The sun rose over Novaria, the jewel in Luminia's crown bathed in early morning light. The city buzzed with mounting excitement as the New Light Festival preparations entered their final month. Colorful banners and lanterns adorned every street corner, the decorations transforming even Bazel Hospital's austere facade into something more festive, with delicate paper ornaments hanging in the entrance hall and along the corridors.

  Angelo woke with determined energy coursing through him, his injuries protesting but unable to dampen his newfound resolve. The starched hospital sheets rustled as he rose, his movements carrying purpose born from fresh goals and the will to achieve them. The antiseptic smell of the hospital surrounded him as he navigated the maze-like corridors, searching for a specific room number.

  "Your wounds have barely begun to heal," Blue's voice carried measured concern through their shared consciousness. "Are you certain you're ready for the rigors of training?"

  Angelo's steps remained steady, his conviction evident in his voice. "We don't have the luxury of waiting. If I'm going to reach the level of an Arch Tournament champion, I need to push beyond normal limits." He closed his eyes, memories of Bill's final words lending weight to his resolve. "Whether it takes four times the effort or eight - I'll do whatever it takes."

  "Your determination is admirable," Blue conceded, his analytical tone tinged with worry. "But there's a fine line between pushing limits and self-destruction. Reopened wounds could set your training back by weeks."

  A cunning smirk played across Angelo's features as his bandages pulled tight with each step. "That's the beauty of our evolved state - Forged Energy can seal any wounds instantly. Besides, you and Red can't bleed out. If I push too far, you can always drag my unconscious body back here."

  "Clever exploitation of our unique circumstances," Blue acknowledged with philosophical resignation. "Though perhaps tempting death's attention isn't the wisest training strategy."

  Angelo's voice echoed softly in the empty corridor, his frustration evident. "This condition already holds me back enough - might as well take advantage of its few benefits."

  Their conversation was interrupted by Red's disgusted mental cry. His smoky form, wandering as usual, had discovered the less appealing side of hospital operations. "Sweet merciful cosmos - you would not believe the horrors lurking in this kitchen! And they call this place sanitary?"

  "Consider it karma for your trespassing habits," Angelo thought with dry amusement. "Let that mental image haunt you."

  "Joke's on you," Red snickered, his mental voice dripping with mischief. "You do realize those nightmares end up on your dinner tray, right? Besides, you're hardly one to talk about trespassing - what exactly are you doing prowling these halls?"

  Angelo's footsteps echoed against the polished floor as he countered, "There's a slight difference between walking through public corridors and your explorations of restricted areas." His eyes caught sight of his destination. "Here we are."

  Room 404 loomed before him, the numbers gleaming dully in the morning light. Taking a deep breath that made his healing wounds twinge, Angelo pushed open the door.

  "So there I was," Axel's eyes gleamed with mischief as he leaned forward, "the commander screaming what sounded like his mom's secret recipe on my right, a whole pack of enemies doing their best angry hornet impression on my left... and me? All I had were two blades that couldn't even cut through warm butter! But I-"

  The scene that greeted him was unexpectedly animated. Axel's voice cut off mid-story, his scarred face lighting up with curiosity. "Well, what have we here? An unexpected visitor?"

  Sleeser's familiar chuckle filled the room, his spiky yellowish-orange hair catching the light. "Ah, perfect timing for introductions. Axel, meet my most challenging student to date. Angelo, this is Axel - one of the finest warriors in my squad, though don't let him hear me say that."

  "The infamous student himself!" Axel's enthusiasm radiated as he grinned. "Sleeser's told us plenty about you - though he neglected to mention you were more than just trouble!"

  Angelo shifted uncomfortably under the attention, feeling suddenly out of his depth. "I... appreciate the welcome. Though I'm sure Sleeser exaggerates."

  "Angelo," Force's gentle voice carried its usual quiet strength. "It's good to see you standing again. Recent events had us concerned."

  "Force," Angelo acknowledged, surprised to find the calm warrior here as well. "Good to see you too."

