Angelo's boots sank into the cool sand as he touched down on the beach, orange energy wings dissolving into fading sparks behind him. The crisp ocean air filled his lungs—salt and cold water mixing with the earthy scent of wet sand. Wind ruffled his dark hair and beard as he took in the vast expanse of water stretching to the horizon.

  "So this is what being at the beach actually feels like," he murmured, something almost like wonder creeping into his usually serious voice.

  Blue materialized beside him in a swirl of azure smoke, his perfect posture making him look oddly formal against the wild backdrop of ocean and sky.

  "It's rather unusual for you to appreciate scenery," Blue observed, adjusting his non-existent glasses. "Though I must concede this particular view offers a rather magnificent tableau worthy of contemplation."

  Red's finally caught up and landed on Angelo's other side. He pointed toward distant figures bobbing on the waves, his predatory grin stretching wide.

  "Would you look at that," he cackled, bouncing on his heels. "These crazy bastards are actually surfing in the middle of winter! Either stupid or hardcore, or my favorite combination: Both!"

  Angelo crossed his arms, sand crunching beneath his boots as he shifted his weight. "What would you know about cold? You've never felt temperature a day in your life."

  "Yeah, but you do," Red jabbed a finger at Angelo's chest, his wild eyes gleaming with mischief. "And right now, your pathetic biological body is already shivering inside that jacket."

  Blue stepped between them with a soft sigh, his scholarly presence somehow dampening their brewing argument.

  "If I might redirect our attention to more productive matters," he interjected, hands clasped formally behind his back. "What specific training methodology do you envision implementing during our time here?"

  Angelo's expression darkened as memories flickered across his face. He kicked a small stone, watching it disappear into the surf.

  "Think back to the Sundering's attack," he said, his voice dropping lower. "Remember that move we used against Dray?"

  Red snorted, making an exaggerated dismissive gesture with both hands. "If by 'used against' you mean 'barely scratched him,' then yeah, I remember. The asshole was still perfectly capable of running away afterward, wasn't he?"

  "That's because it was incomplete," Angelo insisted, jaw tightening as he stared out at the ocean. "I was exhausted, and it was our first attempt at mixing all our energies together." His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. "But after what we did with the Silver Golem, and then creating Mercy's Edge—I can see the potential now."

  Blue stroked his chin thoughtfully, his scholarly demeanor deepening as he considered the proposition.

  "The natural repulsion between our energies does indeed present the most promising avenue for raw power augmentation," he mused, eyes distant with calculation. "The theoretical yield from proper compression and stabilization could be exponentially greater than our previous attempts."

  "Exactly," Angelo nodded sharply. His orange aura flickered to life around him, gentle flames dancing in the sea breeze as his chest puffed out slightly. "So that's what we're working on. Back then with Heaven's Judgment, we didn't properly compress the energies, which compromised its effectiveness."

  He straightened, slicing the air with a decisive gesture as determination hardened his features.

  "No more 'Mixed Energy' attacks," he declared, uncharacteristic enthusiasm bleeding into his typically stern voice. "From now on, we're calling it 'Trinergy'!"

  Red and Blue stared at him in synchronized disbelief, the ocean waves crashing in the sudden silence between them.

  "Hey, I actually dig that name!" Red finally broke the quiet, bouncing on his toes with renewed excitement. "Trinergy! Sounds like we're about to fuck some serious shit up!"

  "The terminology is remarkably fitting," Blue conceded with a slight incline of his head.

  Angelo's energy brightened around him as he nodded. "Then it's decided." His evolved aura erupted fully to life, orange light spilling across the sand like captured sunrise. "The first step is—"

  Red and Blue leaned forward unconsciously, anticipation visible in their identical faces.

  "—you two mastering mixing your energies together."

  Their shoulders slumped in perfect unison.

  "What the actual fuck?" Red exploded, throwing his hands in the air. "We already proved we can do that! Did you forget that evolved terrorist we fucking one-shotted? You called it Twins Missile or some equally lame-ass name!"

  Angelo remained unmoved, his expression hardening. "You did that with my help. When we're mixing all energies together, we each need to contribute equally." He crossed his arms, feet planting wider in the sand. "I can't focus on stabilizing your energies while managing my own part."

  Blue's perfect posture wavered slightly, scholarly confidence giving way to genuine discomfort.

  "I must confess significant concerns about collaborative efforts with Red absent your mediating influence," he admitted, the strain in his usually composed voice unmistakable.

