The Cydro slowed as it neared the station in Amethyst.
The werebear was the first to rise, his massive form filling the aisle.
He glanced at Rue with a look of unmistakable irritation, his eyes narrowing slightly as though debating whether she was worth a second of his attention. Deciding she wasn't, he turned away without a word and made his way toward the exit, his movements brisk and dismissive.
"What's with that bear's attitude?" Rue grumbled, her voice laced with irritation. "I'd love to spar with that overgrown furball and teach him some manners!"
Rue then nudged Putra awake.
"Come on, sleepyhead, we're here!"
Gema pulled his hood over his head, concealing his identity. The three Kshatriyas disembarked, stepping onto the bustling platform of Amethyst's Cydro station.
As they exited the colossal pillar, they once again encountered the werebear, who paused, glanced at them with a puzzled frown, sighed deeply, and then hurried off in the opposite direction.
"Well, Rue, that werebear is starting to get on my nerves too." Gema chuckled.
The trio made their way through the bustling marketplace in Aurea. The vibrant sights and sounds of the city swirled around them—merchants hawking their wares, street performers captivating the crowd, and the tantalizing aroma of exotic spices filling the air.
"Detour!" Rue declared, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her favorite vendor.
The sight of steaming baskets piled high with delectable treats—coconut jam, red bean paste, sambal anchovies, and savory meats—made her mouth water. With practiced skill, the vendor shaped the dough, her hands a blur of motion.
The filled baozi were carefully arranged in bamboo steamers, their aroma wafting through the air, a tantalizing invitation.
"I'll take six!" Rue declared impatiently. The vendor rolled each baozi into place with chopsticks, tossed it up, caught it on a banana leaf, and wrapped up her order. Six baozi, each with a different filling, landed neatly in her hands.
She couldn't resist any longer; Rue opened the leaf and took one. As she went to bite into the red bean baozi, a Tycart sped past her. The sudden gust of wind made all of her baozi tumble.
Rue whirled around, her eyes narrowing as she recognized who was in the Tycart: the same werebear from before, a Kshatriya from the southern region. The Tycart floated erratically as he took control from the handler, the wind element Shakti swirling around him.
He glanced back at Rue with a flicker of mischief in his eyes and, with a subtle gesture, propelled the Tycart forward with a burst of wind magic, leaving Rue fuming.
"THAT'S IT!" She roared. "That furball's about to be my new welcome mat!" She lunged forward, her form blurring with a surge of Shakti.
With a mighty stomp, the cobblestone beneath her transformed into the head of a giant serpent, its jaws gaping wide, ready to strike.
"I'll catch up with you later!" she called over her shoulder.
"Putra, it looks like those kids will have to wait! Mama's got a bear to hunt!" With a mischievous grin, she launched onto the serpent's head, which slithered through the marketplace with surprising agility, pursuing the werebear with a vengeance.
The crowd cheered, thrilled by the sight of a Kshatriya in action.
"Go get him, Rue!" Gema cheered, raising a fist in solidarity.
Ever composed, Putra shook his head and gathered the fallen baozi.
"Such childish antics," he muttered, a hint of disapproval in his voice.
"Oh, come on, Putra," Gema teased, tapping him on the back. "You could easily stop her if you wanted to. It looks like our wise mentor is losing his cool! Haha!"
Putra merely smiled and approached the vendor.
"Ma'am, could you please replace these?" he asked politely.
"Sure!" The vendor quickly packaged six fresh baozi, handing them to Putra.
Putra thanked the vendor, took the packages from the counter, and left the area, his movements calm and composed.
Gema followed Putra down a less-traveled path, a quiet nature trail that Putra was known to frequent.
"Gema," he began, his voice low and conspiratorial, "since it's just the two of us now… perhaps you'd like to tell me the real reason you're meeting with Ria on Alexandrite? And I'd be fascinated to hear about your encounter with Purba and his unique abilities."
Gema's eyes widened in surprise; then, he let out a relieved sigh.
"I almost forgot about your… ability," he said. "It seems there's no hiding anything from you, is there? Is that why you let Rue chase after that werebear? Or was the werebear… part of your plan?"
As they traversed the winding nature path, they reached the crest of a hill overlooking a sprawling garden, a peaceful oasis. Putra turned to Gema.
"Coincidences do happen, my friend," he mused. "But you're right, I have a certain... awareness. However, you can still choose to keep your secrets. I'm not omniscient. But if you're involved with Ria, you might need someone on your side, someone who can offer… guidance." He held the banana leaf bundle tightly.
Putra swung down from a towering tree with a graceful leap, landing softly on the lush green grass. Gema followed, marveling at his friend's agility.
A prominent feature of the Amethyst is its expansive recreation park, a sprawling oasis dedicated to leisure and cultural expression. Families flock here to enjoy performances of traditional dances, puppet shows, and music concerts in an open-air theater.
Colorful banners flutter in the breeze, and the joyous laughter of children fills the park as they frolic through beautifully landscaped gardens adorned with vibrant flowers, shady trees, and lush greenery.
Putra settled beneath the shade of a weeping willow, its long branches casting dappled shadows on the ground. He carefully opened the banana leaf bundle, revealing fragrant steamed baozi brimming with savory filling. With a warm smile, he offered one to Gema.
"Don't carry the burden alone," he advised.
Gema accepted the baozi, his gaze meeting Putra's. He knew he could trust this man, this friend who exuded wisdom and compassion. Gema took a bite of the baozi, lost in thought.
"But please, Putra," he said, "keep this to yourself."
"Not a word," Putra replied, calmly devouring two baozi.
Taking a deep breath, Gema began his story, knowing that once he opened this door, there would be no going back.
And so, he began to recount his journey.
"It all started when I left the Kshatriyas..."