It's been a month since the assassination of Asheera Eria.

  Tristate City has been very loud lately.

  However, it was rather louder in the path connecting the Tower and the station. Packed with rioters and protestors, outraged about the month-long absence of Great Kamisword. Rumours spread around that Sachiel Eria was protecting the crimson-haired foreigner that brought another spiky-haired foreigner into the city. Guards and Mobilizers surveyed the area.

  Testharians aren't known to be violent people but those aligned with the ideals of the notorious separatist Lantisul, those rioted. For days. Cars were getting destroyed and pro-Lantisul and anti-Lantisuls were battling each other, forcing Mobilizers to disperse them multiple times. The crowd kept moving, slowly marching towards the city centre. Chants turned into screams, signs were raised and the anger was palpable.

  Among the protestors stood Myrcella and Soraya, wondering what all this ruckus was about.

  "Gh... excuse me! Pretty girl coming through!" Myrcella shouted, but her efforts were futile. They've been stuck for some time. This eventually will turn into a stampede and people will die, but the Mobilizers keeping them at bay were ultimately making it worse.

  They have all the violent pro-Lantisuls to thank for the dense formation they've been in. The entire crowd wasn't all violent though, many were holding signs reading “We want answers!” and “Bring back our King!”.

  Or more vulgar signs like “Eria is a Dictator” or “No Kings! No Masters!” directed to the Great Kamisword, but not specifically Sachiel but the Royal Order in general.

  Myrcella was sitting on Soraya's shoulders as they both tried to walk toward the tower. But there were just too many people. It was hard to even stand still. If they risk falling over, they'll die. Trampled to death by a wave of people who'd never notice them until it was too late.

  "Why... are there so many people in front of the tower?? I just want to see brother Altair!" Myrcella whined, fanning herself with her small hands. While Testharia is a glacier planet, Tristate City has artificial weather to give people a sense of the summer heat. It was not working out so well for her though.

  "The day of reckoning is near, Myrcella! The outsiders will put an end to our names!" Like Altair, Soraya upheld an anti-foreigner ideology.

  "This was to happen... A leader with no morality... more tolerant to foreigners!" A woman from the crowd shouted, followed by roars of agreements.

  "He has ruined this country more than Fursan Eria has!" Another person shouted from the crowd.

  That was a far-fetched claim, as Fursan Eria is responsible for multiple genocides on other planets and is one of the most feared autocrats the galaxy has ever known, earning him the title of "Mad Son of the Mad King"

  But given the current climate, any dissent was valid. Even those that were insane. Testharians wanted answers. The Great Kamisword's silence was deafening.

  "Uncle Sachiel... isn't that bad!" Myrcella said as both of them squeezed through the sheer amount of people packed in a dense area. People turned heads upon hearing it, wondering why this girl was being so casual with his name, or why she disagreed with the majority.

  "He is a hard-working man! I see that everyday!"

  "I don't disagree... rgh... When you'll get older, you'll understand what I mean!" Soraya's face turned red as she strained her legs to push through the crowd. Her arms, wrapped around Myrcella's ankles for support, burned.

  "HEY, THEY'RE CLOSING THE DOOR!"

  Crap.

  The Eria Tower has initiated a lockdown.

  Some protestors were trying to enter the tower for various reasons. Things were starting to kick now. The unrest started to grow much worse and people started to panic.

  The yelling became louder; people became more violent. The Guards and Mobilizers were pushed back but tried their best to draw a line to prevent anyone going past them.

  It was like a tug of war. The people tried to enter the tower while the force tried to push them to the station.

  "WOAH- AH-" Soraya and Myrcella fell down together with the people. They were all falling over like dominoes now that the tension started, unfortunately becoming victim to a dangerous stampede. The air was punched from Soraya’s lungs as bodies slammed against her back. Myrcella's terrified shriek was lost in the deafening screech of a thousand other screams.

