The moment Leo's hand rested on top of Quinn's head; a strange warmth began to seep into him. "I'm going to let a small portion of my Qi enter your body," Leo said evenly. "It won't harm or drain you. Its only purpose is to guide your own energy—to show you how it moves."
Quinn shut his eyes, letting his focus sharpen. A gentle glow seemed to flow from the crown of his head, winding its way down like a tiny sphere of light. It drifted through his chest, down toward his abdomen. There, it seemed to merge with something already inside him.
"I think… the two energies just connected," Quinn murmured.
"Exactly. You are a fast learner —just like I did was in my early days," Leo replied, a hint of approval in his tone.
Keeping his hand in place, Leo began shifting the Qi through Quinn's body—down his arms to his fingertips, then all the way to his toes—showing him how it could be guided.
"When you can control this flow on your own, you'll be able to infuse it into anything you touch, weapons included," Leo explained. "That's how you'll not only activate beast gear like others do but also perform what I call a second unlocking. It doesn't work on every weapon, usually only on higher-grade gear—but when it does, it can awaken what most people think of as a weapon skill.
"Ever wonder why two weapons, made from the exact same beast material, can be completely different? Why one has a skill while the other doesn't? It's because some forgers, without even knowing it, channel Qi into their craft. That Qi creates the second unlocking."
Quinn lost track of time. The sensation of the energy moving inside him was calming—almost meditative. The outside world seemed to vanish, replaced by that quiet, luminous current.
"Alright," Leo said at last, "that's enough for today. I'm going to withdraw my Qi now. It might feel strange, and you may feel a little drained afterward."
A moment later, Quinn felt the connection in his stomach pull apart. The sensation was unsettling—like something being gently drawn upward through his body. It traveled back up to the crown of his head and then, just as suddenly as it had come, the warmth was gone.
"Hold on to that sensation I showed you, from now on you will also know if you are using qi or life energy" Leo said firmly. "Work on it every single day if possible. It won't come overnight—expect at least a year before it becomes second nature. When that day comes, seek me out again, and I'll guide you to the next stage and maybe i will tell you more about my past."
"Also, Quinn, keep this between us, I don't want to make the same mistake as I did in my past.
Thankyou teacher Quinn said with gratitude but before leaving Quin made a request, "Teacher Leo, can I borrow the gauntlets? i wanted to test out this game called powerfighters, so can I do that?
Well you can, Leo went to the wall and took out the gauntlets, and handed it over to Quin, "now go and use it well."
When Quinn returned to his dorm room, he immediately noticed it was empty, there was no sign of Vorden or Peter anywhere.
"It's almost curfew… what could they possibly be doing out this late?" he wondered, a faint frown crossing his face.
The moment Quinn's body hit the mattress, sleep claimed him instantly, the training with Leo had consumed all his energy. He didn't bother changing out of his clothes, simply collapsing on top of the bed like a man too worn down to care.
A little while later, Peter slipped quietly into the room. Without so much as a glance at Quinn, he trudged to his own bed, pulling the quilt over his head. His shoulders trembled faintly beneath the covers.
Not long after, Vorden entered. His gaze first landed on the lump under Peter's blanket, then shifted to Quinn, fast asleep. A small, relieved smile tugged at Vorden's lips.
"So, you made it back… good," he murmured under his breath. "I'm sorry."
That night, all three of them lay in the same room—each wrestling with their own burdens, each unaware of the storms raging inside the others. Sleep came, but their troubles stayed.
---
Meanwhile, the infirmary doors burst open and two military personnel rushed in, carrying a student whose uniform was drenched in blood.
"Make way! This one's in critical condition!" one of them barked.
They carefully laid the injured student onto the bed, and Haley sprang into action without hesitation. She tried again and again to channel her healing ability, but it was no use—the injuries were far too severe. Within moments, it was clear… the student was gone.
With a heavy breath, Haley tapped her wristwatch, bringing up the holographic medical log.
"Recording… Time of death: 21:30 hours. Name: Brandon Richardson, first-year cadet."