Location: Dojo

  Time of Day: Morning

  Day 6 Week 2

  Slide… The dojo’s doors creaked open. At the center stood two familiar figures: Lumina, arms folded and composed; Slayer, leaning lazily against a support pillar. Hikari and Captain stepped in side by side, their footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floor. Tap… tap…

  “Told you they’d be on time,” Slayer said with a grin, lifting a finger. “I owe myself five Aetherium coins.”

  Lumina arched a brow, tone dry. “You don’t even have five Aetherium.”

  “Details!” Slayer waved a hand with a dramatic flourish. “Let’s keep the show moving.”

  "Very well," Lumina said, stepping forward with calm. “Congratulations to you both. You’ve held your auras for hours, pushed through fatigue, and endured pain.” Her gaze swept across them. “But endurance and strength alone won’t win every fight, especially not against the Echos you’ve spoken of.”

  Captain rolled his shoulder with a faint grunt. “So… what’s next?”

  Clap! Slayer pushed off the pillar, his tone upbeat. “Now comes the part where your brains get more of a workout than your bodies. The Mind phase.”

  Lumina’s expression sharpened as she gestured around the dojo. “This hall will serve as your proving ground for the next two days. You won’t be split this time so you’ll be working as one unit.”

  “Or fail as one,” Slayer added, wagging a finger.

  “Fail?” Hikari blinked, tilting her head. “At… answering questions?”

  Slayer’s grin widened under his helmet. “Let’s just say… these aren’t your average school exams.”

  Lumina lifted a hand, pointing toward a scroll resting on a pedestal at the center of the room. Pulse… pulse… Its surface shimmered faintly with magical energy. “This scroll contains randomized trials, scenarios, puzzles, and challenges. Some will be tactical, logical, even personal. You may face scientific riddles, questions about this world… and even your deepest fears. And yes... Echos may appear, if that’s what lingers in your hearts.” Hikari and Captain froze for a beat before both frowned, identical dissatisfied looks crossing their faces. “Each round will be timed,” Lumina continued, her tone steady. “If you answer incorrectly, or if time runs out, you fail.”

  Hikari’s eyes lit up, practically sparkling. Shiiiing! “Ooooh, this is my kind of trial!”

  “Don’t celebrate just yet,” Captain muttered, arms crossing. His gaze narrowed. “I’ve got a feeling they’ll throw something unexpected at us.”

  “You’re not wrong.” Lumina’s smirk curved faintly. "You'll also be in your Emanation state in this trial. You see, the moment you hesitate your aura will flicker. And if that happens? Then that will also count as failure. You need to concentrate energy in your mind to keep your aura's source of energy active. So combining that and quick thinking on top of it, will make it that much difficult to keep up."

  FWOOM! Hikari’s pink aura flared to life around her. She placed her hands on her hips, smiling. “Should be able to handle it.”

  FWOOSH! Captain followed, his red Emanation flared steadily as he rolled his shoulders. “Let the fun begin.”

  Lumina’s eyes swept across them. “So... are you ready to begin?”

  “Onwards,” Hikari said confidently, striking a small pose.

  “Always,” Captain added, cracking his neck.

  “In that case…” Lumina lifted a hand, her voice sharp. “Let the Mind Trial begin!”

  WHOOOM! The scroll pulsed, glowing brighter. With a low hum, a rune shimmered into the air above them. Letters formed, flickering with light as a calm, synthetic female voice echoed.

  Scenario 1: You are with your team, and a creature capable of teleporting behind its prey has taken a civilian hostage. You’re surrounded, space is limited, and one teammate is injured. What do you do?

  Captain’s eyes narrowed. His voice came steady, precise. “I’ll take this one. First, I draw the creature's attention to me and distract it. Then, I’ll move carefully to limit its teleport advantage. Hikari stays with the injured. Slayer circles wide, using his shield to create an opening. That’s when we strike in together and save the civilian.”

  BZZT! Correct!

  Question 2: What is the primary form of currency in this world and how are they valued?

  Hikari’s hand shot up. “Oh, I know this one!” she said quickly. Fwoosh! Her aura flared with excitement. “The currency in this world is called Aetherium. Gold coins with arcane engravings mark higher value, silver coins with a dragon symbol are standard, and blue coins with a serpent symbol mark lower value.”

