The room was quiet.
Cold air hissed softly from the vent above, brushing along the ceiling and Enix sat on a soft white bed his eyes staring into nothing.
He was thinking.
"I'll fight for humanityyyyyyy!"
The words echoed in his mind again ringing with the strange courage he'd felt in that moment they had come from his mouth but now sitting here alone.
His hands trembled slightly.
"…That was dumb," he muttered.
He closed his eyes.
"I'm weak i can't fight anything i can't even protect myself."
Suddenly the quiet was broken by a.
Creeeak.
The door opened.
Soft footsteps entered the room.
"Enixxxxx how are youuuu!" A small voice sepaks.
Enix looked up blinking.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Miss Geli…"
Geli stood there in her doctor uniform.
She stopped in front of him.
Her eyes narrowed.
She looked at his face eyeing the mark on his cheek.
"…Koru that idiot," she growled under her breath. "You don't hurt kids like that…"
Then she reached up and pulled a single strand of her brown hair it shimmered strangely in the air and started growing green.
Closing her eyes, she whispered.
"Let the pain fade away… and fill the damage with pleasure."
Then she blew the hair gently toward his face.
It floated slowly.
Then burst into sparkling dust just before touching his cheek.
Fsssshhhh.
A warm tingle spread through Enix's face and the sting disappeared.
He gasped.
"Whoa…!"
He reached up and touched the skin smooth.
"It's healed..."
Geli gave a smug smile.
"HeHe~ there that's better."
Then she turned adjusting her clothes.
"I'll be going now," she said. "I need to prepare Nki."
Enix's eyes shot wide.
"Prepare? For what?!"
But Geli had already left the room in a hurry her footsteps fading down the hall.
"HUUUUHHHHHH???" Enix screamed.
Before he could even breathe.
SLAM.
The door burst open again.
Enix jumped.
"What the?!"
It was Aaru.
He walked in casually arms in his pockets.
Enix stared at him with weird expressions.
His mind spiraled.
("Why is he here…? Is he gonna punch me again? Or… burn me to death?")
"Yo," Aaru said with a lazy smirk.
"Why are you here..big bro…" Enix said, sighing heavily.
Aaru raised an eyebrow.
"Why?, are you happy to see me huh? Did you forget me and Koru risked our pretty little faces to save you back in the Judgement Hall?"
Enix gave him the most awkward smile and replied.
"R-right… th-thanks… I'm… very glade… ha… haha…"
Aaru twitched.
"Can't you pretend better than that idiot?!"
He groaned and leaned against the wall beside the bed.
"I'm not here to do comedy with you I'm here to give you some news."
Enix looked at him puzzled.
Aaru crossed his arms.
"The Lords have decided you're staying with us."
"…Huh?" Enix gasped in confusion.
"You've been accepted" Aaru said. "As one of the Devines."
Enix's eyes lit up.
"Wait! really?!"
Aaru nodded.
"Yep welcome to the deviner society."
But then he paused.
"...There's just one thing."
Enix tilted his head.
"What thing?"
Meanwhile.
"WHATTTTT?!"
Nki's scream shook the mirrors.
She stood in the makeup room with Lali who is covering her ears with her hands.
"What do you mean… he and I won't be able to see each other?!"
Lali sighed and crossed her arms.
"Listen Nki" she said patiently. "Normally, you'd have to take a kind of test to join the Deviners but you're skipping it and join directly because of your grandfather."
Nki blinked.
"What...."
"You're being sent to Fukuoka for training." Lali says while looking at her.
Nki froze.
Her lips parted but no sound came out.
"F-Fukuoka…?" she said with a shaky voice.
Lali nodded.
"Yes the high rankers chose that location specifically they believe something there might help you unlock your true potential."
Nki looked down.
Her hands balled into fists.
("Fukuoka.")
("My... grandfather's hometown, i haven't visited there since i was six.")
Lali's voice softened and she says.
"Try to understand Nki It's not just for you. It's for Enix too."
Nki looked up at her.
"Enix will be staying here in Tokyo training inside the Deviner Society so you don't have to worry about him."
Lali continued, "You won't be by his side but your progress there could affect the both of you."
Nki bit her lip.
"But…"
Before she could finish the door burst open.
SLAM.
They both turned.
It was Koru.
Koru stood at the doorway with arms folded across his chest.
"I have a good news," he said, voice casual. "Enix is accepted by the Lords."
Nki blinked.
Her mouth opened slightly and for a moment nothing came out then suddenly her eyes lit up like twin stars.
"Wha—what?! Really?!" she shouted
stepping forward.
Koru nodded.
"Yep."
Lali leaned back with a smirk and shrugged. "Told ya."
Nki clenched her fists tight against her chest, smiling hard but after a second the joy in her expression softened.
Her gaze dropped slightly.
She turned to Lali.
"I understand," she said nodding slowly. "I'll be strong."
Lali looked at her with a smile.
She placed a gentle hand on Nki's head and gave it a light pat.
"That's the good kitty."
Back in the room.
Enix sat silently on the edge of his bed head bowed.
The cold air still whispered through the vents.
He was staring at the floor eyes dull with thought.
Then he whispered.
"…How long will it be?"
Aaru leaning against the wall with his arms crossed speaks and says.
"Who knows.." he replied. "could be months could be years."
Enix didn't answer.
His hands slowly came together fingers intertwined in his lap.
He thought about Nki, Koru, Aaru and other.
They had all saved him again and again.
He tightened his grip.
("I have to be stronger…")
("Better…")
He lifted his head.
Looked straight at Aaru.
"Fine." he said.
Aaru grinned.
"That's my boy!"
WHACK.
His fist smacked gently into Enix's cheek.
"Wha—OWW!" Enix yelped grabbing his face. "Why do you always hit me?!"
Aaru chuckled.
"Because you make such funny faces when I do."
He turned and stretched his arms.
"Alright, enough of the drama get ready."
"Huh?"
Aaru glanced back at him.
"Tomorrow's the last time you'll meet her."
Enix's smile faltered.
His shoulders slumped and his eyes fell to the floor again.
("Last time...")
("Yeah... tomorrow will be the last time she'll see me like this…")
("Weak.")
But he took a breath deep and full.
("Next time… when she meets me again…")
("I'll be....")
Aaru cracked his knuckles.
"Enough emo thoughts come on."
He stepped forward and effortlessly grabbed Enix by the back of his jacket lifting him off the bed with one hand.
"Time to meet your teacher who'll teach you about Cursen Energy."
Enix flailed slightly but smiled through it.
"Alright...Let's go!"