The crowd had faded, the arena's noise now a distant hum in memory. Luna, already healed and her energy bubbling again, stretched lazily in Jimmy's arms. Her fur shimmered under the sun like rippling water.
As Jimmy approached the academy's outer gate, the old gatekeeper—a stout man with greying brows and a half-burned whistle around his neck—nodded toward him with a half-smile.
"That match... that was something else," he said, voice raspy. "Haven't seen one like that in years. Most students just flail with power."
Jimmy paused, smiled wordlessly, and gave a respectful bow of his head. Then he scribbled his name into the registry book.
Once past the threshold, Jimmy's mind wandered. He originally wanted to stay and watch more battles—learn the flow of advanced techniques and see how others fought. But a thought flashed through his mind.
The deposit.
Quickly pulling out his old communicator, he checked the digital ledger. The message flashed:
"Your Coupon has been resistered: 5,000,000 TCoin."
His breath hitched slightly.
He immediately made his way to the regional Whisp Bank, and with Sister Lisa's assistance and identification signature, his dormant account flickered to life.
Lisa gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Cut your coat according to your pocket."
Jimmy smiled and signed:
"Only pockets can make growth."
.........
Luna, snuggled over his shoulder, was already sniffing at street food.
"What now?" Jimmy signed, raising a brow with a laughing buddha smile.
"Eat!" Luna chirped happily through their bond, tail wagging with almost childish joy.
Chuckling, Jimmy stopped by a Whisp-certified medicine shop, grabbing nutrient-packed food capsules—for both of them—and a few healing vials for backup.
They walked to a nearby public park, nearly empty in the late afternoon lull. The sun hung heavy in the sky, casting golden rays across benches and winding brick.
They walked to a nearby public park, nearly empty in the late afternoon lull. The sun hung heavy in the sky, casting golden rays across benches and winding brick paths that shimmered in the light. The quiet buzz of distant cicadas and the occasional chirp of a bird filled the silence between them. Luna trotted a few steps ahead, occasionally pausing to sniff the air or glance back at Jimmy.
A gentle breeze rustled through the tall trees, scattering a few golden leaves across their feet. It was peaceful—almost too peaceful for a day that had been filled with fierce battles, sharp judgment, and emotional exhaustion.
Jimmy chose a quiet spot beneath an old banyan tree, where the branches curved like arms offering shelter. He laid out a soft mat he had rolled in his pack, and they both sat down to eat. Luna pounced happily on her portion of food, munching with a rhythm that made Jimmy crack a soft smile.
For a moment, it felt like the world slowed.
Luna finished her meal and rolled onto the grass, belly full and tail lazily wagging. "Play?" she chirped, her tone hopeful.
Jimmy leaned back on his hands, eyes watching the dappled shadows of leaves above. He looked down at her with a gentle firmness and signed,
"Later. Let's go train first. Fewer people at the Nexus now."
Luna groaned dramatically, flopping onto her side with a drawn-out whimper. "onononn .... Nooo training. Just one day off!"
Jimmy raised an eyebrow. His fingers moved slowly.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't get hurt like that again?"
Those words hung in the air like a pause in a symphony. Luna sat up slowly, her ears folding. Her playfulness faded, replaced with a quiet seriousness. She looked away for a second, then met his gaze with renewed determination.
"...Let's go."
And with that, they rose together and headed toward the Nexus.
...........
The Nexus training halls stretched like a quiet labyrinth of power and memory—each chamber echoing with the echoes of battles, training.
As Jimmy and Luna passed through the arching corridor, soft lights flickered to life, sensing their presence. At the far end, a receptionist looked up from her console. Recognizing Jimmy, she gave a nod and waved them through.
"Training Room 7's free. Enjoy your stay."
Jimmy nodded in thanks and led Luna inside.
The chamber was wide, circular, and open—fitted with reinforced walls that could take the shock of even advanced-level skills. Coloured lights shimmered faintly along the floor, part of the Nexus's protective enchantments.
