That morning all of the Zweilts reported for breakfast. They filed in and all sat down with their respected groups. The Giou Clan sat at the last table to the right of the large hall. In the middle of every table was a stack of papers explaining the training schedule of the separate groups.
"We're training at different times," Shusei said looking at the paper.
"Each team is training at a different time?" Takashiro said taking a paper from the pile.
"No each person," Shusei said, "Even our teams are split up."
"What do you mean?" Hotsuma asked snatching a paper from the center of the table and glaring at it, "I'm not leaving you alone."
"You're going to have to," Nikki said as her greeting from behind him.
"He's not going anywhere without me!" Hotsuma yelled.
"I'll be fine," Shusei said, trying to soothe him, "You have your own training to do. We have to learn how to work separately so we can work better together."
Hotsuma huffed unhappily.
"I'll take good care of him," Nikki promised, "Nothing's going to happen to him while I'm around."
"Why am I not on here?" Toko asked looking sad.
"You're not until tomorrow," Nikki explained, "We're only working with Zweilts who need to master their abilities. Senshirou isn't on the roster either. Shusei is first, then Hotsuma, next is Kuroto, after is Yuki and finally Tsukumo. Luka will be working with Jesse and Leslie separately."
"I will not leave Yuki," Luka said coldly.
"I'll be fine," Yuki said, "I don't want to get in the way of your learning."
"I have nothing to learn," Luka said.
"You have a lot to learn," Nikki shot back, "You just don't know it yet."
"You're lying," Luka said glaring daggers at her.
"No," Nikki said, "But that's not the point. The point is Yuki will be working on special abilities and fighting techniques. I can't have you interfering every time someone moves to strike him. We won't hurt him badly but that doesn't mean there won't be any damage."
"I'm not leaving him." Luka said harshly.
"I need to learn this," Yuki told Luka, "I'll be fine, I promise."
"I don't like it," Luka said eyeing Nikki suspiciously.
"I don't care," Nikki said, "It's our job to teach him and that's what we're going to do. Now eat. You have a long day ahead of you."
"Shusei," Adam greeted as he came into view.
"Danny," Shusei acknowledged.
"You're training with me today," he said, "We're going to attempt to unlock the rest of your God's Eye. There are things done by God's Eye that must be taught by one of the same. Nikki taught me and now it's my job to teach you."
"Who taught Nikki?" Shusei asked, his interest peaked.
Adam looked down, "Someone we don't really talk about. She was taught a really long time ago."
"She doesn't reincarnate, like Takashiro," Shusei observed.
"No she doesn't," Adam agreed, "None of the Zweilt leaders or the Duras in the group do."
"What are we learning today?" Shusei asked.
"Teleporting," Adam said, "It's a skill used for much more than getting extremely places. It can used to move quicker over distances that would normally tale longer. The further the distance the longer it takes for you to get somewhere."
Adam disappeared.
Shusei scanned the field around him, unable to even detect Adam.
Shusei felt metal touching his throat and looked to see a pole against his throat.
"And you're dead," Adam said.
"Unless I get out of your reach," Shusei said, "Choking someone takes time and brute strength."
"Who said anything about choking?" Adam said and flicked his wrist, the pole still in his hand.
He jumped up and the spiked ring that accompanied his pole, flew where he'd been standing.
"I've got something called a tag team weapon," Adam said, "Both weapons work together. I can summon one with the other."
"Like my KuraiKurou," Shusei noted.
"Yes," Adam confirmed, "Most Zweilts have two purposes for their weapons or two physical weapons. You and I have the two physical aspects. Others like Kyle, have only one weapon but two purposes."
"Why can't the others use theirs then?" Shusei asked, "I've only seen them with one weapon and one purpose."
"They haven't learned what they need to wield both weapons yet. Physical weapons are different. They are gained as soon as you start training but for others it takes time."
Shusei wasn't sure how you would go about learning to transport but he soon learned that it was anything but easy. To unlock the skill he had to learn a lot of basics that he never associated with them. Things like learning his weapon was something he thought he knew how to do easily until Adam pointed out he was doing it wrong.
