2025-04-08 22:35:45A few hours after the incident, police officers swarmed the ruins of the school, their flashing lights painting the night in alternating red and blue.
The air still carried the acrid scent of smoke, and the remnants of the battle smoldered in the darkness.
Amber and I lingered just long enough to assess the damage before slipping away unnoticed.
As agents of the Dark Side, drawing the attention of law enforcement was the last thing we needed.
Investigations meant scrutiny, and scrutiny meant risking exposure—something our organization couldn’t afford.
The damage that Amber created to the school was expensive for sure.
By the time the authorities pieced together their report, the incident was labeled another terrorist attack.
I couldn’t help but scoff at the official statement.
Technically, they weren’twrong... However, it was Amber who had reduced the school to rubble.
After arriving back to Amber’s apartment, Amber collapsed into bed without even bothering to eat. Exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.
I didn’t blame her—unleashing that much power in a single attack would drain anyone.
And yet, despite her overwhelming assault, our enemy—Saint White—had walked away without a scratch.
That fact gnawed at me.
Saint White’s abilities were still a mystery.
She summoned monsters, yes, but was that the extent of her power? If so, how had she remained unharmed? Amber’s flames should have incinerated anything in their path.
For now, it was a mystery without an answer.
Someone as powerful like Saint White is our enemy and I need to be stronger when I face her again.
While pondering, the question if I can kill her surface on my head.
I shook off my head to release the thought.
Because as much as possible I just want to arrest her. Killing is simply out of question for me.
…
The next morning.
I woke to an unexpected sight.
Amber was already in the living room, dressed in her tracksuit, stretching with the precision of a seasoned athlete. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting sharp shadows across her focused expression.
“You’re up early…” I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
She didn’t even glance my way. “Early bird gets the worm. I was this close to kicking you awake, but I decided to let you sleep—consider it repayment for yesterday.”
I smirked. “You know that saying has a second part, right? The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”
Amber’s eye twitched.
“Don’t give me that lazy excuse.”
Before I could react, she threw a punch—not at me, but at the air.
A blast of fire erupted from her fist, roaring toward me. Instinct kicked in. I raised my hand, and the flames dissipated into nothingness.
Amber clicked her tongue. “Annoying. Your ability is way too convenient.”
She grabbed her sports drink and took a long swig, her prideful demeanor intact.
But beneath that arrogance, I saw something else—resilience.
She had lost.
Badly.
And yet, instead of crumbling, she was already pushing forward, determined to grow stronger.
That’s the kind of strength I need to learn.
The Path to Improvement
“Noah,” Amber said suddenly, “remember when I said you staying here would benefit you?”
I nodded. “Yeah. You said you’d protect me because you felt responsible—”
She cut me off with a wave of her hand.
“I’m not babysitting you forever. You’re here for training.”
My eyebrows shot up.
“Special training?”
“Surprised? I thought you’d whine about it.”
I clenched my fist, feeling a spark of determination.
“I want to get stronger. I want to be better than I was yesterday.”
Amber’s lips curled into a rare, approving smile.
“Good answer. Then we start now.”
The System Behind Strength
As I stretched, Amber posed a question.
“Noah, what do you think is the key to achieving your goals?”
I considered it.
“Doing my best and staying focused?”
“Not enough.” She shook her head. “Pushing yourself blindly leads to burnout. What you need is a system.”
“A habit?”
“Exactly.” She crossed her arms. “Goals without a plan are just wishes. You can’t just add random numbers and hope they equal ten. But if you plan for eight plus two? That’s a guaranteed result.”
I think I get it…
I had been training haphazardly—jogging, push-ups, whatever I felt like—without structure. No wonder my progress felt stagnant.
“I understand… Master Amber.” I bowed dramatically.
She scowled. “Don’t call me that.”
Amber thrust a sheet of paper into my hands.
This Week’s goals
Wake up at 5:00 AM – Make your bed immediately.
Jogging (6:00 AM) – Five laps around the park.
100 Push-ups
100 Sit-ups
Weight Training
Meditation (1 hour)
Clean the Apartment
Groceries
Watch Anime/Movies
Read Novels & Manga
I blinked after reading.
“Why do some things have set times and others don’t?”
“Because you still have school,” she said flatly. “The timed ones are non-negotiable. The rest, you fit into your free time.”
“What if I’m busy?”
Her fist connected with my gut before I could finish the sentence. I doubled over, wheezing.
“Excuses are for losers,” she snapped. “If you want it, you make time.”
I groaned but nodded.
Then I noticed something odd in the list.
“Why anime and manga?”
Amber’s eyes gleamed. “Strategy. Creativity. Imagination. You think real battles are just brute strength? The best fighters adapt—and fiction is full of tactics you’d never consider.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
A Silent Understanding
As we prepared for the day, Amber hesitated before speaking again.
“The curry you made… it was good.”
I grinned. “Thanks. It’s even better fresh. Maybe I’ll make it again sometime.”
“No.” She crossed her arms. “We’re having stir-fried vegetables. Diet is part of your training now.”
I groaned, but I understood. After seeing what we were up against, there was no room for half-measures.
“I’m not backing down,” I said firmly. “I’ll get stronger. That’s a promise.”
Amber turned away, but not before I caught the faintest sweet smile.
And that was all the motivation I needed.
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Chapter 11: Improvement
The alarm clock rings, waking me up.The morning air was still chilly, but the sunlight streaming through my window made my body feel warmer than it should. My muscles ached from yesterday’s work and school, and every fiber of my being longed to stay in bed just a little longer.With a groggy sigh, I pushed myself up and stumbled toward the window, pulling the curtain shut. The room dimmed instantly, the invading light replaced by soothing darkness. Satisfied, I collapsed back onto my bed, burying myself under the sheets.I didn’t want to get up. I wanted to stay home and sleep. Just for today, I wanted a day off.Almost a month had passed since I met Amber and the other girls, and my life had changed in ways I hadn’t expected. Rest had become a luxury. I wasn’t even an official part of their team yet, which meant I wasn’t going on missions with them. Instead, I was stuck doing menial work—cleaning, running errands, and whatever odd jobs they assigned to me.It annoyed me.And yet, de
