Theo's POV
Three days.
That's how long we had before entering a gate.
Not enough.
But it didn't matter.
Because everyone else had the same time.
We gathered later that afternoon in one of the smaller training rooms.
Team Five.
Sera arrived first.
On time.
Of course.
Dain showed up next, hands in his pockets, looking like he didn't want to be there.
Bran came quietly after, his heavy footsteps echoing slightly.
Luna slipped in last.
Almost unnoticed.
I entered just after her.
Sera looked around once.
"…Good. Everyone's here."
She stepped forward.
"Let's not waste time."
No one argued.
"First," Sera continued,
"we assign roles."
She pointed to the center of the room.
"Every raider team needs structure."
"Frontline."
"Midline."
"Support."
"Control."
Her eyes moved across each of us.
"Without that, we fall apart."
Dain leaned against the wall.
"Or we just fight and adapt."
Sera didn't even look at him.
"That's how people die."
Silence.
Dain clicked his tongue but didn't argue further.
Sera turned to Bran.
"You're frontline."
Bran nodded immediately.
"…Yeah."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
It fit.
Then she looked at Dain.
"You're midline offense."
Dain smirked slightly.
"Obviously."
Her gaze shifted to Luna.
"You're support."
Luna froze slightly.
"…I…"
Sera's voice softened just a little.
"You can do it."
A small pause.
Then Luna nodded.
"…Okay."
Finally—
Her eyes landed on me.
"Theo."
Silence.
Even Dain looked over now.
"You're… flexible."
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…Explain."
"You can attack."
"You can defend."
"You can control space."
A brief pause.
"And from what I've heard…"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"…you adapt quickly."
I didn't deny it.
"So?"
Sera crossed her arms.
"You'll be our control."
Control.
Not the strongest.
Not the fastest.
But the one who shapes the fight.
I nodded.
"…Understood."
Sera exhaled.
"Then that leaves me."
Dain smirked.
"Leader?"
Sera didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
No one argued.
Not even Dain.
Because she had already taken control the moment we walked in.
"Good," she said.
"Now we test it."
We moved into position.
Bran at the front.
Dain slightly behind him.
Luna further back.
Me in the center.
Sera moving between all of us.
Watching.
Analyzing.
"Begin."
Bran charged forward first.
Heavy.
Direct.
Dain followed with a fast attack.
Aggressive.
Unpredictable.
Luna hesitated for a split second—
Then moved.
Support.
Just like assigned.
I raised my hand.
Water formed.
More stable now.
More controlled.
Not perfect.
But better.
I spread it across the floor.
Thin.
Subtle.
Not for attack.
For control.
Bran's movements adjusted immediately.
More stable footing.
Dain's attacks flowed smoother.
Luna's positioning improved.
Sera watched everything.
"…Again," she said.
We repeated it.
Over and over.
Each time—
Better.
Cleaner.
More connected.
At one point—
Dain stopped suddenly.
"…Wait."
He looked down at the ground.
At the thin layer of water.
Then at me.
"…You're doing that on purpose."
"…Yes."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…That's actually useful."
Coming from him—
That meant something.
Sera nodded.
"Good."
She looked at me.
"Expand it."
"Wider range."
"More control."
I nodded.
"…Working on it."
Time passed quickly.
Training didn't stop.
Mistakes happened.
Adjustments followed.
Slowly—
We improved.
At the end—
Sera called it.
"That's enough for today."
Everyone relaxed slightly.
Even Dain looked less annoyed.
As we began to leave—
Sera stopped me.
"Theo."
I turned.
"…What is it?"
She looked at me carefully.
"…You're holding back."
I paused.
"…No."
"You are."
Silence.
She stepped closer.
"Your control isn't just good."
"It's calculated."
Her eyes locked onto mine.
"You're thinking ahead."
A brief pause.
"So why aren't you using everything?"
For a moment—
I didn't answer.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Not completely.
But she didn't know everything either.
"…I'm still figuring it out," I said finally.
That was the truth.
Just not all of it.
Sera studied me for a moment longer.
Then nodded.
"…Fine."
"But figure it out fast."
Her voice turned serious.
"Because inside that gate…"
A brief pause.
"…we won't get second chances."
She walked away.
I stood there for a moment.
Alone.
I raised my hand slightly.
Water formed again.
Smoother.
More controlled.
Then—
I guided a small portion toward my side.
The injured area.
A faint glow.
The pain dulled slightly.
Still incomplete.
Still unstable.
But improving.
I closed my hand.
Letting the water fade.
Control…
Support…
Healing…
It was all connected.
I just had to master it.
Because in three days—
We wouldn't be training anymore.
We'd be inside a gate.