Two hours had passed since Lyra's morning had been so rudely disrupted. With a grim expression, she wandered through the dense forest surrounding Eldrida, the towering trees swaying gently under the whisper of the wind. Her fists clenched as she muttered under her breath.
"I can't believe Kai woke me up like that!"
"You didn't wake up the first time I tried, so I had to get creative," his voice echoed in her memory.
''Creative? You call that spinning me around in the air creative?!''
She huffed in frustration. Why had she even needed to leave in the first place? Kai had insisted on speaking with Tashi alone, arguing that her presence might add unnecessary pressure—and, more importantly, that she might accidentally blurt out something about sneaking into the locked room. Lyra understood his reasoning, but he could have at least warned her beforehand!
"Ugh, how annoying! I'll definitely give him a piece of my mind later."
She sighed, forcing her irritation aside. How was the conversation going? Had Kai learned anything useful? Her curiosity gnawed at her, and before she realized it, her feet had already turned back toward the village.
Just as she turned to leave, a shadow stirred in the distance— A lone figure sat atop a rock, their form blurred by the hazy morning air. As she took a cautious step forward, the figure rose—and in the blink of an eye, they vanished.
Then, suddenly, they were in front of her.
Lyra's breath hitched, her heart pounding against her ribs. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"You... it can't be—!"
***
The landscape had barely changed—familiar streets, familiar homes, and, most importantly, familiar faces. Still, small changes caught his eye. A once-crumbling watchtower now stood tall, newly reinforced. The old training dummies had been replaced with sturdier models, their surfaces scarred from years of relentless practice.
As he strolled through the training grounds, a group of young warriors sparred under the early afternoon sun. Approaching them with a smile, he yelled out.
"Still slacking off, I see." Tafari's voice rang out across the training grounds, laced with mock disappointment. The warriors turned in unison, only for their shock to melt into wide-eyed excitement.
"Master Tafari?! No way! When did you get here? We haven't seen you in years!"
Tafari chuckled. "Just arrived. Came straight from a meeting with the squad."
The mention of the squad sent a ripple of excitement through the group.
"Wait—the squad? You mean Kaida, Rey, and Blaze are here too?"
A young man grinned mischievously. "Kaida's here? I can't wait to see how much more beautiful she's gotten over the years."
A chuckle came from the group. "Still head over heels for her, huh?"
"Can you blame me?"
But their excitement quickly gave way to concern. A third warrior frowned. "If you're all here at the same time... does that mean something serious is happening? Is there anything we can do to help?"
Tafari waved a hand dismissively. "No need to worry about that. We've got it under control. But... while I'm here, how about a little training session? Just like old times?"
The warriors erupted in cheers, their energy ignited.
"Yes, sir!"
Tafari smirked. "Tell me, has anyone finally shattered my old lifting record?"
A girl in the group scoffed. "No, sir! But some of us can lift a boulder now!"
"Only one? That's too slow, kids. I could probably lift five by now!" Tafari boasted with a hearty laugh.
A stunned voice echoed among the group. "Five?! Seriously?!"
"Just as expected from Master Tafari," another muttered in awe.
Laughter rippled through the warriors before they launched into their training with renewed enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Viper descended the mountain, his footsteps careful and deliberate. He had been searching for Blaze, and when he finally found him, the man sat alone, lost in thought. The wind tugged at his crimson cloak as he stared at the horizon.
Viper descended the rocky path and greeted Blaze respectfully. ''Sir Blaze, what's the plan for tomorrow?'"
Blaze's gaze remained fixed. "Plan? We don't need one. We walk in, take the girl, and leave."
Viper's voice faltered for a moment. ''I know you're not worried about the guy I fought there, but what if they've already been alerted? What if they try to help her escape?'"
''That only makes things easier. A little girl running for her life? She won't get far. And besides, if that man wasn't from Eldrida, he wouldn't know about her.''
Viper nodded, bowing his head slightly. ''I see. Apologies for the interruption.''
He turned to leave, but Blaze spoke again, his voice softer this time. "It's good to see you again, Viper. I respect the fact that you stayed in the village all these years to protect it."
Viper glanced back, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "This place has always been special to me. Its people have always been kind. And it's all thanks to you, Blaze. When my life seemed over, you gave me a home. Just so you know... no matter what, I will stand by your side if you need me to."
Blaze didn't reply, but a quiet understanding passed between them.
***
In the forest, Lyra's blood ran cold.
A demon.
It towered before her, five unblinking eyes glistening like molten gold. Its leathery wings—deep crimson and jagged—marked it as one of the demon race, a species thought to be extinct.
Lyra staggered back, her pulse roaring in her ears. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. Demons were gone—wiped from existence. And yet—
Her thoughts were cut short. With a flicker of motion too fast to track, the demon lunged. Its claws sliced through the air, aiming straight for her chest.
Pain exploded through her body.
She hit the ground hard, coughing up blood, her vision blurring. The world seemed to tilt as she struggled to move, but the demon was already preparing to strike again.
Then—
A burst of light erupted from her core.
Heat flared through her veins, searing and electric, as divine power surged forth. Her wounds sealed shut in an instant, the pain vanishing like it had never existed. Her golden eyes burned with ethereal light as she stood, no longer the wounded girl, but a warrior of the goddess clan.
She raised a hand, power crackling at her fingertips. "Abomination of Satan... be vanquished."
With a flick of her wrist, a single blast of energy obliterated the demon, leaving only ash.
Lyra exhaled sharply, willing her heartbeat to slow. Yet, something was wrong. Her body felt… heavy. No, not heavy—drained.
A slow, mocking clap filled the air.
"Oh my, that was beautiful," a woman's voice purred. "It will make it all the more fun tearing you apart."
Lyra turned sharply. A woman approached, a smile curling at her lips.
"You dispatched my minion so quickly… but I'll forgive you," the woman cooed. "Instead, why don't you be a good girl and stay down?"
Lyra braced herself, but something was wrong. Her strength—her power—was gone.
"Pointless," the woman sighed. "The spell I cast covers a three-kilometer radius. It slowly drains the life force of all within it. And after using so much power just now… you have nothing left."
Lyra crumpled to her knees, the world spinning around her. Her breath came ragged, her limbs too heavy to lift. She grit her teeth, trying—and failing—to push herself back up.
A shadow loomed over her.
Fingers gripped her jaw, tilting her face upward. Cold, unyielding. The woman smiled sweetly. "Now, stay here and—"
!!!
A brilliant light flared, slashing across the woman's arm. She barely avoided a direct hit, eyes widening in shock.
Lyra stood tall, unyielding.
"Underestimating the goddess clan?" Lyra wiped the blood from her lip, eyes blazing. "That's your first mistake."