<strong>18 hours before the finals;</strong>
<strong>Special Forces HQ, Mt. Animus, Northern Qudour;</strong>
In a special training room with about 20x gravity, members of Team Twilight are sparring against a team of battle robots (rank-6).
Due to his enormous strength, Azzy stayed on the sidelines and assumed the role of an instructor while the others were sparring without the aid of their Arcana or their soul skills or skill cards. They were only allowed to use soul energy and man-made weapons.
Fortunately, the Berserk/killer mode was already deactivated in the robots. So, no matter how strong their opponents are, the robots won't go for the kill. Their eyes stayed blue from start to end.
As the 20-minute sparring was finished, the battle robots gathered and went into standby mode. Team Twilight, on the other hand, collapsed on the floor while sweating from top to bottom.
Azzy reset the gravity and walked toward his teammates who were feeling very relaxed due to the reduction of the gravitational pressure.
Upon reaching them, he proceeded with his evaluation, which was rather harsh for most of them, "Louis, don't just evade the attacks and focus on saving your teammates. The offense is also important."
"C'mon Calder, I told you many times that you can't match your strength with a stronger battle robot. Don't fight head-on. Try to think of smart ways to defeat it"
"Claire, you did a great job in pushing back your opponent and also saved your teammate but I say the same thing again. You should stop being reckless, taking advantage of your super regeneration. Your aggressive battle style worries me the most."
"As for you, Estella, I can't complain much. You aren't cut out for close combat. So, you should just stick with the bow and arrow. That's all I can say."
"And finally, Mia, you have improved most of all. As long as you can change your style from close combat and ranger, you will be an asset to the team."
Being extremely tired from the sparring, they could only nod and just lie on the floor.
After a 10-minute break, they went for another round of 20-min sparring. Like this, they did a few more sparring matches until 2 o'clock in the morning before going to their rooms to sleep.
Unlike them, Azzy didn't work out much. So, he wasn't as tired as them. As a result, several thoughts disturbed his mind as he lie down on the bed.
He was thinking about Barbara's refusal to return with him to the original timeline. He was thinking about his best friend who will miss the glory the team will receive the next day. He was also thinking about Leah's state of mind.
"Ugh, let's go and drink tea to get some peaceful sleep." Azzy left his room and went to the cafeteria. As he was about to go toward the counter where a cute-looking robot is standing, he spotted Estella sitting alone.
"One Chamomile tea please," He said to the robot and then walked toward Estella. "Not getting enough sleep?" He asked.
She took a glance at him and let out a sigh, "I was just worried about him. It's been 18 days. I wonder if he is alright."
Azzy was a little bit taken aback by her words, not expecting Estella would still worry about Gideon.
Taking a seat on the opposite side, Azzy then consoled her using a soft tone, "Gideon will be alright. He is the disciple of Ramiel Crescent, the Vice President of the largest organization in the world. Nothing will happen to him."
"But, you said that his soul orb is getting eaten by the lightning. If it is that easy to save him, he would have returned by now," replied Estella, almost raising her voice.
Upon realizing it, she lowered her voice again, "He went into that condition because of me. Unless I see him with my own eyes, I couldn't stop the guilt that is eating me."
Remembering Gideon from the future timeline, Azzy confidently said, "I'm sure that nothing will happen. Vice President Ramiel promised me that Gideon will return by the finals. I'm sure he will keep his word."
"And there are only 15 hours left till the finals. I'm not sure whether he would be able to make it," replied Estella and let out a deep sigh once again. She added, "I should have participated with him in duo battles."
"Go and sleep, Estella." Azzy didn't know what else to say. So, he changed the topic, "you have to be at full strength, both physically and mentally, to face the opponents."
"What about you?" Estella asked him in response.
"Well, I'll go too after I have the tea," replied Azzy, trying to force out a smile. However, he realized that he hasn't sealed his soul orb yet. And just when he sealed it to regain the expressions temporarily, the robot spoke out loud, "Mr. Azrael, your order is ready."
