontline, the duelist, the guy who jumps into danger and doesn't just survive… they thrive." She conjured a small energy orb in front of Clover. "Watch." The orb split into several, spinning like miniature blades. "Now you enhance your reflexes. Dodge them." Clover jumped and rolled, barely keeping up, sweat beading on his forehead. Aurora clapped. "Not bad for a groggy morning. The key: Enhancers feel their body, trust their instincts. Too much thought, and you lose flow."
Manipulator: "Manipulators control things around them—people, objects, even the battlefield itself. They rarely charge in blindly. Strategy is their power." A handful of floating cubes appeared, spinning. Aurora gestured. "Make the cubes obey your Essentia. Move them." Clover concentrated. One wobbled… then shot across the room, knocking over a chair. He flinched. "Uh… sorry!" Aurora laughed. "See? Indirect control can be tricky. But manipulators bend reality without touching it directly. You'll need this later."
Conjurer / Creator: "These ones… they make things out of nothing—or at least, out of Essentia. Weapons, barriers, tools. Creative energy in a tangible form." Aetherfang glowed faintly as Aurora demonstrated. A spectral shield formed, then morphed into a spear, then a cage. "You can shape the battlefield. Or just surprise your enemy with… unpredictable nonsense." Clover raised an eyebrow. "Unpredictable nonsense? I'm already great at that." Aurora smirked. "I'll give you that. But this is controlled nonsense."
. Specialist: "Specialists break the rules. One-of-a-kind, personal powers. Hard to describe, impossible to copy, and sometimes… very dangerous." She conjured a tiny black sphere that shifted in shape, defying light and gravity. "You see it? Specialists operate outside normal rules. They create exceptions. Unpredictable. Unstoppable. Sometimes… even terrifying." Clover tilted his head. "Sounds… fun?" Aurora's grin flickered mischievously. "Fun if you can control it. Otherwise? Not so much."
. Strategist / Observer: "Finally, we have the thinkers—the observers. They rarely fight directly but manipulate the flow of battle, predict outcomes, and coordinate allies. Without them, even a hero can stumble." Clover nodded slowly. "So… like a chess player who can see the board before the pieces move." "Exactly. Some of the smartest people in Vanguardaum are observers. They're subtle, invisible, but lethal if you don't pay attention." Aurora floated in front of him, hands on her hips. "Now you know them all. Enhancer, Manipulator, Conjurer/Creator, Specialist, Strategist/Observer. Each type has strengths and weaknesses. Most people stick to one or two. A few… rare few… mix them in ways that surprise everyone." Clover blinked. "Rare few… hmm. Sounds like the kind of people I should be wary of." Aurora's voice softened, almost conspiratorial. "Or admire."
Aurora snapped her fingers, and small orbs representing each Essentia type appeared, floating around the room. "Time to play," she said. "Enhance, manipulate, create, bend rules, and predict—let's see what you can do, Clover." Clover dove in, stumbling at first. Orbs zipped around, dodged his swings, or lightly bopped him on the head. He groaned. "Ow! Not fair! You made them… smart!" Aurora laughed. "You're supposed to learn, not complain!" Clover ran a hand over Aetherfang, focusing. One orb slowed, then followed his movements precisely. He grinned. "Finally… got one!" Aurora clapped. "Progress! You're a natural. But don't get cocky. Each type has a nuance. Understanding isn't enough—you must feel it.
After several minutes, they paused. Aurora hovered near him, softer now. "Clover… most people never touch more than one type in their life. You're touching all five. That tells me… you have potential." Clover exhaled, sitting on the floor. "Potential… sounds like a lot of work." Aurora smirked, nudging him playfully. "Work is part of fun, hero. And trust me—you'll need every bit of it." Aetherfang glowed faintly between them, pulsing in quiet approval.
Across the city, in a sleek, glass skyscraper, Victor LaSalle observed monitors silently. Akira sat beside him. "He's… progressing faster than expected," she said quietly. Victor nodded. "Keep watching. He doesn't know it yet, but Orion has stakes in this." The camera panned down to Clover's city, then back to the office, leaving a subtle hint of larger forces behind the scene.
Back in Clover's room, the shards from his previous battle in the Void glimmer faintly on the windowsill, pulsing ever so softly. Aurora's tone stiffened, warning: "Something stirs… and it knows you're awake, Clover. Your Essentia… your mind… it's calling." Clover gripped Aetherfang, tense. "Then I guess we fight again." The camera pans to the faint purple glow of the shards. Shadows twist in them, forming vague humanoid