The bang reverberated through the palace grounds, sending a gust of smoky chaos spiraling through the air. Yui, with her dragon pride burning brighter than her disdain for humans, stormed ahead. Her golden scales glimmered faintly in the sunlight as if announcing her authority to the world. Right behind her, Shiro followed, his calm demeanor unshaken, signature smirk intact. He walked as if he were attending a casual tea ceremony, not investigating the apocalypse unfolding in their garden.
Jia trailed with Kai, her hand clenched tightly around his arm. "Kai," she hissed, her voice low, "if your mom decides to incinerate me today, just remember it's entirely your fault."
Kai, being Kai, puffed out his chest like a self-appointed hero in a tragedy of his own making. "Don't worry, Jia. I've got this. Mother will have to listen to me," He followed it up with a nervous laugh that sounded more like a cat choking on a hair ball.
"Yeah, sure," Jia deadpanned, tightening her grip as they neared the garden. The scene that unfolded before them was unlike anything she could have anticipated.
Minutes ago, the garden had been a pristine sanctuary of perfectly manicured hedges and ponds filled with koi that probably had more titles than Shiro himself. Now, it was a swirling mess of smoke, amber light, and a faint smell of something burning. Jia's eyes darted frantically through the chaos, searching for Armin. She barely registered Kai muttering something about how this wasn't how his mother liked the garden.
Finally, through the haze, she spotted Armin lying on the ground, coughing as though he'd inhaled all the smoke in existence. She exhaled in relief but felt her stomach drop when her gaze shifted upward.
Hovering mid-air, Raiden was encased in a glowing orb of pure energy, looking like a deranged deity mid-transformation. The light pulsated around him, making it difficult to tell whether he was ascending to the heavens or about to implode and take everyone with him. Despite the surreal sight, Jia's first thought was: Wow, He is ripped.
"Is he… a tamer too?" Kai asked, his voice laced with awe and confusion. "He looks bigger than me."
"Shut it, Kai," Jia snapped, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Raiden. Her fingers dug into Kai's arm as she watched the rugged man float eerily, his hair and beard looking like they'd been styled by a tornado.
Armin, coughing and slightly singed, sat up, his eyes quickly looking up at Raiden.
Jia's eyes locked on Raiden's otherworldly figure as her vision began to swim, the sheer intensity of the energy around him overwhelming her senses. Darkness enveloped her as her knees buckled and her consciousness faded.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself in an eerie alleyway. The crescent moon above provided scant light, casting elongated shadows that danced with her every breath. Looking down, she saw her hands caked with grime, matching the dirt that clung to her dress and bare feet. She shivered, a cold unease gripping her as she trudged forward, her footsteps echoing eerily in the silence. She had no idea where she was going, only that the oppressive stillness demanded she keep moving.
A sharp, throbbing pain jolted through her head, and she winced, clutching at her temple. The pain intensified, a sensation like a storm tearing through her skull. Then, without warning, a searing flash of light blinded her, wrenching her from the unsettling alley.
Reality snapped back with a dizzying clarity. Jia gasped as she found herself in the garden once more, her eyes immediately drawn to Armin. He was seated next to Raiden's scorched form, the latter's body still steaming faintly as if he had walked out of a furnace. The pungent scent of singed earth and charred fabric filled the air.
"What the hell was that…" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and relief. The surreal vision in the alley still clung to her thoughts, but the urgency of the scene before her demanded focus. Armin's calm presence was a reassuring contrast to the chaos of the moment, though Jia couldn't ignore the turmoil that lingered in the pit of her stomach.
Despite looking like he'd survived an explosion, Raiden wore the same unbothered expression he always did, as if this was just another Tuesday.
"What in the-" Jia exclaimed, her voice hoarse as she took a shaky step forward.
Kai grabbed her arm, his concern evident. "Jia, are you okay? You blacked out for a second there. I was talking to you, but you didn't respond."
"What?" Jia blinked at him, trying to process his words. "You were talking? I didn't hear anything."
Yui's expression was a storm of irritation and curiosity. Her golden eyes narrowed as she studied Raiden, who was still emitting faint traces of energy. "What in the name of the elements is wrong with him?" she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut through the chaos.
Shiro, ever the picture of composed amusement, crouched beside Raiden, his signature smirk firmly in place. "He's fascinating, isn't he?" he said, his tone almost admiring. "A man who can cause this much destruction just by existing. Truly, he's a marvel."
And so, with the garden still in shambles and Raiden's mysterious transformation leaving more questions than answers, the group stood in awkward silence. Raiden seemed to mutter something, his voice faint and strained, but none of them could make out the words. Armin worked methodically, peeling away the charred remnants of Raiden's clothing while the man winced ever so slightly, his burned skin steaming in the cold air.
He muttered again, this time louder, but still indistinct. The group leaned in, their curiosity hanging thick in the smoke-filled air.
Then, Raiden spoke clearly, his voice hoarse but deliberate, cutting through the tension like a blade. It was a name—a woman's name.
"Jia Hoshino."
The words hung in the air, heavy and inexplicable. Jia tilted her head, her brows furrowed in disbelief, as if she hadn't heard him correctly. But before she could voice her confusion, Raiden repeated the name, louder this time, with a force that made her heart skip.
"Jia Hoshino."
All eyes turned to her. Kai and Shiro's faces twisted in bewilderment, their confusion mirroring her own. Yui, uncharacteristically still, cast a sharp, scrutinizing gaze in Jia's direction, while Shiro's smirk widened slightly, his eyes narrowing.
Jia could feel their stares piercing her, demanding answers she didn't have. "What the fuck."