"It's a drug known as Kairos Bane, it's made from grinding up Errante Memoria flowers and distilling them down to a powdered form. It gives an addicting high, but prolonged usage of it causes amnesia in its victims."

Shouri and the girls sat on the couch in Wikolia's living room as she dispensed with the explanation.

"It's been a problem here for a while. I'd like to say this is the first time one of these smuggling rings has been busted, but they crop up so fast it's worse than dealing with Scherzando swarms," the elder otter told the younger group.

"At least the cops finally showed up. They were two hours late to class, but I'll give them a point for putting their name on the paper," complained Shouri to himself.

"Why is it called Kairos Bane though? Just a cool name?" Pacifica questioned. "The Book of Kairos is Time Sage Seres' muse. It allows him to view every possible timeline, and therefore know everything that will ever happen," Captain Wik explained.

"Oh, I think get it. Since the drug makes you forget it's like the opposite of the book, right?" Taika guessed.

"Bane used to mean poison. Kairos Bane could mean the poisoning of the Book of Kairos when you look at it like that," Shouri chimed in, though he spoke at the ground rather than facing anyone.

Captain Wik noticed the Maestro's contemplative stare. "What's up, playboy?" she asked.

Shouri curled up on himself as he maintained his ground-cast scowl. "I think… I remember seeing my dad with some of that stuff before." The Maestro shook his head. "It just looks so familiar, especially the KB…" he trailed off. Rebecca and Taika both placed a reassuring hand on his back

The elder otter grunted, leaning against her dining room table. "Kairos Bane does have the same effect on Maestros as it does on Resonators. It's just that Resonators are more susceptible to getting addicted to the stuff."

The boy nodded slowly. "But why would my dad have it?" he questioned quietly.

"Maybe the dude's secretly a druggie?" Rebecca suggested. "Or maybe he just likes the high?" Pacifica added.

"…maybe," he mumbled.

Pacifica knew better – he wasn't convinced. There was something that was shaking him to his core about this whole situation.

She was afraid of what it could be, but…

The young otter balled her fists up tightly. Whatever was going to happen, she would be prepared for it. She could feel it. She was ready.

"Get up."

Pacifica groaned as her eyes cracked open.

Sleep was fleeting, even more so when her instructor was at her bedside kicking her awake at six in the morning.

That was a simple guess based on the way that the sun was just rising for the morning.

"Get up, it's high tide in twenty minutes," said the elder otter. "Okay?" Pacifica groaned, finally sitting up and attempting to rub the sleep from her eyes. "You need to practice. Get up," the elder otter demanded for the third time. "I'm up, I'm up, keep your tail on."

The sleepy otter followed her teacher out of the house and onto the beach.

Sure enough, as promised, the water was at its peak encroachment of the shore. The waves gently crashed over the sand as they always did, uncaring of their invasive behavior. A suitable audience for the two water elements that stood opposite of one another.

"You now understand water, you understand how your rhythm feels within water; now it's time to put it all together," said Captain Wik.

Pacifica still wasn't entirely awake.

THWACK

A watery fist to the abdomen wasn't the wake-up call she asked for but it was the one she got. The winded otter coughed and sputtered as she put some distance between herself and her teacher, rubbing her now sore gut.

Pacifica glared, she knew the theory, she knew the feelings, and now she would be able to wipe that smug grin off of her teacher's mug. She mimicked the motions her teacher made, but…

SPLASH

She just ended up taking another blow of hard water, knocking her off her feet. "Ow…" the girl groaned.

Her tuned-up battle sense kicked in and she rolled out of the way of another attack. "Why?!" she cried out.

No matter how she moved, the water refused to obey.

"What?!"

SMACK SPLASH

Pacifica met the sandy beach once more, her cheek throbbing hard from where she had been struck. She wasn't allowed to dwell on what just happened as she was forced to make distance again, scrambling away from yet another water-based strike.

"Why?!" cried the frustrated girl.

Her teacher remained silent, continuing the fierce assault. Pacifica could do nothing but dodge, falling back on Rebecca's training.

Frustration mounted, though she buried it in her gut – there was no time for her to let those emotions take the wheel. Captain Wik was throwing everything into each attack – she wasn't holding back any longer. Each blow hurt. That woman could break bones with her water, Pacifica could feel it in her rhythm. If she wasn't blessed with being born a Resonator, she would have been screaming in pain, that much was certain.

Rebecca of the past would keep her safe. Her level-headed judgment and movements – that's what Pacifica needed right now.

Don't waste a move. Keep your eyes on your target. Maintain situational awareness. Expect the unexpected.

Step step step

This was comfortable, this was right. Channeling the love of her fiery companion quelled the raging anger in her heart. Warm tranquility – this is what allowed her to dodge actual lightning. In this state, everything was so slow, even Captain Wik's brutal assault was child's play to avoid when she cleared her mind and focused.

