Trials Of The Spirit

The flickering flames from the campfire cast a warm glow across the trio as they sat by the fire, sharing the spoils of Anon's impressive catch. Vman marveled, his eyes widening with astonishment as he hefted a mammoth cod.

"Man, I never expected you to have a 60-pound trout!" Vman exclaimed, his voice tinged with admiration.

Anon chuckled, correcting him gently, "These are not trout, these are mammoth cod, the largest fish in the country."

In the midst of their meal, Jimothy, his curiosity piqued, inquired about the mysterious world of drifts. "About the drift, why did you say I should take it easy?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Anon, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames, responded solemnly, "Seiku's drift is slowly taking over your body. The only reason it's not spreading is because you're will is powerful enough to control it."

Vman, his eyes narrowing with worry, questioned further, "Are you telling me Jimothy will get infected regardless and become corrupted?"

Anon shook his head, dispelling the fear in Vman's eyes. "No, the opposite actually. Jimothy will eventually be able to rid the drift from his body. He will have to lose his arm, of course."

Jimothy's eyes widened with shock. "How could you say that so nonchalantly!?" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of disbelief and horror.

Anon, his tone matter-of-fact, shared a glimpse of his own past. "I lost two of my limbs, my left arm and leg. You can replace them if you go to the right people, though," he said, demonstrating the flexibility of his prosthetic arm.

Vman, intrigued by Anon's incredible abilities, asked, "How are you so powerful then? You can't get your muscles stronger if you don't have any!"

Anon's eyes glinted with a quiet determination. "My spirit hardens the steel it's made of. It's stronger than the weapons you wield."

Curiosity danced in Jimothy's eyes. "What's your Zeliot? I've never seen you use it."

Anon smiled faintly. "I don't have a drift, nor do I have any ID. Everything I do is done by my body and spirit alone. I am the purest form of human."

Vman, pondering his own abilities, ventured, "Does that mean I could learn your abilities?"

Anon's gaze shifted to Vman, assessing him carefully. "You can learn with intense focus and having a decisive mind. But why do you want to learn? You already have a drift!"

Vman sighed, his frustration evident. "I do, but it does nothing. I'm only strengthened by my ID."

Anon, undeterred, decided to put Vman's abilities to the test. "We will do a little test then. I want you to hold out your arm and call the name of your drift. I will analyze it."

Jimothy encouraged Vman, his voice laced with confidence. "You should know the name of your drift the moment you are born; you got this, Vman!"

Vman hesitated briefly before admitting, "I don't know the name of my drift, though..."

Anon, his expression softening, explained, "I have seen this before. It's a type of dementia formed by the excess of ID during the birth of the baby. It causes the ID to overpower the child and make them forget the name of their drift."

Vman's eyes widened in realization. "I must be flowing with ID then, which is why I don't know its name?"

Anon nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Exactly. In order to learn its name, you must call out all your trust into one name when in trouble. It will come out."

Determined, Vman steeled himself, ready for the challenge. "Ok, hit me with all you got, Anon. I will call it out."

Anon, his false arm glowing red, prepared for the test. "NOW, CALL IT!" he commanded.

With unwavering resolve, Vman shouted, "ZELIOT!"

In a flash, Vman's swift strike cleaved Anon's false hand in half. Vman's expression fell, a mixture of disappointment and frustration clouding his features. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do it," he admitted, his voice heavy with self-doubt.

Anon, his calm demeanor unwavering, reassured him, "It's okay. You're not ready. It's just my false arm. I can repair it quickly."

Jimothy, ever the supportive friend, offered a comforting perspective. "Maybe you will never find your drift. That's okay, though. You are powerful enough as it is, Vman."