Kaede wasn't sure how long they waited, but time seemed to speed by as Kirara engaged her with versation after versation. Kaede was a gamer, not a shopper. Kirara however, was the exact opposite of her, and not in a good way.

  She quickly spoke up as Kirara was about to start talking about her boyfriend, or rather ex boyfriend with her current situation. "So uhm, I get that we were summoo fight as their... Well as their ons."

  Kirara leaned ba her chair. "Yeah, that's all they talk about though. Like, they've got Shogo over there training every day like a big bad monster is ing or something. Why'd you ask."

  Kaede sighed. "It's just, I don't think I'll be able to even defend myself iate I'm in. How am I supposed to fight for a try." She weakly rose her arm, trying and failing to form a fist.

  Kirara had a look of realization. "Oh. You're talking about the exhaustion. Yeah, that's our fault." She smiled sheepishly. "Shogo and I kinda killed a bunch of their people."

  Kyoya smiled. "So that's what happened." His smile didn't reach his eyes though. "They're trying to avoid a repeat situation."

  Kaede had a small look of sho her face. "... I ask how that happened?" Her breathing slightly increased.

  Shogo snorted. "Bunch of weaklings thinking they trol me. Tell me what I and 't do. Damn bitches got it ing."

  Kirara giggled. "Don't mind him, it was his unique skill . He lost trol and rampaged through the mages that summoned him."

  Kaede stared at Shogo who just growled at her. Kaede’s throat tightened as she looked at Shogo, the air around him seeming heavier now. His sharp gaze flicked to her, dario say something. She quickly averted her eyes, a nervous energy prig at the back of her neck. Kirara’s nont giggle didn’t help ease the tension.

  “So… what about you?” Kaede asked, her voice trembling slightly. She directed the question at Kirara, hoping to shift the focus away from Shogo’s simmering anger.

  Kirara perked up, her grin widening as if Kaede had handed her the perfect setup. “Oh, me? Well, my unique skill is . Like, basically, I charm people and manipute their emotions. It’s great for, like, making people do what I want.” She leaned forward, resting her in her palm. “The mages thought they could use me to sway enemy leaders, but turns out…” Her smile turned wicked. “It works just as well on them.”

  Kaede’s stomach ed. “You mean you…?”

  Kirara waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t look so horrified. It’s not like I made them jump off a cliff or anything. I just… vinced a few of them to kill each other. It was funny, really.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement as if reliving the memory, although what no oiced was the slight trembling of her hands.

  Kyoya chuckled softly, his ever-present smile taking on a sharper edge. “I have to admit, watg them scramble to up the mess you two made must have beeertaining.”

  Kaede’s gaze darted betweehree of them, her unease growing. Shogo was still scowling, his muscles taut like a coiled spring. Kirara, oher hand, looked eoo pleased with herself, while Kyoya’s calm demeanor only made him more unnerving.

  “Didn’t they punish you?” Kaede asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Kirara shrugged, flig a strand of hair over her shoulder. “They tried. But what are they gonna do? Kill me? I’m too valuable.” She shot Shogo a sidelong gnce. “Same with him. They need us more than we hem.”

  Shogo snorted, crag his knuckles. “Damn right.”

  Kaede’s hands trembled in her p. She wao believe she was different, that she could find a way to survive without res to violenanipution. But the reality of her situation was sinking in fast. These people weren’t just strahey were dangerous, and she was trapped with them.

  Something else caught her attention. "Unique skills? ...Like a game?"

  Kyoya’s eyebrows shot up at Kaede’s question. “Wait, like a game?” He leaned forward slightly, his exhaustion briefly fotten as curiosity sparked in his face. “You mean the skills and stuff? I was thinking the same thing earlier, but I didn’t want to sound crazy.”

  Kirara rolled her eyes dramatically. “You two are adorable. Of course it’s just like a game.” She smirked, her tone dripping with mockery.

  Kaede frowned, ign Kirara’s jab. “So, everyone here has a unique skill? Like an ability only they use?”

  Kirara nodded, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Yep. It’s the big selling point of us ‘heroes.’ They summon us because we’ve got stuff they don’t. Stuff they ’t replicate. I mean, look at Shogo. Without , he’s just another meathead with anger issues.”

  Shogo shot her a gre, but Kirara just ughed.

  Kaede hesitated, gng at Kyoya. “Do you… know what your skill is yet?”

  Kyoya shook his head, looking a little embarrassed. “No idea. Nobody’s told me anything, and I haven’t felt… different, I guess. Just tired. You?”

  Kaede bit her lip, shaking her head. “No. I don’t even know how to find out.”

  Kirara’s grin turned predatory. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll figure it out soon enough.” She winked.

  Kyoya frowned. “That’s f,” he muttered, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “So how did you guys figure out yours.”

  “I already knew mine from the moment I was summohough I didn't know how lethal just yet.” Kirara said, her nont shrug only making her words more unnerving.