  BZZT! Correct!

  Slayer leaned toward Lumina, his helmet dipping as if to whisper. “We’re gonna need some snacks for this.”

  Lumina smirked. "Next question!" She called out, raising one hand.

  FWOOM! The scroll pulsed, runes flashing rapidly. The day blurred together with relentless trials, riddles, pressure, teamwork.

  Scenario 7: An Echo capable of spreading a hallucinogenic spore has breached from its vault. Wind is carrying the spores toward a nearby city and you have five minutes. You possess the following, a containment drone, a damaged filtration unit, and limited energy reserves. What do you do?

  Hikari stepped forward, pink aura sparking brighter. “Oh, easy.”

  Captain arched a brow. “Easy?”

  “Uh-huh, we can send the drone into the wind current,” she explained quickly. “Its internal heat can make a temporary updraft which helps redirect the flow for two minutes.”

  “But that's not enough time,” Captain countered, arms crossed.

  “By itself, no. That’s why we place the filtration unit halfway between the breach and the city. Even while damaged, it still slows the spores.”

  Captain’s gaze sharpened. “And if that fails?”

  Hikari’s eyes narrowed, determined. “Then we overload the drone’s core midair which causes it to detonate and disrupt the current completely. It’s risky, but the city’s safe, and casualties are minimal.”

  Captain gave a small nod. “Nicely executed. You’d make a decent field officer.”

  Hikari smirked, brushing her bangs back. “And you’d make a decent lab partner, though I’d probably do all the work hehe.”

  BZZT! Correct!

  Question 8: Answer in 15 seconds. What are the three procedures when encountering an Echo?

  Captain didn't hesitate. "Echo, Capture, and Order."

  Please define.

  Hikari raised a finger, her voice steady. "Echo - confirm the Echo's location and classification before we engage."

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Captain cut in right after, no pause. "Capture - We use different methods to suppress or immobilize it using our gear and weapons. If capturing seems impossible, we Echolock it instead."

  Hikari’s eyes narrowed as she raised another finger. "Order - lock the Echo in a vault with the restraints and protocols tailored to its nature. In order to keep everyone safe."

  BZZT! Correct!

  Slayer muttered under his breath, leaning toward Lumina. “Those two are either gonna save the world or blow it up with teamwork.”

  “Maybe both,” Lumina said softly.

  FWOOM. The scroll dimmed, signaling a pause. Captain and Hikari sat back for a breath, sweat trickling as their auras dimmed low. Then step, step... Lumina moved forward, a folded parchment in hand. A small smirk tugged at her lips. “Let’s raise the difficulty, shall we?” Captain straightened, jaw tight.

  Hikari frowned, unimpressed. "Oh wow yay... a surprise."

  “This one’s mine,” Lumina said firmly. She lifted the parchment, energy rippling through it. “Let’s call it… the Variable Test.” WHRRRMMM! The parchment glowed, sending out a wave of green light. The air rippled, and an illusion took shape, unfolding into a vivid scene at the center of the dojo.

  Scenario 12: Lumina’s voice was calm but steady. "You're in an underground chamber with two others. A fellow field agent and a civilian child. There is gas filling the room and only one gas mask remains. Unfortunately, the door won't open until ten minutes pass. So... what do you do in this situation?" Silence filled the room.

  “…It’s a trap question, isn’t it,” Captain muttered.

  Lumina tilted her head, watching closely. “Oh? And why do you say that?”

  “Because there’s no right answer,” Hikari said firmly.

  “Exactly.” Captain exhaled sharply. “It’s about instinct.”

  Slayer’s usual grin faded. “So… what’s the team move?”

  Captain stepped forward, voice steady. “Well, protocol says we protect the most vulnerable first. So the mask goes to the child.”

  Hikari raised a finger. "We can then use our Emanation to buffer gas intake. Not forever, but it at least buys us some time."

  "Half of that time maybe," Captain countered. "One of us might black out within that time frame."

  "In that case, we rotate the mask in one-minute intervals, that way we can keep everyone breathing." She added.

