Preparation: CONTINUED

CONTINUE

Alkia: "This is good, now try to move around. But don't get carried away, you might accidentally lose control if you move too suddenly and lose focus."

Focus. Don't let the mana control you.

Hoshi repeated the message as he slowly took baby steps forward. He could feel the power coursing through him, tempting every movement to be just a little faster.

Hoshi: "Okay, I've got the hang of it now. I can do this, I'll move faster."

Alkia waved him to proceed, a curiosity in her eyes to see just how fast he could move at such a beginner level of mana control.

Hoshi took baby steps at first, testing the waters and making sure his body was stable. Once confirmed, he began to speed up—mana coursed through the vessels in his legs as he channeled his newfound powers. He was moving at speeds greater than he could've ever imagined, the scenery of Floor 1 whizzed past his vision and he quickly came to a halt, his soles skidding across the ground.

For the first time in his life, Hoshi felt…powerful. Maybe even hopeful.

He looked to Alkia who gave him a look of approval.

Alkia: "Impressive, you're fast for a beginner. Can you still hold onto your mana?"

Hoshi still felt power coursing through his being, he wanted to test just how strong he currently was.

Hoshi: "Yeah, I can still feel my mana. I don't think it's decreased at all."

Alkia's Inner Thoughts: Good, he's grasped the concept atleast, and his mana seems to be potent enough…

Alkia: "For this exercise, it's a test of speed. We'll be chasing each other to land one tag, simple enough?"

Hoshi bent his knees lower as if he was already about to go for the win.

Hoshi: "Ready when you are."

Alkia smirked and effortlessly passed mana through her body, enhancing her physical abilities.

Alkia: "I'm not holding back, Hoshi."

Hoshi: "I wouldn't want you to." 

The air grew thick as Hoshi stood in anticipation. To make the first move would be a mistake, Alkia would definitely counter…

But…

He had to be the aggressor here, he wanted to be.

Immediately, Hoshi threw himself at Alkia with a mana-infused jump, the ground he previously stood on slightly cracked from the sudden force applied to it.

She raised her eyebrows at his audacity and stepped to the side, letting Hoshi's hand fly past her. Alkia threw her hand forward like a scorpion ready to sting, her hand surrounded with the sting of mana.

Hoshi felt the presence of her hand and kicked off the ground to gain some distance.

Hoshi clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding against each other in both disbelief and frustration.

Damn it, she dodged me too easily.

Alkia: "With that speed, Valtros would've already chopped you to pieces."

The air grew thick as the two stood off. Hoshi shifted his stance uncomfortably, this game of cat and mouse had to end soon—he knew that Alkia would outlast the little control over his mana.

Alkia zipped to the side with blinding speed, causing Hoshi to look where she'd gone. But—it was too late, Alkia used this momentary confusion to blitz forward and appear under him.

CRAP—I NEED TO MOVE!!!

Hoshi's breath hitched as the air grew thick with desperation. Alkia's hand was rapidly approaching, his stance was rigid and frozen—he couldn't move a muscle.

In that instant, reality answered his call.

Her fingertip grazed his skin—or so she thought. In truth, she didn't know what happened, because Hoshi was gone. The hand that was supposed to end the game was grabbing at air, her eyes looked to the ground and her vision was immediately obscured by a dustcloud that swallowed the surrounding area whole. The ground beneath Alkia tore open and the shockwave caused her to fly back, each thud on the ground was met with a whimper and groan of pain. 

But there he was.

A small dot in the sky—falling toward the ground like a meteor that didn't know where to descend. 

Hoshi: "SHIT—!"

Alkia looked up from her daze, her ears ringing from the impact she took. All she saw was a small object rapidly approaching to meet the ground, soon realizing it was—

Alkia: "HOSHI!"

Alkia immediately acted, the whirring mana flowing around her was evident; it poured through her body and deep into the fibers of her legs. 

Alkia's Inner Thoughts: I could've swore I tagged him, how the hell did he…

It wasn't the time to think about that. With one great leap—Alkia took off like a rocket, a crater blasting open beneath her as she intercepted Hoshi's fall.

Alkia: "I've—!"

She reached for Hoshi's hand, her fingers just narrow of his hand but close enough to where she could feel his warmth.

He extended his arm as far out as he could as the sound of wind was roaring in his ears, his clothes flapping around from the velocity he was falling at.

Hoshi: "—Got you!"

He successfully grabbed onto her hand, Alkia yanked him toward her as the pair spun toward the ground. She held him tightly to her body as Hoshi forced his eyes shut. Before impact, a field of mana surrounded the two and shattered on impact with the earth below.

The two tumbled and unraveled from each other's grip, laying on the ground.

Hoshi: "Alkia!"

The boy's voice broke as he called her name, Hoshi spurred onto his feet and ran toward her, he fell to his knees next to Alkia's supposed unconscious body.

But he noticed the faint opening of her eyes and exhaled, a pang of relief flooded his soul. He thought for sure the impact knocked her out or worse.

Alkia: "Ugh—Hoshi, are you alright?"

She placed her palm on the ground and slowly sat up, holding her head.

Hoshi: "I'm fine, thanks to you."

Alkia: "Good, that's good…"

Silence ensued.

Hoshi's mind raced with thoughts, just what happened to him? One moment he was on the floor, about to be tagged…and then the next moment he was…

Alkia: "Tell me what happened. I want to know exactly what was going through your head when you decided to go ahead and try to touch the damn ceiling of this place."

Hoshi sighed and his thoughts went back to that moment.

Hoshi: "I don't know if I'm being completely honest, it just happened. I tried to avoid getting tagged and then—I was falling."

Alkia frowned at his vague explanation. Her own mind tried to piece together the event that took place, she would've sensed if it was some sort of outburst of mana, but she didn't sense any loss of control at that moment.

Could it have been his—?

Embrasia.

Alkia: "Go home and get some rest. We'll figure this out tomorrow."

Hoshi nodded and rose, patting his clothes of dust and grime.

Hoshi: "About the barrel, what was that for?"

Alkia: "You'll see eventually."

Hoshi kept that in mind and began walking back to town.

There was something he was hiding, however.

The painful whirring in his chest as Alkia was about to tag him. The violent bloom of will that came forth to move his body for him. The moment where his body felt weightless and he rose with speed he didn't know existed.

As Hoshi walked into the distance, Alma looked over…The Mark of Orion…hummed with a faint blue glow.

The Mark's faint hum lingered in the air, her mind fixated on one thought.

Just who was this boy?