The entire training room was silent. Kaito stood firm as his essence swirled around him like purple fire, his intense stare locked onto Kaeline. She matched his glare, her face unreadable yet seemingly intrigued, unlike Finn and Elysia's stunned silence watching from the side.
Finn hesitantly broke the silence first.
"K-Kaito…you can't actually be serious, right? I mean, how exactly do you plan on defeating the captain? You're strong—I've seen it—but the captain is… she's something else entirely. Even the Accord, other star traveler crews, and powerful factions across galaxies fear her. We haven't even officially become star travelers yet, while she's already a legendary S-ranked captain…"
Kaito's expression didn't change whatsoever, he continued to stare Kaeline down without moving an inch. A moment passed before she calmly spoke up.
"Finn's right, Kaito. You know the reality as well as we do. The captain isn't just powerful… She's outright terrifying. You might have potential, but it's foolish to rush headfirst into a fight you're nowhere near ready for." Her eyes narrowed and her voice sharpened slightly.
"Tell me, Kaito, what's your plan exactly? Or are you blindly playing hero, risking everything to save someone who probably shouldn't even be saved?"
Elysia flinched at her harsh words, quickly stepping forward towards them besides Kaito.
"Miss Kaeline, that's too cruel! We don't even know for certain—"
"Because…" Kaito's voice calmly cut over her.
"I'm your last shot… Isn't that right, sensei?"
Elysia and Finn both turned towards him, eyes widening in confusion. Kaeline's eyebrows subtly raised.
"My last shot, you say..? Explain yourself. What exactly do you mean by that, Kaito?"
He paused briefly, his eyes finally falling from hers, but now scanning her up and down from her gear to the white tattoo on her right forearm to the kunai strapped to her waist and thighs.
"Last night, when you decided to become a member of my future crew, I couldn't understand it. Why would someone like you—someone so powerful that could easily become an A-rank captain of their own if you truly wanted—suddenly pledge loyalty to someone like me? But… after some thinking, now I think I understand."
Kaeline's expression remained unreadable, though her posture subtly shifted as she visibly grew even more attentive.
"Oh? And what conclusion have you reached?" She replied.
Kaito's eyes slowly made their way back up to her eyes and pointed at her.
"You're looking for a way out. Like you said before you realized your current goals have shifted since joining this crew. Now, staying aboard the Starlight and following the captain into the Accord when she becomes the new head has become inconvenient for whatever your true mission might be. However, directly confronting the captain yourself is far too risky, even for someone like you. That's when you found exactly what you needed. Or rather…you found exactly who you needed."
He turned his pointed finger towards himself.
"Me. You need me to defeat the captain for you. Am I right?"
Elysia's eyes widened even further, her jaw slightly dropped as she glanced over to Kaeline, whose expression still remained neutral. Silence took over the room again, heavier than ever before. Kaeline said nothing, merely holding eye contact with him in a form of visible contemplation.
During that short contemplation, Kaito spoke up again, but this time his voice dropped to a cold tone, completely unlike the warm and outgoing personality they were accustomed to.
"I don't know your true goal, sensei. And truthfully, I'm not even sure if I care about knowing it at this moment. All I care about right now at this very moment is saving Aqua. No matter what it takes. Even if I have to tear down everything in front of me to do it."
He paused again before speaking again.
"Do you understand, sensei?"
The silence that followed felt like an eternity. Eventually, Kaeline finally closed her eyes, letting out a sigh.
"Yes…" She admitted quietly, opening her eyes with an unexpectedly calm look.
"I understand."
Elysia's heart and thoughts spiraled inside her watching the entire situation unfold.
"Is this really the same Kaito dear?He saw through Miss Kaeline so effortlessly, yet…this isn't like him at all. This intensity…this overwhelming resolve. It's like looking at someone else entirely…" She thought nervously.
Kaeline refocused her sight on Kaito. Her expression softened slightly as she spoke to him now, as if he unlocked a new level of respect from her.