Splash splash splash

Water tickled her feet as she continued her backward march. There was no advantage to this, however, as Pacifica spotted Captain Wik grabbing the rolling waves continue her assault.

Before she knew it, another whip of water lashed out. But in that moment, it clicked. Pacifica stepped around the attack, and threw her hands out, hovering over the extended liquid. In one motion, she spun and re-directed the attack back and the one who launched it.

THWACK

The movement was so natural, so fast, it smacked Wikolia square in the face. The master didn't flinch, she continued her aggression. Two, three, four whips were not enough. Pacifica stole them all with elegance and grace, returning the packages of pain back to their sender. Wikolia spent more energy on the dismissal of her own attacks than sending new ones.

Even so, Pacifica spun and moved her arms like elegant waves. She was a conductor of an orchestra of water. Where she had once been on the back foot, the tide had shifted. Now she controlled the flow of battle, throwing some water of her own back at the previous aggressor.

THWACK THWACK THWACK

Wikolia was on the retreat, using her water to repel the assault Pacifica was throwing her way.

Pacifica was the only one allowed to grace the stage, the old guard needed to exit.

THWACK THWACK THWACK

Wikolia was thrown onto her back. Without a word, Pacifica bowed to the invisible audience, who erupted behind her in a violent applause of sea spray.

"What did you feel?" "Huh?" "That feeling. That's your water."

The trainee only then realized what she had done. "I did it?" Pacifica looked at her hands in disbelief. What she had felt in that moment…

Elegance, beauty, strength… Rebecca. She felt like Rebecca was guiding her movements. It was strange, but she couldn't say she hated it. With a swish and a flick of her wrist, she drew up the water from the sea still rolling at her feet. But two fingers were all that she needed to make it circle her.

Just like Taika, it was all in her head. She wanted to see beautiful things; she wanted to be beautiful and elegant as she fought.

That's what Wikolia was trying to tell her – she can't force it; she can't subjugate it. Though Wikolia wasn't wrong about the proper mentality: Pacifica was the Maestro to her water. Framing it that way, she would never accept being a Maestro who crushed those under her.

It was only natural that such brutality would fail her.

In that way, she made it work by dancing with the water, they were one in the same. They fought as partners, together.

With a giggle, she sent the trapped water above her head and allowed it to burst, raining down from the heavens.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The sound of a singular applause reached the young otter, she looked to the beach wall and found Rebecca sitting on the edge, clapping at the performance.

Pacifica couldn't help but smile and once more bowed, muttering a small thank you to her first combat instructor.

She felt a little silly having taken so long to reach this point, but the warmth from her bond with Rebecca told her this was correct.

The awe Pacifica felt from the loves of her life warmed her heart. Her confidence had been restored, that much she knew. It showed in her rhythm, with nothing to say of her movement. Water flowed effortlessly around the room, circling her friends as she commanded it with wave-like motions.

Her performance ended where it started – the tall glass sitting on Wikolia's coffee table.

The otter couldn't help but play up the theatrics, bowing as she completed her performance. It only made the subsequent applause from those she cherished most all the sweeter.

"That was so cool Paci!" Taika beamed. "Really cool!" Rebecca added "I suppose it was worth it to come here then." Shouri glanced at the teacher of his precious otter.

Wikolia shrugged. "What can I say? My methods work," boasted the elder otter, her smirk as wide as the ocean.

"It wouldn't hurt to let Paci practice for a few days-" Shouri's planning session was cut short by the ring of his tuner.

A glance of the caller ID showed it was Emily. He took a deep breath before accepting the call. "Please tell me you're just worried about us," Shouri answered, unfounded hope in his voice.

"Welllllll, kinda?" Emily's tone killed the last vestiges of hope Shouri had. "Just tear the bandage off. How bad is it?" asked the guildmaster. "Uhhh, we have our very first resident," the vice-guildmaster began. "Of course we do," Shouri groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So, what happened?"

"She came in here demanding to speak to the manager." "And? That's you right now." "Yeah, she said I was cute, but not what she was looking for." "That would be?" "And I quote: 'a man and rhythm that'll drive me crazy'."

The room was silent as confusion infected the masses. "Okay," Shouri said bluntly. "I assume by calling her a resident that means you checked her in?" the guildmaster got back to business.

"Yeah. She's in room ten. Klein is fast-tracking the MA Office people to get the room renovated tonight so it's more comfortable for her – I approved paying with the guild funds," Emily explained.

"Good, that's good." Shouri nodded. "I guess just let her stay for the moment. Make sure she doesn't starve to death." "Got it!" "We'll start heading back soon. Pacifica finished her training, so it works out I guess." "Sounds good, see you in a couple of days." "See ya!"

Shouri sighed, pulling the tuner away from his ear.

"What's wrong, bossman?" asked Rebecca. "I have a nasty feeling about our new resident," he grumbled.