  Kaede’s hands ched into weak fists. The thought of being thrown into bat with no preparation, no knowledge of her abilities, was terrifying. She g Kyoya again, finding a flicker of shared fear in his fad... Excitement. They were both out of their depth here, and it ainfully obvious.

  “So, what if… what if you don’t have a skill?” Kyoya asked hesitantly.

  Shogo let out a bark of ughter, harsh and sharp. “Then you’re dead weight. And dead weight doesn’t st long.”

  Kirara giggled, though her eyes held a flicker of something darker. “Don’t worry too much. Everyone has a skill. It’s just a matter of figuring it out before it es out.” She tilted her head, her voice taking on a syrupy sweetness. “Though whether it’s useful or not… well, that’s a different story.”

  Kaede swallowed hard, her stomach twisting into knots. The room suddenly felt suffog, the weight of their reality pressing down on her. She didn’t know if she could do this—if she could survive this world. But as Kirara’s sharp gaze lingered on her, Kaede realized she didn’t have a choice.

  The room fell silent for a few moments, the tension lingering like a suffog b. Kaede’s hands trembled slightly in her p as she tried to push the fear out of her mind. Before she could say anything, a firm knock came at the door.

  Kirara perked up, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Oh, looks like someone’s here to babysit us.”

  The door opened, revealing Razen. His cold, calg gaze sed the room, lingering momentarily on each of them before he stepped ih the measured poise of someone aced to authority.

  “I trust you’ve had enough time to settle in,” the man said, his voice smooth and filled with artificial warmth. “Now e child, let me finish the ritual."

  “Finally,” Shogo muttered, leaning back with an exaggerated groan. “About time someoold us what the hell’s going on.”

  Razen ignored him and turned his attention to Kaede and Kyoya. “You two. Step forward.”

  Kaede hesitated, her legs frozen ihe sharpness in Razen’s eyes was unnerving, but Kyoya rose from his chair without hesitation, giving her a reassuring gnce as he did. Relutly, she followed his lead.

  “Stand still,” Razen instructed, gesturing for them to remain in pce. He reached into his coat and withdrew a small, translut stohat pulsed faintly with a bluish light. “The summoning ritual pces a holy barrier on your bodies to stabilize you in this world. However, this barrier also prevents you from accessing magicules, and iension, your unique abilities. I will now remove it.”

  Kaede blinked, surprised by how straightforward the expnation was. “That’s it?”

  “Yes,” Razen replied curtly. “It is a simple but necessary procedure.” His gaze turo Shogo and Kirara. Shogo gred bad Kirara chuckled nervously. "e on old man. Like, it was an act."

  With a swift motion, Razen pressed the stone against Kyoya’s forehead. A faint hum filled the room as the stone glowed brighter, the light spreading over Kyoya’s body before fading. He staggered slightly, catg himself against the chair.

  “What… was that?” Kyoya asked, his voice hoarse.

  “The removal of the barrier. Your body is now free to absorb magicules, which will activate your unique skill,” Razen expined before turning to Kaede. “Your turn.”

  Kaede hesitated, her palms cmmy as Razen approached her. The sto cool against her skin, and the same faint hum echoed in her ears. A warmth spread through her chest, making her gasp softly as the light engulfed her. When it faded, she felt… different. Her strength had returned, and it felt as if something within her had finally woken up.

  Razen stepped back, slipping the stone bato his coat. “Now then, state your names, ages, and unique skills. Start with you,” he said, looking at Kyoya.

  Kyoya straightened up, his voice steady despite the lingering exhaustion. “Kyoya Saito. Sixteen. I… My unique skill is called <>. It allows me to create bdes with the... spatial element?”

  Razen’s gaze narrowed slightly, but he nodded. “Sounds promising. And you?”

  Kaede’s throat tightened as all eyes turo her. She felt Kirara’s smirk and Shogo’s impatient scowl b into her back. “Kaede Honjou,” she said softly, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m een years old. And… my unique skill is... Absolute Defe grants me unparalleled defensive capabilities, and makes me immuo most physical and magical attacks. My defense scales with my magicule reserves and automatically redirect ate ining damage.”

  A faint crease appeared on Razen’s otherwise impassive face. “Iing. That is... Oddly specific. How cooperative... Of you.”

  “Great,” Shogo muttered, rolling his eyes. “Are we do?”

  Razen shot him a sharp look that silenced any further ents. “Enough. The two of you will be evaluated during training. Until then, familiarize yourselves with your surroundings. Dismissed.”

  With that, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving a heavy silen his wake.

  Kaede sank bato her chair, her heart pounding. She g Kyoya, who gave her a weak smile.

  Her thoughts though were not in the room. 'Everyone else has a single unique skill, why am I always the odd o?' She shifted her gaze to the blinking i in the er of her view. The i that had appeared the moment Razen removed the holy barrier.