  Squaring his shoulders, Angelo tried to focus on his purpose. "Sleeser, there's something important I need to discuss-"

  "Discussions can wait!" Axel interrupted, gesturing enthusiastically to a nearby chair. "You've got perfect timing - I was just getting to the good part of this story. Trust me, you'll want to hear how this ends!"

  Angelo's eyes sought Sleeser's, finding amused approval in his mentor's nod. With barely concealed reluctance, he moved toward the offered chair, his original purpose temporarily derailed by hospital room camaraderie.

  The morning light filtered through the hospital window as Axel regaled them with increasingly outrageous stories from his service, his animated gestures and infectious laughter filling the sterile room with warmth. His tales gradually shifted from epic battles to good-natured roasting of his squad leader.

  "Say Angelo," Axel leaned forward conspiratorially, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "bet you didn't know Sleeser isn't even his first name. It's actually Ju-" He cut off abruptly as Sleeser's expression transformed into something Angelo had never witnessed before - a look so stern it could have frozen fire.

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  "My whole life has been a lie!" Angelo exclaimed, his own troubles momentarily forgotten in the face of this revelation. "Come on, now I really have to know!" His eyes darted between mentor and squad member like a spectator at a tennis match.

  Sleeser ran a hand down his face, his usual confidence cracking slightly. "Axel..." His voice carried a warning edge. "We had an agreement about this."

  "Oh come on," Axel's grin widened as he gestured toward Angelo. "The kid's practically family at this point, right?"

  Angelo nodded eagerly, trying not to look too much like an excited puppy.

  A deep sigh escaped Sleeser, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "It's... Julius," he muttered, the name seeming to pain him physically.

  Red's laughter exploded through their shared consciousness with enough force to make Angelo wince. "HAHAHA JULIUS SLEESER! You can't make this shit up! It's like something out of a bad historical drama!"

  "Julius?" Angelo repeated, tasting the unfamiliar name. "Julius Sleeser?"

  "Yes, yes," Sleeser waved a hand dismissively, his spiky hair seeming to droop with his embarrassment. "I know it sounds like something from those ancient nobility chronicles. Hence why I go by Sleeser."

  "Have you considered, um..." Angelo searched for a diplomatic way to phrase it, "legally modifying it?"

  Sleeser's expression softened, a hint of fondness creeping in. "It's my grandfather's name. Mother would be heartbroken. Besides," he added with a wry smile, "she doesn't need to know most people just call me Sleeser."

  The conversation might have continued, but movement caught Angelo's eye - Red's crimson smoke was seeping through the window cracks like blood through water. His essence coalesced behind Axel's chair, taking on solid form with predatory grace.

  "Axel, behi-" Angelo's warning died in his throat as Axel's deep blue aura erupted to life with devastating speed. In the space between heartbeats, Red's materialized form was cleaved in two, his essence dissolving back into smoke that rushed toward Angelo like a crimson tide.

  Axel's entire demeanor had transformed, his earlier joviality replaced by lethal focus. His aura crackled with barely contained power as he scanned the window. "Stay sharp," he commanded, his voice carrying the weight of battlefield experience. "We've got company."

  Sleeser and Angelo exchanged knowing looks before their gazes drifted to Force, who merely offered his characteristic gentle smile in return.

  "Actually..." Angelo cleared his throat awkwardly, "there's nothing to worry about. Well, unless you count Red's wounded pride."

  Axel's confusion was evident in the way his aura flickered. "Come again?"

  "That was... partially my fault. Though Red really should know better by now." Angelo's attempt at explanation only deepened Axel's bewilderment.

  With a resigned sigh, Angelo gestured for Axel to power down. "Just deactivate your aura. It'll be easier to show you." Once Axel complied, Angelo spoke again: "Blue?"

  Azure smoke spiraled up beside him, condensing into another gray-tinted version of Angelo. The sight made Axel's jaw drop.

  "What in the name of..." Axel blinked rapidly. "So this was just some failed prank attempt?"

