Most Potential

The hour of discussion had come to an end. Now, it was time for them to acquire their powers. Atop the castle, ten master mages assembled around the Lost Ones to oversee their power acquisition. Jacob was beside himself with anticipation, trembling with excitement, much like a child.

"Oh my God, I can't wait, guys!"

"You shouldn't," Yanis whispered, "You're committing two years here with the risk of dying... I don't even know why I agreed..."

"A moment of silence, please. The procedure is about to begin."

Charnald stepped back from the circle after uttering those words, allowing the group of master mages to initiate the power transfer. One of the ten from the esteemed committee of wizards stepped forward, standing tall and looking each of them in the eyes.

"Young ones, your former life ends now."

Green magical runes and symbols began to emerge from the ground at the feet of the Lost Ones, signifying the start of the magical procedure.

"Your souls will be blessed with the gift of powers... It will be up to you to master them and use them wisely..."

Once he finished addressing the Lost Ones, the man gave them a respectful bow before stepping out of the perimeter. The many layers of magical symbols that had appeared around the teens began wrapping around them. Except for Gwendoline, her symbols seemed faint, almost non-existent.

Why don't I feel anything? Is this normal?

Seconds passed to the cheers of the peasants who were witnessing the ascension of heroes from another realm. The magical spell faded away, dissipating like ash in the blue sky. Dasra, driven by curiosity, approached the Lost Ones.

"So? Did you get your powers?"

"Yeah... It's the wildest thing I've ever experienced!" Rogue exclaimed.

"Same here, it was mind-blowing! Can't wait to use them," Jacob chimed in.

Alora moved closer to her new friend, Gwendoline, gently touching her shoulder and smiling kindly.

"So, what's your power?"

"Well... It's hard to explain why... but it's emotions..."

Everyone shot glances towards Gwendoline, especially Yanis who seemed quite intrigued by this revelation.

"Emotions?"

"Yes, the traits of my emotions are transformed into power, and each has its own special technique."

"So you specialize in emotions?" Jacob inquired.

"It seems so... Yet, in everyday life, I struggle to control them, if you catch my drift..."

Yanis, realizing the gravity of what she implied, looked at Gwendoline with sympathetic eyes, drawing nearer.

"Tell me, Gwendoline?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you suffer from depression?"

"Don't worry about me..."

Charnald abruptly interrupted the conversation, inadvertently cutting off Gwendoline and Yanis' exchange.

"Congratulations! You've acquired your powers!"

"Thank you, you've made our lives more thrilling!" Alora exclaimed, grinning triumphantly.

"So, you're happy knowing you might die?" Yanis rebuked.

"Of course not! But what I'm saying is, now we all have a purpose!"

"I had a purpose on Earth, so this means nothing to me."

"And what was that?"

"You wouldn't want to know..."

"Oh, give it up, haha!"

Alora uttered these words playfully, trying to lighten up Yanis' mood. However, deep down, Yanis harbored a past that no sane person could ever imagine.

Charnald soon rejoined the Lost Ones, announcing the final step before their adventure began:

"Now that this is done, it's time for the last step! Your residence."

"We get a residence?!" Jacob exclaimed.

"Yes! And there, you'll meet your power training mistress."

"Awesome!"

*

On the path to the residence, the Lost Ones walked alongside Charnald amidst a rush of ecstatic peasants who cleared a path for them. After all, having seen the Lost Ones, they felt as if they had already been saved.

Trailing the group, among the teenagers, Alora drew close to Gwendoline, "Are you alright, Gwendoline? Everything okay?"

"Yes, and no."

"Listen, regardless of what you've experienced on Earth, know that I'll always stand by you. It's quite likely that you've been bullied by some wretched person... I want you to understand that I'm not the type to mock or judge others. If you ever want to open up, I'm here."

"Why would you do that? We didn't even know each other before all this."

Alora chuckled. "You're cautious, I see! Simply because I already see you as my best friend, Gwendoline. We're going to be together for the next two years, so it's best for all of us to start off right, don't you think?"

"You sure don't waste time," Gwendoline replied.

As they continued to walk, lagging behind the group, Alora drew Gwendoline into a warm embrace. Even though mere moments had passed since their meeting, a certain mutual understanding connected them, giving Gwendoline more comfort than words could express.

"Thank you..."

"No need. You needed it, didn't you?"

"Yes… It feels good..."

Yanis, overhearing their conversation, turned slowly towards the two girls, surprised at the sight.

"What are you two up to?"

"I'm hugging her."

"I can see that. But why tho?"

"Because Gwendoline is my friend!"

Yanis simply smiled, a deep, compassionate smile for Gwendoline.

"Jealous?"

"Not at all."

