“Awakening of Focus”

Episode 32

Scene 1 – Dorm Corridor | Morning | Late Start

(Early morning light spills through the hallway. Ren, Zeno, and Fynn are quickly putting on their shoes, clearly in a hurry.)

Fynn (anxious):

"We're seriously late today…"

(Suddenly, Emi and Lyra appear from around the corner.)

Fynn (surprised):

"You two? What are you doing here…?"

Emi (tilting her head, arms crossed):

"Why? Are we not allowed to be here?"

Fynn (rushing to explain):

"No! I didn't mean it like that…"

Lyra (smirking):

"Then what did you mean, Fynn?"

Fynn (sighs, grinning awkwardly):

"Because all three of us are already late for training… and now you two are, too."

Emi (shocked, thinking):

What?! I didn't even check the time… and we woke up late today too!

Lyra (grabbing Emi's wrist):

"Come on, Emi! Hurry up!"

(Emi and Lyra start running toward the training hall. Ren, Zeno, and Fynn look at each other, then race after them.)

Scene 2 – Guild Training Hall | Morning | Accountability

(Inside the vast training hall, Kaen Voss, Damien Cross, and Mr. Rael stand at the front with all the trainees lined up. The late arrivals — Emi, Lyra, Fynn, Ren, and Zeno — rush in, slightly out of breath.)

Kaen Voss (walking toward them slowly, voice calm but firm):

"So, Ren Shiken… yesterday, you couldn't focus."

Ren (bowing his head slightly):

"Yes, sir."

Kaen Voss (stern):

"And yet… you're late today."

(He glances between Ren and Zeno.)

Kaen Voss:

"Older junior trainees have already been sent for practice matches. But you two — Ren and Zeno — why are you late? Answer me."

Zeno (in a quiet but mysterious tone):

"We are truly sorry, sir."

(Kaen Voss narrows his eyes at Zeno, then thinks silently.)

Kaen Voss (in thought):

I know who you really are, Zeno. An assassin, hiding in plain sight… but you can't hide from me.

Ren (stepping forward):

"Yes, sir. We're sorry."

Kaen Voss:

"'Sorry' won't be enough."

(His eyes move to Ren again. His gaze grows heavier.)

Kaen Voss (in thought):

And you, Ren… your grandfather once served as Guildmaster of the Phantom Association Guild. And your father…

Ren (cutting in gently):

"If you want to punish us… we accept it."

(Ren looks down, accepting. Zeno stands beside him, resolute.)

Zeno:

"Yes, sir. Whatever punishment you feel is right, we'll take it."

Fynn (thinking, shocked):

Wait… what?!

Emi (in thought, worried):

No… not punishment again…

Kaen Voss (coldly):

"Both of you will not receive any rest today. You're not allowed to return to your rooms until evening. Understood?"

Ren & Zeno (together):

"Yes, sir."

(Kaen Voss shifts his eyes toward Damien. Damien meets his gaze and gives a subtle smile.)

Kaen Voss (thinking):

The others will be trained by Damien in four days. One day's already gone… now Damien will be able to focus properly on Ren.

(Kaen Voss turns and silently exits the training hall.)

Mr. Rael (stepping forward):

"All senior junior trainees — follow me to the Battle Arena for your practice matches."

(The older trainees follow Mr. Rael out. Only the new juniors and Damien remain.)

Scene 3 – Training Hall | Morning | Inner Awakening

(Damien stands before the remaining new junior trainees. His tone is calm and instructional.)

Damien Cross:

"Today, we'll resume focus training. I want all of you to truly connect with your aura."

(He walks to Ren and holds out a piece of paper.)

Damien:

"Ren — hold this paper. Whenever you feel your focus breaking… let it fall."

Ren (nodding):

"Yes, sir."

(Time passes. Trainees close their eyes, focusing deeply. One by one, they begin to show signs of progress. Except Ren.)

(Damien quietly observes them. He notices Ren's hands trembling slightly. Then — the paper slips from Ren's hand and falls to the floor.)

Ren (thinking, frustrated):

I… still can't focus…

(Damien walks over. Without a word, he gently places his hand on Ren's head. His aura glows — a radiant white with golden shimmer — slowly entering Ren's body.)

Ren (thinking, eyes wide):

This light… I can feel it… What is this energy? It's so different… I can truly feel it… inside me…

(Ren slowly smiles — soft, warm, and peaceful.)

(Just then, Zeno, standing nearby, senses something. That same strange energy returns within him. His body begins to radiate a glowing blue aura. He sinks into deep focus. Damien watches silently.)

Damien (thinking):

Zeno… you're doing well…

(He slowly lifts his hand from Ren's head, calm and quietly proud.)

(Scene fades to the soft hum of aura energy…)

To be continued…