Chapter 40
Role
"Uh... I can try to help. It... it might not work, but I can try," Jasmine said quickly, her voice soft as always and hesitant.
She had just been added to the team as a healer, and the last thing she wanted was to be useless to her teammates. The weight of her new role, coupled with her anxiety over betraying their captain's trust and expectations, clung to her like a wet blanket.
Mia rubbed her forehead, sighing deeply. She wasn't disappointed in Jasmine—she was disappointed in herself for letting her own excitement cloud her judgment. This team was still young, still growing. They were seeds, not trees. They needed time, sunlight, and water in the form of experience.
"Ac—" Mia started to apologize, but a voice cut her off.
It was Leovico.
"Come on, Captain, how can you be so mean to our girl? You know she needs time to grow. You can't be putting too much pressure on her."
He slung an arm around Jasmine's shoulder, smiling with flair.
Jasmine looked like a startled weasel, gently lifting his arm off her with an apologetic glance.
Leovico chuckled, unfazed. "Yeah, my bad, girl. Too close, too quick."
Bryan chimed in, dragging his words, "Yeeaah Miiiaaa, stooop being sooo ruuude."
Leovico pointed at him. "Yes, exactly, Brian! That's what I'm saying, friend."
Bryan immediately snapped, "Dude, the name is Bryan."
"Yeah, Brian. That's what I said," Leovico replied, looking confused.
"Nooo, Bryan. Not Brian." Bryan pointed lazily to himself.
"Friend, I'm literally saying the same thing." Leovico frowned.
"Nooo, you're saying Brian, not Bryan," Bryan repeated, frustration creeping into his tone.
"Brian."
"Bryan."
"...Brian."
"No, Bryyyan."
"...Briiiaaaan."
"Dude, Bryan with a Y, not an I. Bryan—not Brian!"
Leovico threw up his hands. "How can you even hear the difference? It sounds the same!"
"When I say it—Bryan—it's totally different! The author literally wrote it different!"
"Yeah but—wait a minute..." Silence fell as everyone turned to Bryan.
IAM narrowed his eyes. "...The way you speak... Are you... faking it?"
"Whhaaaat? I goooot noo ideaa whaaat you're talkin' aboouuut."
"Hey!"
"No way—"
Just as IAM, Kon, and Leovico were about to erupt, they were interrupted.
"Oh my God, shut up! My blood pressure is rising. I can't stand it. Come on—IAM, Kon, we're going to the health ward," Mia snapped.
The rest blinked in confusion. There's a health ward...? Where?!
Obviously, IAM and Kon already knew.
Bryan grinned. "Whaaaatever youuu saaay, caaap—"
Mia spun on him. "And you—do that shit again, and I'll shove that mop on your head straight up your ass. That's not a threat. It's a promise."
He swallowed. "Yes, ma'am."
.....
The health ward was nestled in the quiet corner of the base near the dome —hidden by intention rather than accident. A gentle hush seemed to blanket the room the moment one stepped inside. Cold light filtered through narrow skylights above, casting soft, angled shadows across the space. The air was cooler than outside, tinged faintly with the clean scent of sterilized linen.
Beds lined the walls, padded and draped with pale green sheets. Some were curtained off with thin, cream-colored veils, giving the illusion of privacy. Cabinets stocked with bandages, salves, and glowing neatly organized with labeled drawers and shelves.
At the far end, a wide table was laid out with instruments. A warded window was open slightly to let in the cool air of early evening.
It was quiet here, sacred in its calm, and deliberately out of time.
IAM sat on the side of one of the beds, Althea's hands on his shoulder. The cool sensation of her healing energy coursed through his veins.
Kon's injuries were already resolved, though the way he'd sustained them earned him a strange look from Althea—one IAM had to endure with a knowing, awkward smile.
Bryan, meanwhile, was transfixed. The pale blonde beauty left him starstruck, his slow speech now replaced by a flustered stutter any time she looked his way.
Kon, the meatball, had developed some resistance to Althea's charm over the years—but even he was fidgeting.
Leovico had also been momentarily stunned by her beauty but quickly recovered. He glanced at Jasmine with an apologetic look: I'm not going to betray you, don't worry.
She returned a confused look: Betray what?
Mia stood before them, explaining calmly, "We're currently on standby. Expect to be called up in the next five to six days—maybe sooner.
We need to be ready. From our sparring and the intel I received, I've come up with a structure. Each of you will have a role. We'll be training under this system until we're confident in it."
Heads nodded around the room—some serious, some excited, and some nervous.
"In the role of Tank is Kon. He's experienced in that position already. His Path is War, and his concept revolves around protecting allies at any cost—even using his own flesh. His main methods include hardened skin and enhanced endurance. He has more but these are the main skills he will be using.
Aggressive Attack will be Bryan. Also of the War Path, but his concept is rooted in the bloodlust and savagery of war. His methods include a form of berserk, increased agility, and enhanced physical prowess. They're powerful but unstable and could backfire due to him being a novice—so only use them when it's truly necessary.
Scout will be Leovico. He's one of the reasons I believe we'll be called up soon. His Earth Path concept revolves around being one with the earth and listening to nature. He uses sensory enhancement—hearing, sight, and perception.
I'll act as Middle Guard. My path is Rule, with a concept focused on binding and enforcing. My methods enhance leadership, focus, and teamwork—I'll be coordinating and giving orders.
Healer is Jasmine. Her path revolves around healing by giving a small part of herself to solve big problems. She sacrifices small items or fragments of herself to mend injuries or realign spirits. She can also enhance abilities.
Cover will be IAM. Your job is to protect Jasmine and offer long-range support. Your Path is Blessed and Cursed Speech. Since you only recently formed your Avien, you don't have a fully developed concept yet—but your abilities should include influencing beings and enhancing equipment, from what I saw from the spar at the end.
You also have a ranged weapon—a gun—so use it to provide backup from a distance while keeping the healer safe."
Mia looked around. "Everyone understand?"
They all nodded.
IAM swallowed hard, sweat trailing down his neck.
When... exactly... do I tell her that I touched a gun for the first time, like, three hours ago...?