Safe and sound back in Palmont. The trio finished catching their breath and found a safe spot in the middle of a larger group of people, just in case the agents decided to come and look for them in the city. Satoko looked down at the new amulet in her hand, hanging it and letting it twist and dangle as she got lost in the brilliant reflection. She let out a dreamy sigh, losing herself inside of her thoughts.

    “Earth to Satoko? Come in Satoko.” Kyoko waved a hand in front of her, causing her to snap out of it. Kyoko giggled as she caught her friend in such a dreamy state, normally it was the other way around.

    “Sorry, I’m just… still processing everything that just happened. You guys got into a fight with adults… and won… with magic.” She shook her head, it all sounded ridiculous, but she saw it with her very own eyes. She knew that she couldn’t keep denying it. This was all real, and she even contributed to the entire affair.

    “Yeah! And your quick thinking and speed! Don’t diminish your role in that whole thing.” Kyoko said excitedly. “You’re like a hero, Satoko! It was so brave and cool!” Satoko wasn’t used to hearing that kind of thing. She always thought of Kyoko as the brave one, or at least the reckless one who wasn’t really afraid of anything.

    “I must concur, Satoko. Your calculated retrieval and retreat tactic was the only reason we were able to win the day. I was barely staving off that Saburo character.” Takeo nodded his head, happily agreeing with Kyoko.

    “I just ran away. I wouldn’t say it was really all that brave.” She slumped her shoulders.

    “But you ran in the middle of combat and saved my butt! That puts yourself in danger. Definitely brave.” Kyoko clasped her hand onto Satoko's shoulder and grinned. “Total hero stuff.”

    “Indeed, it was that distraction that threw Saburo off his game, and gave me the opportunity to strike Sayumi.” Takeo and Kyoko both went silent at the mention of her name. Kyoko rubbed her arm nervously, goosebumps rising from her skin.

    “Yeah… She was scary…” Kyoko shook her head. “She got all happy when she was fighting me, and said that she was enjoying it. I guess I could understand fighting us, because it was their job, but it was different for her.” Takeo patted Kyoko on the back, trying to help perk her back up.

    “Yeah, I guess I just saw you guys in danger, and something just clicked? I dunno. I knew I had to do something, I couldn’t let them get this.” She looked back toward the gem in her hand.

    “Speaking of which, Takeo, which gem is this? It’s all purple.” She stated as if its color was somehow in question.

    “Yes of course!” He perked up like an excited professor. “The purple gem is commonly known as the Psychic Crystal.” He eyed the gem, studying its swaying motions as it was held in the air. “It grants its bearer psychic abilities as you can imagine. It’s advanced capabilities are beyond me, however I know that its basic uses involve Telekinesis and Telepathy.”

    “Teleke… Telepa-huh?” Kyoko shrugged her shoulders, clearly stumped by the terms.

    “Telekinesis is the ability to move things from range, using only your mind.” He answered the young student.

    “Sounds like some kinda sci-fi ability…” Satoko mumbled quietly.

    “And Telepathy is the ability to project your thoughts into someone else’s mind and receive their thoughts in return, allowing you to communicate without speaking!” He crossed his arm, satisfied with his own explanation and nodded his head. “Quite useful powers if you ask me!” He looked up to Satoko as he finished. “Especially for someone who has a quick mind.”

    “What do you mean?” Satoko asked, though based on her slowly growing smile, she had an idea what direction that this conversation was going in.

    “Well… it’s quite clear that you’re taken with the gem, and based on the reaction it had when you grabbed it, I believe that it’s quite taken with you as well.” He stood up from the bench and gently took the necklace from Satoko’s grasp. “And given how selfless you were in our last scrap, I believe there is no one more worthy than you to bear the power of this crystal.”

    “R-Really? So I can have magic like you and Kyoko?” She asked, still taken aback, even though she thought this was coming. “I can really help Kyoko?” Her eyes fell on her friend and she smiled, the idea of being able to protect Kyoko motivated her even more to help them on this quest.

    “You totally should, Satoko! We can be magic buddies! Like in our games, but for real this time!” She chuckled and pumped her fists enthusiastically.

    “If you’ll accept this responsibility, I would like to bestow you, Satoko, with the powers invested in the Psychic Elemental Gem.” He held the necklace up, opening it so that it would better fit onto Satoko. She nodded in response. “Then so be it!” He gently rests the gem around her neck, causing it to begin glowing a bright purple color and flashing a blinding light, drawing the eye of some of the passersby. Kyoko quickly pulled out her phone, taking a picture with the flash on.

    “Oh geez, did I forget to turn off the flash on my camera again? How forgetful of me!” She over acted with each word. Though it seemed like the citizens didn’t really care to question it any further, it was just kids being kids.

    “It was a noble attempt, Kyoko.” Takeo chuckled at her plan and then returned his gaze to the new Psychic bearer. “How do you feel, Satoko?” That was an interesting question. She wasn’t quite sure. She felt different, but it was good. It was as if her mind had opened, and the impossibilities of the world, and the secrets of the brain were all almost within her reach. It was liberating and she couldn’t quite put it to words.

