John and the rest headed toward where Luke and Anna were. The girls walked ahead, Leah and Maya side by side, talking and laughing, while John and Mike followed a few steps behind.
Mike glanced at John. "So… thinking of joining the Academy next year?"
John sighed. "Yeah. Probably." He added dryly, "I know you're going—or, to be more accurate, your family will force you to."
Mike groaned. "Yeah. I wanted to chill for a bit, but my parents keep saying the same thing every time—"
John finished for him, smirking. "'You're the future heroes of this generation. You have to protect the world.'" He laughed. "If I had a cent for every time they said that, I'd be richer than my family."
Mike laughed along.
They soon reached the stall. Luke stood there holding a rifle, squinting as he tried to aim, while Anna hovered behind him. Luke noticed them and froze mid-motion.
Anna turned—and immediately dashed toward Mike, throwing her arms around him.
"Michael! It's been so long!"
She released him and smiled brightly at Maya. "Hey, Maya. You look great."
Then she turned to John, her expression flattening.
"…Who invited you?"
John smiled pleasantly. "Good to see you too, Anna." He added with a chuckle, "I know you missed me."
Leah cut in. "Did you get the stuffed toy?"
Maya sighed and gestured toward Luke. "Mr. Spray-and-Pray over here couldn't hit a single target."
Luke handed the rifle to John. "Guns aren't really my thing. That's more you or Mike."
John took the rifle and looked at the stall owner. "So I just have to knock down the one I want, right?"
The owner nodded.
John took aim, focused, and fired.
Miss.
He sighed. "They built this thing to miss on purpose." He glanced sideways at the owner. "Let me guess—there's a bump on the left side of the firing chamber, causing the recoil to pull slightly left."
The owner stiffened.
"Give me another shot."
John paid, reloaded, aimed again, and fired.
Hit.
The owner frowned. Mike laughed and patted John on the back.
Anna hugged the stuffed toy to her chest, clearly pleased.
They moved on to a nearby food stall, ordered drinks and snacks, and found a bench. The conversation flowed easily as they ate, laughed, and caught up.
After a while, Mike leaned back. "Alright, Anna. You gonna tell us why you called everyone here?"
Anna looked around at the group and smiled. "Okay. Most of us are probably joining the Academy next year, right?"
Everyone nodded.
"So I was thinking…" she continued, "we form an adventuring party until then. Get real-world experience. Train together."
She went on, excitement creeping into her voice. "I've already invited others—Ava, Jack, and a bunch more. They all said yes. It'd be like our own company."
Maya's eyes lit up. "Count me in." She pointed at Leah. "And her too. She can't say no."
Leah sighed. "…Alright. I'm in."
Anna turned to Mike and John. "What about you two? Luke already said yes—he even canceled training with his grandfather."
Mike shrugged. "I'm in. But not for the whole year. A few months, max."
Maya grinned. "Alright, we got Mike. What about you, John?"
John exhaled slowly. "I don't think I can." He hesitated, then added, "I just unlocked my magic. I need to learn how to use it properly."
He looked at their expressions and continued, "I have to go into isolated training."
Maya groaned. "Boo. Excuses."
Anna studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Just don't skip the Academy."
"Yeah, yeah," John said. "I'll join."
The mood lightened again, and they talked and laughed until the sky grew dark.
Eventually, they said their goodbyes, and John returned to the estate.
Next Morning — 9:30 AM
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Whitlock estate, casting long bands of light across the marble floor.
John stood in the living room, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed—but only on the surface.
Lara sat across from him, her expression unreadable as she listened in silence. Cassian leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed, his gaze sharp and searching. Agnes stood a respectful distance away, hands folded neatly in front of her apron.
"I'm going to begin isolated training," John said calmly. "In the Vector Chamber."
The words lingered in the air.
Lara's fingers tightened around the armrest. "For how long?"
"I don't know," John answered honestly. "As long as it takes."
Cassian straightened slightly. "You understand what that entails."
John nodded. "Limited contact. Restricted movement. No shortcuts."
A pause followed.
Agnes was the first to move. She bowed slightly. "Then I will begin preparations immediately."
She turned and left the room without another word.
Lara stood up slowly. "You don't have to do this," she said, her voice softer now. "You just unlocked your magic. You could train normally. With others."
John met her eyes. "I know. But this is something I need to do."
For a moment, Lara looked like she wanted to argue—then she exhaled and pulled him into a sudden embrace.
"…Just don't disappear on me," she whispered.
Cassian placed a hand on John's shoulder, firm and steady. "Come out stronger," he said simply.
John nodded.
The Vector Chamber lay deep beneath the estate.
Runic panels along the walls pulsed faintly as Agnes finalized the preparations, her movements precise and practiced. The chamber hummed softly, the air thick with controlled pressure.
Thalia clung to John's arm, her small fingers gripping his sleeve like a lifeline.
"You're coming back, right?" she asked, eyes already glassy.
John crouched down and met her at eye level. "Of course I am."
"When?"
He smiled faintly. "Before you grow taller than me."
"That's a lie," she sniffed. "I'll never be taller than you."
He ruffled her hair. "Exactly."
Her lip trembled anyway, and she threw her arms around his neck. John hugged her back, holding on a second longer than necessary.
Agnes cleared her throat gently. "Master John. The chamber is ready."
John stood.
Thalia grabbed his hand again. "No scary training," she said fiercely.
John chuckled. "I'll do my best."
Lara watched silently as John stepped toward the chamber entrance, her expression tight but proud. Cassian stood beside her, saying nothing.
The massive doors slowly slid open, revealing the glowing interior of the Vector Chamber.
John took one last look back.
Then he stepped inside.
The doors closed with a deep, echoing thud.
And the estate fell silent.