"I never did ask; what do you people even do for a living? I feel like you're not just normal hunters or duelists." Wikolia pointed at the quartet.

Shouri and his three partners looked between one another.

"Did we never mention it?" asked Rebecca. "I don't think so," Taika hummed. "Sho doesn't like his title." Pacifica smirked, elbowing the boy.

"Right." Shouri straightened his back. "We're Pruned Trees Re-Sprout, a Resonator aid guild. We take in Resonators who are between Maestros and match them with a Maestro that fits what they want to do."

Wikolia raised a brow. "Why have I never heard of you then?" she asked skeptically.

"Well, we did only become official like a month ago," Pacifica replied. "And apparently we've only just taken in our first case today," Shouri grumbled, glancing at his tuner.

"Huh." The elder otter sat back in her recliner. "What's wrong with that?" asked Rebecca.

The older Resonator leaned her head back, staring at the ceiling. "I think it's too late for me," she mumbled. "But whelps like you three… I think you deserve a good home like you've found," she whispered.

The room was silent for a moment. "If you leave now, you can make the evening ferry to Cantefino," Wikolia told them.

Pacifica stood, understanding the implication. "Let's go," said the otter to her companions.

As the three girls left to pack their bags, Shouri remained with Wikolia. "How much do I owe you?" he asked.

"Idiot," snapped back Wikolia. "You did plenty. Busting up that operation is good enough, but you did plenty of other jobs for me. I'll handle the rest." "You sure?" "Despite how it may appear, I'm not alone, playboy."

Shouri decided not to pry any further and rose from his seat. "I don't have business cards yet, but we're in the guild registry if you ever change your mind."

The otter's lips rose. "I'll keep that in mind, Shouri."

"Same arrangement on the way back?" asked Rebecca as she navigated their rental car through the streets of Salegio City.

"Yeah, that sounds good. I'll have to call the Cantefino MA Office to see if they can arrange a rental for us when we get there. Don't want to deal with it at midnight o'clock," Shouri replied.

Pacifica meanwhile was nose-deep in her tuner, her eyes darting up and down the pages she was scrolling.

"You're really focused," noted Taika, after catching a glimpse of her fellow Resonator's concentration.

"I need a water bottle!" she declared. "You do? Don't we have one at home?" Taika raised a brow. "No no, they make special water bottles for people with my ad-Lib. They have ones with rhythm-sensitive lids that open if you try to grab the water with Pioggia Fragole so you can quickly have access to your water for fighting," Pacifica explained. "Oh, like my beads?" "Exactly!"

Shouri smiled, adjusting the mirror on the passenger side visor to look at Pacifica. "Don't go too crazy," he advised. "I won't!" she sang back.

Returning the rental was easy. So was boarding the ferry back to Cantefino. The evening ferry got them back to the Lyberteran mainland by around eleven at night.

"God I need a vacation," groaned Shouri as they piled into their room at the MA Office. "It feels like we never get a real break," Rebecca joined in with her Maestro's complaining. "Dormire…" Taika yawned, flopping face down into the bed. "Shower, I'll try to be quick," Pacifica announced, fluttering into the bathroom.

To say everything about her recent mood had been solved was an understatement. Pacifica felt amazing. She disrobed and started the shower. The water felt marvelous. Even more, playtime suddenly became practice time.

She had new and exciting excuses to take more showers. The otter hummed a tune from an old game she enjoyed as she danced in the tight space of the shower, conducting the water while cleaning herself all at the same time.

It was fun, it was incredible. It was just what she needed to cap off the whirlwind of events that had made up her day.

There was the wish that they could have stayed on Salegio Island for longer, but Shouri's itchy curiosity inspired her own desire to know who exactly was crashing in their humble little guild hall.

A new game Pacifica invented in this exact moment was "Can I move it?" which consisted of her attempting to reach out and grab a liquid to see if her ad-Lib worked on it.

Liquid soap fell into the "no" camp of this activity. She could feel the water content, but trying to move it felt like trying to lift a mountain. No matter how she attempted to manipulate it, the bottle didn't even move.

She put some into her hand, thinking perhaps her rhythm wasn't penetrating the plastic bottle. Even freed from its prison, the liquid soap refused to move. Additionally, she discovered that her control over water wasn't as precise as Taika's control over her beads. She could make wide sweeping moves, but she couldn't perform the same feats her trainer did.

There was just enough control for her to be considered proficient in her ad-Lib, but not the level of control she would have liked.

Deep breaths. She dismissed the negative feelings, a simple feat given she was in a healthier state of mind. Practice made perfect. She would get there eventually. Maybe she could spend some time with Taika to get the hang of that spatial awareness thing that she remembered hearing Taika and Shouri talk about.

Either way, Pacifica was happy playing with her water, resuming her showery dance of one.

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