As always time waited for no one. A month passed swiftly, yet the air within the Temporary Grimwold Estate filled with the anticipation and quiet heaviness.
Dante Grimwold stood before the mirror, fastening the silver insignia of the Solaria Military onto his uniform. It was came with the letter, a week before.
His departure was set for tomorrow. He will leave this planet to the nearest military camp, yet his thoughts drifted back to the time he had undertaken the Second External Resonance.
The first step was comparatively easier, but the main hurdle was the second step— synchronisation of Psion so that it flows like smooth and seamless stream, without any irregular patterns. That alone took him more than a week.
Then came the sensation that was carved in his memory— folding his Naginata into the lattice. But it is not the physical burden that hit him, it was the mental calculation, checking the resonance each second and tuning it each time there was a variation. And to do all that before you damage the lattice. This put too much mental stress and pressure in him, leaving him tired afterwards.
After all this he completed it, he succeeded in folding his Naginata. Even now, he could feel the faint presence of steel within him. Weapon stored not externally but inside him, inside the lattice folds, hiding under everyone's watch.
Dante exhaled softly, turning his gaze towards Kaios across the hall.
There he sat, cross legged. Around him silver liquid flowing, interchanging from one shape to another. Sometimes from a toy jet to a sword and then to bridge.
Kaios was practising his, sub path of metal path— Path of Alloy. This path alloys manipulations of metal like other sub paths but in higher degree, like merging different ores to create specific alloys, adding different traits. This was the Path he got, after the ER. It is also highly synergetic with the Special attributes of his, it gave him very much freedom to use it more creatively.
As for the special attribute he awakened, it is so diverse that even Dante and Lyra were left speechless. At first when they heard it, they took it lightly because of the limitation but as Kaios mentioned how diversely it can be used, they finally understood the weight of its.
He just awakened the Special Attributes, but its uses can be comparable to that 2nd evolution.
The effort drained him heavily, sweat ran along his jaw, each breath leaving his chest heaving. Yet behind the frustration was a spark, to be better and to use his Gifts on higher potential.
Lyra lingered nearby, her expression tight with worry. She guided him when his rhythm faltered, use her Psion to stabilize his breathing. But even with this, she could not ease the strain etched on the face of Kaios.
"You're pushing too hard," she said, brushing strands of his sweat soked red hair from his forehead. "Alloys are not about purity, it is about the balance."
"Don't concern on proportions, just note what they become."
Kaios then focused on the shifted metals infront of him, "Then I will try everything, and the find the ones that will be of my help."
The words of Kaios hung in the air but before, Lyra could reply to it, they saw a gigantic shadow covering the lawn of their Estate.
The shadow stretched across the Estate, blocking the rays of afternoon sun. The trio came outside and gaze towards the shadow, it is a ship far larger than the one they rode on their way to here from Vaeltris.
As they are looking at it, the gate of its opened. From that a figure descended, he landed on the ground effortlessly. He was wearing the uniform same as Dante, but adorned with a batch that showed his authority.
"Dante Grimwold, I am corporal Corvin Voss. I am here to escort you to the ", the figure said.
As Dante heard it he straightened then put his left fist on his right chest and replied, "Yes, sir. I am ready to depart."
Corporal Voss nodded and flew towards the ship, "You have 10 minutes, after that we will leave to DS202 the nearest border."
As he was flying a thought crossed on his mind, with slight envy.
As sir Raion and sergant told this young man sure is, if it was me...alas ...
Once Voss disappeared into the shadow of the massive ship, the air grew heavier.
Dante stood silent for a moment, his eyes lingering slightly on the insignia and the 10 minute period. After that he will depart for the military leaving his son and wife Lyra.
Kaios looked at him, cleaning his dripping sweat, "Don't worry Dad, I will protect mom in your stead." He said with a large smile.
Dante laughed at the reply of Kaios, but his crimson eye softened, there is a slight pride in his eye, seeing his son grown up like that.
Smaack..
A smacked sound echoed in the lawn. It is none other than Lyra smacking the back of the head of Kaios.
"What are you talking about brat? I also reached the Stage 10.", she said.
That's right, it was also one of the things that happened in the span of month. Lyra also reached the Peak of Awakening Realm.
"Oww Mom, now that you are in the same rank as me, it hurts." Kaios said while rubbing the place Lyra smacked.
"It's not a big deal, you brat will again adapt to it. So i have to target different part each time."
Seeing this small bickering between them, dante smiled softly. He sure will miss this in the camp.
"Okay, enough you two, I will now leave." Kaios said while stopping both of them.
Hearing this Lyra face downed in concern. "Dante..."
"Lyra, we already talked about this, don't think so much about it.", Dante assured her as she was so worried about him due to the increase hostility.
"O..okay. And keep all things that I packed for you in the Space Storage.", she said.
"Don't worry about that." Then he went ahead hugged her and kissed her for the last time.
In the side Kaios seeing it smiled cheekily, "Hehehe... So lovey dovey."
Hearing this Lyra broke out from that romantic moment, and turned at Kaios with annoyed expression.
"You brat, you need another smack."
The moment Kaios heard it, he leaped backwards from his position and stood in a caution.
Dante shook his head, looking at the constant bickering of these two.
"Okay.. Goodbye Lyra, good bye Kaios." Dante said before leaping, and flying towards the massive shadow above him.
"Good bye Dad. Come stronger otherwise I will surpass you." Kaios waved upwards to Dante from the ground.
In the mean time, Dante was submerged with ship and the massive started to move.
It disappeared from their view and atmosphere leaving only strong gust of wind, and sonic booms.
With Dante left, only Lyra and Kaios left in the massive lawn of the Estate. They both stood their some second.
After some time Lyra turned to Kaios, "Kaios, let's go to...."
Her words stopped, face paled. There noone with her, Kaios suddenly disappeared around him without she knowing.
She started to search him distressfully, her senses flared, more than the usual, Psion strained. And just as she about to take extreme action, a voice echoed in her ears.
"Don't worry girl, Kaios is safe. I took him for the trial I said beforehand."
As Lyra heard this voice, she heaved a sigh of relief.
Thank God ...
She recognised the voice, its the voice of the Enforcer. From it she knew there was no harm done to Kaios.
"Also..." The voice spoke again after waiting for brief second.
"Be ready for your trial, you already reached the threshold. I was just delaying it for that young man."
Saying this the voice fade, only leaving Lyra, worrying about her future hurdle.