Arlo announced " today's training is over after dinner everyone can go to their homes , everyone has to come to head quarter at 10 am every day "
The long wooden table was cluttered with steaming bowls, mismatched plates, and a lantern that flickered like it was trying to gossip too. Everyone gathered around, exhausted but finally breathing freely after the chaos of the day.
Ryan sat straight as usual, though the faint relaxation in her shoulders betrayed how tired she really was.
Selene slumped into her seat, dramatic as always.
Dwane stabbed his fork into his food like it had personally insulted him.
Xavian looked like he was still trying to figure out how "social interaction" worked.
Lysa had already started eating, not waiting for anyone. Classic.
Dwane stabbed his fork into the roasted vegetables. "I swear Arlo gets a sick amount of joy from watching us suffer."
Lyra smirked. "You mean you suffering. I was doing amazing."
"Yeah, yeah," Dwane groaned. "Some of us weren't hand-crafted by the gods for combat."
Ryan, already halfway through his soup, whispered, "I… thought the training was fine."
The table went silent for two seconds.
Dwane leaned in. "Bro. You got yeeted across the entire hall by a mana construct."
Ryan blinked. "Yes. And I survived. That's the 'fine' part."
Everyone laughed, even Selene, who usually looked like she'd get anxiety from a napkin moving too fast.
Selene pushed her hair behind her ear. "I mean… I thought I'd at least get to practice healing today, but none of you got seriously injured. Which is good! But also… kinda disappointing?"
Lyra raised a brow. "You want us to get hurt?"
Selene buried her face in her hands. "No! I mean—ugh—forget I said anything."
Xavian watched them all, the smallest smile forming. This was… nice.
Lyra nudged him. "What about you? You were zoning out. Thinking about your mystery superpower?"
He shrugged. "Thinking about… everything, honestly. Today was insane. I never thought I'd end up fighting… glowing shadow monsters for training."
Dwane pointed his spoon dramatically. "Welcome to the Order, buddy."
The talk shifted, growing quieter, deeper.
Lyra leaned back, arms crossed. "You guys really wanna talk pasts? Mine's not that crazy. My family runs a weapon-forging dojo. Grew up sparring before I learned to walk. No big tragedy. Just… pressure. If you weren't good enough, you were invisible."
Dwane whistled. "Explains the footwork that made that construct cry."
She smirked. "Damn right."
Dwane stretched his arms behind his head. "I'll go next. My mana weapon thing? Family specialty. Generations of artificers. They wanted me to be the next prodigy. I kinda… wasn't. Took years before I could make even a basic blade."
He stared into his plate.
"Every accomplishment felt like a comparison. Every mistake felt like proof I wasn't enough."
Ryan muttered, "You're strong now."
Dwane flashed a stunned smile. "Thanks, man."
Ryan kept staring into his soup as he talked. "I grew up in a quiet village. People didn't like mana-users. Said we were unpredictable. Dangerous."
He looked up, eyes steady.
"I learned to keep my voice low, my presence smaller, and my power hidden. Casting spells was the only time I felt… visible."
The table softened. Even Lyra didn't break the silence with a joke.
Selene fiddled with her spoon, voice soft as always. "My healing ability made everyone depend on me. Even when I was exhausted. Even when I didn't want to. If someone got hurt, I was responsible. And if someone didn't get healed fast enough… it was my fault, apparently."
Her fingers trembled.
"I joined the Order to learn control. And maybe… learn how to exist without feeling guilty for everything."
Dwane reached over and gently tapped her shoulder. "You're not responsible for the world here. Just for us. And only when you want to be."
Selene nodded slowly.
Finally, all eyes landed on Xavian.
He froze. "Why am I last?"
He groaned but continued.
"My past isn't special. And I don't have some tragic awakening story. I wasn't trained. I wasn't taught. I don't even know what my power is supposed to be." He exhaled. "But… I do know I want to be useful. That's enough for me right now."
Dwane lifted his cup. "Then here's to the most confused powerhouse we've ever met."
Ryan lifted his cup too. "To confusion."
Selene smiled shyly. "To teamwork."
Lyra nodded. "To us."
They clinked their cups, the soft sound sealing something unspoken between them.
For the first time since joining the Tenfold Order, Xavian didn't feel like an outsider.
He felt like part of a squad.