A new week begins in Guarly. It is Tuesday, ten in the morning, and through a second-floor window a fair-skinned man with long brown hair takes a long drag from his cigarette while gazing at the city traffic with striking calm. More smoke leaves his mouth as he looks back inside the office, making sure he has finished all his paperwork. He glances at the other desk—his new partner still hasn't shown up. He sighs, looks up at the sky, and takes another drag.
Footsteps approach from the other side of the door. He quickly exhales, leaves his cigarette on the outer ledge of the window, and sits down. The door opens, revealing a fair-skinned man with black hair and light blue eyes, wearing a shirt, a blue tie, and formal trousers.
Matias (looking at the ceiling): "You're late, rookie."
The other man walks to his desk, opens a drawer, takes out a laptop, and looks at Surgiri with a hint of resentment. He then notices the open window.
Jason: "How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke that crap in here?"
He walks to the window and tosses the cigarette outside. Welter watches with tired eyes, pulls a small case from the pocket of his brown leather jacket, lights a new cigarette, and exhales a thick cloud of smoke.
Matias: "Hey, cigarettes are expensive. You'll have to buy me new ones, rookie."
The black-haired man's left eye twitches slightly at his partner's attitude. He apologizes, sits down, and tells Matias to smoke by the window at least. Matias, without much fuss, turns back to the city, lost in thought.
The other detective—his desk neat and spotless, unlike his partner's chaotic mess of papers, spilled coffee cups, and an overflowing trash can—asks:
Jason: "Have you finished the reports on your cases?"
Matias (smoking): "Yeah. Now I'm waiting to see if there's any trace of the third truck we stopped—so we can find out who's sending them and where."
Jason (typing): "You're taking credit, Welter. Neither you nor the police stopped those trucks—it was the vigilantes. I still don't understand why they aren't being hunted. When civilians take justice into their own hands, it only leads to chaos."
Matias (exhaling smoke): "As long as the media says it was the police, people stay calm. Besides, after everything that's happened this year, they're necessary."
Jason (resting his chin on his hand): "You say that very calmly. And it's suspicious that you're always the first to arrive when something involving them happens—almost like you know them… or are one of them."
Matias (smoking): "Maybe. All I know is that for now they're not doing anything truly dangerous, so they're not a concern."
Jason (closing his laptop): "You're too trusting."
Matias (exhaling): "A little. But for now, things are peaceful."
He finishes his cigarette and tosses it into his partner's trash can. "Well, I'm off—my shift's over."
Detective Surgiri opens the door, greeting a woman with blonde hair in a bun, glasses, and a lab coat as he leaves. Jason walks on, taking a light-blue folder, opening it and reading aloud:
"…Marcelo Álvarez. Let's see if this matches your modus operandi—or the one you taught your nephews…"
At the entrance of the Sejuk mansion, a light-brown–haired athlete laughs after sending a message to his friend: "When were you planning to tell me you like my best friend?"
Noah replies instantly: "Why do you care who I like or don't like?! 😡😡😡"
Still laughing, Gregorio pockets his phone and knocks. The door opens quickly—revealing the Italian chef hiding behind a large potted plant. Gregorio blinks in surprise.
Gregorio (laughing): "Mario, what are you doing?"
The mustached man checks both sides of the entrance, then grabs the fifteen-year-old by the arm and whispers urgently:
Mario: "Giovane gentiluomo, you chose a terrible day to come looking for Miss Francesca. You must leave—now!"
At that moment, Alexandre appears, greeting Gregorio politely.
Alexandre: "Hello, Gregorio. How is your father?"
Gregorio: "Busy as always."
Alexandre (laughing): "Naturally. Running a multinational company must be exhausting."
Gregorio (hand on his chin): "So what's with Mario?"
Alexandre (smiling): "My sister's coming today. Jerome's birthday is tomorrow, and… well, she tends to be overly affectionate."
