Skysin Rillem-

Before we knew it, a week had passed.

Strolling in the vast forest of the Nova region, master was leading us to some beasts. We approached a wide field, the grass is nearly my height, just below my chest. Being an indistinct yellow color, as if it was close to perishing soon.

We all ceased movement; master perceived a sleuth of monsters just thirty meters ahead, at least five of them in total. Breuds; large bear like creatures, wide bodies with purple fur, regular sized snouts and large fangs. Their eyes are a dark blue and had small ears, along with tiny puffy tails.

Master turned to us, "you brats are going to fight against these beasts, so remember your training. Do NOT, take them lightly. You'll have until the sun sets, understood?" He instructed.

We all nodded, then allowed our vital to flow through our bodies releasing aura. "Go," master spoke.

Prepared for battle, we dashed towards the towering beasts...

As the four of us darted to the colossal beasts. Crim and I had accelerated, confronting the biggest individual monster, standing near at least ten feet high. The Breud became alarmed, lifting its giant paw with black razor-sharp claws, and beard its callous fangs. While we closed the interval by the second, it made a thunderous roar, notifying its underlings.

Thus, the others turned to our direction as well, erecting onto their hind legs. Just as Crim and I got into striking distance of the monster, the beast swung its ferocious paw. In haste, we avoided the attack, jumping back a few feet. Recalling counters master taught us, in a split second, we ran to it once more, slamming our fists into its furry stomach and launching it into the other four beasts.

As it collided, Elaine used her telekinesis, smothering the five giant bears together. Whilst Nirvana on the far side of our right, casted a tornado burning in frantic blazes onto the group of monsters.

They were sent high into the air, with bits of fire scorching their purple fur as smoke trailed off them. All at once, Crim encased his arms in dark tangerine-colored phoenix blazes, hurling a flurry of punches, hitting them with multiple fireballs. Then, I took initiative, using my spatial kinesis to control the gravity, causing the five to impact heavily onto ground with a loud boom!

After that transpired, we all stood near each other, patiently waiting for the smoke and dust to disappear. At that very time, the savage bears all fiercely charged towards us, roaring in rage. Wanting to assess our strength from what master taught us, me and Crim ran onwards to the group of carnivores. All while Elaine and Nirvana ran along the sides to surround them.

As I increased my speed, the adrenaline took over me. At that point, not being able to retain control over myself, I released a battle cry, feeling as if my blood was vigorously electrified from the battle.

Running towards the monster, I used the braideferm technique, releasing my cold aura throughout my body into my spline. Not wavering from the hostile beasts, I hurdled right at the leading bear, colliding my boot dead onto its snout. Next, I shot the frigid aura through my back into my foot, increasing the power drastically.

The bear had howled in pain as its head was knocked backwards. But unexpectedly, I noticed an incoming paw larger than my size, aimed at me. Taking in every movement that was made, I maneuvered my body, spinning to the left of the beast while dodging the attack.

Furthermore, Crim contributed, landing his fist onto the side of the bears face that attacked me, leaving it dazed. Then, Crim performed a devastating combo. Leading in with a sidekick to its stomach, punching its waist, then finishing with an upper cut directly under its jaw, ejecting it away from us.

Concurrently, two bears pounced at us with one catapulting its paw at Crim. He lifted his arms blocking the attack but was casted afar from me. Then the two beasts united, rapidly slashing their jagged claws at me while I evaded their deadly attacks.

As I did so, Nirvana appeared, becoming airborne above one of them. Diving to it, she plunged her foot on its head, smashing it onto the ground under. Which allowed me to keep my attention on the alternative monster.

Just as the beast swung once more, I weaved the attack ducking under its paw, then used my arms to lift myself off the ground, shooting my feet under its jaw. Even though it was heavily damaged, the bear didn't falter its movements, going in for a lethal bite.

In the blink of an eye, Elaine revealed herself, upper cutting its mouth closed shut. All while snapping its head backwards, then she released a roundhouse kick, shooting it further back.

