“The camera is ready Professor!” shouted Colette, waving from the ref’s box at the mid-point of the court. A tripod was set up with a large, expensive-looking machine affixed to the top of it.

  “Excellent, thank you, Ms. Severine,” Professor Fawkes smiled at his returning student.

  The “class” had moved out to one of the fields on campus. A classic dirt court usually used for Resonator battles, with fresh chalk outlines laid out only the day prior. It was as hot as it was going to get on this October day. The mild temperatures encouraged some exercise from the student population, and as such there were Maestros and their Resonators wandering about, taking in some fresh air.

  While the teacher dictated instructions to his students, Shouri’s attention fell on his trio.

  “You still need that?” Rebecca asked Pacifica, who was still rocking her jacket.

  “YES,” the otter stated loudly.

  “It’s not even that cold.” The fire element rolled her eyes.

  Pacifica refused to dignify that with a response and instead focused on the court.

  “Ms. Severine, Kaira, if you would,” Professor Fawkes motioned to the opposite end of the court.

  “Yes, Professor.” The pair took their positions: Colette returned to the camera and Kaira walked across the dirt field and took up her position.

  “Miro, I suggest you stand behind Mr. Tomoshibi. Just in case,” advised the professor.

  “Si si!” The Natural had no qualms about sticking close to Shouri.

  “And Mr. Tomoshibi, if you would, as we discussed.”

  Shouri took his place in the Maestro’s box closest to him. His trio of Resonators walked onto the court, facing down Kaira. The Earth element pulled up the dirt from the battlefield surrounding her.

  “You’re good Shouri!” Colette waved from behind the camera.

  “Luce Lunare, Piano,” Shouri called, his hand passing over Taika’s black tuner.

  Taika threw a ball of lunar energy at the target her opposite. The mound of dirt Kaira had summoned held firm.

  “Next!” Colette shouted.

  “Ghiacclio, Piano,” came the next spell.

  Pacifica threw her ice needles which stuck firm in the sand.

  “And Rebecca now!” Colette barked, keeping her focus on the camera.

  “Lanciafiamme, Piano,” was the final spell from Shouri.

  Rebecca thrust her palm out, unleashing a stream of fire in Kaira’s general direction.

  “Alright! That’s good!” Colette shouted.

  “Did you notice it, Miro?” Professor Fawkes asked the Natural.

  “I think? Is hard to tell at this spot?” the fox Natural furrowed his brows, stroking his maw in thought.

  “So, what was the point of this little demonstration?” asked Shouri. It wasn’t much rhythm, but it was still a task he hadn’t expected to do when they had come out here.

  Professor Fawkes motioned for the group to follow. “This way please.”

  The group gathered by the camera that Colette had been strangely fixated on since her last shout. “That doesn’t make sense,” Shouri heard her mutter as they walked up.

  “Professor!” Colette looked up from the camera. “This can’t be right!” she shouted.

  “Seeing is believing Ms. Severine,” the Professor said with a knowing smile.

  “And that is?” Shouri questioned warily.

  He didn’t answer verbally, instead, the man turned the camera towards the rest of the class and played back the clips in order. Nothing looked off to Shouri or his Resonators.

  Miro, however, “Oh!” cried out when he saw Rebecca’s recorded demonstration.

  “I don’t get it…” Pacifica mumbled

  “What is different?” Taika furrowed her brows.

  Rebecca didn’t say anything but squinted her eyes as she studied the recordings closer on the second playback.

  “Here, allow me to do this,” Professor Fawkes stepped forward and played it back again, but this time had it going in slow motion.

  “OH!”

  The result was much more obvious in the slower recording – the magic was appearing when Shouri started calling the modifier, not after.

  “How?” Rebecca asked, her eyes wide with shock.

  “That is à deux; your rhythm is so connected that the Resonator may pull from the Maestro’s intention. Put another way, the deeper you lean into this connection, the faster you will be able to cast spells,” the Professor explained.

  “Woah!” Taika gasped.

  “That’s so cool!” Pacifica exclaimed.

  “We can do that?” Rebecca said with wonder, staring at her hands.

  “What’s the catch?” Shouri’s pointed question drew the attention of his three Resonators.

  Professor Fawkes smiled knowingly allowing the thought to fester for just a moment before the dramatic reveal.

