Chapter 34: Testimony

The team emerged from the dungeon entrance, their gear slightly singed but spirits high after a successful clear. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grocery store parking lot where the dungeon appeared, the air thick with the scent of ozone and wet pavement.

Ethan wiped sweat from his brow, his expression far from triumphant despite the team’s victory. “I still can’t believe I couldn’t channel anything in there,” he muttered, frustration etched into every word.

Penny nudged him with her shoulder, a small smile playing at her lips.The late afternoon sun warmed Penny’s skin as she stepped closer to Ethan, the heat of her body radiating against his arm. She could feel the tension coiled in his muscles, see the way his fingers flexed at his sides, restless and uncertain. The scent of charred fabric from their gear mingled with the damp earth beneath their boots, a reminder of the battle they’d just survived.

Penny nudged him with her shoulder, the contact firm enough to ground him, her smile small but genuine. “Come on, don’t beat yourself up over this,” she said, her voice light despite the gravity of their conversation. The breeze carried the faintest hint of rain, cooling the sweat that still clung to her skin.

Ethan shook his head, his jaw set. “That’s just it—it’s not something I can rely on if I can’t control it. Every second I spend struggling to master this is another chance someone could get hurt because I couldn’t perform.”

The team fell silent, the weight of Ethan’s words hanging heavy in the air. They understood his frustration, shared it even, but none of them wanted to pressure him further.

Alice broke the silence first, her voice gentle but firm. “You’ve got a point, Ethan. But what you bring to the table is already more than enough.”

Ethan shook his head again, more vehement this time. “When we get to C-rank, that won’t be enough. We’ll need every advantage we can get, and right now, I’m flying blind with this ability.”

Mei tilted her head slightly, her eyes thoughtful as she studied Ethan. “Maybe it’s tied to how long we’ve been bonded? Your entire class works around the bond, it’s possible we simply haven’t been bonded long enough for that ability to manifest consistently.”

Ethan considered Mei’s words, his expression thoughtful. “That ... makes sense. I mean, my other abilities have all been tied to the strength of our bonds. Why would this be any different?”

Penny grinned, her usual enthusiasm returning in full force. “See? Progress! Now we just need to figure out how to speed up that bonding process. Maybe we need to try using Imbue more than once daily again,” she joked while wagging her eyebrows.

Alice rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Great. So now we’re all just going to have to spend even more time with Ethan?”

Ethan laughed, the tension finally breaking. “Don’t worry, Alice. I promise not to take up too much of your precious time.”