"Kaito, what you're planning is reckless, borderline insane even. Elara isn't an opponent you simply challenge on a whim. Those who dare face her in battle rarely walk away unscathed… most never walk away at all. However… despite all of that, despite every reason to doubt you, something tells me you might actually stand a chance."
Finn's jaw nearly dropped to the floor hearing her say that.
"Wait, is Kaeline-sensei saying she genuinely thinks Kaito could defeat…the captain?"
A rush of images flashed through his mind—the tournament battles, watching helplessly as Elara effortlessly destroyed Myzen in seconds, and finally her resonance transformation and attacks that permanently scarred and destroyed a large portion of the moon's surface.
"Kaito has to realize this…right? He must be as panicked as I am…"
But when he anxiously glanced toward Kaito, utter shock passed through his entire body. Kaito stood there completely relaxed, breathing steady. Yet, those brown eyes of his, eyes that once radiated warmth and kindness were now emitted a cold determination, something he had never seen before from him.
"Kaito, are you—" He whispered anxiously, but before he could finish, Kaito raised his fist toward Kaeline.
"Crazy or not, our dreams and goals have been put on pause because of a single person. So let's kick her ass together… sensei."
Kaeline couldn't help back but let a slight smirk crawl up her face. With a slight chuckle, she shook her head gently.
"I knew choosing you wasn't a mistake. You certainly have the arrogance of someone worthy of being a star traveler captain someday."
She raised her own fist, bumping it lightly against his.
"But I won't call you my 'Captain' until you've truly earned that title in my eyes. Got it?" She said with a slight teasing tone underneath her serious demeanor.
Kaito's purple essence flowing around him, softened down to nothing and a small smile broke through his serious expression.
"Yes, sensei."
Finn and Elysia, still somewhat stunned, exchanged a nervous glance before letting out quiet chuckles of relief as the tension finally eased in the room.
Moments later, Kaeline stood across from Kaito and Finn. Elysia had moved off to the side sitting on the room's control panel, quietly observing from a distance as Kaeline paced around slowly as she addressed them.
"After carefully analyzing your tournament battles, I've identified several critical areas where you both desperately need improvement. Starting with you, Kaito—"
She turned to face him.
"Your lack of essence control during fights was frankly atrocious. Your newly awakened lightning affinity is powerful, yes, but your usage is reckless. You drain yourself too quickly, wasting precious essence on sloppy attacks… And don't get me started on that Raiden Cannon ability of yours…"
Elysia spoke up from the side.
"It's true, Kaito dear. It was also clear during your battle with Aqua on Draconis Prime as well. Even back then, it felt like you were straining yourself beyond your limit every time you tried to use your essence."
Kaito's eyes drifted downward thoughtfully, replaying moments from his previous battles in his mind. Before his thoughts wandered too deeply, Kaeline's voice drew him back to reality. Her tone shifted slightly, curiosity intertwining with slight… suspicion.
"You know, I've been meaning to ask something, Kaito. How exactly did you manage to utilize your lightning affinity so proficiently during the tournament? I searched for you after Finn's battle with Myzen, but you weren't anywhere aboard the Starlight—not your quarters, nor any of the training rooms. Where exactly were you?"
He stiffened subtly, his eyes meeting Kaeline's, doing his best to maintain his composed expression.
She continued, her tone calm, but almost analytical.
"You see, the lightning affinity differs from most other primary affinities. It's quite rare, requiring immense amounts of essence and incredibly precise control. Most individuals blessed with lightning affinities spend countless stellar cycles mastering even the simplest basics, let alone using it proficiently in combat. Many resort to cosmic artifacts, much like Elara's sword, or simply rely on pure essence manipulation because mastering lightning proves too daunting."
She paused momentarily.
"So, that leads me to my real question, Kaito. How exactly were you able to train yourself in such a short amount of time to wield this rare affinity? Or perhaps, more accurately…
…who taught you?"
Elysia gently swung her legs as she watched him intently, awaiting his answer. Finn shifted nervously before glancing to his right at him with growing anxiety, unsure of what he would say. Kaeline's eyes remained fixed on him.
A tense silence carried on for several moments until he finally let out a soft exhale.
