The Clover Flush's adventure has been quite entertaining to watch. At first it was just Kaze and Shoun, then little Sein and the deceitful Deuz joined, and finally Robin made a dramatic entrance to complete the group.
Kaze is progressing slowly but steadily for now. I know that as a Dominator, he'll soon reveal far more interesting facets, especially now that he's in an unknown environment.
Sein, bearer of the legendary golden sword, still seems too small for that title. Perhaps it's due to his youthful naivety and being somewhat spoiled - by both his grandmother and Shoun. But with the latter and Kaze now gone from his life, he'll likely be forced to grow into his status.
Robin hasn't accomplished much yet. Being the last to join the group probably didn't help, but now that they must deal with Masuku's release and care for a devastated Sein, there should be plenty of opportunities to shine.
As for Deuz, he remains as fascinating as ever. He'll probably rush to claim his stigma - I can already imagine his path, though I wouldn't mind a surprise. Beyond that, he seems to be nearing the truth, though his vengeful nature will likely slow his discovery. Things would be different if he too had been sent where those five ended up because of Masuku.
Then there are The Three Jacks: hotheaded and quick-tempered Jack, lazy and somewhat cowardly Jace, and last but not least, Joy.
Jack has undergone massive changes since his fight with Shoun, partly due to the trials he faced to obtain his visa. Seeing him become calmer and more patient with his teammates is refreshing after so much aggression, though I wonder how long this change will last.
Jace is gradually overcoming his fear of using his abilities, which will certainly help in upcoming trials. The real challenge will be if he loses all fear of freezing - though given his nature, he'll likely find balance.
Fortunately, the battle against Sein opened Joy's eyes to her own weaknesses. I foresee improvements in her magic and combat skills. Beyond that, everything depends on whether she can confront her father and come to terms with her sister's death.
Finally, there's you, Shoun. What can I write here that I haven't said before? Not much, but I'll try. I find it fascinating how Shoun transformed from someone generally distrustful to entrusting his life and responsibilities to others. I believe this became his greatest strength - trusting people. This aspect of him took root during his first visit to the Mirror World. Entrusting his survival to Kaze wasn't a luxury but a necessity to stay alive. From that initial trust in a stranger, Shoun changed. He hasn't stopped doubting people or himself, but he understands that trust is ultimately what drives people forward - in a world where threats like Masuku exist, the only certainty is trust, both in allies and oneself.
His title "The Conduit" isn't random. "The Conductor" would have been more conventional, but that wouldn't capture his essence. He naturally changes people in one way or another, as seen with Jack and Kaze. Hence "The Conduit" - a channel for personal and external transformation.
Lastly, I must mention the irony of how the Clover Flush, in particular, came to cherish their Mirror World excursions. Like clockwork, they visited every weekend. I believe this wasn't just for training, but also to escape - a respite from fears, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. In that unnatural world, they could set these aside thanks to something scarce in their own world: trust... Even Deuz, despite his resistance, couldn't escape this, because there, trust is the fundamental requirement for survival.
This truth may pain him, but mirrors never lie - they only reflect what stands before them.
—Kai.
[End of Volume 1: Mirror World]