  "I'm afraid the situation is rather more complex," Blue replied, his cultured tones so different from Angelo's that Axel did a double-take. "I am Blue, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. The entity you dispatched with such impressive efficiency was Red, our more... spirited counterpart."

  Axel turned to Sleeser, his expression helpless. "I am completely lost here."

  Sleeser's laughter filled the room. "Now this is priceless! Red, wherever you are, you've accomplished something I thought impossible - you've actually confused Axel!"

  "I live to serve," Red's mental voice dripped with theatrical humility as his essence performed an elaborate salute that only Angelo and Blue could sense. "Though I must say, some appreciation for my sacrifices is long overdue."

  Angelo cut through the moment, wanting to clear up Axel's obvious confusion. "Look, the short version is that my body's energy somehow split into three distinct parts - myself, Red, and Blue. We share an existence, and they can manifest independently at will. Red just happens to use that ability primarily for chaos and pranks. Though," he added with grudging admiration, "I don't think any of us expected that level of reaction speed."

  "No kidding!" Red's internal voice carried genuine awe. "I didn't even get to my signature 'BOO!' before he turned me into a smoke show. Talk about stealing my thunder!"

  Sleeser seized upon the moment of levity, clearly grateful for any distraction from his name revelation. "Speaking of impressive displays," he said, steering the conversation in a safer direction, "what actually brought you here this morning? Something tells me it wasn't just to uncover my true identity."

  The morning sunlight caught the determination in Angelo's eyes. "Right. I need to take my training to the next level. Figured you'd know the best approach."

  Sleeser's posture shifted subtly, his playful demeanor giving way to the measured authority of a seasoned instructor. "Now that you've evolved, your priority should be acclimation. Think of your evolved state as a new baseline - it needs to become as natural as breathing."

  "I don't follow," Angelo frowned, his bandages pulling tight as he leaned forward. "I've already got the hang of my Forged Energy. The applications are practically second nature."

  Blue interjected. "I believe you're missing the underlying principle," he observed, his voice carrying its characteristic analytical energy. "Consider our battle with Jill - the fight was relatively brief, yet you collapsed immediately after victory. Blood loss was certainly a factor, but the rapid stamina depletion from your evolved state was equally significant."

  "Full marks, Blue," Sleeser's eyes gleamed with approval. "Couldn't have explained it better myself."

  Understanding dawned in Angelo's expression. "So there's a way to reduce the stamina drain? To make it more efficient?"

  "Exactly," Sleeser nodded, his spiky hair catching the light. "With proper training, you can optimize your evolved state until it demands no more energy than your standard aura. That's when it truly becomes your new normal." He paused for dramatic effect, a mischievous glint returning to his eye. "And the method to achieve this is... meditation!"

  Sleeser's theatrical revelation fell flat as Angelo merely raised an eyebrow, prompting a look of betrayal from his mentor. "What happened to the kid who'd throw a fit at the mere mention of sitting still?"

  "Police training involved plenty of meditation," Angelo shrugged, his mature response clearly throwing Sleeser off balance. "I'm not that impulsive kid anymore."

  "You're taking all the fun out of this," Sleeser pouted, though pride flickered beneath his disappointment. "But there is a crucial difference here. You'll need to maintain your evolved state during meditation - let your body adapt to its new potential. And don't neglect your physical training," he added, his voice taking on a sterner edge. "Spiritual growth without physical foundation is like a house built on sand."

  "Right," Angelo nodded, rising from his chair with newfound purpose. Then a smirk played across his face. "Thanks for the guidance... Julius."

  Sleeser's eye twitched at the name, the power dynamic between mentor and student shifting palpably. "I'm already regretting this day," he muttered, running a hand through his spiky hair.

  Blue's form began to dissolve into azure mist. "It has been enlightening," he offered politely before streaming back into Angelo's body.

  "See you around," Angelo's farewell carried a hint of playful threat as he turned to leave. The morning sun painted long shadows across the hospital floor as he made his way to check out, his mind already mapping out training scenarios. His injuries still ached beneath their bandages, but the pain seemed distant compared to the burning drive that pushed him forward.