Mount Qi was shrouded in thick fog as the three men gathered, arguing over their impending departure.
"I still don't think this is a good idea," Armin scoffed, tugging the rope tied around Jin's neck. The centaur snorted and bucked his forelimbs in protest, glaring at his master.
"Believe me, we've got nothing to lose, and you're going to assist me, the future face of all tamers," Bao retorted, climbing onto a rock to match the others' height while stroking his talking peacock.
Raiden, as usual, was drunk. "Hey, is it called a peacock because it has pea-sized c—"
A firm slap to the nape of his neck from Armin cut him off, momentarily bringing him back to sobriety.
"You don't have to come with me," Raiden muttered, rubbing his neck. "You've got a life here."
"I've got nothing to live for here—not after—"
now Raiden cut him off, this time smacking him hard on the head. "Stop whining over some whore. Be like Bao." He pointed ahead at Bao, who was striding confidently, his peacock perched regally on his shoulder.
Despite his doubts about the entire idea of leaving the village, Armin followed along. The road grew bumpier as they approached the village entrance, where the elders and the village head awaited them much to their surprise. Their faces bore a mixture of curiosity and disappointment.
"Do you realize what you're getting yourselves into?" one elder asked.
"You could be killed the moment you step out of the village," added another.
The village head remained silent as the elders spoke, their warnings instilling unease in the trio. Each man was scared, though none dared show it.
Finally, the head spoke. "Be safe. When you return, the village will welcome you." His gaze shifted between Armin and Raiden before stopping at Raiden. "Weren't you the one found frozen in a cave?"
Raiden nodded, steadying himself with a hand on Armin's shoulder as the alcohol caused his legs to wobble.
The head shook his head. "You've been lucky once, son. Don't expect to be lucky a second time."
As the elders walked away, their murmurs echoed faintly behind the three men as they stepped beyond the village's boundaries.
"Armin!"
A voice called out from behind them. Shasha was running toward them, a small backpack slung over her shoulder. Her flowy sundress hindered her movements, yet she pressed on.
Armin turned to look at her, his face impassive as he involuntarily tightened his grip on Jin's rope. The centaur grunted in pain but knew better than to resist.
"I'm coming with you," Shasha declared, panting heavily as she struggled to catch her breath.
Armin turned away without a word, pulling Jin along.
"Great! We needed an extra hand to carry things," Bao chimed in, tossing her one of his heavy food bags. Shasha stumbled under the weight but caught herself.
"Do you love that horse that much?" Raiden asked, watching Armin walk ahead, out of earshot.
Shasha sighed, dragging herself behind them. "I came because of Armin," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness and guilt.
Raiden shrugged, uninterested in the complexities of their relationship. As long as Armin hated her, so did he.
Meanwhile, Yui and Shiro prepared to leave for Mount Qi. After the chaotic events involving the scroll, Ping and Daiki had a heated argument. Shiro had to drag Yui out before she tore the tiger to shreds. To act before anyone else, Shiro suggested searching for the tamer directly in Qi Village, though it came with a disadvantage.
"We can't risk blowing our cover," Shiro warned as they left the Four Divisions toward the mountain.
Yui strode ahead and leapt into the air, transforming into a magnificent azure dragon. Her iridescent scales shimmered under the sun's rays. Shiro followed, his arms elongating into crimson wings as flames sprouted from his legs, forming the blazing tail of a phoenix. Together, they soared across the horizon, reaching the foothills in no time.
They landed carefully, transforming back into their human forms. Yui's sharp senses picked up noises ahead.
"We're not even close to the village, and we already hear humans," Shiro chuckled, grinning at Yui. His yellow robes flapped against the ground as he quickened his pace. Yui on the other hand despised having to interact with humans, followed reluctantly.
The dense fog obscured their vision, but Yui's breath cleared it in an instant, revealing a lone peacock with gleaming golden eyes. The bird tilted its head, studying them curiously. Close by stood Ping and Daiki, looking equally startled.
"What the..." Yui rarely felt taken aback, but this was an exception.
Shiro, however, burst into laughter. "Oh, look at us! Together again, heading to Qi Village—a place that strips us of our powers."
Suddenly, the peacock began squawking profanities. "Bao! Fuckers! Fags! Strangers! Motherfuckers! Dead ass!"
Before Daiki could whip the bird, Bao appeared, running toward it with Armin, Raiden, Shasha, and Jin trailing behind.
"Why are you trying to kill my peacock?!" Bao shouted, his tone indignant. His proud stance made him appear almost regal—if not for the absurdity of the scene.
"Strangers," Armin muttered, narrowing his eyes at the newcomers. "Who are you people?"
Ping looked between the tamers and the beasts. "Uh... humans?"
Daiki almost facepalmed at ping's 'quick' thinking.
Shasha gasped, pointing at Yui. "Look! She's a dragon—her forehead marking!" she pointed at yui, her forehead etched with a face of the azure dragon.
Yui smirked, her striking blue eyes gleaming menacingly as they met Shasha's gaze.
"And that one's a Blood Phoenix," Armin muttered, his gaze locking onto Shiro's intense crimson eyes. His grip on the rope slackened as Jin, the centaur, stepped back, his powerful legs trembling. The creature's widened eyes were fixed in sheer terror on Daiki, who stood unnervingly still, although appearing far less threatening than the others.
"Hey! I'm the legendary elemental beast tamer. You better show respect to me and my crew," Bao declared, puffing out his chest with exaggerated pride. His voice carried a misplaced sense of authority as he planted himself firmly in the ground.
The elemental beasts turned their attention to him, their gazes sharp.
"Is that so?" Yui's smirk widened. Her voice dripped with dominance as her aura, unmistakably that of an azure dragon, grew more intense. "You've made this far too easy, dumb boy."