"You're right, I wasn't on the ship the rest of that night. I… I went to the outskirts of the city, deep into the rocky wastelands on the moon's surface."
His mind momentarily flashed back to the stern warning from Baraqiel during their secret training session.
"Remember, Kaito. Not a word to anyone—not even your crew. Promise me."
His flashback was abruptly ended by Kaeline's blunt voice.
"Why?"
He paused for a moment, looking down at his bandaged hands. Without a word, he slowly began unwrapping the bandages around his knuckles, palms, and wrists. The fabric fell to the floor gently, revealing numerous scars beneath, both fresh and old. Finn's eyes widened in shock as he saw countless bruises, deep cuts, and calluses decorating Kaito's knuckles and palms.
Kaito began to speak again, his tone now a bit more subdued.
"You see these scars? I've had them for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a kid back in Thalos, all I ever dreamed of was becoming a star traveler—no, not just any star traveler, but the King of the Stars."
His eyes grew distant as painful memories raced in his head. He remembered the cruel laughter, the punches, the kicks, and even the ruthless beatings at the hands of adults who saw him as nothing more than a worthless human.
"Every time I tried training alongside others, I was beaten mercilessly. Kids my own age… their parents… even random adults passing by. All because I was human. They hated me. And no matter how loud I screamed or pleaded for help… no one would lift a finger."
Kaeline's hardened expression softened slightly as her eyes lingered on his battered hands.
He turned his palms downward, showing the true extent of the damage. Raw, jagged scars and old bruises marked a lifetime of torment, anger, pain… loneliness.
"So, I trained alone… No fancy equipment, no experienced mentors to guide me… nothing. Just me, punching trees, rocks, anything hard enough that wouldn't break before my body did."
Elysia felt an overwhelming wave of sadness and empathy wash over her. Her stomach twisted in pain. Her breathing became slightly more shallow. Her eyes began to glisten as she began to grasp just how much of Kaito's pain and isolation truly ran. Hearing him talk about his past the way he is and seeing the actual scars he gave to himself really put it into perspective. She discreetly wiped the tears at the corners of her eyes, confusion swirling within her.
"Why… why does my heart hurt so much hearing this? Why can't I stand seeing you suffer, Kaito dear…?"
Finn, breaking through his own shock, hesitantly spoke up.
"Kaito… back then, in the forest when we first met… is that what you were doing? Training like this… all alone?"
Kaito turned to face him, giving him a weary but gentle smile.
"Yeah… exactly."
Finn's heart almost dropped to his feet, a heavy sadness blanketing him as he remembered their earlier conversations in the training room before the tournament. Even then, Kaito shared glimpses of his harsh upbringing, yet somehow he'd remained positive, hopeful, and encouraging. He couldn't fathom how Kaito had endured such trauma yet emerged so compassionate, hiding his anger and depression behind bright smiles and laughter.
"I… I had no idea…" He muttered quietly, his voice barely audible as his eyes slowly dropped to the floor.
Kaito bent down slowly, picking up the fallen bandages and carefully rewrapping his hands. He turned back to Kaeline before speaking up.
"That's why I left the ship that night, to train alone again. After seeing Finn hurt so badly in the medical bay, its just… I felt helpless and weak. I couldn't protect him. I couldn't protect anyone. The lightning… it just appeared to me in that moment, probably born out of sheer anger or desperation or something… I don't know…"
Kaeline raised her hand gently, interrupting him.
"You don't have to say anything else, Kaito." She said softly, her expression uncharacteristically gentle and warm.
"I understand. And… I'm sorry. Sorry if my questions made it seem like I doubted or distrusted you."
Her voice softened even further
"Talon and Elara told me a little about your life after speaking with Farro. Hearing your story now, everything you said makes sense. Truthfully, your reckless and wild approach with the lightning affinity fits perfectly with someone self-taught through pure emotion and desperation. Besides…" She smiled slightly, almost teasingly, as she added.
"If anyone had been teaching you this whole time, they would have to be the absolute worst mentor in the universe."
