Mei's POV
The shimmering sun spilled through my window, gently waking me with its golden rays, while the birds outside sang a cheerful melody. I stretched my arms, yawning as the warmth of the day embraced me. What day is it today? Wednesday. Right. Once every two weeks, I had a duty alongside Banyu and Alas to fly to Mount Portia and gather Pori fruits for Zeus and Noodles.
Zeus wasn't just a pet—he was family. A majestic creature known as a white lightning, Zeus had thick, snow-white fur and was the fastest being on both land and in the skies. His ability to summon bolts of lightning from his mouth never ceased to amaze me. Though his native habitat was in the icy tundra, his remarkable adaptability meant he could thrive anywhere. Noodles, Banyu's companion, was no less extraordinary. A sea dragon serpent, part dragon and part serpent, Noodles was the fastest creature in the ocean, able to breathe fire as easily as he cut through the waves.
I stood up, the cool floor beneath my feet grounding me as I made my way to the shower. Mount Portia was always cloaked in ice, so I chose something warm to wear before grabbing my book. Well, technically, it wasn't mine. Alas had discovered it hidden in one of Zeus's secret pockets years ago. With it tucked under my arm, I dashed to our usual meeting spot and ran into Banyu along the way.
"Hey, Mei. Ai cyrus," she greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Ban. Ai cyrus," I replied.
"Where's Noodles?"
"He's already with Alas."
"Oh, alright."
When we arrived at the clearing, Alas was waiting, leaning casually against Zeus, his usual smirk plastered on his face. "Hey, Ban. Ai cyrus," he greeted, waving.
"Hey, ai cyrus," Banyu replied.
"What took you so long, sloth?" Alas teased, delivering a light punch to my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. "Come on," I muttered, brushing him off as I climbed onto Zeus.
"Everyone ready?" Alas asked, tightening his grip on the reins.
"Yep," Banyu confirmed from atop Noodles.
"Alright, bud. Mount Portia," Alas said, tapping Zeus's side. With a deep growl, Zeus launched into the sky, Noodles following close behind.
The rush of wind against my face was exhilarating. As we ascended, the clouds enveloped us, parting like waves crashing into us, leaving a chill that sent goosebumps across my skin. This is the best feeling.
Oh, right! Let me introduce myself. I'm Valentine, but everyone calls me Mei. My brother, Alastare—though we just call him Alas—is two years older than me. He decided "Val" sounded weird, and, well, it stuck. People in our village, including Estella Linda, believe we were sent directly by the elder spirits to watch over the village since the bending masters are always traveling. We don't have parents, but Zeus's discovery of ten mysterious books in his hidden pocket became our guiding light. They seemed to teach the lessons that parents might.
Our home, Aisling Village, is the only place in the kingdom where benders and mystical creatures coexist. Anyone can enter the village, but only those with bending or magical abilities can pass through the entrance portal to witness its magic. I recently discovered that I'm a water bender, and Alas is a fire bender, thanks to one of the books. The author insists we fully understand each chapter before moving on, which explains why after two years, I've only finished Girls' Manners for Valentine, and Alas has only completed Guys' Manners for Alastare. We're now on chapter two of Fire and Water Bending.
I took the book from Zeus's pocket and began reading.
"Done yet?" Alas asked impatiently.
"Nope," I replied, focused.
"Come on, it's all waterbending."
"Hold up… okay, here," I handed him the book.
I needed to form water into sharp spear-like points—manageable, I hoped. Collecting and controlling a blob of water had taken me three months to master, and now this? Spirits, help me. According to the book, I had to think of water as part of my body, controlled through the charges at my fingertips. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to feel the water around me.
It didn't work. Frustrated, I reread the section. Oh. Right.
"Thinking of it like it's part of your body doesn't mean owning it. Water has a soul. It must be free. Visualize the positive and negative charges in your fingers and attract the water with them. Believe in yourself. The water knows you."
I took another deep breath, this time visualizing the charges on my fingertips. We were high enough to draw water from the clouds. Slowly, I felt the energy gather, the water responding to me. A small blob formed, and I shaped it into a spear tip. It worked. Not that hard, actually. I formed another, then another, until I was creating several at once, my concentration sharpening with each new creation.
When we arrived at Mount Portia, I slipped the book back into Zeus's pocket. Besides the book, we carried bows, arrows, water bottles, and basic supplies. Alas had his sword strapped to his waist. Banyu wasted no time, using her waterbending to form an elegant staircase of ice leading into the forest. She was far more skilled than I was.
Pori fruits, their golden-yellow orbs, hung from the branches, hidden beneath the icy canopy. The fruits were incredibly nutritious—one or two could sustain a mystical creature for days. They weren't commonly eaten by humans, though healers believed they could cure rare illnesses.
"Why can't you do that, Mei?" Alas teased as Banyu created another staircase.
"Not yet," I replied, brushing it off.
