Seiji in his chamber, seated on a rugged stool, sharpening his sword. His hands move methodically, but his mind drifts, weighed down by the recent tragedies. The silence is broken by a sharp knock.
A sentinel rookie enters, bowing quickly. "Commander Seiji," he says, "your sister Arya… she's alive. She's at the infirmary."
Seiji's head snaps up, his eyes widening. Without a word, he stands, leaving the rookie behind as he blurs out of the room in a flash of light.
At the infirmary, Arya lies on a cot, her face pale but resolute. Her bow, damaged but still intact, rests beside her. Cade stands at the doorway, arms crossed, as Seiji bursts into the room.
"Arya!" Seiji's voice trembles as he kneels by her side, his hands shaking as he takes hers.
Her eyes fill with tears at the sight of him. "Brother… you're alive," she whispers.
Seiji nods, his voice thick with emotion. "And you… you survived. Tell me, Arya, what happened? How did you escape?"
Arya takes a deep breath, her voice faltering as she begins. "It was a man of lightning … that monster. He came out of nowhere, riding lightning like a god. He destroyed everything, Seiji. The settlement… our family… everything."
Seiji's grip tightens on her hand, his marks glowing brighter. "Go on," he urges, his tone growing colder.
Arya's voice shakes as she recounts the horror. "Father stood against him. I saw him… he fought with everything he had, but Lei Gong was relentless. He burned the earth, ripped the skies apart. Our warriors fell one by one… and when I saw Father's Buddha form…" She chokes on her words, tears streaming down her face.
"What happened?" Seiji's voice is now a whisper, his jaw clenched.
"He merged with his Buddha," Arya continues, "but even that wasn't enough. Lei Gong… he… he killed him. I saw it, Seiji. I saw it all."
Seiji lowers his head, his shoulders trembling. "And you? How did you survive?"
Arya looks away, ashamed. "Father ordered me to run. I didn't want to, but he told me it was the only way. So I ran. I ran as fast as I could. I hid for days before I finally made it here."
Seiji stands slowly, his marks now blazing with fury. "He will pay for this. I swear it, Arya. He'll suffer for what he did to Father… and to you."
Arya grabs his hand, her grip weak but determined. "Don't let your rage consume you, Brother. You're all I have left now."
Seiji nods, his expression softening slightly. "I promise. But I won't let him go unpunished."
The scene shifts to Drake and Jingwei, trekking through the dense, ancient forest. Drake carries his bag lazily over one shoulder while Jingwei studies a worn map, his brow furrowed.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Drake asks, stepping over a gnarled root. "Feels like we've been walking in circles."
Jingwei snaps back, "Of course, I'm sure. This is Father's map. You think I'd get us lost?"
Drake smirks. "Well, considering we passed that same rock three times, I'm not sure your sense of direction is all that great."
Jingwei glances at the rock and groans. "Maybe the map's old! Things might have shifted over the years."
"Yeah, sure," Drake teases. "Blame the map, not the navigator."
Jingwei glares at him. "Keep talking, and I'll let the dragons deal with you when we get there."
Jingwei and Drake follow. After a few minutes, the forest opens up to reveal a massive stone staircase carved into the mountain. At the top, an ancient temple shines faintly in the sunlight, surrounded by dragon statues.
"Finally," Drake mutters, his breath catching as he takes in the sight.
As they approach, figures in ancient, apocalyptic-style robes emerge from the temple. Their faces are hidden behind dragon-shaped masks, and they move with a regal air. One steps forward, his deep voice echoing across the steps.
"Welcome, bearer of the blue flame. We have waited centuries for your arrival."
Drake looks confused. "Blue flame? What are you talking about?"
The leader raises his hand, and blue flames erupt from Drake's body, swirling like a dragon's breath. The robed figures kneel instantly.
"The Blue Flame Dragon has arrived," the leader declares. "The chosen one of prophecy."
Drake stares at the flames around him, wide-eyed. Jingwei places a hand on his shoulder, pride evident in his voice. "Drake… this is your destiny."
The chapter ends with Drake standing at the base of the temple steps, the blue flames still flickering around him. His carefree demeanor is gone, replaced by a newfound resolve as he prepares to step into his role as the bearer of the blue flame.