After class had ended the next day, Amber motioned Kian aside to talk.
"Hey Amber, what's up?" Kian asks, confused.
"Do you want to go to the hospital with me, Kian?"
"Me? Is there a reason?"
Amber smiles. "Kareem and Zachary are being released today! And I wanted someone to go with to get them."
"Those two?" Kian sighs, "Kareem is dry, and Zachary is a hot head. I don't know if I want to talk to them right now. I have stuff to-"
"Please! I really want you to come! I want you all to be friends!"
"Well, this actually gives me an idea…" Kian thinks, "If I can get the strongest people in our class together for a training session, they'll be there when Dani attacks."
Amber frowns. "So, will you come?"
"Sure, I guess. I have to do something first, though. I'll meet you there in an hour."
"Okay! See you then!" Amber smiles and runs off.
"Apollo. That's who I'll ask next. I think he went to the training yard with Kye…"
Kian walks to the academy training yard, where Apollo shows Kye and a couple of students from the other classes his Trait.
"Return, Stinger."
Apollo's bow reverts to its orb form. "See, just like that."
"That's sick!" shouts Kye.
"Hey guys!" Kian calls out as he walks towards the two.
"Ah, Kian, you just missed it! Apollo was showing me how his Trait worked!"
"Oh, really?"
Apollo nods. "I could show you too if you want."
"Maybe some other time." Kian declines, "I came to ask you guys something."
"What's up?" asks Kye, "You need some dating advice?"
"What- no! Come on, I'm being serious, Kye."
"I was too, Kian!"
Apollo laughs. "Then what is it?"
"I came to ask if you two wanted to do some extra training tomorrow after class."
"Extra training?" Kye repeats, "Just us three?"
Kian shakes his head. "No, there will be about five or six of us. Depending on who else agrees to come."
"You know I'm always down for extra training, bro." responds Kye.
"I'm in, too. It sounds like fun." Apollo says, "Who else are you inviting?"
"Anyone else from the class I run into, probably. I'm going to the hospital with Amber to pick up Kareem and Zachary."
"So they're finally getting released, huh." says Apollo.
"No, that's not what's important here. You're going with Amber? Are you sure you don't need that dating advice?" Kye jokes.
Kian sighs. "Yeah. I'm sure."
"You've never had a girlfriend, so I'm just trying to help."
"Neither have you, Kye…"
Kye shrugs. "I'm a natural."
"Anyways, guys, that's all I wanted to ask you. I'll tell you more about it tomorrow, okay."
"Alright, Kian. Good luck on your date!"
"See, even Apollo thinks it's a date!" shouts Kye.
Kian shakes his head, waves goodbye without responding, and heads toward the hospital. He gets there ten minutes before he promised to meet Amber but is surprised to see that she is already there, waiting on a bench.
"Hey, you're here early." Kian calls out.
"I was too excited; I didn't want to be late. "Amber scoots over so Kian can sit down. "I went inside to check when they would be released, and it'll be about fifteen minutes."
"That's good; I'm glad they're finally out. And way earlier than expected, too."
"Yeah, they both recovered super well!"
The two sit silently for a bit, unsure of what to talk about.
"So, uh, how long have you known Zachary?" asks Kian.
"Since we were babies. Our parents are close friends, so we were around each other a lot. He's like a second brother to me."
"Oh right, I forgot you had an actual brother. His name is Jett, right?"
"Mmhm! That's the one."
The conversation ends again.
"What about you, Kian?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, how are you? Anything going on recently?"
"Oh, I'm good." Kian looks up into the clouds. "I have some stuff I'm dealing with, but it'll all be fine."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry. It's nothing too serious. I did have something to ask you, though."
"Hm? What's up?"
"Are you free tomorrow after school?"
Amber's face begins to turn red. "Well, I-"
"Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that! I'm setting up some extra training with some of our class, and I wanted you to come too."
"I'm sorry, I would, but I have to help my mom run errands after classes tomorrow."
"That's fine. Sorry for giving you the wrong idea…" Kian looks away in embarrassment.
"It's okay. I rushed to conclusions; it was my fault. Anyway, did you plan on inviting Kareem and Zach too?"
Kian nods. "It'll sort of be like a welcome-back training session."
"Aww, now I'm upset that I can't come."
"Don't be, it was a last-minute thing. I'll plan ahead next time."
Amber playfully punches Kian's arm. "And make sure you invite me first!"
"I'll try and remember…" Kian jokes.
The two talk for a few more minutes until Kareem and Zachary walk outside.
"Oh, what do we have here?" says Zachary, "Are you on a date, Amber?"
"We must have missed a lot." adds Kareem.
Amber runs up and hugs Zachary. "I'm glad you're out, Zach."
"You don't have to be all mushy about it! But yeah, I'm glad that I'm out of there."
"How are you feeling, Kareem?" asks Kian.
Kareem does a few stretches. "Not one hundred percent, but I'm fine."
"Do you think your body can handle extra training after class tomorrow?"
"You want me to train with you?"
"Not just me; others from our class will be there too."
"Well, if you're sure you want me to come… sure."
"Great, what about you, Zachary?"
"What me? No, I'll pass. I have better things to do."
Amber glares at Zachary. "And what could that possibly be, Zach?"
"It's none of your business."
"So you're okay with me getting further ahead of you?" asks Kareem, "If you don't come, you'll never catch up."
"Catch up?!" Zachary snaps. "I'm ahead of you!"
"Kareem shrugs. "If that's what you think."
"So what's it going to be?" asks Kian.
Zachary sighs. "Fine, whatever! I'll go, okay?"
"Yay!" shouts Amber, "You guys will have fun, I promise!"
"Wait, you aren't coming?"
