Hidden Potential

Facility Event: Flames of Reflection

Episode 7

Hidden Potential

Previous Quest

Learning from Nature

Next Quest

A Deadly Drill

Summary

Renee's weakness is an inability to work in harmony with her sisters, which stems from an inferiority complex over her lack of a special ability. But once she learns of her power to cool objects with magic, her confidence returns. The group then enters the final task of the training.

Dialogue

After night fell in the midst of Renee's training, the party gathered ingredients for dinner. Meat, fish, fruits, and veggies... This is quite the feast we've assembled. Eatin' in the woods like this makes it feel like a camp-out. ...No, I can't get into that mindset. We're trainin' here, not havin' fun! Oh, I think it's all right for us to let our hair down a LITTLE. Right! Let's put cares aside for a while and just enjoy the bounty of the forest. We have a lot of different things in this makeshift buffet, but it seems like they're all going to complement each other nicely. I guess there's a certain harmony to everything in the forest, huh? A certain harmony...? AH HA! Coach! Remember all that stuff you were saying about cooperating and whatever? Is THAT why I'm here? So I can learn harmony from the forest? BOOOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE! Yessir, the lives of the forest all support each other, and you gotta do the same. Okay, sure. I get that. But there must have been a way to make that point without dragging everybody out into the woods! I mean, back me up here, Ramona! You too, Rena! Well, I guess, buuut... Hmm... How should I put this...? How should you put WHAT?! Well, I think Coach is right: You DO need to be more in harmony with the two of us. Nooooo! Is my work REALLY that bad?! That ain't what I'm sayin'! We both know how hard you work, and we appreciate it. But sometimes you just work...TOO hard. At times, Renee, you get so wrapped up in your own enthusiasm that you end up spinning your wheels a little. Remember earlier when you were about to run off into the woods without a torch? Aw, I just got excited, is all! But that excitement made you careless. And honestly, we've both seen the same thing happen in your smithing. Urk! I know you wanna be the best smith ever, but if you try to race to that goal without some kinda plan, you'll never get there. I don't... Why...? Renee? Is my dream of becoming the greatest blacksmith ever REALLY that hopeless?! That ain't what I'm sayin'! Neither of you understand me at aaaaall! It's soooo unfair! You both got an ability from Dad, and I didn't get ANYTHING! What?! Renee, say that again. Why, so you can make fun of your dumb little sister and her dumb no-skills?! Aaaargh! It's soooo humiliating! Renee, that's not what we're saying. Perhaps you really haven't realized? You DO have one of Dad's powers. Nuh-uh! I just have the power of a stupid shop lackey! "Go here, Renee!" "Clean this up, Renee!" "Cool this metal down, Renee!" Well, you see, Renee, cooling things IS your power! Yeah, right. I just throw a big bucket of water on hot metal—any idiot can do that. No, think about it. We use fire infused with mana to temper our weapons, right? That ain't no ordinary kind of heat, which means it ain't just any kind of water that can cool it down! Wait, are you saying...? You're not just throwing buckets of water on hot steel, Sis—you're cooling it down with YOUR POWER. FOR REALS?! I wouldn't lie to you about that. Honestly, it's pretty damn impressive you've been using it this whole time without even realizin' it. Hee hee! Oh man, that is CLASSIC me. If I was able to do the work I did without even being aware of my power, then I oughta be able to do even MORE amazing work now that I know I've got it! From now on, I'm gonna chill that metal down ICE-COLD! *sigh* Did we not JUST discuss you not getting carried away? If you cool a weapon down too quickly, it's likely to develop cracks. Wait, it IS?! I mean, uh...I knew that. It's just like Coach has been saying— the most important thing is harmony! Yessir, that's the ticket! If you all work as part of a well-oiled machine, there ain't nothing that can stop ya! If you take nothing else from this part of the program, remember these words... It's all for one and one for all, and there's no I in team! Yes, Coach! Now it's on to the next stage of the program...FIEND SLAYING! Yes, Coach! ...Wait, WHAT did he just say? I don't really understand it either, but I'm sure it will make sense in time. We just gotta believe in Coach! Sounds like you've got a fight brewing, so we'll lend a hand. C'mon, everyone!