  "That. Right there." Angelo pointed at both of them, sand swirling around his boots as his aura pulsed. "That's the problem. You two are such opposites that you refuse to work together without me forcing you."

  The duplicates exchanged exasperated glances, Red rolling his eyes dramatically while Blue straightened his non-existent tie.

  "It's decided," Angelo declared with finality. "You two will master mixing your energies before we attempt Trinergy as a group."

  Red crossed his arms, leaning into Angelo's personal space with his trademark wild grin. "And what will you be doing, master?" The last word dripped with such exaggerated mockery that even Blue winced.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Angelo ignored the jab, dropping into a deep stretch that made the sand shift beneath him. His joints popped loudly as he warmed up his muscles, moving through practiced motions with mechanical precision.

  "Been a while since I've done this kind of training," he grunted, rolling his shoulders. He glanced at Blue. "Remember that conversation you had with Steven Eagleprince from the ACE facility?"

  Blue's eyebrows lifted slightly. "I see your intended approach. You wish to enhance your Energy Draw Rate—your EDR."

  "Bingo." Angelo pointed at Blue with a hint of approval. "I still remember those tips he gave you." He gestured toward the far end of the beach. "I'll work on that while you two figure out how to play nice together."

  He turned toward the ocean before stopping abruptly. Looking back over his shoulder, his expression darkened.

  "And put some forged energy armor on," he added, eyes locking with Blue's. "You don't want what happened with Jill to repeat itself."

  Blue's gaze dropped to the sand, ancient pain flickering across his scholarly features. "Acknowledged," he replied, the single word carrying a weight of bitter memory.

  Angelo strode away, boots leaving deep prints in the wet sand as he positioned himself midway between the cliff face and the water's edge. He studied the rock wall thoughtfully, arms extended downward as orange energy gathered around his hands.

  "No way this could cause the entire cliff to collapse, right?" he muttered to himself with a shrug. Without waiting for an answer, he fired a steady beam of orange energy diagonally into the ground, gradually carving away at the stone.

  Behind him, Red and Blue stood awkwardly side by side, neither meeting the other's eyes as the ocean breeze filled the reluctant silence between them.

  "So," Red finally drawled, crimson energy dancing between his fingers like living smoke, "wanna flip a coin to see which one of us gets to be in charge of this shitshow?"

  Blue sighed, azure energy gathering around him like morning mist. "Perhaps we could begin with establishing basic parameters without immediately descending into childish power struggles?"

  And so, their training began.

  Back in town, Sol and Neiva stood beneath the shadow of a weathered storefront, talking with a well-dressed stranger who had approached them moments ago. The man's expensive coat seemed out of place among Thunderclap Port's worn buildings and suspicious locals.

  "Nice meeting you, Lavvy," Sol said, his silver-white hair catching the weak sunlight as he flashed his trademark confident smile. "I'm Solomon—Sol to friends. And this is Neiva." He gestured toward his red-haired companion, trying to tone down the stranger's obvious enthusiasm.

  "So," Sol leaned casually against a wooden post, "how exactly can we help you?"

  Lavvy's eyes sparkled with an intensity that didn't quite match his friendly demeanor. Something calculated lurked behind his eager expression.

  Three days earlier, in a cave hideout...

  "So what are you planning to tell them?" Nova had asked, watching Lavvy hunched over his laptop. Her voice dripped with poorly disguised contempt.

  Lavvy hadn't bothered looking up from his screen. "To lure them effectively, you need proper bait. And to find bait..." He tapped his keyboard with smug precision. "You must determine what would be most appetizing."

  Nova rolled her eyes, arms crossed over her chest. "And how exactly are you going to figure that out?"

  "By discovering why they're in that miserable town in the first place." Lavvy's fingers flew across the keys, a webpage about Thunderclap Port's history filling his screen. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a piece of dark chocolate which he began nibbling with disturbing intensity while scanning the information.

  "Mmh, yes, yes... predates Luminia, originally an Infernian settlement..." Lavvy muttered between bites, chocolate slowly disappearing. "Called Thunderclap because of frequent lightning strikes over the horizon, mmh..."

  His teeth worked mechanically against the candy as his eyes darted across the screen. "Main source of income: mining Geodite mountain, selling precious gems, mmh, mmh..."

  As the chocolate dwindled dangerously close to nothing, Ashly had joined her sister, eyebrows raised. "What is he doing?" she whispered.

