Keon took a step back, eyes narrowing as he observed Azira and Darlic more closely. The shift in the atmosphere was palpable—something about the way they carried themselves felt unsettling.
Azira, noticing Keon's hesitation, gave him a sly grin. "I suppose you're wondering about our abilities, aren't you?" She gestured to herself with a slight flourish, as if her very presence demanded attention.
"You've already seen mine," she said, her voice dripping with teasing confidence. "I'm an Espria of Transformation. I can shift into any form I desire, whether it's a large, intimidating beast or something smaller and more... charming." Her smile deepened as she approached Keon, the air around her flickering as though her very form might melt into something else at any moment. "Of course, that means I can be whatever I want to be—a perfect shape-shifter." She paused, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Not to mention, I'm a bit harder to pin down than most."
Keon shifted on his feet, a frown tugging at his lips. He was still processing her sudden appearance and her too-close proximity. A shapeshifter, he thought. That was a dangerous power to have—especially in a world like this.
Turning toward Darlic, who had been quiet until now, Keon raised an eyebrow. His power had to be just as dangerous, right?
Darlic didn't immediately answer. Instead, he stared into the distance, his expression unreadable, as though the conversation was an interruption to a far more important thought. After a long pause, he spoke, his tone cold and distant, as though the words were dragged from him against his will.
"I don't make a big show of it," he said slowly, voice devoid of any warmth. "My Espria is... Lava Manifestation." He looked at his hands, still faintly glowing from the molten lava that had coursed through them earlier. "I can summon and control lava, reshape it into various forms. Weapons, barriers, whatever I need." His gaze shifted, the heat around him waning for just a moment before he clenched his fists. "But it's not just fire. It's the force of destruction—volatile, unpredictable."
Keon could tell that Darlic wasn't interested in elaborating further. His words, though sparse, made it clear that his power was destructive and deadly. But it was more than just the lava; there was something about the way Darlic carried himself—his tone, his lack of expression—that made Keon feel... distant. Detached.
He wanted to ask more, to probe deeper into their abilities and their lives, but something about Darlic's icy demeanor kept him from pressing further. Instead, Keon nodded slowly, his mind racing with the implications of their powers.
Azira, sensing the tension, grinned again. "Don't mind Darlic," she said lightly, as though his distance was something she'd gotten used to. "He doesn't like talking about his past, or about anything too personal. It's... how he keeps things under control." She shot a quick glance at Darlic, who didn't react. "Not everyone is as open as me, you know?"
Keon frowned, looking between the two. Azira was playful, full of energy and confident in her powers. But Darlic? His coldness wasn't just a façade—it felt like a defense mechanism, something that kept him apart from others, locked in a cage of his own making.
"Anyway," Azira continued, a little too eagerly, "we're a team. And we all rely on each other to get the job done. You'll learn to trust us." Her tone softened for a moment, though there was still a sense of playfulness to it. "And if you're lucky, maybe you'll get to see a little more of what we're truly capable of."
Keon nodded, but his mind wasn't on her words anymore. His focus was on Darlic, who had returned to his quiet contemplation. The lava-manipulating Espria was a force to be reckoned with, but Keon couldn't help but wonder just how much of Darlic's emotions he had locked away beneath that cold, detached exterior.
Could he ever get through to him? Or was Darlic the kind of person who preferred isolation, even in a team?
Keon couldn't be sure, but one thing was certain—this team was far more complex than he initially thought.
Sure! Here's the revised version with Keon using his fingers and eyes to demonstrate how his Rift Manipulation works:
Azira's eyes glinted with curiosity as she tilted her head. "Alright, enough about us. What about you, Keon?" she asked, her voice playful but genuine. "What's your Espria? We all have our own tricks. I'm sure yours is just as impressive."
Keon scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Well, about that..." He paused, unsure of how to explain himself. The whole concept of Espria felt like a lot to unpack, and he wasn't ready to share the truth—that it wasn't a natural ability, but something given to him by the system.
He could feel the weight of their stares, their anticipation hanging in the air. Azira was leaning forward now, her smile almost challenging, while Darlic, despite his emotional distance, watched him carefully, his expression unreadable.
"I guess I could say my Espria is... Rift Manipulation," Keon began, his voice uncertain at first. He tried to sound more confident as he continued. "It's not exactly a barrier... more like a kind of rift that I can manipulate. Think of it as... well, a dimension of my own, but it's tied to my power."
Azira's eyes widened, clearly intrigued. "A dimension? What do you mean by that? Can you show us?" She stepped forward eagerly, a mix of excitement and curiosity on her face.
Keon hesitated, glancing at Darlic, who remained stoic but seemed to be paying attention. He wasn't about to go into specifics about the system—that part had to stay hidden, for now. Instead, he gestured to the space in front of him with his fingers, his eyes narrowing slightly as he focused.
"It's more than just a barrier. I open a rift to another space—a place that only I can control. It's invisible, but anything that goes through it is either stored, ejected, or trapped." Keon lifted his hand, then swung it to the side, like he was physically pulling something from the air. "When I pull something in, it's like I'm gathering it into my own space."
Azira's expression turned more serious, clearly interested in the display. "You mean, like... you can literally suck things into another dimension?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
"Yeah, exactly," Keon nodded, his eyes gleaming with a bit of pride as he flicked his fingers. "And when I eject something..." He swung his hand in a sharp motion, like he was tossing something away. The air around him shimmered slightly with the movement, a flicker of energy passing through the space. "I can eject whatever's inside—throw it back out, no problem."
Azira blinked, clearly processing the information. "That's pretty wild. So, you could store anything in there? Like, weapons? Or... people?"
Keon winced. "Yeah, that's the tricky part. I can store living things, but I'd rather not use it on people unless it's necessary. It's a one-way trip unless I eject them. And the space... well, it's not the most comfortable place." He quickly added, trying to reassure them, "But don't worry. I haven't used it on anyone... yet."
Darlic, who had been silent until now, spoke up, his tone neutral yet sharp. "And you can store anything? What about living things? People?"
Keon shrugged and gestured vaguely, his fingers moving in small circles as he spoke. "Yeah, I can store living things, but it's not something I do lightly. It's a dimension, sure, but not a fun one to be stuck in. It's a cold, empty space... not a good place to be trapped."
Azira crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "Interesting," she said quietly, her eyes scanning Keon. "So your Espria isn't a traditional one like the rest of us. It's more... versatile, but also dangerous."
Keon nodded, trying not to feel the weight of their gazes on him. "Yeah. I'd rather not make a habit of using it unless I really need to."
Darlic's gaze softened just slightly, though his voice remained distant. "I don't like relying on unknowns, but that power of yours could be useful in a tight spot." His words held a certain finality, as though he'd made up his mind about Keon's worth, though he didn't show much emotion in his judgment.
Azira, however, was grinning again, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "So, what happens if we step into that rift of yours? Do we get trapped in your personal dimension forever?"
Keon raised an eyebrow. "You really want to test it?"
Azira laughed. "Maybe later, when we're not so busy. But, hey, it's good to know we've got someone with a unique Espria in the group. You might be useful after all, Keon."
Keon rubbed the back of his neck, still feeling a little unsure. "Yeah, well, just don't go messing with it, okay?"