"What are you suggesting Aelius?"
"We have resources he doesn't. And Wepéné is a Rave."
Ardlan saw the surprise in Domitia's eyes, perhaps he did not stand a chance against this superhuman after all.
"We have little time." Domitia retorted.
After a few minutes of back and forth conversation, some more research on Wepéné and watching the remaining otherwise uninteresting matches, the team decided to head back to the trooper.
Ardlan got the spandex suit off from him, he had sustained a red bruise mark from the surge of electricity earlier, but now, it has gone, his skin devoid of scars, marks or anything that could tell that he had fought that day.
He had Maxine generate a white shirt that glistened like gold and a pair of baggy trousers made from threads formed from a precious metal.
"Do you think you could take Wepéné, Aelius?"
There was a silence, and it hung for about a minute. Domitia turned from the pilot area and stared at Ardlan, as if he had spoken abominable words, whereby Aelius still had his back facing Ardlan.
"Hmmm… Now could I? Perhaps I could, perhaps I cannot. Needless hypotheticals get us nowhere. Ardlan, we will pick you up after class tomorrow. Study your cosmic energy books, and identify your weaknesses."
That was the most Ardlan had Aelius speak under a single breath, and it did surprise him.
"Oh, I know my weaknesses alright. The cosmic energy around me would not listen to me, it's like mine doesn't attract that which is in the atmosphere, and I have to try harder with intent."
"A thing with talent, then?" Domitia cut in.
"Mother is a Rave."
"Is that so?" She questioned.
"Can I not simply pay you with the dolons I acquired today? I got you quite the sum."
"Oh, you have us your word, we had an agreement. Wepéné might be a thorn in our path, but it doesn't change our plans, you have to reach the semifinals."
'Or what?' Ardlan had wanted to say, but he couldn't muster the courage. All of his short life so far, since sighting the gold twins in year one, he had always admired them—their beauty and their prowess—a unique blend of existence. To break up his word with them would be grossly disappointing, and he needed them not to see him that way, not to mention that he desperately needed spacefaring tutors.
"Alright, alright, but do not get embarrassed when I forfeit the match with him."
"Of course not, we would understand."
Aelius held up his right hand, his fingers spread widely apart, and then he clenched them. Energy burst momentarily from his fist and in the same turn contained itself around it. It was like his fist was the anchor to it not blaring about
The energy contained around his fist was cosmic energy condensed by his intent, and it gained a property: ray projection. Golden light escaped form the coalescence of energy.
"You can manage this, can't you?" Aelius questioned.
Ardlan released a sigh, and imitated Aelius. He held out his right hand, cosmic energy within it increasing its flow, it was time to surge up his intent. He clenched his fist, and from the clean movement, one could tell that he had rehearsed that simple act for hundreds of times.
Energy flaring green light surged about his fist. Practically, he had done what Aelius had done, however, it wasn't to the same scale. Aelius's energy aura had a width of about his torso, streaming down to his forearm. Ardlan's on the other hand surged at about the width of a newborn's head, a significant disparity. Not only that, his energy aura was duller by comparison.
"Now what do we have here?" Aelius quenched the energy and walked to Ardlan. He stopped once reaching him and bent to observe the surge up close.
"Not particularly bad, not impressive either. You really do no have a talent for this."
Ardlan released another sigh, and the energy on his fist waned until it disappeared completely.
"It is your idea." Domitia interjected.
Soon enough, the three reach Ganymede, now a terraformed colony for carbon-based organisms.
Once an icy radiation-bathed moon, Ganymede was transformed into a thriving self-sustaining world. It was almost Edenic. Visible blue shields hung over tall technologically advanced buildings, and spacecraft drifted here and there. It was a beautiful, peaceful colony, but equally as busy.
Creatures from far as other galaxies roamed beneath the protective domes, various greenery sprouted with so much life, some varsely eccentric, and some mundane.
They descended into the artificial atmosphere of one of the domes and being residents of the world, they were allowed passage into it.
"I can find my way home from here." Ardlan spoke.
"We have no intention of knowing where you livr. We are not friends." Domitia said, her voice having that distant cold edge to it, the one he was always familiar with.
Ardlan didn't think his place with the gold twins had changed, they were colleagues he admired, they probably thought of him less, but he felt a sense of camadarie since he stepping into the ring and seeing them vouch for him.
The city was bustling, creatures in AG boots drifted about and so did machinery, so the Lance-two trooper simply hovering above caught no special attention. The city's dome technology imitated a cool atmosphere with grey skies and a dull red moon.
The hatch came open, and Ardlan drifted out, speedily zooming to one of the multitudinous skyscrapers.
"I still find it difficult to believe he is capable of flight." Domitia expressed her frustration. Aelius simply retained his stoic persona. They zoomed off the dome and much further away within the planet.
Ardlan got to his apartment, and with a face scan, the home's AI recognized him, and let him in.
"Welcome Ardlan. How were lessons today, are you finding classes easier?" It asked in a cheerful youthful womany voice.
The parlour was woody, Laxia was always a fan of the wildlife and thought to have the foremost room give that feel. It was painted a woody brown with a few little trees growing at its corners.
"Oh Ada, they remain exhausting. Nevermind that, search up the most accredited and comprehensive books on Cosmic Energy.