  “The catch,” Shouri repeated. “There’s a reason why this power is ostracized, isn’t there?” he asked. “You and all those doctors out there wouldn’t make such a big deal about it if there wasn’t.”

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  The teacher took another moment before speaking. “Such a strong bond transcends the physical realm. Even if the connection is brief, you’ll share their burden, their fate,” the man waxed poetic. Before Shouri could snap at the poetic professor, he continued. “Should you be connected and they take damage, you will feel their pain.”

  The previous excitement for the new power was suddenly arrested, as the three Resonators fell silent. A whirlwind of consideration swirled about the trio as any number of doomsday scenarios played in their heads.

  “And?”

  But Shouri’s lack of concern parted the skies of doubt in the trio.

  “You said to even get this in the first place I had to be willing to die for them. You really think this warning would change that?” Shouri was serious about that. Even Taika felt as much.

  “Shouri…” Miro looked on in awe – this was a real Maestro; he’d accept no substitute.

  “Are you really not worried about that Shouri?” Colette asked.

  “Colette, you watched me take a claw through my gut for one of my Resonators - how are you even questioning this?” Shouri pointed out.

  The group (minus the Professor and Miro) walked the streets of downtown Lyreann. Afternoon was settling into evening as the sky had gradually turned orange with the passage of time. The chill of night blew through the town, earning long sleeves from the Maestros and their Resonators who shared the streets with the large group.

  “Even without the etude component of à deux, I believe Maestro Shouri’s innate curiosity would push him into experimenting with the phenomenon,” Kaira informed her Maestro.

  “I guess…” Colette mumbled. “I do want to learn more about it myself,” she admitted.

  Shouri turned, halting the group. “Enough to die for Kaira?”

  Colette’s eyes were wide as she stared into his. “I…” she stammered. The rhythm that blazed in his eyes, the yellow had sparks of blue that swirled around within.

  “That’s not a fair question, Maestro Shouri,” Kaira spoke in place of her own. “I am Colette’s shield. I would not wish her harm in my protection of her,” stated the jackal. Her eyes met the three adamant gazes of Shouri’s party. “I believe we do not differ in this opinion,” she studied the other Resonators.

  “We don’t,” Taika spoke up.

  “But if that’s how the game is played so be it,” Pacifica added.

  “Just means we’ll have to be that much stronger,” Rebecca said with a shrug.

  “And there you have it, simple as,” Shouri said with a chuckle.

  “Simple as?! You could get hurt! Or worse!” Colette screeched.

  Shouri shook his head. “Colette, I was planning on being a career hunter before this guild business – one that usually doesn’t end gracefully.” He turned his back to the other Maestro. “This way I’ll never get full of myself and forget what they mean to me,” he stated before continuing forward, his Resonators following behind without a waver in their step.

  Colette’s brows pinched together as the quartet walked away. “What they mean…?” she questioned on a breath. Kaira had no answer for her Maestro, she remained quiet as always.

  “Are you sure about this Sho?” Taika questioned. “I know what we said but…” she trailed off.

  Finally alone for the first time since morning, the girls stood before their Maestro who sat on the couch, their concern worn openly.

  “You heard what I said to Colette, right?” he asked.

  The trio nodded in agreement.

  “Paci?” His gaze fell on the otter.

  She remained quiet for a moment, her head hung. Her lips pursed as she tested her voice, as if hesitant to admit what she felt. “You meant every word,” she confirmed.

  “There you go,” he said. “You can always tell me I’m wrong in public. You don’t just have to blindly agree with whatever I say you know,” Shouri noted.

  “But-!” Three cries of worry earned a sigh from the Maestro.

  He stood. Their fears remained visible. He took the three of them in his arms squeezing them tightly. “Come on, we just spent last night telling each other how much we love one another,” he whispered.

  “We don’t want you to hurt!” Taika cried out.

  “Not you…” Pacifica sniffled.

  “I can’t go back…” Rebecca muttered.

  They held him and each other tightly, trembling with emotion.

  He pushed them off, holding Taika out by her shoulders. “So that’s why we lean into it,” Shouri stated, earning three confused stares. “We make it ours,” he declared in confidence.

  At that moment, his smile was luminous, and the three Resonator’s worry melted away in the brilliance that was their Maestro.