  Slayer crossed his arms. "And what if you had to pick one person? No cycling or aura tricks."

  Captain didn't flinch. "The child."

  “Same,” Hikari said, her tone firm.

  SHHHK. The illusion faded, smoke and auras vanishing. Lumina rolled the parchment slowly, her gaze resting on them both. Then she gave a subtle nod. "Correct. Not because of the choice, but because you chose with clarity." She crossed her arms. "This wasn't about saving lives. It was about how you carry the weight of leadership." Silence pressed over the dojo. Then, turning toward the door, Lumina’s grey robe swayed lightly as she moved on. "The test continues tomorrow. So make sure to get plenty of rest tonight." She exited the dojo. SHHK… the doors slid shut behind her. Silence lingered.

  Slayer broke it with a long exhale. “Phew… tough one, huh?”

  Hikari nodded, brushing back her bangs. "It makes sense though because we might actually have to face these choices further down the road."

  “Agreed,” Captain said with a quiet grunt. "It's why we're here after all. So we can be ready if that ever happens."

  Slayer perked up again, clapping his hands together. “Well, you’re doing great so far! Maybe I should throw in a custom question too." He paused, tapping a finger on his chin. "Hmmm... lets see. Oh! I know! Uh-uhm, who would win in a sword fight, me or Lumina?"

  He glanced over at Hikari and Captain... only to see them already heading toward the exit.

  “Hey! Where are you two going?!” Slayer shouted, jogging after them, arms flailing. "We're not done here! I'll even give you a hint! It’s the one in shining armor, devastatingly handsome, and starts with an S!" Neither looked back. “I’m serious! Come back! I have chocolate chip cookies!”

  The day closed, and with it came the promise of tomorrow, the final day of Mind training.

  The Next Morning - Day 7 Week 2

  Once again, the team stood at the dojo’s center. Ready for the final day. The scroll floated at the center, pulsing faintly with light. THUM… THUM…

  "Today is your final test," Lumina said, stepping forward. "Your minds have been sharpened and your instincts refined... but now we'll test how well you function together and under pressure." She gave the scroll a single nod. “Run the final sequence.”

  WHRRMMM… Affirmative. Glowing runes spiraled into the air, fragments spinning like puzzle pieces. Images flickered - fire, collapsing structures, vault breaches, wounded civilians, rogue Echos.

  “You’ll each have to face a scenario,” Lumina continued. "Two of them must be led alone and the third... you'll face as a team." The runes burned brighter, forming words.

  Scenario 1: Tactical assault on an Echo capable of flight and breathes ice.

  Scenario 2: Medical emergency after chemical Echo exposure.

  Scenario 3: Reinforce a breached facility while evacuating civilians.

  Captain stepped forward, red aura activating. “I’ll take the first.”

  “I’ll handle the second,” Hikari said firmly, pink aura coming to life.

  Slayer smirked, leaning back against the pillar. “Guess that leaves the final one for the two of ya.”

  The scroll pulsed, and in a FLASH! the dojo blurred away. Arenas formed from light and shadow, collapsing towers, burning streets, shattered vaults. Tick… tick… tick… Clocks echoed in their ears. For hours, minutes, seconds, they fought through the illusions. When the final illusion faded, Hikari and Captain stood in the dojo again, sweaty, breathless, but victorious. Their auras stayed bright as the scroll hovered, silent… then in an instant BWOOOM! Blue-white flames erupted from the scroll, exploding into light. Darkness swept in, the air turned cold, and towering figures began to emerge from the shadows, so real they made skin crawl.

  FINAL CHALLENGE - CORRIDOR TRIAL: A distorted female voice crackled across the dojo walls. Simulation unlocked: Emergency Scenario. One minute and no second chances.

  The dojo dissolved in a flash of light FWOOOM! and reformed into a narrow corridor lined with shattered mirrors on both sides. Inside the glass, humanoid figures made of glass twitched. Limbs snapped backward with sharp CRRK! CRRK! cracks, ending in needle-like points. Hollow faces split open with jagged ridges, and with each shiver, bits of glass flaked off their bodies, falling to the stone floor with a steady tink… tink… tink…

  “What the…" Captain narrowed his eyes, "...Glasswraiths.” He muttered, rifle snapping up.