Kaito, momentarily remembering his goofy interactions with Baraqiel, couldn't hold back a soft chuckle. He shook his head slightly, a faint smile returning to his face.
"You know, Sensei… you're probably right."
Kaeline cleared her throat, shifting the focus back to their training.
"Okay, now back to business. Given our limited time before the exams, we'll need to concentrate specifically on the areas where each of you are weakest."
Finn suddenly jolted upright, his eyes brightening with curiosity.
"Speaking of that, Kaeline-sensei, what exactly are my weak points?"
Kaeline looked over to him.
"To start, your essence control is still significantly better than Kaito's."
"Really?!" Finn and Kaito yelled simultaneously, both looking utterly shocked at her words. Finn, pleasantly surprised, turned slightly red with excitement, while Kaito stared blankly ahead, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Indeed. But your improved control is likely due to the fact you've yet to awaken an affinity, forcing you to naturally refine your essence manipulation over time. However… that's not the primary area we'll be focusing on with you."
"It isn't? Then…what exactly is it, Kaeline-sensei?" Finn replied
Kaeline's expression grew slightly more serious, her eyes studying him up and down.
"Due to your elven lineage, you naturally possess a significantly larger essence reserve than most other races in the known universe. However, your physical conditioning and your mentality limits your access to this potential."
Finn's eyebrows crumpled up as he looked at her confused, not expecting to hear such a response.
"My…men-tality?" He replied in a confused tone.
Kaeline nodded.
"Exactly. Your training will differ greatly from Kaito's because of this. I'll elaborate further when we split into our one-on-one sessions. Understood?"
He quickly straightened his posture and bowed slightly.
"Yes, Sensei."
Kaeline then shifted her attention toward Kaito, her voice becoming slightly more assertive.
"As for you, Kaito, your training will revolve entirely around essence control and utilization."
Kaito's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait—what about my lightning affinity? Shouldn't we be focusing on training that, too?"
She shook her head before dropping a surprising bombshell.
"No, we will not."
Confusion spread across his face immediately.
"What do you mean? How am I supposed to get better at using it if we don't even train it?"
"That's because you have a different goal, don't you?"
He paused, realization dawning on his face. His initial confusion gave way to a calm determination. He nodded slowly as he began to understand.
Kaeline saw this realization on his face and continued to speak.
"If you truly want to stand a chance against Elara and rescue Aqua, mastering your lightning affinity shouldn't be your priority right now. Like I said earlier, lightning isn't easy to master and truthfully… I don't have much experience with or about it to effectively help you out. Instead, you need to learn how to control and utilize your base essence itself first, then have you consciously produce and control your body's adrenaline at will to combine the two. Even if only for brief moments, it should dramatically raise your essence reserves enough to give you a fighting chance against her in a controlled fight. Even at your current level. But… this won't be easy, Kaito. We don't know what kind of effects constant usage may have on your body and essence…. and finding even the smallest opening against someone of Elara's caliber…that's an entirely different challenge altogether."
Kaito stood motionless, listening to every word carefully. Just then, Elysia stepped forward, her voice breaking through the silence.
"But that's exactly why I'm here too, Kaito dear." She said softly, approaching them with a gentle smile.
"I'll closely monitor your essence fluctuations and carefully study how your body reacts to such drastic surges of power. We'll use the data we collect to create a personalized training routine designed specifically around your human biology and essence."
Kaito turned toward her, his previously intense demeanor softening into a grateful smile. He let out a gentle laugh, his voice warm with sincerity.
"You know, Elysia, you've really done so much for me since joining the captain's crew. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you so much for everything."
Her pink cheeks slightly flushed bright red, eyes sparkling with happiness as she opened her mouth to reply—only to be interrupted abruptly by the loud smack of Kaito eagerly punching his palm.
"Alright! Now I'm getting fired up now!" He yelled excitedly, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet.
"Enough standing around! Sensei, Finn, Elysia, let's get started already!"
Startled by his sudden enthusiasm, Elysia placed a hand to her chest to gather herself, before sighing softly and smiling fondly at him.
"Just… try not to overdo it like you usually do, okay Kaito dear?"