The Platinum Divine Book 1 (Ongoing)

Sorrowful Past, Urgent Present

Mara II, Day 8, Year 502

The next day, it was training as usual for everyone except for Geuche, who accompanied Sarah into town. Leo was teaching Turk close quarter combat skills to help him use his new vapor field trick to its fullest capacity, while Serina was helping Layna further polish her Amunis control

"Stop making your legs so stiff for goodness sake Turk! How do you expect to successfully evade anything like that" Leo scolded

"R...Right! Sorry!"

"Don't be sorry just fix it!"

"Right. sorr- got it"

Serina, like everyone else, was still in shock from Layna's demonstration last night, even if Layna herself was still a little down about missing the target

"Alright Layna, what did I tell you about prolonged control?"

"Umm...It's all about visualization?"

"Aaaaannnndddd?" Serina stretched the word as she slowly leaned towards Layna

"Knowing how the wind is already naturally shifting is vital for your aim" Layna said confidently

"That's right. Yesterday for example, your aim and control was nearly flawless, but you did not visualize it with the natural currents already blowing. That slip up right there can be the difference between life and death. You be sure to remember that, ok?"

"Right"

"Hey!" Leo suddenly shouted from across the field while he had Turk in a headlock, "Don't be teaching my little Layna anything too grim over there

"Psh" Serina simply waved his outburst off. "Don't listen to that fool Layna, stick with me and I'll have you beating him in no time" she said with a wink

As this was happening, a paper airplane suddenly flew within the yard, landing directly at Leo's feet. Picking it up and opening it, he knew immediately where it originated

"A message from Zed? He must have used his gift to fly it all the way here. It's always freaked me out how the old bat always knew exactly where I was" Leo said with a slight shudder. He then silently read the letter to himself.

"Don't have much time, come to my shop at once. Bring the black flame girl and the book. Will share more when you arrive."

Wonder what's going on to have him in such an urgent mood

"Layna, training is postponed for now. We're leaving for the market immediately"

"The market?! Really?!" Layna said excitedly

Oh that's right, this will be her first time leaving the property

"Right, the market! While we're out, we may as well go around and try the different shops and restauraunts too!" Leo replied

"Wow! Can we really?"

"Of course. head inside and get cleaned up and changed, we'll leave as soon as you're ready"

"Right!"

as Layna hurriedly ran inside, Leo briefed Serina and Turk on the situation

"If it's something to have even Zed on edge like this, we'd best be careful" Turk said, obviously worried about Zed's words

"Right. Whatever he found out must be pretty big to have him this wound up" Serina agreed

Zed was a renowned fighter, even known outside of Veronica's walls as the man who helped suppress the "Great Monster Uprising", which occurred when the barrier around the Forest of Ruin temporarily failed 3 years ago until the Gods Hand arrived and re-erected it, rescuing the city in the process, as well as a tough battle in the Forest of Ruin with Leo and Geuche the same year that was known to no one but them and the Gods Hand. He was not someone who became easily shaken by events.