Gregorio (looking at the staff): "Is that why there are only women working today?"
Alexandre (nodding): "More like the whole week."
Gregorio: "Then why didn't Mario do the same?"
Mario (dead serious, still behind the pot): "I haven't missed a single day of work in twenty years. I will not let Signora Carmen change that."
Someone coughs behind them. They all turn to see the blonde girl.
Francesca: "Let's go, Greg. I don't plan on being late."
As they open the door, they nearly collide with a striking woman—dark brown hair with blonde roots, a voluptuous figure, denim jacket, tight dark-blue jeans, black ankle boots, a green tank top, dark sunglasses, and a deep-purple pendant. She looks serious—until she meets her niece's emotionless gaze. Instantly, she drops her bag and rushes forward, hugging Francesca tightly.
Francesca barely reacts, patting her back, clearly more interested in leaving for Celeritas. Carmen pulls back and pinches her cheeks affectionately, showing an unmistakably tender bond.
When Carmen notices Gregorio, she hugs him as well—burying his face in her chest. The boy blushes and pales as she slyly pinches his backside. Alexandre and Francesca's father remain stone-faced. Alexandre looks toward Mario's plant—both chef and plant are gone.
How does someone that big move that fast? he wonders.
Francesca grabs Gregorio by the arm and pulls him free, heading out. He scratches his neck, blushing, thinking, O-oh… now I get why Mario was acting like that.
From behind them, Carmen shouts: "It's not fair, Fran! You should've told me he was your boyfriend!"
Alexandre (flat): "Yeah. Sure."
Carmen (grinning mischievously): "Hey, little brother—where's that sexy cook of yours?"
Alexandre (walking toward the kitchen): "No idea."
Meanwhile, Mario hides in the bushes, praying his predator doesn't find him.
At Forte, Emily sits on a bench in the courtyard, lost in thought.
Which type of Fiu should I train? Raw is the easiest, but it doesn't increase much. Positive is the middle ground, but using it in combat requires maintaining positive emotions… and Dark—no. That would be awful.
Her mind drags her back to the place where she was abused. She grips her arm, trembling, remembering how she ensured her attacker's end. The violation of her very being makes a tear slip from her right eye.
Alexa and Leslie exit the building after their exam. Seeing Emily, the redhead runs over and hugs her warmly, leaving Alexa behind. When the green-eyed girl approaches, she realizes the hug has turned into comfort. Emily forces a smile.
"I'm fine, I promise, Les."
Alexa understands. She places her left hand on Emily's shoulder, looks her in the eyes, and says softly:
"Emily, whatever happens, we'll be here for you. We're your friends."
The forced smile becomes a little more genuine.
At the same time, on the school rooftop, Tyron sketches—having just aced an exam. He struggles to give the figure's hair a vivid golden tone, then switches to a blue pencil to detail the eyes—deep, soulful. He starts on the lips—sweet, beautiful—but suddenly drops the pencil, crumples the page, and throws it among nearly fifty other paper balls.
He stares at the sky.
Why do you do this to me? Why does even drawing you make me want to see you?
Memories flood back—the photo in the forest with their master. He tries to analyze why he's attracted to Francesca. Failing, he punches the ground in frustration.
What is it about you?!
Images rush through his mind: her strict command in battle, her teasing smile, the times she stopped him from doing something reckless, and when she tried to talk about her feelings during the portrait incident.
Smiling softly, he thinks, I shouldn't think about you this much. If you found out, you'd be angry and call it harassment.
He finds his unfinished sketch of Alexa and resumes, carefully shaping her bright, kind eyes. He darkens the background, lighting her figure—until footsteps echo. He hurriedly gathers the scattered papers, but before he can hide his sketchbook, the door opens.
It's Tamara.
Tamara (smiling, hands behind her back): "Hi, Ty!"
Tyron (relieved): "Oh—hey. What are you doing here?"
Tamara: "I… wanted to see how you were."