  Nova's face twisted with disgust. "No idea, but I hate it."

  Without missing a beat, Lavvy pulled another chocolate bar from his coat pocket and continued his disturbing nibbling ritual. "Why would they go there? Mmh... Would it be the ocean? Mmh... hardly. Why travel on foot from Novaria during winter? Low probability, mmh."

  The twins had exchanged uncomfortable glances, unable to look away from the bizarre spectacle.

  "Surely not for the lightning... no, no, mmh." Lavvy's eyes had suddenly widened. "Yes, it becomes clear! The only logical reason would relate to the mining. YES!"

  He'd stood up so abruptly that both girls instinctively backed away.

  "They went to Thunderclap for business relating to the Geodite mines." His finger jabbed the air triumphantly. "That is your bait!"

  Back in the present...

  Lavvy's friendly smile never wavered as he adjusted his expensive coat. "Well, you see, I'm a geologist," he explained, his voice carrying practiced enthusiasm. "I traveled all the way here after reading about the misplaced Geodite deposit in Luminia. Absolutely fascinating geological anomaly!"

  "Oh!" Neiva bounced slightly on her toes, her green eyes widening. "That's such a weird coincidence! We're actually interested in the mines too!"

  "You don't say!" Lavvy's face lit up with carefully measured delight. "Then you'd be perfect tour guides for a lost stranger like me!" He gestured around at the locals hurrying past, deliberately avoiding eye contact with them all. "The townspeople barely acknowledge my existence!"

  Sol ran a hand through his silver hair, suspicion flickering briefly across his face before his easy charm returned. "Well... can't say we're experts. We've only visited once." He shifted his weight, boots scuffing against the cobblestones. "And our business isn't exactly with the mines directly."

  "Oh! Oh..." Lavvy's shoulders slumped, disappointment playing across his features like an actor in a community theater production. "I understand completely." He turned away with exaggerated dejection. "Requesting such a favor from people I've just met—how terribly presumptuous of me. I truly am sorry."

  "It's fine, really! Don't worry about it," Neiva said, tugging at a strand of her bright red hair. Her natural kindness overriding her better judgment. "How about we call you next time we head up to the mines?"

  "You'd do that for me?" Lavvy's voice lifted with practiced hopefulness.

  "Sure, what's the harm?" She shrugged, smiling warmly. "We can even show you the inn where we're staying. We only found it by luck, so it would be mean not to help you out."

  "You're too kind!" Lavvy clasped his hands together, his gratitude so exaggerated it bordered on parody. "If it's not too much trouble, could you show me the inn right away? I fear I might collapse any moment after traveling so long!"

  "Ah... sure," Sol said, unable to completely hide his annoyance at this unexpected detour. He exchanged a subtle look with Neiva. "It's a bit of a walk back, but we have plenty of daylight left."

  They started down the narrow street, weaving between locals who gave them a wide berth. They'd only gone a few steps when Neiva suddenly froze, her eyes locking onto something—or someone—in the distance.

  "Hey, Sol," she said, already backing away, "mind showing him the way without me?"

  "Sure?" Sol's eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "But why?"

  Lavvy watched her with odd intensity, his friendly smile never quite reaching his eyes.

  "I want to check on something real quick," she called, already darting forward through the crowd. "I'll be right back!"

  She moved quickly without actually running, not wanting to draw attention. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she weaved between suspicious townspeople, following the familiar path back to the cliff's edge where they'd parted with Angelo earlier.

  A lone figure stood at the precipice, silhouetted against the vast ocean beyond. Even from behind, there was something instantly recognizable about his wild, unkempt hair and the way he stood—as though communing with the horizon itself.

  "Is that you... Rorck?" Neiva called out, bracing her hands against her knees as she caught her breath.

  The man turned, surprise lifting his eyebrows before his expression melted into that serene smile she remembered. "Ah, Neiva," he said, his voice carrying the quiet power of distant thunder. "Splendid to see you again." Without waiting for her response, he turned back toward the endless blue expanse.

  Neiva paused, thrown off by his odd behavior. After an awkward moment, she stepped up beside him, the wind tousling her red hair as she looked out at the same view.

  "What... what are you doing?" she asked, genuine curiosity coloring her voice.

  Rorck remained perfectly still, only his hair moving in the breeze. His answer was a single word, loaded with meaning she couldn't quite understand:

  "Waiting."