Loomian Legacy Veils of Shadow

Versus The New Rival

The very night of the pagoda fight, Thane's parents tried to reach him. He ignored their calls, texting them that he was tired from the day's events and to be careful with the stone. He knows it's just prolonging the inevitable discussion, though. They would try to bring him home, but he couldn't, not yet. Not when he already had two medals, an established team, and with those stones still out there.

He sighed and collapsed into his bed. He looked to the right to see his entire team sleeping soundly. Suddenly, Thane felt a strange loneliness. He had his team, a loving team, and a loving family, Noah, Lauren, and Derrick. They were all in his corner. So then why did Thane feel so alone?

Was he missing consistent human interaction? Did all trainers who traveled solo with just their Loomians feel this way? He had heard that the current Roria Champion had traveled with her friends when she was taking on the Battle Theatres. Maybe that's what Thane needed. Travel buddies. But was Thane capable of pulling someone else into this dangerous quest? Who would agree to join him? At first, his mind drifted to Hayato but quickly dismissed the possibility. Hayato had a life and responsibilities here in Heiwa Village. He couldn't do that to him. If he were to gain travel buddies, he would have to meet them on the road, and they would have to agree to the dangers of finding the remaining six stone pieces. That is if Noah and Lauren didn't force him to go back home. Thane slammed his head against his pillow and sighed. Before he knew it, his body drifted to sleep while his mind was focused on the possibility of having friends on the road.

The next day, Thane was sitting on a bench outside of the Trainer Station. He was on a call with Noah and Lauren. It was early in the morning, so few people were out. Embit and the other Loomians grew increasingly concerned as the conversation grew increasingly heated. "No, you guys are not listening!" Noah and Lauren didn't let their son continue. "Thane, you're not listening to us!" They retorted. "It took both my Imperior and Derrick's Gargolem to defeat Wresolen when it was infected!" Noah said through gritted teeth. "You and your Loomians are not ready for this!" Thane slammed his fist into the wooden bench, making his Loomians jump. "That's not what you said when you let me go on this journey! That's not what Akio said! We held our own when we fought the Corrupted." Lauren opened her mouth but Thane continued. "You've only fought this once, I've fought it three times! Who recovered those stones in the lab?!" His parent's mouths flew open in shock. "Thane-!" Lauren began, but Thane had already ended the call.

Thane turned the watch off and just sat there, feeling his anger rise. His muscles twitched and he itched to yell and throw a tantrum. Yanking his backpack hard to him, he ripped one of his empty discs from the strap and threw it as hard as he could. The disc hit a lamp post with a metallic clang and fell to the floor. "Agh!" Thane yelled. "What are we going to do?" He asked as he turned to his team who looked at him with worry. "They want us to go back to Mitis Town! After how far we've come! I signed up for the Roria League! We beat two Battle Stars! We got two of the stones and fought Corrupt enemies, three times!" He yelled while holding up three fingers to emphasize his point.

Suddenly, he felt a calming presence and a firm hand on his shoulder. Thane's head looked snapped up and his face flushed with embarrassment as he met Akio's eyes. "How much did you hear?" He asked as Akio sat on the bench next to him. "Enough," Akio said, and Thane groaned. "Let me speak to them." Thane and his Loomians looked up in confusion. "What?" Akio smiled softly. "I was like your parents when my oldest son, Yuto, went on his journey." His eyes grew into a mix of storminess and longing. "I wanted him to take up responsibilities in the village and Pagoda. He wanted to travel. It was hard, like what you and your parents are going through, but I let him, even with his, unconventional training methods." His eyes narrowed. "I understand your situation is very different to Yuto's, but you have proven yourself capable again and again. You and your Loomians." He held out his hand, "Give me the watch. I will convince them."