Tyron (smiling, grabbing his sketchbook): "I'm good. You?"
Tamara: "Good. What were you doing up here?"
Tyron: "Thinking. Relaxing."
Tamara: "About what?"
Tyron: "Stuff. Anyway, I'm heading out. Want to come?"
Tamara (beaming): "Of course!"
That afternoon, the four gather with their master on the combat platform. Seated on their knees, they prepare to declare which aspect of their internal energy they'll train. Jayden claps—time's up.
Emily stands first, steels herself, and steps forward.
"I'll train my Negative Fiu."
Jayden looks surprised but says nothing, creating a clay clone and motioning for her to follow.
Alexa stands next, calm and confident.
"I'll train the Positive side."
Jayden rolls his eyes. "What a surprise…"
Another clay clone appears. Before Jayden can speak, Tyron blurts out:
"Wait! I want to train that side too!"
Jayden nods. The two leave with the clone, disappearing into the forest.
Francesca hesitates, thinking. Jayden snaps:
"ARE YOU GOING TO SAY IT OR WHAT?!"
She flinches, sighs, then steps forward.
"I'll train Pure Fiu. It may not give me quantity, but you said control and quantity are separate. With enough control, I don't need overwhelming power. Am I right?"
Jayden nods, creates a third clone, and tells her to stay. The real Jayden heads to the porch, pouring himself a steaming cup of tea.
Emily and the clone reach a cave. Torches ignite with a snap. They descend.
"To begin Dark Fiu training," the clone says, "you must summon negative emotions. The worse you feel, the more energy you gain. One tip—find an anchor, something that lets you see the light. Ready?"
Emily nods.
Two fingers tap her forehead. The clone takes her hand. The world darkens. Rock turns to asphalt. The hand vanishes.
Whispers crawl across her skin. A wall blocks her path. Light flares behind her—Boris lunges, smiling. She dodges, but he grabs her ankle and kicks her into darkness. A delicate hand clamps around her throat—Valeria emerges, flicking her away with a finger.
Then Erinios fires. Emily twists, the shot grazing her shoulder.
Memories flood back. Her attacker appears. She screams, strikes—destroys him—but he regenerates, mocking her.
In the real cave, Emily's body thrashes, sweat pouring as dark energy cracks the ground.
Jayden watches. "I hope you have the sanity to endure. This will take hours."
Meanwhile, Alexa and Tyron sit in a clearing.
"Positive energy requires focus," the clone explains. "Cross your legs. Meditate. Hold an image that brings joy."
Tyron smiles—easy.
"Feel the cold it creates," the clone adds. "Shape it into a sphere."
Alexa opens her eyes—she's formed a meter-wide glowing orb. Tyron still has nothing, a vein bulging on his forehead. She flicks him.
"Don't force it! Guide it—be gentle."
He exhales and tries again, calmer.
Francesca eyes the heavy weights dropped before her.
"There's no specific method to train Raw Fiu," Jayden calls from the porch, "but exhausting your body increases it."
She straps on the weights.
"Now what?"
"Train until you collapse."
"How does that help?"
"When the body hits its limit, it consumes Raw Fiu. Empty it, rest—and your total increases."
Her eyes widen. "So Fiu has no limit?"
"Correct. As long as you live, it can grow infinitely."
She scowls. "Then how is this different from normal training?!"
Jayden shrugs. "It isn't. Just harder."
He creates four clones. "Now hit her—she's been talking too much."
At sunset, the students return. Francesca lies gasping on the platform, bruised and bloodied with clay marks. Emily emerges pale and shaking, hugging herself. Alexa and Tyron arrive clean and refreshed—Tyron a little sleepy.
They bid their master farewell.
Back at the Sejuk mansion, Carmen asks:
"So—will you allow it?"
Alexandre nods. "Fine. Francesca can stay with you for two weeks—but bring her back as soon as that time is up."