"Danger?" He repeated.

"Yep, yep." The Oracle said, humming. "So shall we train and learn?"

The Oracle didn't spare him a second to answer. He was already walking towards a particular direction. Theo watched him with his mouth ajar, struggling to digest everything that was happening in a single day.

He ran after him. He wasn't too keen on the idea of dreaming again anyway.

"You are impossible!" He cried nonetheless, as he reached to the Oracle who, just chuckled.

"Don't worry, you won't be alone." Oracle said. "There will be someone there to help you."

"BEING ALONE IS NOT THE PROBLEM HERE!" Theo blew up but blinked when how much it contradicted his thoughts. Wasn't it just minutes ago that he was despairing about the fact that he can't be together with someone?

"... Is it Flint?" Theo asked a while later, paling at the sheer notion being trained under that guy. To his relief, the Oracle shook his box head. Then the man stopped, causing Theo to run into him before stepping back to see they were right before two large doors.

Theo watched as Oracle pressed his hands against the door and pushed inwards. The doors separated with a loud creak, and Theo felt his breath taken away to see a large basketball court within. It was empty and the serenity of it was as peaceful as sleep. The court was clean as a whistle, with the exception of dust settling on the bleachers.

He felt his breath hitched when he saw someone sitting on one of the bleachers with a familiar pair of red eyes.

"Psyche?" Theo squeaked aloud before he looked up at Oracle, looking for an explanation. The man just cocked his box head to one side, as if trying to look innocent.

"I thought you would be much comfortable training with your Scabbard." He said before he gestured at the court. "And this court is soundproof, meaning whatever we say will not be easily caught by others. We can discuss matters and train here."

"Matters?" Theo repeated as the box headed man gave Theo a light push, bringing him in the court. He watched as the Oracle turned around and pulled the door in, closing the door as if sealing his fate. With a gulp, Theo turned around to see Psyche standing up and making her way towards them, looking annoyed as ever.

"First." The Oracle spoke, bringing Theo's attention back to him. "What are your thoughts on Melita? Be honest."

For the umpteenth time that day, Theo was stumped. That... that was not a question he expected, but okay.

"She seems shy, but nice all the same." Theo replied as he frowned. "Why?"

"I said be honest with me." The Oracle said in response. Theo didn't know why, but the sudden stern edge in his voice made Theo rethink his perspective on the man. Maybe he has his serious moments after all, but Theo isn't too willing to look forward to it.

So Theo thought about it, wondering what the Oracle meant by being honest. He was honest in his answer. Melita seemed like a nice girl, shy but sweet. He can see why Hugo seemed fond about her, even though he didn't talk much about her. However, one word about her and Theo could see the smitten look in the elf's eyes. So what else was there to say?

'She isn't a normal little girl, remember?' Alazne whispered in his mind. Theo went rigid as soon as he heard it and resisted to shiver against the voice. As much as he was used to his past self whispering things once in a while, it still gave him goosebumps.

"She went into contact with Obsidian didn't she?" Theo asked, before adding. "She can also dispel magic, and she was called as the Golden Child. She is, isn't she?"

"Correct." The Oracle said at once. Theo was just about to ask if Melita was a reincarnation as well, but bit his tongue when he was reminded of Psyche's presence. She knew he was an Alice, but she had no knowledge of his other secrets like Oracle did. Unless the box head told her, Theo wasn't too comfortable with asking, so he thought against it. He would ask when he was with Oracle alone.

"So, what's that gotta do with anything?" Theo asked after a while, choosing his words with care as he took sly glances at Psyche. She stood there, crossing her arms over his chest while glaring daggers at the Oracle. Something in his gut told him she wasn't brought there with her own consent.

"Hmm..." The Oracle hummed. "Looks like I didn't think this through. Silly me."

"Eh?"

"Psyche!" The Oracle called, his tone taking a dramatic change from serious to playful. "Would you be a dear and teach Theo here how to do combat? Let me be over there and gather my thoughts. After you are done, you are free to go."

"Wait, what!" Theo cried out in disbelief. This couldn't be happening! Oh but it was. Theo watched in aghast as the box headed man strolled towards the corner of the court, muttering something under his breath as he left Theo and Psyche alone.

Another situation where he was alone with a girl. Great.

"Uhh..." Theo trailed off and before he could come up with something brilliant to say, Psyche sighed and twisted her left wrist. At once, the bells on her wrist rung before it shone, expanding as it did so before a silver sword conjured itself within her hand. Theo was already sweating when she pointed the weapon straight at him.

Oh God, he was really going to fight against her wasn't he? What happened to ending war with peace? Can he not talk his way out of it? Use the cowards route to flee and avoid violence altogether? Do anything but fight against someone, a girl who was powerful at that?

"Uhh..." He said again, trying to think of something to delay the inevitable. "I-I don't have a weapon."

To this, Theo was a bit amused to see her rolling her eyes. She lowered her weapon where it was pointing towards his right hand.

