A New Starter

Gio: A title? Do you mean like a nickname?

Gray: Well ... not exactly.

Sarah: They sound cool. What are they?

Gray: Titles are something that is given to you. They are usually given to those who showed a great feat of strength.

Gio: So, there are more titles out there?

Gray: Yes. I have encountered two people with titles. Elijah and ... and ... I am sorry, I can't remember the name right now.

Sarah: I am sure it will come back to you later.

Gray: Yes, I am sure.

Gio and Sarah stop when they see a set of huge black doors coming into view in front of them. They continue to walk towards the doors when they notice that Gray doesn't slow down at all.

Gio: What is this?

Gray: The entrance to the village.

Sarah: Can you not read Gio?

Sarah points up, and Gio sees the word "entrance" spray painted on the black wall above the door.

Gio: Well, clearly, I didn't see it, Sarah.

Gray: Well, it has been fun, Sarah. You are a very ... interesting kid.

Sarah: What was that pause for?

Gray: Nothing.

Gio: Um, where exactly are you going?

Gray: I am a guardian of the village. I am supposed to keep Break Point far away from the village.

Gio: Sounds important. If you are supposed to be doing that, why are you here?

Gray: Lionel allows me to have breaks. I usually take breaks no longer than two days.

Gio: Then why did you stay long enough to train, Sarah?

Gray: ... That is complicated.

Gio: There must be a good reason to put the entire village in danger.

Sarah: ...

Gray: I don't think you would understand right now.

Gio: What doe-

The ground starts to shake. The three look at the entrance and see that it is opening. They see Lionel holding out his hand towards the doors.

Sarah: MASTER!

Lionel turns his head towards the group, but he keeps his hand raised to the door.

Sarah: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

Lionel started to speak, but he was so far away that they couldn't hear him over the sound of the doors opening. Sarah ran towards him to better hear what he was saying.

Gio: We are pretty far away for him to already be opening the door.

Gray: You are right.

Gio: Also, is it this loud every time it opens? How has Break Point not found you yet?

Gray: We are too far from any Break Point facility for them to hear us.

Gio: ... That was a joke.

Gray: Oh ...

Sarah runs back to Gray and Gio.

Sarah: So Master just told me that more people are coming to live here. There are three. A child, a pregnant woman, and a man.

Gio: How did they get here? Is it because Gray wasn't keeping guard?

The last bit of Gio's sentence surprised Gray. 

Gray: ... Are you okay?

Gio: It doesn't matter if I am okay or not. But actually, how are they here?

Gray: They are most likely from another Rouges village.

Gio: Rouges?

Sarah: People who are against Break Point.

Gio: Oh.

Gray: Yes, they are probably from a rouges village that is getting overcrowded, and they were escorted to the closest one. I expect there to be more soon.

Sarah: [New friends.]

Gio: [I just decided to stay, and it is already getting overcrowded.]

They watch as the family walks in through the entrance as they get closer. Lionel walks over to them and starts a conversation. They aren't able to tell what he is saying, but they can see him pointing to different buildings.

Gio: [Probably telling them where stuff is.]

Sarah: Thank you, Gray. I am very grateful to you. I wouldn't have been able to land a hit on Cinco if it wasn't for you.

Gray: I am sure you would've found your own way. You are strong, Sarah. Never forget that.

Lionel: When do you next plan to visit?

Gray: Maybe in a year.

Sarah: A YEAR?!

Gray: Yes, Sarah. I am sorry, but my job is very important. I will always make sure to visit you when I am on break.

Sarah: But ...

Gray: I will be thinking of you a lot.

Gio's attention drifted. He looked behind Gray and saw Lionel on his knee talking to the child of the family that had just walked in. Now that he was closer, he was able to have a closer look at the family. The child looked to be about his age, if not a little younger. He had curly jet-black hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. The mom had brown hair that reached her back, green eyes, and light skin. The dad had black hair, brown eyes, and dark brown skin. He tried to understand what they were all saying until Gray stepped in his way so he was no longer able to see them.

Gray: Nothing good ever comes from being nosey, Gio.

Gio: I was just ... information gathering.

Gray: I will make sure to talk to you a lot the next time I see you.

Gio: Whatever you want.

Gray: I am going to say bye to Lionel, and I will be on my way.

Sarah: Make sure to come back.

Gray: I will.

Gio: You answered some of the questions I had for you. So thanks.

Gray: I am happy I could help.

Gray walked to the family and started a conversation with Lionel. When he was done, he walked through the doors. As Lionel closed the doors, Gio and Sarah saw Gray turn around. He waved goodbye, and Sarah waved back. The black doors fully closed, and silence returned to the village.

Gio: So what now?

Sarah: I guess we just have to wait until Lionel is done, and we will discuss where we will go from there.

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Sarah opens the door to her home, and she and Gio walkthrough.

Cinco: Sarah. I haven't seen you since last night. Have you slept at all?

Sarah: No. I don't feel tired, though. Is it possible to make it so you don't need to rest as often with Ora?

Cinco: I mean, it is, but that is more complicated than increasing your strength with it. You are a true prodigy, Sarah.

After hearing this, Sarah puffs her chest and laughs.

Sarah: I sure am amazing.

Gio: So, just how much can you do with Ora?

Sarah: I think it is better if Master explains that to you. He is a lot better with that type of stuff. But the short answer for now is a lot.

Lionel walks through the door to his home and closes it behind him.

Lionel: Alright, the family was shown to their house, and they are settled in.

Sarah: They had a kid. How old is he?

Lionel: He is 12.

Sarah: Same age as you, Gio. I finally get to make friends with someone closer to my age. And I know Gio and Cinco are happy, too.

Cinco: Why would I be happy?

Sarah: Cause you aren't that old, right?

Cinco: I am an adult but not old.

Sarah: You look so young, though.

Cinco: Thank you.

Gio: You look pretty old to me.

Cinco: Shut up.

Gio: How old are you?

Cinco: Twenty years old.

Gio: ... You look like you are pushing 40 ...

Cinco reaches into a cabinet in the kitchen and pulls out a wooden sword. The wooden sword brings back unpleasant memories for Sarah. The sight of it even makes her walk back a bit.

Lionel: Alright Cinco. Calm down. He is just a child. And he doesn't really know you. I am sure you two will become more friendly as you get to know each other. I mean, you and Sarah did, after all.

Cinco: I am only friendly towards Sarah now cause she earned my respect, which I doubt that he will ever be able to do.

Lionel brings his hand to his chin and starts to rub it.

Lionel: Sarah only earned your respect because not only did she land a hit on you, but she managed to keep up with you in a fight, correct?

Cinco: That is right.

Lionel: ... I want Gio to see this as his home and get along with everybody.

Gio: ...

Lionel: Fine. Starting tomorrow, Gio will start to learn and train, and by next December, not only will he land a hit on you, but he will also defeat you in a fight.

Sarah: ...

Cinco: ...

Gio: ...

Lionel: ... I am being serious.