For a few seconds all is quiet as he looks at us with a knowing expression on his face. When nothing happens, he shakes his head then all of a sudden Amelia gets up and strikes at his chest. Her hand stops just before touching him. As he gently brushes her hand away, he says, “As expected, none of you are able to do it. Either way, you have a lot to learn and hopefully you’ll learn them quickly.”

“I don’t want to become a murderer,” Bella says suddenly.

“None of us do,” the blonde girl says, “but sometimes we have no choice. Thankfully, apart from Kane none of us in my team have had to make that choice, but you can’t say for certain that it’ll be the same for yours. The Order does its utmost best to prevent things like that from happening until you’re at least a Wranth, but, like Kane said, sometimes mistakes are made.”

“So, we’ll all have to kill?” Tobi asks.

“No. Chances are none of you will ever have to make that choice even up till when you stop mandatory service as a Protector.”

“Wait, mandatory service?” I interrupt.

“Do you think Protectors have a choice whether they go on missions or not?” Kane asks. “They don’t. No one has that choice until when they reach Wranth level, or when they serve the mandatory two and a half years as Protectors.”

“So, why are you telling us all this?”

“Two reasons. First, to give you some knowledge on what is to come. Second, to make it so that what I say next is more easily accepted. You are all too weak, and we need to begin working to fix that. So, firstly we’ll meet in the Lands every Wednesday for some… practice sessions. Next, I am going to give you all some self-improvement assignments. And lastly, I’ll try to think of a way to get you all working as a team.”

And then he did exactly what he said he would, pointing out to each of us a weakness and giving assignments that could be used to rectify those weaknesses. For me, he focused on my movements.

“You’re used to using Burst, which is alright, but your movements with it are a bit predictable since you usually only use it to move quickly in a particular direction. Plus, you’ve yet to truly master it. So, your first assignment is simple. Master Glide. It’s a technique that uses Burst as a base; you can find out more about it in the library. When we meet next Wednesday, I’ll check your progress with it.”

Once everything is done, he collects our phone numbers and leave, making sure to give us one final reminder that we’ll be meeting next week Wednesday.

“You know,” Tobi says when we’re all alone. “I was originally excited to become a Pre-protector but now I feel a bit scared.”

“I don’t care what he thinks. I’m not scared and I know I have what it takes to become a Ranger,” Amelia declares.

“Why do you want to become a Ranger so bad anyway?” I ask her.

She pauses for a moment before shrugging. “Just because.”

For some reason I don’t believe her, but I don’t challenge her either. After all, it’s her choice whether she wants to tell me or not.

“I think I’m going to go home,” Bella informs us with a voice more subdued than usual. She quickly says goodbye and then leaves.

I frown. Something bout her behaviour seemed off. Was she so scared by what Kane said? Or could she be sick? We Laen have our bodies improved by our Uua so it should be really difficult for one of us to get sick, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In the end I ask Tobi and Han to follow her. Better safe than sorry.

Noah and Amelia leave not long after that. Finally all alone, I close my eyes and think deeply about what Kane had told us. I believe everything he said. After my experience with the Majin, I would have to be a fool not to. Being Laen is undoubtedly dangerous, and the higher ups know it. It’s probably why they place so much emphasis on strength, to make sure that no matter what we are able to protect ourselves.

Some part of me wants to believe that I would be better off without the Laen, that they are putting me in unnecessary danger but I know that is not true. Without them, the Majin would probably have massacred everyone in my school that day in his quest to kill whoever he wanted to. If I weren’t Laen, if I hadn’t found out and delayed him long enough for help to come… only god knows what would have happened, but it definitely wouldn’t have been pretty.

To be honest, things have been pretty easy for me so far - barring the Majin incident - but now that I’m about to move into this new chapter of Laen life, I am not so sure I have what it takes. Still, I guess I have no choice than to try.

I open my eye to find a man in his mid-twenties leaning against a wall and staring at me. He has slightly above average looks, with neatly combed hair and mesmerizing eyes. It takes me less than a second to realize why his eyes caught my attention so easily, they have different colors. The left is blue while the right is green.

He smiles at me as he straightens. “Ian right? I’m Justin. I’m going to be your Mentor.”

“Wait isn’t-”

“Yes, Grand Master Zarel is meant to be your Mentor, but let’s be honest he’s too busy to give you much attention. He’ll check up on you once in a while but that’s probably about it. However, he asked me to handle things for him, at least whenever he’s not available.”

I nod, understanding. Justin is wearing the Laen robes, but the color of his is yellow, a color I have yet to see till date. I begin eliminating the colors I know and in the end I am left with one rank. Waim. He must be a Waim. “So, when are we going to start?”

“Depends on you. We can start now, or during the next summer holiday?”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? Is there any particular reason why the holidays are so special?”

He shakes his head. “No. The reason are parents. Most of them want their kids to be able to receive and focus on a normal education so the started the summer school thing. However for those who can handle it, you can learn while still going to normal school. So, which do you want?”

I think for a moment. “Can we meet twice a week or so? Monday’s and Friday’s?”

He thinks for a moment. “It’ll have to be in the evening then. I have a job so I’ll be busy till then. Maybe by six we can meet in the Court center. Is that alright with you?”

I nod. “It is. So, we’re starting this Friday?”

He nods. “Yes. Here’s my number. Call me before you go to the Metorium.”

He raises a hand and pauses for a second before pulling a piece of paper out of thin air. He hands the paper to me and gives me a small nod before vanishing.