  "CALM DOWN, EVERYBODY!" Soraya shielded Myrcella as people tipped over, crashing to the ground. She scrambled, pushing Myrcella under her own body in a protective ball. They felt themselves heating up like they were in a sauna, with no room to breathe.

  It was scary.

  "Myrcella, we're going to have to go through the back door! Or... oh no..." Soraya said, her head still on the ground. "I might not have enough..."

  "We can't stay in the middle of this... eek!" Myrcella shouted.

  "It was a mistake coming here, I knew it!" Soraya's shouting made people around her aware of their presence. She helped Myrcella stand up. "Do you really need to go to the tower!?"

  Myrcella nodded.

  "...Then..." Soraya picked her up, Myrcella's feet touching her shoulders. With a formidable display of brute strength, she threw her to the edge of the road. "GO!"

  "W-what about you!?"

  "I'll catch up! Just-" Soraya fell down again together with a thousand more people. "JUST GO!"

  Myrcella nodded, deciding to utilize her Soul-Wielding capabilities and turned into smoke. That's right. Myrcella is a Hybrid-Type in an otherwise Weapon-Type majority of Testharia.

  However, upon the guards noticing her, she was shielded. "Thank you!" She said to the guards. Myrcella is a regular and a member of the Royal Family, so the guards recognize her.

  With Soraya in her mind, she headed for the backdoor, turning into smoke so the people behind couldn't see her. The backdoor should never be exposed, for safety reasons.

  -

  [ 2 months ago, 2 days after Flynnigan Shotaro's arrival on Testharia ]

  Since Flynnigan Shotaro's arrival on Testharia. Sachiel, Jumkou and Asheera were pondering on how they could train the spiky-haired boy for the upcoming threats. Jumkou claimed that Flynn had "innate power" and needed to be trained properly, like an untamed beast that required the correct touch.

  This Call of the Gods prophecy that Flynn seemingly carried was the key to saving the galaxy, but to Kaioshun's eyes, it was the Coming that would set off Armageddon.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  They were in the primary base of the Mobilizers of Testharia. Packed with military and medical equipment. Some areas were still under construction.

  Behind the base however, was a huge training ground specifically reserved for Soul-Wielders to hone their skills. It was huge and spacious, perfect for someone like Sachiel Eria to train a "lackey."

  Funnily enough, this is where Sachiel trains Myrcella too.

  "You did not bring me all the way over here... to teach this kid how to fight, right?"

  Asheera expressed frustration, because she wanted to stay in the Eria Tower. There is something about Asheera that Sachiel doesn't quite understand. Sachiel was only smirking, which irritated Asheera.

  "You're smiling extra today."

  "This boy has a potential so grand, it could surpass the very fundamental limit of Soul-Wielding as we know it." He explained to her. "He is our hope. Beneficial to Testharia's survival, but the entire galaxy."

  "...Galaxy?"

  "Ah... Right. This hasn't been discussed with you."

  Asheera sighed, crossing her arms and looking down. She played with a rock beneath her shoe, kicking it away before looking back at him. Her eyebrows were a bit furrowed.

  "Sachiel... If I may be honest with you, brutally... I see nothing in him. You're wasting your time with him. People have been wondering where you've been, and you've spent your precious little spare time on an outsider with unknown capabilities."

  She tapped her foot impatiently, the sound sharp against the wind sweeping across the training ground. She kept going, irritating Sachiel now.

  "Come on, let's just go ba-" As soon as Asheera moved the other way, Sachiel grabbed her arm, stopping her.

  "Asheera."

  "..."

  Asheera's gaze pierced right clean through him, evoking a sense of fear inside Sachiel that he hasn't quite experienced before. Losing trust in your family member cuts deeper than any sword. Sachiel's pride is his family.

  "I'm not wrong and you know it."

  Something was bugging Asheera lately. Her stress, sadness and depression were all exacerbated by Sachiel's ineffective leadership.. In her eyes, Sachiel had transformed into a shell of his former self. His usual steadfast presence was all of a sudden replaced by emptiness that lingered everyday.

