Back at the hideout of the Silver Steel Knights, the air grew tense as a staredown commenced between Ian Hawkwalker and Tokita. Ian's eyes, once a dull grey, now shone a bright shade of blue with an intricate pattern etched within. They glimmered in the light of the morning sun, fixated intently on Tokita's nervous golden gaze. The intensity of their gaze seemed to spark electricity in the air, as if the tension could be felt tangibly.
The air was so thick with tension that it felt like a physical weight pushing down on their chests, making it difficult to breathe. The other Silver Steel Knights watched on with a mixture of expectant looks and mild curiosity, as Ian Hawkwalker stared down Tokita with an intense gaze.
It felt as if time had stopped in that moment, as the two powerful adolescents stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.
That was until a voice broke the silence.
"Just kidding," Ian stated as his face broke into a small smile. His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, and the faint smile on his lips made him look more approachable. "I was just messing with you," Ian stated, tapping his chest with his knuckle as a friendly gesture. His voice had taken on a more lighthearted tone, and the atmosphere in the space immediately lifted.
"The hell, man?" Tokita let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Ian's eyes still had a hind of exhaustion to them, but they had changed into a new, more upbeat state.
The rest of the Knights, seeing a fight wasn't about to commence, began speaking to each other.
"Sorry, thought I'd throw you for a loop," Ian stated with a small smile.
"So, what happened during your training? Your eyes are...blue now." Tokita asked, gesturing to Ian's eyes. The change in color was stark, and it was clear that there was something more to it than just a simple alteration in pigment.
Ian let out a small chuckle before answering. "During my training, I was able to fully realize my Catalyst," he said, his tone serious. "It wasn't easy, but I managed to come out of it with these babies." He gestured to his eyes, a faint sense of pride in his voice.
Tokita looked on with mild curiosity, his head slightly tilted to the side. "That sounds great!" he stated, his eyebrows raised in anticipation, though he didn't quite understand the concept of 'realizing his catalyst'.
Ian's voice was calm and measured, revealing nothing about the actual experience. Tokita could sense that there was more to the story, that Ian was holding something back. His eyes were once again veiled, and the tiredness that had left them briefly was back in full force.
"You okay, man?" Tokita asked, concern lacing his voice.
Ian looked up at him and gave him a small, reassuring nod. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tokita could tell that Ian didn't want to talk about it any further, and so he dropped the subject. They both stood there for a few moments, the tension between them palpable.
The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, the rest of the Knights still chattering away in the background. It was clear that Ian had been through a lot, but he wasn't one to dwell on the past. Instead, he seemed focused on the present, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
Grensvall approached the group with a clap, silencing the chatter. "Alright, it's time for the mission briefing," he announced in a firm tone.
Grensvall approached the group, his footsteps echoing in the silence that followed. In his hands were several scrolls, carefully labeled with their own individual colors and textures. The yellow one had rough edges and a bumpy texture, while the blue one was smooth to the touch and had a glossy finish. Grensvall's expression was stern as he looked at each member of the Silver Steel Knights, his eyes scanning their faces before he finally spoke. "I'll give a mission to each individual group," he said, his voice carrying a tone of authority that commanded attention.
Grensvall made his way over to Leo and Mitsugi, his boots clacking against the dirt floor. He extended his arm, revealing a yellow scroll with intricate patterns embroidered on it. Leo and Mitsugi peered at it, examining the details and feeling the texture of the paper.
Next, Grensvall walked over to Aila, her eyes trained on the blue scroll in his hand. It was smooth to the touch, but heavier than the others, almost as if it contained important information.
Finally, Grensvall made his way to Tokita and Ian. He held out a scroll that lacked any color or design, looking like a plain piece of parchment compared to the others. Grensvall's gaze met Tokita's, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his snout.
Tokita accepted the scroll with a sense of anticipation, his heart beating faster with excitement. He looked up at Grensvall with a sense of pride in his eyes as the Captain's gaze met his.
"Congratulations, Tokita, Ian. This is your first mission as Silver Steel Knights," Grensvall said, his voice filled with pride for his new recruits.
"T-Thank you, sir," Tokita replied, barely able to contain his excitement. He quickly opened the scroll, eager to see what their first mission as official members of the Silver Steel Knights would entail.
As Grensvall's words echoed in Tokita's ears, his heart began to race with excitement. He could feel a surge of anticipation coursing through his veins, like a burst of electricity. His mind raced with possibilities and his imagination conjured images of thrilling adventures, conquests, and heroic acts that awaited him and Ian. His eyes darted between the scroll and Grensvall, as he awaited further instructions with bated breath.
In the back of his mind, he was reminded of what happened to Charles, but he ignored it and pushed forward.
The scroll felt weightless in his hands, yet it held the key to their future. It was a symbol of determination, his blood, sweat and tears that he shed this past week. His fingers trembled with excitement as he slowly began to unravel the scroll, like a child unwrapping a present on Christmas day. The parchment unfurled before him, revealing a drawing. As he opened it further and further, his excitement grew.
Until it was fully opened, and he and Ian took a good long look at it. The drawing was...
"A cat?" Both Ian and Tokita said simultaneously. They looked at each other with complete confusion.
The air around them grew thick as the realization of their mission sank in. A sense of bewilderment and uncertainty filled the air as they both stared at each other, trying to comprehend the absurdity of their task.
"A cat?" Ian repeated, a hint of disbelief in his voice. Tokita remained silent, his mind racing with questions about their mission. Was this some sort of test? Or perhaps a joke? He couldn't fathom that their first mission as official members of the Silver Steel Knights would be something as trivial as finding a cat.
With a sigh from the both of them, they began to move, starting the journey they believed to be mundane.
This day, however, would be much longer than expected.