Ray led them to the basement. It was below the halls and their personal rooms, a dark room that lit up the moment they entered.
On a bench, a singlet lay. Ray picked it up and pulled it over his bare top.
The first chamber was open, the floor scuffed from use. Dumbbells and barbells lined a rack, and a heavy punching bag hung from the ceiling.
"Wow, this is the first chamber of the basement, the gym," Ray said, picking up a dumbbell and facing a mirror as he lifted. "I recommend coming here four times a week at least to keep yourself fit."
"This is weird, and I'm hungry, Captain. Are we done with the tour?" Ken said, staring at his watch: 12:10 A. He approached the punch bag and gave it a hit.
"Yeah, the tour here is very important, Ken." Ray gestured to the next door. "Alright, the next chamber is arguably our most important room."
He pushed the door open. Mary was the first to follow after him.
"Wow!" filled Loki's ear as he entered with Tars.
The room was well lit. On the walls were many gadgets, and desks with shiny objects.
"This is our weapons chamber," Ray said.
Loki stared at a sword hanging on the wall. It had a shiny smooth surface and reminded him of something. "Captain, what are these made of?"
Tars had a frown on her face as she watched a knife with white crystals embedded around it. Ken was watching his watch, observing the time angrily.
"They seem like soul crystals," Mary said, bending down to look at a white glowing chain. Pan stood by her side.
"Well, you guessed right. These are weapons made from the soul crystals mined," Ray said.
"Why! We really were mining these resources for evolvers to use?" Ken's voice rose. "Bullshit! So what if I died? I would have mined for two years in the sun, rain, snow for someone else to use? What madness is this?"
He hit the glass covering a weapon desk, drawing everyone's attention.
"Hey, get yourself together!" Loki shouted at him.
Ken walked up and grabbed him by the collar, trying to swing him off his feet. Loki touched his shoulder and stood his ground. "What do you think you're doing?" The blue light sparked in his black eyes.
"You don't get to tell me to get myself together! How long has it been? Just four days or so, and you and that fox are all over the place." Ken let go of Loki's collar and hit him with his palm on the chest.
Loki stumbled back into Tars, who held him, preventing him from rushing back at Ken.
"Let me go!" Loki said.
"Loki, stop!" Tars held him tighter.
Ray stood leaning on a desk, observing them with his eyes closed.
Mary stood up and neared Ken. "Kenny, I think you're going too far. We "
"Oh, shut up, Mary. You and Pan what even is going on with you two?" Ken turned to face her. As he was about to touch her shoulder, Pan stepped in front of Mary and caught Ken's approaching hand.
"Hey Ken, I think that's enough. Listen, man, I believe you. We've all had it hard, and we're all trying to leave those days behind." Pan pushed Ken's hand away and held Mary close to him.
"We're all terrified. When we saw these crystals, memories we don't want to think of came back. Ken, please."
Mary, in Pan's embrace, added, "You're being a total mess, just like at the bonfire. Do you think we don't grieve our lost friends? We do. But we all do it differently, and you have to respect that."
Ken looked at them, then at his hands. "I don't know what's happening to me. I'm so angry all the time. I'm so"
Before he could finish, Loki, who had been restrained by Tars, broke free. He grabbed Ken, spun him around, and landed a fist into his face.
Ken's mismatched blue and black eyes went wide as the punch connected, slamming him into Pan and Mary. Pan turned his back to shield Mary as Ken crashed into him, the group falling to the ground.
Tars's mouth was wide open.
Ken got up, shouting, and rushed toward Loki. They closed in on each other, fists raised.
A clap sounded.
The air turned thick, pressing down on Loki's chest. His legs gave out and he dropped to his knees under the sudden weight. Ken knelt too, sweat beading on his forehead. Ray moved to the front of the group.
Tars tried to run to Loki, but the closer she got, the more she felt a barrier pushing her back.
Pan felt his hand press something soft. To be sure, he pressed harder.
"Um, Pan... you're pressing me."
Mary's voice caught his attention.
He realized she was under him, her white hair messed up, her eyes slightly closed, showing her brown eyes, a blush on her face. He got up quickly and helped her up.
"Sorry about that."
They turned to see Ray at the center of the room, eyes closed. Loki and Ken knelt, pale and sweating. Tars was still trying to reach Loki.
Another clap. The pressure vanished. Loki fell into Tars's arms. Ken slumped forward, but Pan caught him. Ken stared at Pan, who gave him a small nod.
"Well, that is enough!" Ray's voice sounded. His eyes were open now. "First, Ken you must remember the past is gone. It's not a crime to try to live your life. And Loki punching someone is not always the way to solve problems. Since both of you want to fight so bad, you'll get the chance soon."
He approached a wall where various blades, knives, and gloves hung.
"These are weapons made of clear sky crystals, which you know as soul crystals." He took a sword and raised it; sparks of lightning formed on the blade. "These weapons have the attribute of lightning. They make it easy to channel lightning into them and perform bloodline moves. You can check your watch, it has a suggestion for the weapon that best suits your bloodline."
Mary approached a desk. Tapping it, the glass lid slid open, and she took a long spear from the case. Pan picked up a heavy sword. Ken walked to a wall and chose a pistol.
Tars and Loki stood by a desk. Tars tapped the glass and took two short knives joined by a chain.
Loki scrolled through his watch, found the weapon option, and saw gloves. He hesitated, glancing at the gloves displayed in the case. They were heavier than he expected, the crystals embedded along the knuckles catching the light.
He looked at the swords on the wall, then back at the gloves. Fists, he thought. I already know how to use these. He reached into the desk and pulled out a pair of heavy gloves with crystals embedded around them.
"Good. Seems you've all chosen something. Keep them, don't use them yet. You can go to the library section on weapons to learn moves, or to the next chamber to practice." Ray walked to the door and opened it.
"This is the training chamber. You can access it from the gym door. Use that one. The weapon room is off limits."
He walked and sat on a desk. Loki observed the room and put the gloves in his jacket pocket.
There was an arena in the center, barricaded. Around it were three more arenas battle rings, sword skill testing fields, a skill testing zone.
A clap from Ray drew his attention. His nose caught a nice aroma. Ray sat at a desk where various food and fruits were laid out.
"Come over and eat. Mary, put that spear on the stand over there. Tars, you all put your weapons down if you can't carry them. Let's eat."
They placed their weapons in lockers with their names on them and headed toward Ray. Tars, Loki, and Ken sat facing him; Mary and Pan sat around the food. A plate sat in front of everyone.
"Okay, let's eat. After that, Ken, Loki, you see that nice circle there? Step in."