"Yet, like 20 years from now?"
I punched his arm lightly. "Alass…" Spirits, what's wrong with him?
"Hey, guys!" Banyu called out. "I found a twin Pori fruit!"
I froze. A twin Pori fruit?
"Whoa," Alas said. "Legend has it if you find one, something big will happen."
"But it might not be good," he added.
I frowned. "It's just a legend, right?"
"Still, let's take it to El Eliodora," Banyu suggested.
El Eliodora, one of the village's healers, could sometimes glimpse the future. We hoped today would be one of those days.
Before I could respond, a low rumble shook the ground. I turned to see an avalanche building, ice and snow rushing toward us. Spirits.
"Move!" Alas shouted.
We hurriedly packed the fruits into sacks and secured them onto Zeus and Noodles. "Back home!" Banyu shouted, and we flew, the icy roar of the avalanche fading behind us.
On the way back, I practiced forming water spears again. It was easier now, each spear sharper and more precise. Alas, on the other hand, was struggling to keep his fire lit in the cold wind.
When we arrived, we fed Zeus and Noodles before heading to El Eliodora's. Alas knocked on the wooden door. She opened it, her silver hair neatly braided, wearing rich red and purple robes.
"Oh, come in, come in," she welcomed us warmly.
We bowed, "Ai cyrus, El Eliodora."
She smiled. "Ai cyrus, children. Now, what brings you here?"
Banyu held out the twin Pori fruit. "We found this at Mount Portia. Legend says it means something big is coming."
El Eliodora's expression grew serious. She closed her eyes, her brows furrowing. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice grave. "An evil spirit… it's after one of you."
"What do you mean, El Eliodora?" I asked, my heart pounding. "It's after one of us?"
She sighed, her lined face etched with worry. "I wish I could tell you more, child, but my sight has grown weaker with age. All I can see is that an evil spirit will come for one of you. I cannot tell who or when. But you must prepare. Train harder, sharpen your skills. Whatever is coming, it will not be kind."
Banyu's usual cheer faltered. "But why us?" she asked softly. "We're just kids. We don't hold any special power."
El Eliodora smiled gently, her eyes sad. "You're benders. That alone makes you special. Sometimes, that's all it takes to draw the attention of dark forces."
Alas straightened, his jaw tightening. "We'll be ready," he said, his voice steady. "We'll train harder."
She nodded. "May the spirits bless and protect you, children."
We bowed, murmuring our thanks before stepping out into the crisp air. The late afternoon sun bathed the village in a soft glow, but the warmth did nothing to ease the chill that had settled in my bones.
"We'll work it out," Alas said, trying to sound reassuring. "It's probably just some old story. Evil spirits looking for power or something."
"But why us?" I muttered. "There are stronger benders out there."
"Because we're benders," Banyu replied. "That's enough."
"It does sound kind of exciting," Alas said, attempting a grin. "Like we'll be on some grand mission."
"Exciting enough to give me goosebumps," I said, rubbing my arms.
"Come on," Alas said, clapping me on the back. "Let's sell these Pori fruits. It'll take our minds off things."
We walked through the portal into the bustling market, where the noise of haggling vendors and chattering customers drowned out the sound of my anxious thoughts. The market was alive with color, smells, and the promise of trade. Pori fruits were a symbol of wealth, and two sacks of them could fetch as much as 10,000 ux.
"Mei," Alas said suddenly, grabbing my arm.
"What?"
"Watch out!"
I turned just in time to see a man barreling toward me, colliding hard into my side. I stumbled, my wallet falling to the ground. He stopped and glanced at me, a strange expression on his face—surprise? Curiosity?
"I'm really sorry, miss," he said, bowing slightly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, shaking off the shock.
He stared at me a moment longer, as if searching for something, then turned and sprinted away, the two men chasing him vanishing into the crowd.
"You okay, Mei?" Alas asked, frowning.
"I'm fine," I said, brushing myself off. "He didn't take anything." I checked my pockets to be sure.
We sold the fruits and returned home, the strange encounter lingering in the back of my mind. Who was he? What did he want?
Back in the village, we stored our earnings and returned to our bending practice. I focused on my water spears, honing my control. By nightfall, exhaustion clung to me, but I couldn't shake the unease in my chest.
"It's late," Banyu said, stretching. "Let's eat dinner."
"I'm good," I said, still forming another water spear. "I need to master this."
"Breakfast, then," she said with a sigh.
"Yeah," I agreed.
"HELP! HELP!" A scream pierced the air.
We froze, hearts racing, then sprinted toward the sound. A woman stood near the portal, her face pale, hands trembling. "Please! Someone, help!"
At her feet lay a man, an arrow lodged deep in his stomach, blood pooling beneath him. He gasped for air, his face ashen.
"Oh, spirits," I whispered. "Is this it? The prophecy?"
None of us were ready for this. We hadn't mastered our bending. We weren't warriors. Oh spirits.