Crim reappeared in front of us finishing it off. With a wave of his hand, chaotic white flames emerged from his palm, shooting a powerful blaze onto the bear. Searing the beast until it was completely disintegrated.

With this taking place, I came to notice one of the beasts was attempting to grapple Elaine. "Elaine, behind you!" I called out, lowering my stance preparing to run towards her. Hastily, I strenuously dashed to Elaine, pushing her to the left as I got tackled by the massive breud.

"Skysin! Hold on!" Elaine cried out. She raised her hand wielding her telekinesis and lifted the giant monster from me.

I took a deep breath, then exhaled, watching the frigid air become visible from my mouth. With a simple wave of my arm, glacial winds made an appearance, freezing the bear solid in crystal ice. As I stood up from the ground, Nirvana hurriedly smashed the crystal beast with her fist, shattering it into multiple tiny fragments.

As the other three bears contemplated this. The leader roared scarcely, signaling them to retreat. Hence, the bears vanished into the autumn forest, only to hear faint solemn bellows as the beasts receded.

Master walked out of the woodlot, clapping his hands, "I have to say, you kids are terrifyingly talented, and your teamwork was good as well. Congrats on not dying."

I placed my arms behind my head, "well, you're the one who taught us master."

"Yes, but regardless of that…good work. It looks like you're all gaining more understanding of the technique. We can head back home now… I'm getting sleepy anyway," master smiled, rotating while waving his hand.

As we strolled through the broad woods as the branches loomed over the setting sun, "y'know master - even though you sleep a lot, it doesn't seem like you get much," I pointed out, observing the deep, darkened bags under his hazel eyes.

Master scoffed as we giggled, "shut it child. You wouldn't even understand boy..." Then with a moment of silence, only hearing the abundant wildlife in the forest. "You kids kids know of the crystal phases, right?" Master asked unexpectedly. Me, Crim, and Elaine looked at each other, bemused by his question, but we all nodded in response.

Nirvana raised her hand excitedly, "oh-oh, yeah…my dad used to be a challenger!"

"What do you know about it?" Master queried her.

Nirvana sat her hand on her hot pink hair, being unsure, "isn't it something that challengers came up with to sort of differentiate their strengths in vital?"

"Haha, you're on the right page, but there's more to it though," Alzar chuckled.

"What exactly do you mean, master?" Elaine asked.

"You see, people came up with this sort of structure not just for themselves, but to also determine if they can go against the beast as well." He then continued to explain as we became intrigued, "as you all know, there are ten phases of the crystal. With the lowest starting from talc, gypsum, calcite, fluorite, apatite, feldspar, quartz, along with topaz, corundum, and diamond being the highest."

We all looked at master, not grasping his explanation, "but how exactly can they compare their selves against them?" I questioned him

"Haha, yes - yes, I'm getting there," Master chuckled. "Thousands of years ago, when the challengers were just starting to form, they gave the beasts ten stages, but they're fairly higher than ours. The beasts rank from the lowest being combatant, tyro, warrior, superior, specialist, apex, dragon, all with calamity, demi, and deity happen to be the most dangerous. The challengers use this to determine how strong they are against a beast, such as the ones you four fought. It takes about maybe three talc phases to kill a peak tyro ranked. Monsters are just naturally stronger and durable than us."

Elaine's cinnamon eyes began to gleam with curiousness, "how strong is a deity exactly?"

"At best, they're able to destroy multiple planets, all the way to entire solar systems," He interpreted.

Just as I began to wonder if there was anything stronger, "but…that's not the end of the crystal phases, there's actually three more to my knowledge." Master added, as if he read my mind.

As the house came into view, "what are the other three???" Nirvana asked, pulling the sleeve of his robe.

"The other three is ruby being the lowest, jadeite, and blue diamond being the highest. When you get to these phases - if ever possible, you're no longer known as human, but closer to be that of a daemon, basically a god. Also, the difference in power with these three from the regular diamond phase is astronomical. Plus, blue diamond is really in a league of its own from stories I heard. Being able to take over multiple galaxies, possibly even universes. It's a true force to be reckon with… although even getting to diamond stage could take many decades or centuries, it all depends on your own determination and talent," Master happily expressed turning to us.