"Use him." She said and Theo had to use every bit of his will power not to gawk at her like a mindless idiot.

"Pardon?"

"Use Loukas." She said, this time irritation evident in her voice. "Just think of using a weapon and Loukas will be just that. You can think of any. Loukas is flexible that way. He is willing to help."

Theo stared at her for a few seconds before eyeing the blue bell resting against his right wrist. Use Loukas? That sounded... wrong... as if he was using the spirit as a tool. On the other hand, Psyche was doing just that wasn't she? Using spirits as weapons.

But in her case, it didn't look like she was doing out of cruelty. It was as if the spirits respected her, and she respected them right back, causing them to be in harmony no matter what the time or place.

Or, at least that was what Theo could theorize.

So he tried to think of a weapon. A sword? No, he would impale himself before he could even poise himself to attack. A spade? A mace? A dagger? A bow and arrow? A wand? A tonfa? A pen? So many weapons, so many chances of him impaling himself before this so-called training began.

"Dangfering, dundering idiot." Theo heard Psyche mutter and looked up to see her kneading her forehead, sword still in hand.

"Can't you think of one?" She asked, pointing towards his right hand. "You are confusing Loukas so much his head is spinning."

'Spirits has heads?' Theo wondered before shaking the thought away.

"Well I am sorry." Theo said back with a flat tone. "Back at my place, we don't have lessons in how to stab someone in the heart or squeeze lemons to an enemy's eye! You've gotta understand that this isn't something that I can ever get used to. It's just not my thing. I am more off doing other thing that's in my field of expertise. Create a green fog that painted the laboratory blue for three days with the right chemicals mixed? I am there. Turn cookie dough stiff enough that it break cement bricks? Call me. Do gymnastics or parkour in a room of messy things here and there to get the remote on the top shelf? I am all up for it!"

Silence.

"You blabber curse is showing." Psyche said and Theo exploded into a tomato.

"Don't remind me!"

To Theo's shock, Psyche let out a laugh. It was a small and brief one, but it was a laugh that made him pretty much forget everything else that was important. She was still smiling, but soon it turned wild, like the moment before she scared him during their first encounter or the seconds before she dove headfirst to a Shadow. To say that smile made him nervous would be the understatement of the year.

"I wonder..." Was all she said before Theo registered blurred movement.

He all but yelped when Psyche appeared just inches away from him, sword ready to stab. Theo didn't know what but his body made the decision for him, even when he couldn't think straight. It was perhaps the reason why he leapt backwards instead of sideways to avoid getting struck.

Even so, Psyche slashed and Theo let out an uncharacteristic squeak when it made contact with his shirt, a small tear forming on it before Psyche reacted with blinding speed. She recovered and squatted low and kicked behind Theo's feet. He lost balance and had no choice but to fall backwards.

He landed on his back with a loud thud and pain shot up everywhere. Everything went white for a moment but his brain was able to register something skidding out of his jeans pocket. At that second, Theo felt his heart sink when he came to know it must have been his monocle and was about to look for it the moment his vision cleared away only to be stopped by a pair of red eyes that glowed in the dark with a matching smirk.

Theo didn't know how he ended up in that position but Psyche had him pinned down, straddling him while pointing her silver sword at his throat. It was so shocking, so quick, Theo could only exhale out a breath in bewilderment.

"Interesting..." Psyche said before standing up and stepping back, allowing Theo a room to breathe normally. Theo at once, backpedalled away from her until his back stopped at a wall.

While that may have looked like he was frightened of her, in all honesty he didn't want to let her know just how much his face was burning with embarrassment. He couldn't believe how lame he performed. Hugo was going to give him an earful if he learned about that incident for sure.

Theo braced himself for another attack when Psyche stooped down low but relaxed when she stood back up again with the sword reforming back to bells in her left wrist. She walked up to him and squatted down so that she was at eye level with him.

From her expression, Theo could tell she was studying him again and he was already starting to miss the smile and smirk she wore. He soon shook the thought aside when she held up something in her hand, his monocle.

"This is yours, isn't it?" She asked, dropping the monocle to his lap. "Loukas informed me that you take pretty good care of it."

Theo couldn't help it, but the words were already out before he could stop it. "Does he always tell you everything in what I do?"

Much to his relief, Psyche didn't look offended. "Not everything. He respects your privacy. But, he does say little things such as that monocle is something that you really care about."

"Yea, well..." Theo trailed off. What could he tell her? Words alone could not describe just how precious that monocle, that gift from that magician, was.

Even though he didn't say anything, Psyche nodded as if she understood.

"Maybe, there is still hope for you yet." She said after a while, making him raise both of his eyebrows in surprise.

"What made you say that?"

"You say you do gymnastics?" She asked instead, ignoring his question. "Or parkour?"

"Uh... sort of." Theo shrugged his shoulders, while being aware how awkward this new situation was. Here they were, Theo sitting against a wall, Psyche squatting in front of him and the Oracle muttering this and that around one corner of the court while the two of them indulge in a conversation. Nothing abnormal there, not at all.

