At exactly 8:19 PM, Jimmy stepped into the Whisp Nexus, its faint neon lighting humming with the energy of countless trainers and creatures moving through its halls. He moved with quiet purpose, bypassing the bustling crowd gathered near the communal boards and holographic battle replays. Luna sat perched atop his head like a small child riding her elder's shoulders, casually munching on a bluish-red torus-shaped nut Jimmy had brought just for her—her favourite snack, crisp and tangy with a fruity zing.
He reached the reception terminal and scanned through the available services:
Brain Area Analysis – 100 TCoin
Whisp Health Scan – 100 TCoin
Individual Training Room – 100 TCoin/hour
Dual Training Room – 150 TCoin/hour
Advanced Sim Room – 400 TCoin/hour
Healing & Recovery Pod – 120 TCoin/session
Combat Replay AI Coach – 500 TCoin/hour
1-on-1 Instructor – From 800 TCoin/hour
Whisp Gym Membership – 1500 TCoin/month
Something tugged at Jimmy's intuition, so he first opted for a Brain Area Scan.
The results shocked even the Nexus techs.
Brain Activity Growth: +6% (Unusual)
Several doctors and trainers gathered around, asking questions. He answered only with one line, scribbled quickly on his notepad:
"One year ago."
No one pressed further. They stepped back, and the air around the desk grew quiet
Jimmy sighed and made his way to reserve an Individual Training Room. He paid 100 TCoin, entered the private space, and set Luna down.
The white, sterile room was lined with sensors and padded walls. At the centre stood the Speed Reflex Machine—a tower of rotating arms and launching orbs, designed to train Whisps in high-speed evasion.
Jimmy marked the floor, placed Luna in position, and powered up the machine to Level 1.
Balls shot out slowly at first—around 4 m/s. Luna dodged them like it was a lazy game. Five minutes passed. No fatigue.
"Level 2," Jimmy muttered, adjusting the machine. Balls launched at double the speed—8 m/s. Still, Luna was unfazed. Her motions were fluid, almost bored.
Ten minutes. Still perfect.
"Level 3."
This time, the machine hissed and whirred. A high-velocity orb zipped toward her—and clipped her side. She blinked, surprised, and stumbled.
Jimmy took a step forward, concerned, but Luna raised a paw and spoke softly:
"Don't worry. I can handle it."
She reset herself. For the next twenty minutes, Luna was hit repeatedly in the early minutes—especially the first six—but gradually adapted. Jimmy carefully measured her timing and reaction.
"Looks like her current limit is near 14 m/s," he thought.
But then, she surprised him—again. Mid-session, Luna tapped into her energy reserves, glowing faintly with aqua light. She activated Healing Ray between hits and continued the drill. Her resilience stunned Jimmy.
After that, he gave her a break. He fed her a mix of energizing fruits and nutrient-rich Whisp milk, specially packed from the cafeteria.
Twenty minutes left.
"Level 4," he whispered.
The room dimmed, the machine's hum became a roar, and the orbs blurred.
The first hit was brutal. A hard orb slammed Luna, sending her flying into the padded wall. She thudded down and stayed motionless for a moment.
Jimmy lunged forward, heart thudding.
But Luna slowly rose. "Again," she said, firm this time.
He hesitated but nodded.
This time, she prepped a Water Curtain to absorb the impact.
Jimmy intervened: "No barriers. Use your body. Feel your legs. Sync your mind and reaction."
Luna paused, then nodded seriously.
The machine started again.
First ball grazed her. Second—another graze. Third—she dodged, energy trailing from her form like mist. Fourth—again a clean dodge, but this time, the residue energy hung in the air before dispersing.
Jimmy's eyes widened.
"Is she… leaving afterimages?"
Fifth, sixth, seventh—Luna twisted, slid, leapt. On the ninth attempt, her body wavered, breathing ragged, limbs trembling.
"Stop," Jimmy said. He jogged over, kneeling beside her and helping her to the corner.