  Ruined towns and civilian unrest forming because of their leader's vacancy was a recipe for disaster and Sachiel was doing nothing to prevent a disaster from happening. Doing nothing, saying nothing.

  Asheera herself was underwhelmed with Flynnigan's capabilities. Her skepticism stemmed from his sudden appearance and how Sachiel believed in Jumkou's words.

  In Sachiel's defense, Asheera knows nothing of Jumkou's secret. The time traveller that warned them about Kaioshun and the impending doom; the galaxy in absolute entropy. A secret known only to the Great Kamisword, in order to protect her and Flynnigan Shotaro, to become the Call of the Gods.

  "You've brought Miss Katatoria into our privy, an outsider. Next, our arms have opened to Dark Intrinium. We shouldn't've meddled with the outside and kept ourselves isolated."

  "Dark Intrinium was your mistake. Not mine."

  Asheera gritted her teeth in anger.

  "Do not lecture me at how I should lead my nation when you've brought us closer to war yourself." Sachiel's eye contact broke as he said that, he couldn't bear looking at Asheera's angry face anymore.

  "..." Asheera facepalmed, sighing. The knot in her throat tightened. This wasn't a good look for either of them to have the boy, Flynnigan, present.

  "He has nothing to do with this. Send him back. If Lord Veyron wages a war with us, do not depend on this boy to help you."

  This was enough.

  "Asheera, do not push your l-"

  "It's written all over your eyes, Sachiel. You don't care about Testharia, do you?"

  "..."

  "What's happened to you? What's gotten you into not caring about the only place you grew up and have fought for so hard to make it great again? Our place that Uncle Fursan ruined..."

  "... Little sis... this is not about Testharia."

  That line echoed in Asheera's mind.

  "I cannot tell you about it, not yet... They should be arriving soon."

  The outsider duo pair would enter the base.

  The day before Flynn's training, they visited a hot dog vendor that she loved during her first days in Testharia. Jumkou wanted Flynnigan to feel more at home by treating him to Testharian culture and culinary art.

  Asheera walked the other way, without batting an eye to Sachiel or even Jumkou and Flynnigan at all, who were just a few 100 meters away.

  "-You always want to analyze your opponent, don't trip up and constantly focus on your own movements." Jumkou was taking a lecturer-like approach on mentoring him, wrapping her arm around him while they made their way to the training ground.

  They passed Asheera, sensing the upsetting tone from her.

  :: Those two fought, huh? :: Flynnigan whispered to Jumkou.

  For some reason, he knew. The innate power that he has showed more than it told. Back when he tried to save Megami from Rakoji, Flynnigan was able to pinpoint Rakoji's hiding spot in an instant, giving Megami a window to defend herself.

  Sachiel stood there in the distance, waving.

  "Hey Sachiel!" She waved back.

  "Mr. Eria." Flynn bowed instead. Jumkou slapped his back.

  "You don't have to bow to everyone, idiot." She whispered with a giggle.

  Flynn's hair was a mess as usual, a spiky black that defied gravity. He straightened up, rubbing the back of his head where Jumkou had hit him.

  "Hey, Jumkou. Hello, Shotaro. I suppose the trip from the tower to here was not that annoying?" Sachiel said, chuckling as he put his hand in his pocket.

  "Tristate City is really amazing. I took in the environment on the way here. I didn't know you guys had wind turbines on top of skyscrapers here."

  "Alright, windmill-fanatic." Jumkou rolled her eyes sarcastically. "What's the agenda for today? I told you not to be so harsh on him, right?" Jumkou nudged Sachiel.

  "I make no promises."

  Sachiel then beckoned for the two of them to follow. "The compact and spacious ground you see is your new training ground, Shotaro. Here you will learn the basics of controlling Soul-Energy."

  Even though Flynnigan was 19 years old, a contrast to Sachiel's 31, he was being informal and called him by his last name. He could hear his grandfather in the Great Kamisword's tone.

