Mika's eyes widened. Sure, she had fought and injured a lot, but she'd hate to hurt her friends. She even hadn't gotten over her guilt of injuring Katrina with her power, although the wounds had regenerated in a blink of an eye.

"Mika, you shouldn't worry about hitting him," Katrina reminded from beside the pond. "You can't even wreck steel with your power."

"But-"

"You won't want to anger Mr. Wong by damaging this garden, child." Katrina shrugged. "Besides, I'm sure that you've punched and kicked Brandon several times when he taught you how to fight."

Well, the rabbit woman had a point, but Mika would always have a hard time getting over the guilt.

Jyuji stopped flying around Long and yelled at her, "Just attack the big snake already! I wanna know if he lives up to his bullshit."

"Long is not lying about his durability," Fenghuang reminded. "Give it a try."

With a gulp, Mika focused on her hand. Gentle heat crept around her fingers as her hand glowed. A pulsating orb of light emerged above her palm, growing bigger with each passing second. Once it reached the size of a basketball, Mika tossed it at Long.

The sphere slammed into Long's snout and exploded. When the smoke cleared, Mika saw not even a scratch on Long's scales.

"That did not even tickle me." Long twirled his whisker with a finger. "You need to train harder, little girl."

"Either this big snake is bluffing or you're pathetic, missy." Jyuji sneered. "If it's really the latter, you should just forget about stopping the mist."

Mika growled. She didn't want to let Brandon deal with everything by himself anymore; not only she wanted to protect him, but she also needed the fame from being the state's savior, too. Maybe Brandon had resolved the issue of entering Metaslica University for her, but who knew that she might need the fame for something else in the future?

"So, are you gonna stand still and lament about how pathetic you are?"

Hell no! Mika conjured another sphere; this time, it grew twice as fast and ended up at least three times bigger than before.

Then a soothing sensation crept into her head. A second later, the gigantic orb vanished into thin air.

Jyuji burst out laughing. "You're such a joke, missy!"

"Wh-what was this?" Mika stammered, her hand quivering. "I just lost my focus all of a sudden."

Long scratched his snout with a finger. "A lesson for you, little girl: never rely on anger as a source of power."

"Your anger made you an easy target for Long's Tranquility Aura," Fenghuang explained. "It is the manifestation of Long's peaceful personality."

"Hmm..." Katrina stroked her chin. "I guess that is also why the garden feels very peaceful?"

"Long's aura amplifies the positive atmosphere of this garden, rabbit woman." Fenghuang paused. "Even so, the aura itself has some positive effects to everybody. It helps one focus and recover from mild illness, and if you have a power that helps your ally, the aura will strengthen it as well."

"I never consider using any of those aside from a risky healing power. The folk in me often botches my attempt to help others with my powers."

"You should give it a try now, rabbit woman. I am certain that your folk is helpless against the sheer positivity."

Katrina reached out her hand at Mika, who gulped and took a few steps backwards. Would the aura really work? She'd heard about what would happen if Katrina's power went wrong: it would destroy her target from the inside.

"This should work. I don't feel any pain from casting this." Katrina's hand glowed with emerald light. "Try running around, Mika."

Mika nodded, running across the bridge and away from the gazebo. Then something struck her in the back, and her body emitted the same green radiance.

Everything felt so light!

Mika zipped around the whole garden like a bullet, paying no attention to the swaying plants around the stone path. As the glow faded, she retraced her steps to the pond and stopped by the bridge. She quirked an eyebrow; she didn't sweat much, and nor did she feel breathless from all the running.

Hmm, what if Katrina used her healing power on her?

"Mrs. Katrina," Mika began, "can you try restoring my arm?"

Katrina shook her head. "If I use my healing power on you, and if it successfully regenerates your arm, Orion won't learn how to regenerate lost limbs. Since everyone at the misty capital can even regenerate lost heads, you'd better let Orion learn that ability. It takes time, but it's worth the wait."

Mika nodded. Oh, well, Chrono Chamber was what Orion needed, and she couldn't wait to access it.

"Nonetheless, this is amazing." Smiling, Katrina looked at Long. "It'd be great if you could join us in our journey. Your aura will be very useful, and the mist has no effects on methdroids."

"Ah, rabbit woman," Long replied, "Master Wong needs our protection. He will never let us leave this area."

"You should talk to him. The faster we can stop the mist, the better."

"We might consider that, although I am certain that Master Wong will not like the idea."

"I suggest that you train hard," Fenghuang cut in, "so that you do not have to rely on us."