"Sort of?" Psyche asked, raising one elegant eyebrow and Theo felt himself pretty much crumble under pressure.

"My mother used to do gymnastics." He blurted. "Before she broke her ankle and became an author that is. She taught me some of the moves when I was small and I did them here and there combined with parkour from YouTube videos."

"YouTube videos?" Psyche said and Theo gave her a blank look. What teenager does not know about YouTube? Oh wait, she spend most of her time in the forest, right, forgot about that.

"Never mind that." Psyche said as she offered one hand. Theo stared at it before accepting it, only to choke on air when she hauled him up. He tottered a bit, before standing upright.

"I'll be honest, you are hopeless in fighting." Psyche said no later and Theo pursed his lips together in annoyance. He was very well aware of that fact, but to hear it from a person, his Scabbard no less, grinded him the wrong way.

"But." Psyche said, catching his attention before he could drown in an abyss of depression. "Maybe that's because that fighting style is not right for you."

"Fighting style?" Theo asked, wondering where she was going with this.

"Everyone has a fighting style." Psyche began. "If you teach someone a particular type of fight, say karate, they will have a style that makes them stand out but works for them. Sometimes though, karate might just not be suited for them because they don't have the talent or the physical ability for that."

Part of Theo's mind was processing what Psyche was saying while another part of it was in awe with how many words Psyche had said in that moment alone. Inwards, he slapped that side silly and tried to focus. Fighting style, not good, okay, got it.

"So... what do I do?" Theo asked to which Psyche crossed her arms together and gave him a stern look, like she was a dictator and he was a naughty child.

"You are an Alice." She said in a matter of fact tone. "While its advisable not to use Alice magic, think of a fighting style that suits it."

"Umm...."

"Ugh, are you this irritating in Third Reality too?" Psyche asked, looking pretty much at the end of her patience. Theo didn't know why, but he found the annoyed expression cute. With a newfound confidence he had no idea that came from, he grinned at her.

"Only for you." He said and savoured the look of shock that befallen on Psyche. It was just too bad that the girl soon recovered and sighed.

"I'll make this straight." She said before glaring at him with such ferocity, Theo felt his confidence falter. "Know the difference between a sorcerer and a magician?"

"They are different?" Theo asked instead of answering. He bit his tongue, wondering if he pushed Psyche's patience too far when he let out a silent sigh of relief when she sighed and shook her head in a way that said she was so done tolerating with him.

"Sorcerers rely only on their own power when casting spells." Psyche began, her glare intensifying as if she suspected him not to be listening. "Magicians draw upon outside powers when casting spells. Alices are a little bit of both, but they can make things last. I don't know much of the details, but Alices are much more complicated."

"So you are saying Alices are a bit on the higher level." Theo concluded to which Psyche nodded.

"That, and each Alice always lean towards something out of the two." Psyche added. "They could be more of a magician or they could be more of a sorcerer. It's what makes it easy to conceal the fact that you are an Alice, because everyone thinks you are one or the other."

Theo blinked. Well, that was something new, beats the fact that Alices have such a cruel weakness.

No, he was not going to think about that.

"So how does that help?" Theo asked and from the annoyed groan that came from Psyche, he knew it was the wrong thing to ask.

"Think, Theo think." Psyche urged. "Don't make me spell it out for you, you dundering fool. Use your brain too because if Loukas isn't lying there, it's what you are good at."

Theo felt confused, but he did what she said. There was the talk about Alices, Magicians, Sorcerers, and a fighting style. So what was the glue that binds it together? Gymnastics? Parkour? Brain power? Loukas? What do these combine to form? What do these equate to?

A bolt struck him out of the blue as realization dawned on him. He must have made a face because Psyche was smirking that wild smirk again, the one that was the last warning Theo would get because once she smiled that way, he knew she was going to get downright unpredictable.

"While Oracle sort his box head out over there..." She said as the bells on her left wrist reformed back to a weapon again. This time, it was the gigantic axe, and Theo knew she was not going to hold back in the slightest.

"You did pretty well dodging that first stab. Think you can try your luck at it again?"

Authors note: and here's part three! Anyway, for those of you who are confused, its probably best to re read chapter 1, 2 and 3 all over again as I added extra bits here and there. Though if you don't want to, I pretty much summarized it in the latest Author's note (the chapter, not the ones in the end of the chapter)

Regarding Oracle, well he is a random person, so it's not your fault if you think he is confusing. He is just that way xD

Regarding Theo, he is just as confused as you guys are, trying to make it up by making theories or adapting.

Regarding Psyche's personality, she is more antisocial and withdrawn when with people but more expressive when she is with Theo (with the presence of Oracle since she doesn't really mind him) so you can see its a huge development even for her xD Or you could say Theo just brings out the best in her, whatever float your boat.

If you have any questions though, comment below so I can do something to fix the chapter if there is an issue about it or answer you directly. If you see any mistakes, please notify!

Oh, and don't forget to vote!