By the end of the session Shusei still couldn't go very far distances and could only go by himself but Adam had smiled and praised his quick learning.
"That's the fastest I've ever seen someone learn it," he said, "Even Nikki was behind you."
"You remember when she learned it?" Shusei said, his interest peaked.
"I'm actually older than Nikki technically," Adam confirmed, "She's the youngest to ever become a Zweilt leader and is younger than even a few of the Zweilts in her own group."
"Then who reincarnated you before she came?" Shusei asked, remembering what Takashiro had told him about not being able to die.
"Takashiro learned his trick a very long time ago," Adam said, "But it was long after the Zweilts came to be. Before that there was a spell that was used to preserve you life span. Back then it was possible for a leader to die. It still is."
"What do you mean?" Shusei asked confused.
"There was four original Zweilt leaders. Takashiro, Alisan, Austin, and the one before Nikki. After Takashiro learned his trick every Zweilt leader followed except the four originals. They are still mortal. They believed it went against the law of humanity, to become like a Duras while still trying to kill them. Alisan and Austin are set in their ways. They still don't allow Duras into their group. Actually originally Kyle was in Alisan's group. Then when he met Jesse Ali couldn't allow him to stay any longer. She's the leader of the oldest Zweilts. The original ones from thousands of years back. They wouldn't change their ways for anything, even one of their oldest friends. So Kyle was shunned and he wasn't happy there. Jesse wasn't allowed to see him and nobody would talk to him anymore. Ali met up with the other Zweilt leaders to see if anyone would take him. Back then it wasn't a popular thing to do and Nikki, the newest leader there offered to take him. Alisan, Austin, and Takashiro still weren't sure about her back then and it was decided that if she was to take them that for ten years her powers would be revoked."
"I guess since he's here that means she agreed," Shusei observed.
"Yes," a woman said from behind him and he turned to see Nikki, "And to this day it's something that has never been done again."
"Why not?" Shusei said.
"You shouldn't be up," Adam said stepping towards her.
"Well if you're going to gossip he should at least hear it from the source," Nikki said and turned back to Shusei, "Takashiro was to do the spell. It should have been simple."
"Did something go wrong?" Shusei asked.
"Takashiro had become a Duras and hadn't told us," Nikki explained, "and when you mix demon spells with human blood the result it catastrophic. Instead of locking up my powers he obliterated them and almost killed me. The only reason I'm here is because of Jesse. He realized what was going on and had Kyle counteract it. Without them it would have killed me."
"Is that why they watch over you so much?" Shusei asked remembering their watchful eyes over their leader.
"Sort of," Nikki admitted, "There were adverse effects to the spell."
"Like what?" Shusei asked.
"Her energy store were wiped out," Adam said, "She can do amazing things but it quickly wears her out. There's a seal on her that cannot be undone. It saps her energy four times as fast as she uses it. Simple things became stressful for her body. It took years for her to even be able to stay awake for longer than a few hours."
"So that's why she won't become a Duras," Shusei said, "That's what hurt you in the first place."
"That and I wield God's Light," Nikki confirmed, "It would kill me. Yuki and Kyle wouldn't be able to take it either."
"And the others?" Shusei asked.
"They've seen what a Duras can do," Nikki said, "the younger ones they don't remember when that happened but Alisan and Austin still have the horrific knowledge of almost losing a comrade to a friend. It makes them reject the idea. Alisan and Austin still send all friendly Duras to me. They won't take part in it."
"I see," Shusei said.
"Well," Nikki said, "Story time is over and it's about time you get back to you fireball anyway."
Shusei's face turned a little red.
"Go," Nikki smiled and gently pushed him towards the house.
"Thanks," Shusei said and turned to go find Hotsuma inside.
"And don't forget to eat!" Nikki called out as Shusei walked inside, "Don't make me hunt you down!"
"I will," Shusei said, "As soon as I find Hotsuma."
Are you excited for this chapter? I am. I was rereading this and when I got to the last chapter I was made there wasn't anymore to read and then I remembered I'm the dumbass writing it so I have to put more there. On another note this is exactly 1,600 words which was awesome.