Chris and Lisa had returned to the surface. Chris had an idea on how to gain the intelligence that they needed to locate Sinelux but it would require him to go in person. Lisa had decided it was time to have a meeting with the leaders about the population growth program.
She suspected nothing would change. The children viewed the problem from a very idealistic perspective while the leaders and herself had a more pragmatic view on life. They saw some minor suffering as the price to pay to quickly populate a planet.
Meanwhile, Jania was currently feeling extremely frustrated. She had gotten the boys' to adjust her new suit and it felt amazing and she could tell her speed and strength had been improved. The problem was that she couldn't land a hit on Null. Null had decided to use her as a training aide, He was currently training Kikei on how to avoid getting hit. This would have been okay if Jania wasn't going all out.
She had used blink, her ability and even the new spell thruster but was unable to land a hit. Null seemed to have endless time and was effortlessly avoiding her. She would bring her weapons down for a sure hit, and he wouldn't be there. None of her faints seemed to be working either. Jania was frustrated as she was faster than him but it didn't matter. He could read her like a book.
After 1 more failed attempt that combined a Blink and simultaneous overhead and underhand attacks, she was furious. She had lost any type of composure and was just swinging wildly trying to hit Null, who was now laughing. This was the final straw and Jania broke down crying. She was regretting her lack of extra training over the last 2 years. Even before she became a surrogate she had already slacked off on her training and had become too engrossed in the colony life.
Kikei ran over to Jania while glaring daggers at Null. "Null, you didn't need to go that far. You could tell she was becoming frustrated"
Jania didn't want her pity "No Kikei, he needed to go harder he should have used his weapon. I needed this lesson"
Kikei started to explain "but you don't understand he was" but was interrupted by Jania "I do understand he was using some form of a new spell. I can't use that as an excuse in a real battle. If this was a real battle, I would be dead, it as simple as that. I have slacked off over the last two years and that stops today"
What Jania didn't know was that Null had been cheating. He had linked with Kikei and was using her Aura vision. Reading a person aura was more reliable and easier than reading body language and eye movements. It had allowed for Null to effectively be able to see into the future while nullifying the advantages Jania had in controlling her body language.
Kikei had learnt a lot from watching the battle, she never knew her aura vision could be so powerful. She couldn't keep up with Jania movement they were too fast for her but with the aura vision, she didn't need to. Kikei needed to work on her evasion skills if she was going to make use of this new power.
It was Kikei turn to try and replicate what Null had done. Kikei felt bad about keeping Jania in the dark so explained what they were doing. Jania saw it as a challenge and was ready to see if she could hit Kikei.
Kikei quickly realised that Null had made it look easy. Even if she was able to read Jania movements. It was another thing entirely to avoid them.
Jania was now in coaching mode. "Don't think, just react. Thinking takes time. From the Left now from below. Trust your instincts". Kikei had found the advice from both Jania and Null to be difficult to act on. She had no fighting instinct and her reactions seemed to betray her and put her in harm way.
"I'm never going to get this, how do you and Null make it look so easy?"
"Years and years of experience. You will get there but don't think you can pick up a decade of experience in a couple of days. You will need to gain more battle experience before you can come close to us" replied Jania she was already shocked at the level of skill Kikei was showing.
Null and Infy had left to go make some more preparation for the trip so had left the girls alone giving Jania the opportunity she had been waiting for.
"Okay I must know, you and the boys' seem very close. What actually going on?"
Kikei body language completely changed, she avoided looking at Jania and started to play with her hair but she finally answered.
"I don't know. It's very complicated. we have only just made up after our first fight so I don't think there is much going on"
"Don't you three fight all the time?" Jania had witnessed their fights.
"No those are arguments, this was a fight but we are better now." Kikei knew what Jania wanted to know but wasn't sure if she was ready to voice her inner thoughts yet but decided she would as she could use another perspective.
"Look I like them, and I think they like me but it is difficult to say who I like more. They are two boys with the same soul. Do you like the soul or do the like the person? Null and Infy are completely different people so it's not fair if I lump them in as one. So you see it complicated. I think it best if we call ourselves good friends"
Jania was satisfied with the answer, she was expecting a declaration of love but she could now see how complicated the situation was. She just wished for her little brothers to be happy.
Null and Infy had now returned and brought some news with them, "Chris is ready but he is bringing along an Elf"