After their victory over Nightshade Phantom, the Shadow Hunters felt a mix of exhaustion and relief. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the village, Hiro, Ronan, Ayla, and Aqua found themselves wandering around, reflecting on the intense battle they had just survived.
"That fight… it was harder than I expected," Ayla muttered, brushing a stray lock of fiery red hair behind her ear.
Hiro nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Yeah. Nightshade Phantom's illusions almost had us. If it wasn't for Ronan's quick thinking, we could've been in serious trouble."
Ronan remained quiet, his gaze fixed ahead as they walked, lost in his own thoughts. Aqua, ever the loyal shadow to Ronan, followed close behind him, silently absorbing the conversation.
After a while, Ronan finally spoke up. "I have something I need to take care of," he said abruptly, glancing at Hiro and Ayla. "I'll see you guys later."
Without another word, he turned and walked off, Aqua following him like a silent shadow.
Hiro watched them go, then shrugged and looked at Ayla. "Well, I guess it's just us for now."
Ayla grinned, her mood lightening. "Looks like it. How about we grab something to eat? I'm starving after that fight."
They headed to a small food stall near the village square, picking up some snacks before making their way back to Hiro's base, which had now become the Shadow Hunters' HQ. The base had been modified slightly, with a larger training area and more space for their growing needs.
As they entered the HQ, Hiro noticed Ronan and Aqua already there, waiting outside. Ronan looked like he had something on his mind, and Aqua seemed as quiet and shy as ever, but there was an unusual glint in her eye.
Ronan approached them with a serious expression. "Hiro, can I borrow Ayla for a bit?" he asked.
Hiro raised an eyebrow, surprised by the request. "Uh, sure… I guess?" He stepped aside, curious about what Ronan needed Ayla for.
Once they were outside, standing just beyond the HQ, Ayla crossed her arms and eyed Ronan suspiciously. "So, what's this about? Why do you need me?"
Ronan glanced at Aqua, who gave a small nod. "It's Hiro's birthday in two days," Ronan explained, his tone serious as ever. "Aqua and I are planning to throw him a surprise party. We were wondering if you'd help."
Ayla blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected request. "Hiro's birthday? I didn't even know!" She grinned. "Of course, I'll help! What's the plan?"
Ronan seemed relieved by her enthusiastic response. "We're still working out the details, but we could use your help with decorations and… finding a gift."
"Leave it to me," Ayla said confidently, already brainstorming ideas. "I'll make sure it's a party Hiro won't forget."
The next day, Ayla was on a mission. She dragged Aqua along, the two girls scouring the village's marketplace in search of the perfect gift for Hiro. But no matter where they looked or what they found, nothing seemed quite right.
"How about this?" Ayla asked, holding up a beautifully crafted scarf. "He could use it for those cold nights."
Aqua raised an eyebrow. "Hiro? Wearing a scarf? Not really his style, don't you think?"
Ayla sighed, placing the scarf back. She picked up various other items—clothes, food, even a small wooden toy shaped like a dragon—but none of them felt like the right gift for someone like Hiro.
"I just don't know what to get him," Ayla groaned. "I want to give him something special, something that shows how much we appreciate everything he's done."
Aqua, ever the quiet observer, smirked mischievously. "Well, if you're that stuck, you could always just wrap yourself up and give yourself to him as a gift."
Ayla froze, her face blank as she briefly considered the suggestion. "I guess I could—wait, WHAT?!" Her face flushed a deep crimson as the realization hit her. "Aqua! That's not funny!"
Aqua burst into laughter, her teasing clearly successful. "I was kidding, I swear! But I guess that means you really want to impress him, huh?"
"Ugh! You're impossible!" Ayla muttered, her face still burning from embarrassment.
They continued their search for a while longer, but Ayla couldn't shake the thought of what to get Hiro. Finally, after Aqua left to find Ronan, Ayla sat down on a bench, deep in thought. She thought back to all the battles they had fought together, all the times Hiro had saved them with his quick reflexes and powerful abilities.
Suddenly, it hit her.
Hiro only had one dagger—his left dagger. He was always fighting with just his left hand, leaving him at a disadvantage. What if she could find him a matching dagger for his right hand?
"That's it!" Ayla said aloud, standing up quickly. "A second dagger. That's what he needs!"
She remembered hearing old tales about a dungeon located near the hill in the middle of the forest, said to contain ancient metals with magical properties. If she could find those metals, she could craft the perfect dagger for Hiro.
Ayla wasted no time. She made her way toward the hill, navigating through the dense forest with determination in her heart. The dungeon was dark and eerie, hidden away from prying eyes. As she descended into its depths, the air grew colder, and the walls were lined with ancient carvings, whispering tales of a forgotten era.
Summoning her fire powers, Ayla conjured a small flame in her hand to light the way. The further she went, the more intense the magic in the air became, almost as if the dungeon itself was alive.
Finally, she found what she had been searching for—a chamber filled with glowing, ancient metals embedded in the walls. The shimmering metal was unlike anything she had seen before, pulsating with energy.
"This has to be it," Ayla whispered, running her fingers over the metal. She quickly gathered enough of the rare ore, knowing it would be perfect for Hiro's new weapon.
Returning to the village, Ayla set up a small forge behind the Shadow Hunters' HQ, away from prying eyes. Using her fire abilities, she heated the ancient metal until it glowed white-hot, carefully shaping it into the form of a sleek, sharp dagger.
It took hours of painstaking work, but Ayla didn't stop until the dagger was perfect. She polished it, engraved it with intricate fire patterns, and infused it with her own magic. The new dagger gleamed in the moonlight, a perfect counterpart to Hiro's left dagger.
Ayla smiled, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Hiro's going to love this."
With the dagger completed, Ayla couldn't wait to see the look on Hiro's face when she gave him the gift. It was more than just a weapon—it was a symbol of their friendship, and a promise that, together, they would face whatever darkness came their way.