  Lumina’s hand slid to her katana, eyes narrowed "Hm? A surprise test? And we got dragged into it too huh. Very well... I'll play along."

  Slayer tilted his helmet, forcing a chuckle. "Creepy mirror mannequins? Yeah, not exactly my favorite décor I'll be honest, but I'm down for a challenge."

  Hikari stepped forward, her voice was steady and sharp. "I've studied those Echo's before back at Echohold-09." Her eyes locked on the figures in the shattered glass. "They're called Glasswraiths... and they only move when their reflection isn't being watched. If every set of eyes is pointed forward even for a split second, they can get the chance to break apart into shards and crawl out from the mirror. That moment is all they need to cut us down since they possess incredible speed." The AI voice boomed overhead.

  Objective: One member must reach the red button at the far end of the corridor. The others must maintain visual coverage. If the Glasswraiths break free and eliminate the team… termination will be immediate.

  Lumina adjusted her stance, eyes narrowing. "Okay in that case, we should split vision from left and right."

  "That'd be the best way yes," Hikari confirmed. "One of us scans left and the other scans right. We rotate the coverage every few seconds with the third person, so no one burns out from staring too long. If your eyes close by any means, call it out instantly." She pointed forward. "Slayer, you take point and advance toward the button. You've got the helmet; so no one can time your blinks."

  Slayer raised a gauntlet with a dramatic sigh. "You really love me that much, huh? Why don't we throw soldier boy over here to take point."

  “Cry about it,” Captain said flatly.

  “Because you’re the safest risk,” Hikari replied, tone calm at first. "Unless..." Then her eyes narrowed, glinting mischievously. “…you’d rather remove that helmet of yours?” She raised her brows with a teasing toing, toing!

  Slayer stiffened, then shook his head quickly "Nope never mind, the helmet stays on," He stepped forward, boots clicking against the stone. "But if I hear one crack too close, I'm redecorating this place with glass confetti."

  Lumina’s expression hardened, her voice crisp. “I’ll take the left side then.”

  Captain nodded, rifle swinging to the opposite wall. “Right side’s mine.”

  Hikari clenched her fist. "Then that leaves me as the back up whenever we need to shift."

  The AI voice boomed overhead, metallic and merciless. Begin Trial. The team advanced step by step, their boots echoing against the glass floor. The Glasswraith reflections twitched in their fractured prisons, CRRK! still… but watching.

  "Left side clear... blinking now," Lumina called out, voice firm.

  "Right side covered," Captain barked back. "Rotating in three, two, one..."

  “Rotate! Blinking now!” Hikari snapped, her tone low but firm. “Slayer, keep moving!”

  "I am moving!" Slayer shot back, sharper than usual. "You try walking through a murder-mirror funhouse!"

  Their formation pressed forward, rotations tight, no room for mistakes. Seconds dragged like hours. "Keep holding the formation," Hikari commanded. "Eyes on them and remember if you let fear break your focus, they'll slip through."

  The corridor stretched endless… until, CLANG! Slayer’s armored palm smacked against the glowing red button at the far end. “Time to shatter, baby!” he whooped. The mirrors CRACKED splintering all at once before collapsing into glittering dust.

  Trial complete the Ai voice declared. Moments later, the dojo lights flickered bzzt! and the illusion faded. They were still standing. Hikari exhaled hard, shoulders slumping. “Well… that wasn’t terrifying at all.”

  Slayer let his arms fall to his sides with a metallic clank. "Next time, we go full blast with Emanation on the next Echo that appears. I'm not a big fan of the whole stealth mission thing."

  Lumina spoke flatly, arms crossed. “Or next time… we just leave Slayer behind.”

  “That actually sounds like music to my ears,” Captain muttered with a smirk.

  A round of laughter broke out and just like that, the second week had ended. Getting them closer to finally return to Echohold-09. But beneath the laughter, something stirred. In Hikari’s coat pocket, the artifact pulsed once... soft and faint. A whisper slipped out, fragile and broken. “…must… hurry…” But no one noticed...