"Ah, Yes, coming."
As Azzy started walking toward the counter, the heiress of the Moon Clan rose to her feet and started walking before waving her hand, "Goodnight, Azrael."
"Ah! yeah, goodnight." Azzy nodded and took the cup calmly. He returned to the table and took his seat, started drinking the tea. Once Estella is out of sight, he then spoke, "alright, you can come out, sweetheart."
A figure materialized right before him. Claire let out her tongue cutely, "you found me out."
Azzy put down the tea cup and stretched his hand toward her face.
Claire thought that he was trying to caress her face. She closed her eyes with a smile. Suddenly, a knock was given on the top of her head.
"Ouch…" She opened her eyes while rubbing her head.
"What are you doing, trying to use the skill card for spying on your boyfriend at this hour?" He scolded her, although using a soft tone.
"Well," She looked away in response, not intending to tell him that she became insecure once again upon spotting them together by great coincidence as she was returning to her room from a shower.
Azzy shook his head with a smile, "You are one jealous girlfriend."
Claire blushed in embarrassment. She pouted her lips and complained, "If someone hadn't gone for a date with another girl, I wouldn't be jealous."
"C'mon, you already know the real story behind it." As Azzy helplessly defended himself, Claire acted as if she was angry at him.
"Whatever, I'm leaving. You go and sleep and don't wander at night." As she got up from the seat and was about to leave, Azzy grabbed her arm and pulled it toward him. She somehow fell into his lap before he put his arms around her waist, "In fact, I too have a complaint against you."
"Hmm?" She appeared to be perplexed for a moment because she never personally disappointed him with her actions as far as she knows. The battle is another story.
Keeping his chin above her shoulders from behind, he said, "You have yet to compensate me for those 16 days you kept me away because of your duo battles. Considering you used to kiss me atleast twice a day, you owe me 32 kisses you know."
Claire was pleasantly surprised at Azzy's behavior. He rarely gets into a romantic mood and gets the initiative to kiss her or be intimate with her. However, she felt like she shouldn't give in, that easily either. Turning her face to look at him, she replied, "You too left me for 7-10 days to go and fulfill your Arcana's promise with Leah. You even went on a date with her and didn't even tell me beforehand. I think those two cancel each other."
"Why should they?" asked Azzy without accepting defeat. Grabbing her tightly and letting out a smile once again, he closed the gap between their faces and whispered, "Since it was my fault, how about I owe you 30 kisses? So, you kiss me thirty-two times and I will kiss you twenty times."
As he was about to kiss her, Claire shyly commented, "You are acting like a dog in heat."
"Can you blame me? You are the one who made me this way." Azzy freed one hand and grabbed the back of her head, inching closer to her and planting his lips onto hers.
Azzy even doesn't know why but he was in the mood and he just continuously kissed her. Claire didn't resist at all. For anything, there's nothing more than a happier moment for her to have intimate moments with her boyfriend.
As a result, they are just lost in their world, continuously kissing for a whole minute before they were interrupted by a robotic voice.
"Kissing isn't allowed in public places. Please go to private space."
As it announced it three times in a row, Azzy and Claire separated. Both of them are a bit embarrassed, realizing that they forgot where they are.
"I… I… I… I'll go and have sleep. Yes…" Claire rushed away from there, flushing red from ear to neck.
On the other hand, Azzy let out a big smile once again as he stretched his arms, "now that was really amazing. Somehow, I feel like I will have a night of good sleep now."
He too went ahead and returned to his room.
The next day, around noon;
Team Twilight has once again visited the gravity chamber for one last spar before they leave for Silver city via portal points.
But, to their surprise, someone familiar is waiting for them in a commando suit.
"Gideon?" Everyone including Azzy reacted at the same time.
The four-eyed commando smiled, "Hey, guys. Missed me?"
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