Their journey ended after a short stroll through the jubilant village. Now they stood in the wealthy district, surrounded by lavish homes guarded by soldiers and knights. Their residence was similarly protected by these towering figures. In unison, with evident pride, they proclaimed, "Welcome, young Lost Ones!"

The teens were warmly received by the guards who opened the gates to their new home. On seeing it, they were utterly astounded by its size: a splendid three-story mansion with a large training ground and a lush garden scattered with fountains, fruit trees, and greenery. In essence, it was the perfect home for everyone. When Rogue spoke up, he was the first to voice his feelings, "Wait! We're living here?!"

"Indeed, this is where you will stay awaiting your missions and train," replied Charnald.

"I see..."

"Well, let's not waste any more time. Let's enter!" They all entered, the door closing behind them.

"I can't wait to see our rooms!" Alora exclaimed, filled with excitement.

"So, can we take a tour?" asked Jacob.

"That will come later. For now, we'll discuss the final points regarding the power system."

"Alright!"

As they ventured into the seemingly endless garden, the Lost Ones were intrigued to find a beautiful woman with long, sun-kissed black hair, lounging peacefully in a hammock.

"Who's she?" Jacob inquired.

"That is Jaïka, she will be your magic and personal powers instructor."

Waking to their presence, she gracefully left her hammock, revealing her enigmatic attire: a slightly open three-piece suit. Every aspect of her attire seemed meticulously tailored, giving her an air of mysterious allure. The vest accentuated her figure while the jacket, with its sleeves neatly rolled up, added a touch of boldness and elegance. A subtle silver brooch gleamed at her white satin shirt's collar, adding sparkle to an already sophisticated ensemble. Her quality leather shoes matched perfectly, showcasing her attention to detail and aesthetics.

"So, you're the Lost Ones... I'm delighted to meet you."

Gwendoline's eyes traveled up and down Jaïka's attire. Frowning slightly and hand on her chin, a question formed in her mind:

Given that Trillia appears to be a fantastical world, why does she wear modern clothing? Could it be that there are countries in this world more advanced than this so-called kingdom?

The teens were entranced by Jaïka's melodious and angelic voice, ringing in their ears like the echo of a siren using her voice to deceive men.

"Good morning, madam. I'm thrilled to have you with us on this adventure! I'm Jacob Kalis, the greatest video gamer in my world!"

"Since when did you become such a brown-noser?" Yanis shot back.

"What's wrong with showing a little politeness?"

As they playfully bickered among themselves, Jaïka approached Gwendoline with curiosity, intrigued by her unexpected presence.

"However, no one mentioned another girl in the group. Who is she?"

"She's from the same planet as the Lost Ones. Except she took her own life, and we're not quite sure how she managed to slip into our universe. Her name is Gwendoline Bourcier."

"Gwendoline Bourcier… you say."

When Jaïka's violet eyes met Gwendoline's, she regarded them with special attention. Then, with a gentle and tender gesture, she placed her hand on Gwendoline's cheek, comforting her.

"Why did you end your life, dear? Were the humans in your world too cruel to you?"

"Uh... Yes… Way too much."

"I'm so sorry for you…"

With gentleness, she held Gwendoline's face in her hands, their gaze intense. Jaïka's eyes seemed to be captivated by Gwendoline's soul, scrutinizing her meticulously.

"I will take care of you, my little Gwendoline."

"Ok, maybe this is going a bit too far?" Jacob commented awkwardly.

Jaïka, amused by Jacob's comment, gifted him with a radiant smile.

"Well... Follow me, let's test your powers, if you don't mind."

*

From the training ground, the Lost Ones were now attentive to Charnald and Jaïka's words. Jacob was so eager to use his powers he was shaking. Yanis was the only calm and disciplined one, just like Gwendoline, who still harbored some doubts.

"I believe Charnald has explained your personal powers. However, remember, these powers are unique to each individual. They are rare and regulated by the resident country's government. Understand that each power has its own limitations, primarily the use of mana. No individual can escape this, regardless of their power, type, form, race, or quantity."

"As a mage, I don't have a personal power. That's why many train in magic to make up for this. But the general limitation still applies: magical spells consume mana."

Charnald pulled out a thick tome from his jacket pocket and handed it to Gwendoline.

"This is for you."

"Thank you, Charnald."

"This grimoire contains all types of magic in this world and its spells. Feel free to learn whatever spells intrigue you."

Charnald stepped back next to Jaïka, who was about to elaborate on the power system of Trillia, their planet.

"Please note, the use of mana, magic, and personal powers is prohibited in the city and designated areas across this world's three countries. To avoid confusion, I won't go into details, but if you ever visit Argha, know that the use of magic and powers is strictly regulated by the government unless you have a permit. They are allowed only for self-defense or protection missions serving the population."