"You did good, take a break." he whispered.
......................................
After a five-minute rest, Luna stood again—wobbling slightly but full of determination. She padded back to her marked position. Jimmy nodded and restarted the machine.
The 10th ball launched.
Luna's body vanished in a blur.
Jimmy's eyes widened—a second Luna stood in her place, as real and solid as the original.
He leapt up, nearly shouting with joy. "You did it!"
But Luna, staring at the clone, suddenly panicked. Her ears twitched, and she darted back to him, her voice trembling: "Oon… oon…"—the sound she always made when afraid or confused.
Jimmy caught her in his arms, sat down, and placed her gently on his lap. Stroking her head, he whispered, "It's called a Shadow Clone. It's like a version of your body that you can control. You can make many—if you master it."
Luna's wide eyes lit up with shimmering wonder, like a sky full of stars.
But Jimmy didn't let her linger in awe. "Do it again."
She nodded and closed her eyes, trying to recall the feeling. With a soft hum, a flicker of light formed beside her—and there it was again. Another Luna. Identical. Curious.
Luna stepped around it, poking it lightly. "Oonn… oonn?" she asked, then tilted her head. "What's your name?"
Jimmy chuckled and shook his head. "She's your clone, Luna. She can't speak, but she'll follow any command you give."
Delighted, Luna raised a paw and shouted, "Water Gun!"
The clone obeyed—but the spray was weak, a dribble of water sputtering before the clone fizzled out into mist.
Jimmy knelt beside her again, checking his Codex.
Skill Unlocked: Shadow Clone (Tier 1 - 5/100) | Points Available: 15
He quickly allocated all 15 points into the skill. "Try now."
Luna closed her eyes. This time, not one—but two clones formed on either side of her. Their watery auras shimmered faintly. Jimmy gasped.
She commanded both at once. "Water Gun!"
Twin streams of water launched—short in range, but quick and in sync.
Jimmy stood, smiling with quiet pride. "That's enough for today. Our time's up." He checked the clock—only three minutes remained.
Luna reached for the fruit pouch, licking her lips.
Jimmy sighed. "No more today. Those fruits are expensive, and I'm out of TCoin."
Luna looked disappointed but didn't argue. She simply curled into his lap and pressed her head to his chest.
Jimmy gently held her. "Thank you," he whispered. "You did amazing."
Within seconds, Luna fell asleep—exhausted, but peaceful.
Jimmy summoned her in his mind's garden.
........................................
He came back to his dorm room, the corridor quiet under the soft hum of the night lights. Gently, Jimmy took out Luna and placed her into a bucket of warm water he had filled earlier, watching her tiny body float like a sleepy petal. A few small ripples danced across the surface as she relaxed. Then, using the previous day setup, he applied a gentle stream of electricity, this time voltage is less—just enough to rejuvenate her energy cells without straining her.
After a while, he gave her a small portion of sliced fruit and a few quip nuts, her favourite treat. Luna nibbled sleepily, blinking in half-conscious contentment. Jimmy, still feeling the emotional weight of the day, called Sister Lisa.
The first thing he heard was her stern voice: a mix of worry and frustration."You're calling this late? Jimmy, what have you been doing these days? Not telling us anything, not even a message! Do you know how worried we've been?"
He sat silently, letting her vent. For ten full minutes, he explained everything in message but not telling every thing.
Finally, her voice softened. "Did you open bank account?"
Jimmy nodded and held the pad up to the camera. She smiled faintly and said, "Good. You'll need to visit the bank for activation. Call me that time also."
Jimmy saw the time: late again. Only 6,000 TCoins remained in his account. He exhaled, a quiet sigh escaping.
Turning to Luna, who was now snuggled into the water like a baby jellybean, Jimmy smiled and said gently,"No practice tomorrow. Just rest."
Luna, already half-asleep, gave a soft "Oon..." in response.He wrapped a warm towel around her once she finished and placed her on the pillow next to his bed.