The heavy silence enveloped the council hall of Aetheria. Limp banners of the Elemental Order hung against the stone walls, mourning the loss of Hiroshi, Master—the last of the Elemental Sages.
Riku stood among the gathered leaders with clenched fists, his heart ablaze with urgency. An Aetheria without a Sage was an Aetheria exposed... and the Shadow Syndicate could strike at any moment.
"We need a successor," Elder Matsu said grimly, his voice bouncing off the stones. "We need Sayuri."
Whispers filled the hall. Sayuri, granddaughter of the First Sage, had shut herself off from the world long ago, tortured by the wars she had seen. She had refused the title once; asking her again felt impossible.
"She won't listen," whispered one Councilman.
"Then I'll make her listen!" Riku stepped forward, his voice soft yet firm.
The eyes of the council turned toward the boy—too young, too reckless—but in that moment, Riku's determination was unquestionable.
Matsu scrutinized him, a slow nod following. "Go then. Convince her, if you can."
Two days later, Riku found Sayuri on the misty outskirts of Skyfall Woods.
She was just where he had remembered: below the broken remains of a once-great shrine, her cloak worn and tattered; her eyes vacantly peering out into a distant beyond.
"I've told you before that I have no interest," she pronounced without looking back.
"You don`t just get to run away!" Riku yelled, choking on his emotions. "Aetheria needs you!"
Sayuri's bitter laugh echoed hollowly. "They needed Hiroshi too. Look at what happened."
Before Riku could respond, a slow clap started emanating from the trees, almost like mockery.
Two figures emerged from the mist.
The first was a tall man with snake-like eyes and a sharp grin, Lord Daigon.
The second was a lithe young man with silver hair, glasses, and an unsettling smile, Silas.
"Touching, truly," Daigon said with a sneer. "But Sayuri is wasted on fools like you."
"What do you want, Daigon?" Sayuri asked, her voice draining of life.
"A simple offer," he murmured. "Gamble your fate on the toss of a game. If you win, I'll leave you and this ridiculous island alone. If you lose..." His smile widened. "You belong to us."
Sayuri's jaw clenched. In her heart, she had pretty much given up. What difference did it make?
"Count me in," she murmured.
"No!!" Riku protested as he stepped forward, but Daigon waved a hand, and a wall of black mist altered Riku's direction mid-stride, tossing him aside like a rag doll.
The "game" was merciless: a trial of strength and will held within an illusion-the arena of fears. Sayuri was overwhelmed by memories of her failures and, gnarled by the weight of guilt, fell onto her knees.
In the real world, her own body shivered.
Daigon laughed. "She's breaking. It won't take long now."
But Riku was not done.
Wounded and bleeding from the forehead, he raised himself up, while his spirit screamed louder than any hurt.
You promised them, Riku. You promised you would never give up.
With a scream, he summoned his elemental energy, the Gale, the Surge, every drop he had, and with a fistful of clashing winds, struck the illusion with a blinding blast.
Lightning surged through Sayuri's darkness, illuminating her world.
A hand reached out for her.
"Sayuri! You aren't alone! You never were!" Riku called.
Tears swelled within her eyes. For the first time in years... someone had come for her.
She took his hand, and the illusion broke.
The mist cleared. Daigon hissed in fury as Sayuri stood up, her fists crackling with fire.
"I am Sayuri," she announced, her voice regaining its strength. "Granddaughter of the First Sage. Protector of Aetheria. And you..." She raised her hand, elemental energy swirling around her as she pointed at Daigon. "...will never have me."
Daigon snarled and gestured to Silas to retreat. "This is not over, boy," he spat at Riku before vanishing into the mist.
Sayuri turned toward Riku as the danger dissipated.
"You saved me," she whispered.
Riku managed to smile through the pain. "Well, you're stuck with me now."
Sayuri chuckled softly, like the first smile of light that comes after a storm.
"Fine," she said. "I'll take up the mantle. For Aetheria. For you."
As they made their way back to the village, Aetherian winds danced across the skies.
A new Sage had risen.
And, with her appearing, the future of the islands shone a little bit brighter.