Chapter Title: Green Array, Silent Resolve
Jimmy was about to leave his room when a sudden wave of fatigue washed over him. He staggered slightly, hand on the doorframe, and turned his head toward Luna.
"Luna…" he whispered, barely audible.
She immediately understood. Her body glowed faintly as she cast a Healing Ray on him—but instead of standing tall, Jimmy collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"Onononn…?" Luna gasped, her voice filled with worry.
Panicking, she summoned a burst of water to splash his face, but there was no response. Her tail trembled. Without hesitation, she poured every last drop of her remaining energy into another Healing Ray, her body flickering with exhaustion as the light wrapped around him.
Nothing.
Breathing heavily, Luna slumped beside him, placing her muzzle against his chest. His heartbeat was steady but faint. She laid there, protecting him with her body like a mother shielding her cub.
After a few minutes, Jimmy's phone buzzed on the table. Luna opened one eye.
She knew what Jimmy had taught her—how to read a few simple things. She crawled toward the phone, squinting at the glowing letters:
Class teacher
"Ooononon…" she mumbled, using her water energy to tap the green answer icon.
A voice crackled through:
"Jimmy? Why haven't you come yet? Class is starting."
Luna panicked but tried to speak clearly.
"Onon... he suddenly... asleep."
The teacher's voice paused. Then another, gruffer voice echoed from his Whisp:
"Gra gra graa?" (Is she lying?)
Luna stiffened, tail low, but replied earnestly:
"Ononno… yes yes. True."
There was silence. Then the teacher said:
"Take care of him. If he wakes up, tell him to call me."
The call ended. Luna sighed and lay beside him again.
After twenty minutes, Jimmy stirred with a sharp inhale. His hand twitched, then reached out weakly.
Luna immediately perked up.
"Ononn!" she exclaimed in relief.
He slowly sat up, blinking, and looked at her with a small, grateful smile. But something felt different. There was a surge in his veins, a tingle in his fingertips. It was as if his mind had been unlocked.
"Luna," he whispered, pulling her closer.
He drew a summoning array in the air with practiced motion. The ring shimmered—then glowed a faint green.
"aaa…?" he muttered.
He recalled Luna, then summoned her again. The green glowed brighter this time.
"So it's real…"
Again, he dismissed her. Repeated the process twice more.
Green. Consistently.
He looked at her, a quiet smile forming on his lips.
"My Mind's Garden has reached 20%, Luna… We can make a new friend now."
Luna pouted softly.
"I'll lose my spot… no one will love me anymore…"
Jimmy gently pulled her into a hug and began playfully rubbing her ears. She grumbled a little, but curled into him.
Then she suddenly said:
"Ononn… Teacher's calling you."
Jimmy glanced at the clock—2:20 PM.
He gasped, stood up quickly and bolted out the door with Luna beside him.
..........................
The guard nodded as Jimmy entered through the side gate. A few straggling students passed him in the hall, gossiping about the day's battles.
In the classroom, only a handful of students had shown up. The rest were likely watching the Quarterfinals matches happening live in the combat arena.
Mr. Greel looked up from the podium.
"Didn't expect you to show up. You're not going to watch the matches?"
Jimmy typed on his device:
"No. I came for class."
The teacher grunted.
"Good. Sit down."
The lecture was calm, covering the fundamentals of Whisp resonance patterns and how elemental traits evolve after a Whisp's growth spurt.
After an hour, Mr. Greel looked up.
"You looked a bit pale earlier. Are you feeling alright?"
Jimmy replied with a small nod and typed:
"Just tired. I took a short nap."
"Fair."
The teacher adjusted his glasses and added:
"By the way, there's no class tomorrow. I'll be acting as a coordinator for the quarterfinals. Our school's Team made it in."
Everyone clapped.
A Friendly Challenge
As Mr. Greel exited, one of the students leaned toward Jimmy.
"Hey, why'd you disappear last week?"
Jimmy smiled and typed:
"Training Luna."
"Nice. Want to do a match later?"
Suddenly another student said:
"If you can beat Haunttusk! Then fight with him. He is a monster as well his whisp"
Jimmy felt a sudden wave of dizziness and leaned back.
He typed:
"I'm not feeling great today. How about next week? If all of you come… I'll take you on."
They chuckled.
"Deal!"
"You better not run away!"
Jimmy nodded with a smirk.
"Deal."
....................
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting warm golden light across the streets as Jimmy stood at his doorstep, zipping up his bag for the trip ahead. Luna watched from beside the window, her tail gently swaying. It was finally time.
Jimmy glanced at his phone.
Destination: Kirim City
Distance: 3 hours
Flight from Nokun Airport: 9:30 PM
He moved efficiently, checking and double-checking everything—ID, Nexus Pass, nutrients for Luna, emergency rations, clothes, and a portable healing capsule. On the table, a small note lay next to a wrapped lunch box: "Eat this during the ride. – Jimmy"
Just as he tied the final strap, he made a call to her broker and said "do you have someone to stay or best place to stay, visit and for relaxation?"
He said "I'm on the way. Know someone in Kirim who'll host you."
...............................
Fifteen minutes later, Ravel arrived in his signature old black cruiser, tires humming softly against the road as it pulled in. The door swung open.
"You packed?" he asked, stepping out with a wide smile.
Jimmy nodded. Before leaving, he quickly reheated the lunch and handed it to Ravel.
"For the road," Jimmy typed with a grin.
They sat for a while, sharing stories while Jimmy went over his itinerary again.
Ravel handed him a sleek black card—a temporary Nexus-linked credit chip.
"Use this. It's synced with my business account. Show it to him"
Jimmy stared in surprise.
"Why are you doing this for me?" he typed.
Ravel leaned against his car and smiled.
"Because of you, my Whisp evolved into an advanced form after 5 years"
Jimmy smiled softly and nodded.
"Then give her my congratulations."
"You bet I will." Ravel clapped him on the shoulder. "Now, make sure you don't miss these places—Rock & Roll Sundial, Pheron Volcano Mountain, and the Fuoco Hot Springs. Oh—and the Aag Reserve Centre. Perfect for fire-type Whisps. You'll love it."
Jimmy made notes, saving them to his trip planner.
.......................................
Airport Farewell
At 8:30 PM, the car pulled up at the airport terminal, its lights glowing warmly in the evening mist. Passengers bustled around, some in suits, others in traveling cloaks, Whisps tucked into their capsules or walking loyally beside them.
Jimmy stepped out, pulling his hood up and adjusting the strap of his travel bag. Luna sat perched on his shoulder, watching the crowd with curious golden-blue eyes.
Ravel extended his hand.
"You're goanna do something big, Jimmy. I can feel it."
Jimmy shook his hand and typed with a proud, determined look:
"I will. I promise."
"Goodbye, kid."
"Goodbye, and thank you."