As the Elemental Heroes and the other guardians of the elements basked in their hard-won victory, they thought that their troubles were finally over. But little did they know that a new threat was brewing within their ranks.
Xander, the guardian of darkness, had always been the most enigmatic member of their group. He rarely spoke and often disappeared for days on end, claiming to be scouting ahead or searching for information. But as they returned from their battle with Zephyr, they noticed that Xander was acting even more strangely than usual.
Kaito approached Xander, trying to strike up a conversation. But Xander was evasive, brushing off Kaito's questions and insisting that everything was fine. But Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
As they traveled back to their homeland, Kaito kept a close eye on Xander, noticing that he was always sneaking off and disappearing without explanation. Kaito confided in his fellow Elemental Heroes, but they were hesitant to accuse Xander of anything without proof.
It wasn't until they arrived back at their village that they discovered the truth. Xander had been working with Zephyr all along, secretly passing information to the Shadow Knights and sabotaging their efforts to find the other guardians.
The group was stunned and betrayed. Xander had been one of their closest allies, and they had trusted him with their lives. Kaito, in particular, felt a deep sense of anger and disappointment. How could Xander do this to them after everything they had been through together?
Xander tried to explain himself, claiming that he had been coerced by Zephyr and that he had never wanted to betray them. But the damage had been done. The group couldn't trust him anymore, and they knew that they had to take action.
With heavy hearts, the Elemental Heroes and the other guardians of the elements banished Xander from their group, vowing never to let someone like him into their inner circle again. It was a harsh lesson, but they knew that it was necessary to protect themselves and the world they had fought so hard to save.