"They are coming for us."

"I know. I can feel it."

"They'll destroy us."

"No. They can't. They will only be able to fight or work with us."

"They will fight us both to the brink of death!"

"No. Only one of us will fall."

"And which one of us shall rise?"

"It's impossible to say."

"Then guess!"

"Only time will tell."

"And why is that?!"

"Because only they are capable of making that choice for themself. They will have to make a choice."

"And if they make the wrong choice?"

"There is no right choice or wrong choice."

"Then how will they know which choice to make?!"

"They will know deep in their heart of hearts whether they must follow the darkness or the light."

"And what if we fight back?"

"They will be too strong."

"Then let's fight them now!"

"No. We can't. Then we will both perish along with them."

"Then why don't I kill you now so they have no choice but to let me live?!"

"Because one of us cannot survive without the other. You are their darkness. I am their light. You can't tell if a room is dark if light doesn't exist because everything would be dark, just as you wouldn't be able to tell if a room is light if dark doesn't exist, because everything would be light. We need each other whether we like it or not."

"And if they don't like it?"

"They can't do any more about it than we can. They can't kill us. They can only fight us or work with us."

"This is madness! I want to be let out!"

"In time, my dear friend. In time, when they grow stronger, you will get your turn in the spotlight."

"Yes. And I will bring devastation in my wake."

~•~

I had agreed to stick around on one condition; I was allowed to make use of a few of the sweet training set ups they had around here. I was allowed to use training dummies and targets and while that was pretty much it it was still better than nothing. I haven't been able to have a decent training session in ages. Well, I say ages, I actually mean since the day before the forest fire.

I'm not allowed to use their holograms or giant deadly obstacle course, though. I wish I could, it looks fun. Heck, I could probably complete the obstacle course with my eyes closed! But apparently I'm not allowed to exert myself, so they don't let me use it. Yay... note the sarcasm, of course.

Sprocket was surprised but relieved about my lack of resistance. She kept working on me for a while to make sure everything was looking okay (she used weird goggles despite having other ones on her head. She said these ones would help her figure out if anything was wrong or whatever) for a while.

"You look fine, as far as everything's going," she told me eventually. "You'll need to rest now, though, it's getting pretty late."

"Are you going to make me sleep no matter what I say?" I ask. "Well, That was the plan," she nodded. "Then you're lucky I'm tired," I shrug. "Come on, then," she laughed. "I'll show you where you're staying."

By 'come on' she apparently meant 'I'll take you there myself', because the sort of table thing I was on started moving. She was pushing the wheeled thing along with me perched on top. I held on carefully to the sides to make sure I didn't fall off.

When we arrived at a house, I was greeted by a dragon, a goth elf, a skull in a bubble, a girl on roller skates and some sort of living wind up toy. The heck?

"Alright, guys, this is the dragon I was telling you about," Sprocket says to them, coming into my field of vision. She starts gesturing at them all. "Vexelle, this is Cynder, Hex and Skull, Roller Brawl and Wind-Up. They're some of the cadets. Everyone, this is Vexelle."

"Hi!" Cynder is the first to greet me, coming over and inspecting me. I examine her aura for a moment before smiling slightly. "Uh, hey. I'm just gonna pretend like I have any idea what's going on right now."

Sprocket chuckled. "These guys have the only spare room that's actually usable on such short notice. You're gonna need it." "You don't have to waste space on me, I can always sleep outside or something," I object, but Sprocket shakes her head. "Nope. Here it is."

I huff, knowing that in my weak state I can't do anything about it, so I just settle for taking her excess aura and having a good smirk about it. Serves her right, not letting me get a word in edgeways about my own life.

I kind of zone out while Sprocket talks with everyone, but the next thing I know Hex is wheeling me to the stairs. Roller Brawl hits a button on the wall that flattens out the stairs to make them become a ramp. I'm assuming this was added so she could roll up and down as she pleased.

Hex wheels me upstairs. "Sorry the room is kinda plain," she apologises beforehand. "We kinda had to throw the bed together last minute." "Hey, I'm used to living in a cave, anything's a step up," I say. "Anything works for me."

Hex wheeled me into a room. There was literally just a bed, but... wow. Leaves have nothing on this. Without any warning, Hex scoops me up and lays me out on the bed for me. "How do you like it?" She asks.

"This is literally the comfiest thing I have ever laid on," I reply, making her laugh. "I'm glad you like it. Sprocket told me I have to make sure you sleep now, so I'll be back in a few hours, alright?"

I groan. "I'm convinced she's making me sleep just because she wants to be a jerk." Hex just laughs again and leaves, but not before drawing the curtains and turning out the lights, leaving the room in moderate darkness. I sigh and decide I might as well just try to sleep.