"Very well." Katrina shifted her gaze to Mika. "You should relearn the rest of your powers." She counted off with her fingers. "Let's see... You've relearned Light Grenade and even learned to control where the sphere goes, although you still need a lot of practice... Oh, you haven't relearned Torch and Flash." She folded her arms over her chest. "Why don't you relearn them now? After that, I'll teach you Energy Blast and Piercing Shot."

"What are they?" Mika asked.

"Energy Blast involves firing a huge streaming wave of destructive energy, while Piercing Shot fires something like a laser beam."

Wow, Mika couldn't wait to learn those!

Fenghuang pointed a wing at the gazebo. "You should train there. Aside from Long's aura, it is also where the garden's positive energy gathers."

Mika smiled and nodded. "Sure. Thanks for the suggestion." As she strode towards the gazebo, she heard Jyuji yawn.

"This is boring." The sapphire dragon shrugged. "Well, it's not like you can hurt that big snake anyway."

Mika continued her walk.

"I guess I'll talk with this big snake so that I won't get bored to death." Jyuji looked at Long. "What else do you have up your sleeves?"

Long chuckled. "A lot of tricks, little dragon."

"Show me."

"Ah, they will only interfere with that little girl's training. Nobody likes the deafening sound of explosions."

"Stop boasting and show me what you're capable of, big snake!"

As the dragons argued, Mika arrived at the center of the gazebo and sat down cross-legged. Looking down, she balled her hand into a fist and focused on the growing heat around her elbow.

The heat streamed down her forearm and towards her knuckles, bringing with it a layer of bluish white flame.

"Long's aura makes it easy, huh?"

Mika looked up. Katrina towered before her.

"How hot is that flame?" the rabbit woman asked.

"It's harmless, but if I will it, it can be hot enough to melt pure gold."

Katrina stroked her chin. "I see. Well, let me ask you something. Have you ever thought of punching hard enough to send some fire flying at your foe?"

Mika shook her head. "Uh, I have Light Grenade to deal with range."

"You take everything at face value." Green aura coated Katrina's body as she turned away and readied her fists. "Watch this."

Mika's jaw dropped, and her flame faded. Katrina's fists flew like bullets out of a machine gun. If the rabbit woman could launch fire from every punch, then-

"You understand now?" Katrina stopped punching and deactivated her aura. "Give it a try. Start slow."

Mika nodded and stood up. As she headed to the railings of the gazebo, bluish white flame engulfed her forearm. Once the bickering Jyuji and Long were in sight, she pulled back her fist and took aim. It's okay. Long will absorb the fire, so there won't be any harm.

"Jyuji," Katrina called out, running towards Mika, "move aside!"

Long lowered his head to see Mika. "Oh?"

Mika punched, but no fire shot out at Long.

Jyuji burst out laughing. "Another failure? You're so funny!"

"Never rely on anger as a source of power," Mika chanted, furrowing her brow and closing her eyes. Her heart pounded as she pulled back her fist and pretended to not hear Jyuji's jeers. "Never rely on anger as a source of power."

The streaming heat along her forearm grew more intense. The fire didn't burn hotter, but something was gathering around her knuckles.

I think this is it. Mika opened her eyes and punched. A bluish white fireball hurtled towards Jyuji and Long.

Jyuji glided towards the sphere and inhaled, pulling the fireball into his maw. Then he swallowed.

"Is that a fireball or a scoop of ice cream?" Jyuji mocked, threads of smoke escaping from his mouth. "Big snake's fire burns hotter than yours, you know?"

Mika's flame faded. "I'm not planning to hurt anyone with it, Mr. Jyuji."

"Liar! Just admit that your fire is that lousy!"

"Mika's fire is harmless," Katrina cut in, "but she can will it to burn hot enough to melt pure gold."

Jyuji wagged a finger at Mika. "Prove it."

Mika gave a small nod. Well, it wasn't like her fire would burn hotter than Jyuji's.

Just as Mika focused on the growing heat around her elbow, Long looked away. "Master Wong is coming," he said.

Everybody turned. Wong, now dressed in a red-and-gold changsan, stood in the distance with Fenghuang. Mika approached them, her ears perked up.

"Go fetch Brandon and Billy," Wong told Fenghuang. "They are at the borders of Metaslica and Gatou."

"Yes, Master." Fenghuang spread her rainbow wings. Once Wong stepped aside, she ran along the stone steps and jumped into the azure sky.

Watching Fenghuang's fading silhouette, Mika smiled. Her father must look cool when riding the bird, probably like a gallant knight in fairy tales. Well, wasn't he one when he dated her mother? Mika often heard about how he would escort her mother to her home at night and beat up the thugs who dared to lay a finger on her.

"Young lady."

Wong's voice snapped her out of her reverie. "Yes?" she muttered.

"You should go change. Brandon will not like how his daughter looks right now."