Echoes of the Concealed Realm

27

"Focus." Kai smacked the back of Gael's head as he nodded adamantly, "Ares, try and stop him again."

Kai had marked spots for Gael to teleport to and for Ares to run and hinder him to set him off. So far, Ares was winning.

"Ah man this is so far away. It's impossible to reach before your stupid timer runs off!" Gael groaned. 

"Nina, are you done over there?" Kai asked, turning his head around to her. She was very focused on her task and had been successfully completing everything Kai had asked her to do. 

Kai noticed how quiet she had gone lately, the more he looked at her the more he thought of Mira. Which was impossible to do, even if they were twins, they were the polar opposites of each other. The only thing they probably had in common was their need to work hard and prove themselves. 

Yet Mira was still unmatched in that department. 

Mira's thoughts were unsettling Kai as of recently. Where was she and why was she doing whatever she was doing. If she wanted to have escaped, they met. Instead of seizing that she hit him. 

"Sir, I'm done." Nina said as Kai checked out the field. It was not nearly as destroyed as Ahana usually was by their training. Orachi's sandy ground had been frustrating to his team but productive according to him. They will almost never get a 'suitable' ground when in danger. 

"Nina, come here. Use impel on the spots I have marked here. Ares, move back and forth between Nina and Gael's power and counterattack both so that you prevent both of them from executing their abilities. Gael, don't get hit by any of them during teleporting. Nina make sure you hit Gael and prevent Ares from stopping you." Kai said. 

The three of them stared at him with their eyes widened. 

Ares spoke up, "Sir, so we just all fight each other?"

Kai nodded with a smile. "Essentially. Keep this up until all of you win."

"So just... an impossible thing? We can't all win this Kai. We could do this all day and still not win!" Gael frowned. That stupid blaring sun in Orachi, he was desperate to get back home. But as Kai's duties asked for him here for a while, he had asked to also have them all transferred here indefinitely. 

"Yes. Glad you understand Gael. What a smart boy!" Kai said cooing at him as he glared back with a groan. "Now continue. I have some work. Until three of you win all at once, continue."

Kai flashed of as all of them frowned and continued. 

"Nina can you like impel off the fucking sun?!" Gael asked with a glare as another drop of sweat trickled down his face. 

"Shut up and start this shit." Nina mumbled out, concentrating her magic. 

Kai watched them from far away for a minute before finally leaving. Kai couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as he watched Gael, Ares, and Nina in action. They had all come such a long way since the loss of their friends. Despite the heartache and challenges they faced, they had grown stronger, more resilient, and fiercely determined.

Gael stood with a newfound sense of purpose, his once-slouched posture now was replaced by a tight firm stance. Where laziness once lingered, there was now a burning passion that fueled his every move, ready to face whatever laid ahead.

Ares used to be all about showing off, always boasting about his skills. But now, he has realized that he still has a lot to learn, and he was okay with that. Instead of bragging, he's focused on getting better every day. He's listening more, taking advice, and working hard to improve. And even though he knows he's not perfect, he's confident in his ability to keep growing and becoming stronger.