"No, my mom needs me at home tomorrow. Which reminds me, she wanted you to stop by after you got out, so we should get going."
"Aw man, she's going to yell at me…"
"I should head home too; I didn't tell my family I was being released today." says Kareem.
"Okay, I'll see you all at school tomorrow then." says Kian.
"Thanks again for coming with me, Kian." says Amber, "Bye!"
Kian waves goodbye to his three classmates as they walk away. He then heads inside the hospital to talk to Kaito, the person he must protect tomorrow, who has also just been released.
"Hey, Kaito!" Kian calls out.
"Yo, what's up…" Kaito pauses. "Kye…?"
"Nope, wrong one."
"Damn it! Sorry."
Kian laughs. "It's okay; I know it's pretty hard to tell."
"Haha, it sure is. Anyways, what are you doing here?"
"Well, there's two reasons. Do you mind taking a quick walk, though?"
"Sure, why not."
Kian pats Kaito's back. "Firstly, I'm glad you're okay, man."
"I appreciate that Kian. I guess I never told you guys about my heart problems, huh? Sorry about that…"
"Yeah, we had no idea. So, you get light heart attacks like that often?"
Kaito sighs. "Uh, sorta. At least what the doctors classify it as to the public."
"What do you mean?" asks Kian. "It isn't a heart attack, then?"
"Technically, no. I have Lino's Disease…"
"Lino's Disease? Disease!?!"
Kaito puts his hand over Kian's mouth. "Shh, man."
"Sorry.." Kian whispers.
"This isn't knowledge that is supposed to be known, okay? So don't go blabbing to others about it."
Kian nods, and Kaito removes his hand.
"Lino's Disease affects the hundred and twenty-four Spiritual Energy points and their connecting pathways within my body. Randomly, one of my points can clog up at any time, or a pathway can snap."
"And that causes you to pass out?"
"Not exactly. Usually, if someone's Spiritual Energy points clog up or one of their pathways disconnected, they'd still be able to live like normal. But when it happens to someone with Lino's Disease, their brain automatically sends their body into lockdown mode. It releases all of your Spiritual Energy at once, which is why I passed out."
Kian frowns. "Wow, I've never heard about anything like this before. It sucks that you have it."
"Fortunately, mine isn't too bad, and it doesn't happen to me that often. That was my first one in two years. I am glad you all were there, though. I didn't have my Lino Tag on that day."
"What's a Lino Tag?"
"It's kinda like an alert system."
Kaito lifts his shirt, showing a small metal plate placed where his heart is.
"Whenever I have an episode, this thing sends out my location to my parents, the hospital, and the main academy teachers."
"Ah, that's awesome!"
Kaito nods. "Yeah, it's pretty cool. Saved my life once."
"Really? When?"
"I'll tell you the story some other time. That's enough about me. Didn't you have something to ask me, though?"
"Oh, right. We're here."
Kian and Kaito stand in an old training field that looks as if it hasn't been used in years.
"Here?" asks Kaito.
"Tomorrow after class, I was hoping you'd join me and a couple of others here for extra training."
"I'm down to help you guys train, but why here? We have a top-notch academy facility, you know?"
Kian shrugs. "I just felt like a change in scenery for once. I know this place is a little run down, but at least we'd have it ourselves."
"Fair enough. Count me in; I'll be there."
"Great, thanks!"
The two talk for a bit more before Kaito has to go. Afterward, Kian returns home and chats with Dean.
"I'm home!" Kian calls out as he enters the house.
"Welcome back!" Someone responds from the kitchen.
Dean walks out from the kitchen with a cup of coffee to properly greet Kian in the living room.
"How was your day, Kian? Classes go alright?"
Kian sits on the living room couch. "Mhm, class was fine. Afterward, I went to the hospital since Zachary and Kareem were being released."
"The two kids that got into a fight? They've been released early?"
"Yeah, I was surprised too. Anyways, where are Kye and Ms. Daisy?"
"They went to her bakery to pick up sweets. Kye was hungry."
Kian sighs. "When is he not?"
The two crack a few more jokes about Kye and talk about Dean's latest mission before Kian changes the subject.
"So, Mr. Dean, how did you know when your Trait had awakened?"
"Hm? Well, for me, it came in a dire situation. Our house had been broken into when I was young, and I was home alone. Without thinking, I subconsciously activated my Trait and fended off the burglar." Dean explains, "For most people, the first time you use it is an accident or subconsciously in a situation similar to mine."
Kian frowns. "I need mine to activate fully soon. I'm tired of only being able to make small amounts of fire or ice."
"Why in such a rush?" Dean asks, taking a sip of his dark coffee.
"I'm not strong enough." Kian responds bluntly.
"That didn't answer my question, Kian."
"I feel left behind. Most of the other kids in the academy have their Traits mastered already. I want to be able to protect myself and those around me."
"As does everyone else. Look, we all want to be able to protect people, but you can't rush fate."
"I know, I-"
Just then, Kye and Daisy return from the bakery with boxes of delicious-smelling treats.
"We'll finish this conversation some other time."
Kian reluctantly nods.
"Welcome back, you two!"
"Hey, Gramps!" says Kye, "Oh, Kian, you're home. Look at the treats we got!"
Kye pulls a doughnut out of one of the boxes and motions to take a bite, but Daisy takes it away.
"Not until you wash your hands." Daisy says sternly, setting all the boxes on the table, "So how was class today, Kian?"
"It was okay. I was tired, though.
"Have you been sleeping okay?" asks Dean.
"He's probably been staying up late thinking about Amber." Kye teases.
"Who's Amber?" Daisy asks.
"No one, just a friend!" Kian picks up a few doughnuts and hurries up the stairs. "I'm heading to bed early, goodnight!"
"Wash your hands before you eat those!"
"I will!"
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