GUARDIANS

VI. Present Summon and Control [Part 1]

Training Class

Faith's eyes burned with intensity as she faced Artemis Magnum, Ayva's older sister, in a practice match. Both wielded bows and arrows, but Faith's bow stood out—it was equipped with blades on either end, blending offense with defense.

"Begin!" Professor Flora's voice signaled the start.

Faith and Artemis simultaneously nocked their arrows, circling each other with calculated precision.

Faith fired first, her arrow slicing through the air as she dodged Artemis' retaliatory shot. Seizing the momentum, she charged forward, deflecting Artemis' shots with the blades of her bow. As she closed the gap, Artemis activated her present, Protection, creating a barrier that forced Faith to back off.

Artemis countered swiftly, but her attack opened a window of opportunity. Faith slid low, sweeping Artemis' legs out from under her. Artemis stumbled, hitting the ground hard.

Faith didn't waste a second—her blade hovered near Artemis, her arrow nocked and ready to strike. But before she could finish, Artemis' present materialized—a glowing sword poised behind Faith, aimed for the decisive blow.

"Match over. Artemis wins," Professor Flora declared.

Faith blinked, lowering her bow.

The professor walked toward them, holding an enchanted projection of the match's critical moment. "You fought well, Ms. Dreamscape, but you fell into Lady Magnum's trap. The counterattack was bait, and it left you vulnerable to her present." She gestured to the glowing sword behind Faith. "In such a situation, you wouldn't have had time to recover."

Faith smiled and extended a hand to Artemis, who accepted it. "That was a great match."

Artemis returned the smile. "You're smart. Good instincts. You just need more experience."

"Everyone does," Faith replied with a chuckle.

Artemis tilted her head curiously. "From what I've seen, you're the only fighter who doesn't use her present. Why not? It's your power."

Faith hesitated, scratching the back of her neck. "Well... it's complicated."

"Complicated how?"

"My present... it's stubborn. It doesn't show up on command."

Artemis crossed her arms, considering this. "If that's the case, I could help you."

"You would?"

"We still have a few classes left, but I could share some pointers. Maybe we can work on it together."

Faith's face lit up. "That'd be amazing! Thanks, Artemis!"

Artemis nodded, her smile softening. "You've got potential, Faith. Don't let it go to waste."

For the first time in a while, Faith felt hope stir inside her.

In the halls

When all the practice matches concluded, Elliott took charge of reviewing their schedules. His animated voice filled the air, but to Faith, it quickly became a distant, indistinct hum.

Her mind wandered, flitting from trivial thoughts to daunting possibilities. Everything swirled in her head like a relentless storm until—

"Faith? Faith? Are you okay?" Ayva's voice broke through her haze.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Faith replied quickly, trying to cover. "I was just thinking about what my present could be."

"That's a good question," Elliott chimed in. "If your present turns out to be defensive, it'd be a huge help. We can't always rely on Wynter for defense."