[The Hydro Palace – Inner Sanctum]
The shimmering walls of the Hydro Palace hummed with the soothing sound of falling water. After the chaos of the Northern Mountains, the silence here felt like a luxury.
Alya stood before Techyon, her face a bright shade of crimson that rivaled a sunset. She held a folded bundle of glowing, cyan-colored fabric in her trembling hands.
"Techyon..." she started, her voice barely a whisper as she looked at her feet. "I... I made this dress—I mean, this outfit—for you. Can you please wear it? I used the finest silk and infused it with my own mana."
Techyon blinked, surprised by the gesture. He looked at his currently tattered, burnt rags and then back at Alya's hopeful face. "Of course, Alya. I'd be honored."
He took the bundle and headed into the changing room. A few moments later, the door slid open.
As Techyon stepped out, the ambient light of the palace seemed to catch on the new fabric, making the cyan accents glow with a soft, ethereal pulse. The high collar and sleek, white-and-blue coat made him look less like a battered warrior and more like a Sovereign of the Void.
Alya looked up, and her eyes nearly doubled in size. A sudden, violent nosebleed erupted, and she frantically slapped both hands over her face to hide it, her muffled squeaks echoing in the hall.
"This fits perfectly," Techyon said, oblivious to her internal meltdown. He adjusted the cuffs and gave her a warm, genuine smile. "Thanks, Alya. It feels... right."
"I-I want to tell you one more thing!" Alya squeaked through her fingers, her face steaming. "This outfit is made using Hydro Refresh! That means it has extreme temperature resistance. It won't burn up when you use your auto counter, and it won't freeze in the vacuum of space!"
Techyon's eyes widened. He ran a hand over the sleeve, feeling the cool, indestructible thread. "Woah... that's even more amazing. It's practical too."
Neweland stepped into the hall, observing the transformation with a nod of approval. "And how does it feel, Techyon? Is the mana-infusion too heavy for your speed?"
Techyon shifted his weight, testing his center of gravity. He felt the fabric move with him, as if it were a second skin. "It's not heavy at all. It's incredibly light... honestly, it's like I'm not wearing anything at all. My mana flow is actually smoother."
[Hydro Palace – 6 Months After the Galactic War]
The world had healed, but the legend of the "White Light" only grew. For half a year, peace had reigned over Hydro City. Inside the palace, the atmosphere was uncharacteristically frantic.
Neweland stood in the grand corridor, checking his pocket watch. He turned to Alya, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Today is his birthday, but knowing that boy's obsession with training his Master Auto-Counter, I don't think he remembers it at all. Let's surprise him."
Alya's eyes lit up, her hands clasped together. "A birthday party? Oh, Techyon deserves it more than anyone!"
"Exactly," Neweland nodded. He turned to the head of the palace staff. "Order every maid in the kitchen to start on a cake—the largest this city has ever seen! I want the grand ballroom decorated in cyan and silver by sunset!"
The maids scurried off, leaving Neweland and his daughter alone.
"Now, for the most important part of the plan," Neweland said, leaning in. "We need him out of the palace so we can set everything up. Alya... I want you to take Techyon out for the afternoon."
Alya's face went from pale to a deep, steaming crimson in 0.5 seconds. "M-Me?! Just me and... him? Alone?"
"Consider it a mission," Neweland teased with a chuckle. "Keep him occupied until the sun touches the horizon."
[The Training Grounds]
Techyon was in the center of the courtyard, eyes closed. He was wearing his Hydro Refresh gear, which looked as pristine as the day he got it. Suddenly, he moved. To a normal eye, he simply vanished and reappeared ten feet away, but in reality, he had executed a dozen perfect counters against the very air.
His Master Auto-Counter was no longer a frantic survival tool—it was a dance.
"Techyon!" Alya's voice broke his concentration.
He opened his eyes, his blue irises glowing with a calm, settled power. "Alya? Is something wrong? You look... even redder than usual."
"I... I was wondering!" she shouted, hiding a small basket behind her back. "The market in the lower district is having a festival today. Would you... would you go with me? Just to see the sights?"
Techyon wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and smiled. "A festival? Sounds like a good change of pace. Let's go."