  "... Shall we start?"

  "Yes!"

  -

  "Ow- ow..."

  Flynnigan was on the ground, completely out of breath. The white shirt that he had on was ripped from below and his messy spiky hair was even messier.

  "You hit so hard for a girl..."

  "W-what? You got something to say, Mr. Shotaro!?" Jumkou seethed at the statement. In retaliation, she sent another strike onto the floor he was on.

  "WHOA!" Flynn rolled away, standing up and clenching his fist.

  Sachiel stood nearby, looking on. He has seen the spunk of a Soul-Wielding teenager before. However, Flynnigan wasn't much of a fighter. It was clear that he was evaluating him throughout the entire training routine.

  Having shown him the basics of Soul controlling, it was now a matter of knowing how to fight.

  .:. He lacks a fighting style. It is like spinning his arms like a wheel at times... The biggest hurdle will be his control. .:.

  .:. "Seems like you lost all trust in him too. What's changed, Great Kamisword?" .:.

  Sachiel didn't respond. He remained looking at the kid's potential.

  Jumkou twirled her Time Staff around and struck at Flynn again, but this time, he dodged. He took a step to the side and pushed her away, creating some distance.

  "Huh!" He wiped a tear from his eye as he used the brief opportunity to charge forward, aiming a punch straight at her.

  He missed, stumbling forward.

  "What t- GU-" Jumkou kicked him to the ground. It was a gentle kick as if a feather touched him, and yet it hurt. She turned around to Sachiel, smiling in a playful manner.

  "Well, you can't say I didn't try."

  "It is not your fault. The boy is trying. That is all that matters." Sachiel said, patting Jumkou on her shoulder. She nodded.

  It was nice to spend a little time that was fun. Jumkou hasn't had fun in a long time, especially since her time in her future and the time she went back to the past. She hasn't had a minute of rest.

  She knows she can't rest now. It's only a matter of time when the galaxy's in immediate danger, but a little fun can't hurt. She decided going easy on Flynnigan would be the best way to hone his skills.

  Sachiel walked toward Flynnigan, towering over him as he was on the ground.

  "This is the second girl that scared me." The only girl other than Jumkou that scared her was Megami. He didn't want to talk about her.

  "I can't do it... I can't fight. I'm not the kind of guy that gets into fights... I'd rather sit by and relax in the countryside back home than this... I know this is important, but..."

  He looked away, sighing. He wanted to go home.

  Sachiel understood this. The weight of destiny placed on one's shoulders was a heavy burden, one he knew all too well. He saw in Flynnigan's eyes a flicker of the same fear he'd battled for years.

  But Sachiel also saw potential.

  "Do you see the clouds right now?" Sachiel asked.

  "What? Why?"

  "When you pray to the stars above, do the clouds always fade away? No, sometimes they cover them, hiding the light from the world. But the stars remain there. Burning brightly."

  Sachiel offered him a hand.

  "Prayers Be as Clouds, Stars Be as Power. You, Flynnigan Shotaro... have always had the stars within you. You don't need a prayer to get them shining. All you need is a push."

  "... Asheera may be right about me. I may be some worthless boy from the looks of it and as it stands, I'm weak."

  Sachiel was taken aback by his statement. How did he know about what she conversed with him? He knows nothing about Asheera's doubts about him or what she and him talked about. He must be using his "innate power" again.

  His potential could indeed surpass the fundamental limit of Soul-Wielding.

  "But that's why I'm here... In front of you." He took his hand and stood up. "I don't want to be a worthless, weak boy anymore." Flynn stared right into Sachiel's eyes. There was fire there. A fire that Sachiel recognized all too well. It was the same fire he once had.

  .:. "Greatfather... When you are bored, I will lead!" .:.

  "..." Sachiel laughed.

  "It is my job to turn you into a full-fledged warrior, per Jumkou's wishes."