    “Good.” She nodded plainly.

    “Good?” Takeo and Kyoko responded, confused by her response after a long pause.

    “Can I try to pick stuff up with my mind now?” She asked earnestly, as if she was finally able to play out a dream of hers that she’s had for a while.

    “Yes, though perhaps we should go somewhere less crowded now, I don’t believe that we should draw too much attention to ourselves now.” Takeo nodded, the girls agreeing. They all stood and moved away from the center of town, deciding to find an unpopulated alleyway where a stripped down car, some bent trash cans, and plenty of deadwood from a tree that’s fallen onto the nearby destroyed house.

    “I used to hang out here, then one winter it got really cold and I just kinda stopped.” Kyoko shrugged.

    “This is perfect. Plenty of training potential.” Takeo looked around the deteriorated zone of the town and focused on the stripped car. “How about we start with that? And we can work down from there to see how fine your control is to start.”

“Got it!” Satoko took an action stance, spreading her legs and planting them firmly on the ground. She held out a hand toward the car and started to focus. “Carus liftus!” She shouted a made up spell, causing Takeo to chuckle.

“Apologies, I didn’t mean to laugh. But there is no need to speak. You can simply open your mind and imagine yourself lifting the car and then if your will is strong enough, it will be imposed onto the car.” He smiled, gesturing for her to continue.

“Right, okay…” She held out her hand again and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before re-opening them. She felt the strain of the power working as she focused on the car, however it didn’t seem as if the heavy car was budging other than a creaking noise from the rusty metal. With a strained grunt, Satoko dropped her arm. “Alright… too heavy.” Her eyes drifted toward the trash can. “Let’s make the world a cleaner place, then!”

“You can do it, Satoko! I believe in you!” Kyoko cheered from the sidelines, making Satoko giggle in response, motivating her to continue trying. She held her hand out and repeated the process, this time, it seemed that the can shook, however that was all she could manage. “How about the branches from the dead tree?” Another try, and another failure. Satoko sighed in disappointment. “Hmm… Maybe there’s something easier inside?”

Satoko nodded her head, but frowned, clearly beginning to feel discouraged by her three successive failures. Takeo silently followed along as they all moved inside of the busted house. Kyoko was right, there were plenty of things, small things, that she could practice on, hopefully proving to be an easier target than outside. Wordlessly, Satoko held her hand out again and began to focus on a crushed, empty soda can that was laying on the floor. This time, she felt it, it began to pick up from the ground slightly, Satoko smiled widely as she finally succeeded, barely containing a cheer, wanting to continue her focus.

“That’s a neat trick, young lady!” An unfamiliar voice suddenly entered her mind, spooking her. “Oops! Didn’t mean to spook you! Though I guess that’s what we do.” The voice chuckled.

“H-Huh? Who are you? Who is this?” Satoko asked, causing Kyoko and Takeo to raise an eyebrow.

“Oh I’m sorry. I’m so used to haunting this house all alone that I’ve forgotten my manners!” The ghost let out another jovial laugh. “My name is Kaito. I used to live around these parts, but after I passed away, I just kinda found myself drifting aimlessly. I found this house where I wasn’t spooking anyone, and just decided to settle in!”

“I see… Well nice to meet you, Kaito. A-Are you dead then?” She asked nervously Takeo, while curious, held Kyoko from intervening, allowing Satoko to finish whatever conversation she was having.

“Afraid so! But it’s not all too bad. I don’t have to pay bills anymore!” The invisible force practically hollars at his own joke. “Oh! Don’t mean to haunt and run, but I’m actually supposed to be meeting one of my friends around now! Feel free to come back and visit anytime though!”

“Of course. Don’t let me keep you.” Satoko nodded her head, and it seemed as if the responses were finished and the ghostly presence was no longer in the room. “Alright… Talking to ghosts. That’s a power too.”

“Outstanding… I didn’t even know of such a thing!” Takeo clapped his hands, impressed by Satoko’s discovery. “Perhaps that can come in handy sometime.”

“You really do have all the cool movie powers!” Kyoko giggled, “I’m kind of jealous, I just splashed some water on a crazy girl!”

“I assure you, both gems are quite powerful in their own right, it all takes practice from both parties. I believe you will both grow into formidable warriors, outpacing me before too long.” Takeo smiled. “For now however, let us rest, perhaps we can make use of this house as a sort of base of operations while we search for more of the gems?”

The group looked toward the house. It was dirty, a little worn down, but the furniture was still in good shape, the first floor didn’t have a hole in the ceiling, and it was warm enough during the springtime. Agreeing to relax, the group all sits down on the chairs and couch in the living room, Satoko continuing to practice her powers on smaller objects, and Kyoko practicing her powers of conjuration and manipulation of water, enjoying the rest of the day together as Takeo watched his new friends happily, as he began to take to their newfound powers.