Jimmy set his bag down quietly, then turned to Luna. "Shadow Clone," he signed.
With no hesitation, Luna focused. Five versions of herself spun into existence around Jimmy, forming a soft ring. Their watery forms quivered slightly with anticipation.
"Now," Jimmy gestured. "Aqua Charge. But only target the clones."
With a grin, Luna sprang. A surge of blue light burst beneath her paws. In a blur of motion, she zipped between the illusions—striking, dispersing, diving again. Water cracked like whips as each clone burst into harmless spray.
Jimmy nodded in approval.
Luna turned, panting slightly, tail wagging. "What next?"
"Movement test," he signed. "Run, towards target. I'll give commands during."
She obeyed.
A steady run—her paws barely making a sound against the floor.
Then Jimmy snapped his fingers and gestured,
"Split mid-run!"
Luna tried—but did not understand. Then jimmy started to explain it to her. Again she did it, but her clone only formed once she slowed.
Jimmy shook his head and quickly drew a diagram on the notepad. Two arcs, one representing her speed path, the other a ripple of energy.
"Split during flow," he signed. "Let your intent move first, body follow. You're overthinking." Luna understands it very easily.
.................
Luna was trying—again and again.
Sometimes, her speed was sharp, her movements clean. Other times, her energy dipped mid-run, or her turns became too wide, making her clones slow or misaligned. She was sweating lightly now, tail flicking in focused frustration. Still, she pressed on.
Jimmy had been watching carefully. He stepped toward the speed meter machine, which was now throwing energy balls across the training lane at irregular intervals.
He looked at Luna and signed, "Run toward it. When the ball comes—split into two."
Luna nodded.
The first attempt: she ran, the ball fired—and she barely managed a split. One of her clones drifted too far, the other didn't appear in time. Still, she kept going.
Fifteen minutes passed in nonstop practice.
Finally, she began executing it cleanly—clones splitting from her body like lines of light. She was now able to split cleanly at Level 4, breaking into one, then two, then four, and even eight shimmering water copies. She tried it in straight lines, sharp turns, and even tight 90-degree angle shifts around obstacles. It wasn't perfect—but it was real progress.
Jimmy raised his hand. "Stop."
Luna halted in front of him, panting.
Jimmy signed, "Now… let's try something harder. Backward clone."
Luna's ears perked in confusion. "On… on what is that?"
Jimmy smiled and stepped to the centre. Using the tip of his shoe, he traced a path in the energy lines on the floor, showing her the idea: her body moving forward, while the clone splits off in the opposite direction—against the flow.
She stared at it, blinking.
Then nodded.
Her first try was rough—all five clones surged forward.
Second try—same result.
Third, fourth, fifth—no change.
But Jimmy didn't criticize. He stood calmly, signing encouragements, correcting angles, pointing to her feet and shoulder balance. "Energy shift must rotate, not just push."
She failed again. Ten times. Twelve. Fourteen.
At the sixteenth try, something changed.
One clone—just one—peeled off from her form and shot backward in a shaky straight line. It didn't last long, but it was enough to count.
Jimmy lit up. "There! That's the start!"
Luna's ears twitched in tired pride.
Jimmy walked up and signed, "Now just refine that. Try it at 90-degree angle."
Luna nodded. For the next 20 minutes, she trained in near silence, only the splash of her steps and clone bursts echoing through the room.
She worked the backward split. Then the angle. Then the star-curve.
Each time, she got a little closer.
Meanwhile, Jimmy sliced up Moon Berries and Chidi Nuts, known for energy and stamina restoration. As Luna ran past during her drills, he tossed pieces into her mouth.
She caught them mid-air, chewed quickly, and pushed on.
Finally, after another 20 minutes of gruelling effort, Luna managed a perfect backward-split clone with a clean 90-degree arc, just as she hit top speed.
Jimmy lifted his hand.
"Rest," he signed. "Five minutes."