GUARDIANS

VII. Present Summon and Control [Part 2]

UCA Cafeteria

"You're hopeless."

Faith couldn't get those words out of her head. They echoed in her mind all through lunch. Sitting at the cafeteria table, she let out a groan, dropping her head onto her folded arms. Her friends were halfway through their meals, occasionally glancing at her as they ate.

"It's just the first day. You'll get it eventually," Elliott said, trying to sound reassuring as he stabbed a fork into his salad.

Wynter, on the other hand, snorted. "Yeah, unless she fails a hundred more times first."

Faith groaned louder, burying her face further into her arms. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Wynter. You're sosupportive."

Ayva leaned forward, her voice brimming with positivity. "Don't listen to him, Faith! You're a champion! You can totally do this!" She made a fist pump for emphasis.

Faith peeked at her through her arms, her expression still clouded with doubt. "I know I can... or at least, I want to believe I can. But what if I don't have a Present? What if there's just... nothing?"

Ayva opened her mouth to reply, but Elliott beat her to it. "Have it or not, you've got us anyway," he said matter-of-factly.

"But we'll never be ranked one," Faith mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wynter finally looked up from his tray, raising an eyebrow at her. "Is that what's bothering you? The rankings?"

"It's our team goal—"

"Exactly," Wynter interrupted, setting down his fork and crossing his arms. "And that's the problem." His tone shifted, more serious now. "The rankings don't mean squat. Other teams climbed to the top because they eliminated more enemies or got lucky with more missions. We haven't had a single call yet, so we're stuck at the bottom. But once we do..." He leaned forward slightly, meeting her eyes. "You'd better be ready. Whether you have a Present or not, you're still part of this team. And we fight as a team."

Faith blinked, stunned by his sudden earnestness. She sat up straight, the weight on her shoulders lifting slightly.

"Okay, I'll keep that in mind," she said, giving him a small smile.

"Good." Wynter leaned back, picking up his fork again. "Because I already forgot what I just said."

Faith rolled her eyes. "Of course, you did."

Ayva giggled. "You've got to admit, he's got a point. Rankings don't matter as much as sticking together. And Faith, when you figure out your Present, it's going to be epic. I just know it!"

Elliott nodded in agreement. "We'll figure it out together. But for now, eat your lunch. You're going to need the energy for training."

Faith finally picked up her sandwich, feeling a little lighter. Despite her doubts, her teammates' belief in her—even Wynter's begrudging support—made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she could handle whatever came next.

Present Summon and Control Class

A few weeks later, Faith threw herself wholeheartedly into her studies and training, dedicating every spare moment to discovering her ability. With Professor Blaze's guidance and the constant support of her friends, she refused to let herself be disheartened. Yet, progress was slow—agonizingly slow.

"It's hopeless!" Faith shouted, her voice echoing through the training room. She dropped to her knees, frustration pouring out as her clenched fists slammed onto the cold floor.