As master opened the doors to the inside of the house, "you brats should be in the mesial of the gypsum phase because of your talent. The beasts you fought were in the tyro rank."

While we entered the house, "what phase are you in master?" I asked remembering how he handled us without breaking a sweat. Besides, he's skinny as a twig.

"I'm in the peak of corundum...but unfortunately, I'm too lazy to train now," Alzar shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

I looked at the man's baggy hazel eyes, "heh - I'm not surprised. It looks like you have endless nightmares master."

The man slowly walked to me and chopped the top of my head, "OW!"

"Shut it brat, just for what you said…you'll be washing the dishes," Alzar stated, pointing at the ludicrous number of pots and pans.

"Awe come onn, I was joking master!" I hollered pulling his robe.

"It was just a joke? Too bad, get those dishes done boy. Unless you want another chop to the head," master mocked me, brandishing that dangerous hand once more.

Getting anxious, I motioned my hands, telling him to stop.

"Pffft...good luck with that Sin," Nirvana patted my head while restraining her laughter. I squinted my eyes and poked my tongue out as she laughed at my face.

At that time, all of them went upstairs to rest.

*****

While I was cleaning, I heard footsteps above me on the second floor, then turned around to see Elaine in her white nightgown, walking towards me. "Oh hey, what're you doing up?" I asked, washing a dirty pan with a sponge.

"Nothing...just couldn't sleep, so I figured I'd come downstairs to check on you," Elaine replied, placing her back on the counter.

"Ohh, so miss princess was worried about me?" I raised a brow jesting her. Elaine blushed stumbling on her words, "we-well, I wouldn't necessarily say worried."

I chuckled as she continued trying to find words "Hahaha, I'm just messing with you Elaine, but why can't you sleep?"

"I'm not really sure honestly, just one of those nights I guess."

"Ever tried counting sheep? It helps me."

"Hahaha, I'll try that some time Sin."

After a few seconds of quietude, with only the last dish being earshot as I scrubbed the plate with a soft green sponge, "hey Sin, do you remember what you had asked me? About how I learned to fight?" Elaine quietly asked as she lightly fidgeted.

I was a bit surprised, but I turned to Elaine, "uh...yeah, I do."

Elaine grew quiet once more, but began to vaguely speak up, "we-well...I learned from my father and mother, plus an institute when I was five, they taught lots of children many techniques in fighting. It was very interesting, as well as fun..." Elaine showed a small smile, but it gradually altered into a deep frown, "but while I was there, I had gotten into a fight with another girl...and... I crippled her."

Elaine opened her hands and looked down, blankly staring at her palms, "I-I didn't mean to hurt her, to cripple her. The instructors told me that it wasn't my fault, but I know it was. And that girl wouldn't be able to function like a normal person again. I stayed there for a few more months, but none of the kids I made friends with wouldn't speak to me, even bat an eye. I was practically an outsider, like some type of monster in their opinions...so, I decided to leave after another month..."

Elaine clasped her hands, looking down at the hardwood floor with a disheartened expression, "I-I understand if you'll look at me differently, Skysin..."

So, this explains why Elaine seems a bit awkward at times, or shy. I'm really stunned that she had crippled someone. But that's not Elaine, and I'm sure she wouldn't have done it on purpose. I showed a genuine smile, wrapping an arm around Elaine to give her a hug, "I won't look at you any differently Elaine. That was the past, and this is the present. I'm sure - no, I'm positive, that you didn't mean to harm her, Elaine."

Elaine made a passionate smile as her beautiful cinnamon eyes gazed into mine. She looked as if she was attempting to say something, having her mouth open, but only nodded. "Thank you Skysin, really, I appreciate it," Elaine smiled walking to the stairs. Shortly after, we said goodnight to each other as we headed to our rooms.

*****