"That's interesting. I didn't expect that. In animes, overpowered characters often use their powers for no reason, often wreaking havoc."

"Excuse me? What's an 'anime'? I'm not quite following."

"Never mind… Please continue, Madam Jaïka."

"Very well. I will now show you a demonstration of my powers, and you will understand why I will be your instructor…"

In an instant, the wooden training dummy was struck by invisible forces, casting the Lost Ones into disbelief and astonishment. Except for Yanis, who remained, as ever, unflappable.

"What just happened?!" Alora exclaimed.

"Man, that dummy just got zapped!" Jacob joked.

"My power relies on the system of luck and misfortune."

"Huh? What does that have to do with the mannequin?"

"Well, it was unlucky and was hit by axioms."

"Axioms? Is that some kind of atom that only exists in this world?"

Seeing Jacob's confusion about the nature of her power, Jaïka simply smiled.

"It's more complex than that, but to put it simply, it was unlucky."

Then, activating her power again, the mannequin reassembled itself with these new unseen shapes that seemed invincible. The Lost Ones were about to showcase their full potential.

"Alright, who wants to start?"

"Me!" shouted Jacob, raising his hand.

"You may begin."

Jaïka stepped back to give him room, allowing the teen to unleash his power. Jacob stood a few meters from the mannequin, wearing an enthusiastic grin.

"Ahah, let's do this!"

Taking a deep breath, he activated his power by calling the name of an unknown entity, marking the start of his demonstration.

"Igdifir! Come forth!"

Jacob extended his hand with a swift gesture, summoning a creature with demonic attributes. Its head bore the primary colors of the four natural elements. Displaying its power through yellowish muscles and a warrior soul marked in red, it proudly wore a simple white cloth around its waist. Its glowing, fiery eyes dominated the scene, revealing unshakeable will and determination.

"It really works!"

While Jacob seemed thrilled by Igdifir's presence, the others were puzzled by the true nature of his power. They exchanged questions while observing Jacob's next moves.

"Igdifir, destroy that mannequin with your might."

In a swift motion, obeying his master's command, Igdifir vanished at light speed towards the mannequin, setting the wooden structure aflame with his hands. The demo ended as quickly as it started. Jacob deactivated his power, making Igdifir vanish, and handed the floor to Rogue:

"I'm not sure I get it, what was that?"

"I can turn a video game into reality, making it part of this world! In essence, games are my reality!"

"So, you activated a game with demons?"

"Exactly."

The mannequin reassembled itself due to Jaïka's power while she eyed Jacob warily, as if wary of his potential.

"Alora, you next?" asked Jaïka.

"My power's not really combat-ready yet. I can just put people to sleep and control their dreams. But in the future, my power will have 3 levels!"

"I see... Who's next?"

No one seemed to step up until Yanis rushed to the mannequin with a sigh.

"Uhhh... Guess it's my turn."

Unexpectedly, he teleported next to the mannequin in the blink of an eye.

"He can teleport?!" Alora wondered aloud.

With astonishing agility, he assailed the mannequin with martial arts techniques at a prodigious speed. Each strike, delivered with incredible precision, was so fast it seemed his body duplicated with every move. Fighting, all one could see were afterimages, as if animated by a supernatural force.

"Okay, wow..." murmured Jacob.

In a record time of less than six seconds, the mannequin was destroyed. Yanis halted, placing his hands in his pockets.

"To keep it simple, my strength, speed, and reflexes are enhanced. But I can also learn new techniques through training and battles. Like teleporting, and in the future, I'll gain other skills to assist in combat."

"Impressive, Yanis. I look forward to seeing you in action."

Yanis returned to the others, hands in pockets, leaving the floor to Jaïka.

"Who's next? Gwendoline? Rogue?

"I'll pass and let Rogue go. My power's just emotions, so not much use in a fight..."

"What about you, Rogue?"

"I can hack pretty much anything, allowing me to modify, create, or delete stuff. But for now, I can't go as far as altering grass or water."

"Alright... You'll be mission-ready once you fully master your powers. However, your pay rate will depend on the mission type, military forces, and its costs. So don't expect too much."

Now that everything was set, the Lost Ones set off towards their long-awaited home.

*

Jaïka, sitting against a tree, watched Jacob with concern and fear as he chatted with the others. A clear dread was evident in her eyes.

"Jaïka, are you okay?"

She snapped back to reality at Charnald's words, who had just startled her from her daydream.

"I'm fine..."

Deep down, Jaïka couldn't help but gaze at Jacob with a mix of anxiety and terror.

"I'm fine..."