Volcanoes erupted at her gaze; the winds that blew from the east knew her power, obeying and bending to her will. She was cunning as a fox—no, more than that—for she was the matriarch of the Azure Dragons. You'd expect her to be some ancient dragon who barely spoke, passing down war plans with a nod and a sigh like the old hags of the Black Tortoise clan (no offense to them). But the giant mirror engulfing the wall reflected a slender, petite figure. Her crimson robes contrasted sharply with her deep blue eyes, which met her own reflection with an aura of silent dominance. The curtains fluttered by the long windows, and as the wind reached her ears, she sensed something amiss at the Black Tortoise palace. Instantly, her human form shifted to that of her primordial beast—the titanic mirror now showing her azure scales and intense gaze.
"Pathetic losers," she muttered before roaring toward the doorway, causing it to fly open. Soon, her descendants rushed in, the youngest of her children --- Kai, laid flat on the floor before her.
"Nao and the last girl child... born undead," she breathed, and the descendants' ears perked up at the revelation.
"They seem to be planning to find a Tamer," she clicked her tongue, almost pitying the Tortoise clan—but not quite.
Confusion clouded her descendants' faces as they listened. They murmured among themselves, their whispers revealing how ridiculous, even foolish, they found the search for the elemental Tamer.
"Mother, aren't they supposed to be the wise ones?" Kai dared to ask, clearing his throat.
"Maybe they're not anymore," she replied, looking out the window, lost in thought. "We need to speak to the birds, Kai."
Kai looked up, hesitant. The bird clans were isolated from other elemental beasts; contact was rare. "Why, may I ask, Mother?"
Her azure gaze fell upon him, carrying unspoken words that told him to obey without question. Without another word, she shifted, lifting Kai into her mouth. He whimpered and hissed, transforming slowly into his dragon form, though it was much smaller than Yui, the matriarch of the Azure Dragons.
Every elemental clan knew not to cross paths with Yui. She was famed for her ruthlessness and lack of empathy, traits she instilled in her entire clan. They whispered that she killed her mate to seize control and savor power, but none who had seen him lived to tell the tale. No one in the clan remembered anyone older or more powerful than their mother. Like all elemental beasts, Azure Dragons bred only within their own, safeguarding their bloodline.
If there was one thing the Azure Dragons despised the most more than showing affection and Black tortoises, it was humans. Yui, their matriarch, performed a ritual each full moon, bathing in human blood to assert her superiority over the human race. Humans who lived in Azure Dragon territory were enslaved and lived short lives. Her hatred toward the Black Tortoises' plan to find the elemental Tamer stemmed not just from the idea of being tamed but from her deep-seated animosity toward humans.
Yui soared through the long windows, holding Kai in her mouth, and cut across the bright blue sky toward the Four Divisions—a place where the four clans gathered annually. She landed on the spot, dropping Kai to the ground, where he fell with a loud thud and the crackle of bones. He grunted in pain but masked it from his mother. Yui breathed out a surge of fire, igniting the nearby lamps, and then let out a thunderous roar, sending a wave of sound toward the Blood Phoenix territory.
"I don't trust those birds, Mother," Kai coughed.
Yui, now in her human form, brushed off her ruby-robes. She gave him an unimpressed look and leaned against a stone wall, waiting.
Kai felt a sting in his pride at her indifference but sat down beside her, circling the ground and drawing the symbols of the Azure. The sun was low now, casting shadows as he encircled the tombs of the elemental beasts.
Shiro, the clan leader of the Blood Phoenixes, strode over from the distance. His steps were both menacing and calm, his expression nonchalant even as he met Yui's gaze—a feat none of the other elemental beasts dared attempt.
"You called?" he intoned, his voice echoing.
"The Black Tortoise clan is crumbling. Nao is dead, and they're seeking an elemental Tamer to cling to power," Yui replied, her tone serious.
Shiro raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting casually to Kai, who was still circling the tombs. "That sounds dire indeed. What do you propose?"
"We find the tamer first—and kill him."
He looked at Yui as if he'd anticipated her response. "And?"
"We take over."
"We?" he replied, a hint of challenge in his voice.
Yui observed him in silence, realizing she hadn't thought through the full extent of her plan. She continued nonetheless. "What do you propose?"
A sly smile crept onto Shiro's otherwise impassive face. "That we take over, indeed."
Yui felt a sliver of relief but knew deep down the birds were never easy to deal with. Blood Phoenixes had a way of playing dumb and cooperating just to make life simpler for themselves—unlike the Black Tortoises, who prided themselves on heaven's wisdom. Shiro's agreement would surely come with a hefty price, one that could complicate matters later on. But she remained composed.
Shiro's gaze again shifted to Kai, who was still tracing symbols on all fours, now circling the White Tiger tombs. "What's that creature doing?" he asked.
Yui glanced at Kai's somewhat embarrassing display, her unimpressed expression unchanged. "Kai, I'm not angry with you," she remarked.
Kai, a hulking figure, now rose from his four-legged stance, meeting his mother's gaze before silently joining her side.
"My youngest," she explained, to which Shiro mouthed an "Oh," casting an interested glance at Kai, already plotting to exploit this young dragon if he ever got the chance to overpower Yui when the time was right.
The real chaos following Nao's death was only beginning, and the Black Tortoises remained unaware, solely focused on finding the elemental Tamer—wherever he might be.