Eternal Courage 3: Galactic Bonds

Chapter 74: A Show Of Newer Depths

The Sudden-Death battles continued, with the calls of the crowd and the smashing sound effects of battle far into the background. Saku, Aeron and Leyla were flying on back to the giant space-station...with Zarla by their side. Aeron and Saku flew with their wings (Saku in Seraphim mode), Leyla with her jetpack while Zarla just used her power of free-flight.

Zarla couldn't help but glance at Saku as he flew by her side "This is one thing I'll have to agree on with Ozway...seeing you actually flying. It's rather strange. Isn't it hard to fly?"

"You tell me" asked Saku to her

"I'm just using my power to push my body through the air. That's the basic explanation...don't ask the long one. What I meant was you've got wings here"

"Well It was at first...and I'm still making note of things to remember" said Saku "Fortunately though I've got some teachers"

"Me and Angel have been teaching Saku on flight" said Aeron "He was a little, and understandably, nervous at first but as you can see he's picked up really well"

"I'm still not really pushing it yet...at one point I need to see what this form can do"

They all landed on the front entranceway to the space-station to which Saku reverted to normal "Well now that we're here...I'll go ahead to contact Angel and Emiko to meet us up" said Saku

"Tell them private Training room 1" said Zarla to which Saku nodded and stepped away to talk into his OSCOM "I wonder how much Saku has grown...that is since the last time we fought. Last time I only just tapped into my power...before he gave out"

"Hmm...Ms Empress...is okay...if I watch too?" Leyla asked nervously "I would like to watch...Saku too"

"How come? Is there a reason?"

"Saku told me...that's he found...a new way to get stronger, something he's only just learnt. I want to know...so I can get stronger too"

Zarla saw Saku finishing his call and coming back "Leyla...we should both watch with open eyes, on what Saku wants to become. Saku understands loneliness better than most...and what it means to push through"

"Saku...was alone?" asked Leyla curiously with Aeron listening in

"To the point...his Own family abandoned him, and burdened him with a scar that was left for way too long"

"What was too long?" asked Saku overhearing the last point

"What Ozway had prepared for the speech" said Zarla thinking on the spot "He's going to explain the proceedings for Stage 3...and how it'll progress. In-fact I might as well tell you that myself later on"

"Well I've contacted the pair...we should head on over now" Aeron though couldn't help but think on Zarla's words

"His family...abandoned him? How much...has he endured? And is that why I feel I can bond...with him?"

The small group had met back up with Emiko and Angel "Hello again Saku...and to you Lady Zarla" said Emiko "Are the sudden-death bouts over?"

"No they're still ongoing" said Zarla "you'll be happy to know Leyla made it through, her team won the fight"

"That's wonderful...that means you get to stay"

"Maybe...for a little while longer" she said sadly

"Well...we're all ready for the fight" said Angel who tapped on a little brown bag she had "We got sports drinks and everything"