"Every year, at the sun's highest peak of the summer sun, Èlan Stones across the world are activated, summoning Spirits to bond with their chosen warriors but not all awaken. And this year, the corrupted activation in Zeodia threatens to bring unprecedented chaos."
"Èlan Spirits select their host at random, guided only by the color of their Èlan Core—the very essence of a person's soul."
"However, not everyone's Èlan Core is strong enough to awaken. For them, the dream of wielding magic will forever remain out of reach."
"Normally, an Èlan user bonds with just one spirit. But this year… the corruption of the stone has shattered that norm. Who knows what chaos it will bring?"
Tons of Èlan Spirits—shimmering in vibrant hues of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, black, and white—soar across the skies of the Zeodia Kingdom. Each one moves with purpose, drawn toward their destined warrior, fated to bring either peace or destruction.
The spirits descend upon villages and towns, weaving through the streets like celestial fireflies. Some found their hosts among the prosperous, others among the impoverished. In certain places, the awakening was met with celebration—gasps of awe as mana surged into newly chosen warriors. Elsewhere, the magic was feared, avoided, or outright ignored.
Five days later. In the Sura Kingdom.
Houki jolts awake. His chest rises and falls rapidly as his mind scrambles to make sense of his surroundings. Heavy sheets tangled around his legs and the scent of fresh linens fills the air. Golden sunlight filters through elegant curtains, casting soft shadows over carved wooden furniture and silk drapes. The room exudes luxury, yet it was unfamiliar, and that set his nerves on edge.
His pulse thunders in his ears.
"Wait… we're alive? How is that possible? And where are we?" Houki ponders, silently panting trying to calm himself down.
His eyes shift to the other bed across where Shiku tosses and turns, having nightmares about his father and Kina. Sweat clings to his crimson hair, his expression twists with distress. Houki exhales slowly, relieved they were both still breathing. Running a hand through his hair as he swings his legs over the side of the bed, he stood on the plush carpet beneath his feet grounding him in reality.
Tentatively, he begins inspecting the room, observing the walls, and the furniture, searching for clues about their whereabouts. His gaze wanders toward the window. Pulling back the curtains, he is met with the sight of a bustling city. The streets were alive with laughter and music, children weaving between merchants, and horse-drawn carriages clattering over cobblestone roads. Compared to the devastation they had left behind, it felt like an entirely different world.
As he reaches the small desk in the corner, a pained groan breaks the silence. Houki turns to see Shiku still stirring.
Shiku shot upright, his breaths uneven. For a moment, he just sits there, his hands grip the sheets as though anchoring himself. Then, without warning, he threw himself out of bed, dropping to his knees.
"I'm sorry Dad... I couldn't save her…" Shiku murmurs, his voice cracking from the emotional weight.
His fingers curled into fists, pressing against his forehead. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, his chest rising and falling in rapid succession. Then, as though he could punish himself for his failure, he slammed his fists onto the wooden floor
Once.
Twice.
Again and again, his knuckles bruising, his skin splitting.
Shiku's voice cracks, barely above a whisper as he ponders aloud, "Why did this have to happen?"
Houki hesitates for a moment, then kneels beside him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Shiku… we survived. We're still here. We'll just have to figure this out together as brothers," he reassures him.
Shiku, frozen with his shoulders shaking, slowly lifts his head. His tear-streaked reddish-pink eyes meet Houki's resolute gaze. A beat of silence passes between them and with an almost reluctant nod, Shiku extends his hand. Houki grasps it and without exchanging further words, they perform their signature handshake—a silent promise to keep going, no matter what lies ahead.
Just then, a knock at the door startles them. A young woman with bright blue hair peeks inside, hoping the boys are awake and hungry. Her maid's uniform flows with her movement as she hesitates in the doorway, a silver tray trembling slightly in her hands.
Her blue eyes dart nervously between the boys, as though weighing the risk of disturbing them. Finally, her soft voice breaks the silence, laced with worry. Upon catching sight of Shiku's haunted expression and Houki's steady resolve, she softens. "Oh! You're awake—finally. I-I brought some food. You must be starving after five days of… um, rest," she says.
Houki's brows furrows in confusion at her revelation. "Five days?" he echoes, glancing over at Kasumi. She looks nervously between the two boys, her bright blue eyes softening further at the sight of Shiku. Before either of them could question her further, the rich aroma of warm soup wafts through the air, causing their stomachs to growl in unison. Despite his earlier grief, Shiku blinks in mild surprise at the sound.
Kasumi giggles then places the tray on the table, watching as the boys, still hesitant, reach for their bowls. After a cautious first bite, the tension in their shoulders eases, and they quickly begin to dig in.
"Who are you? And where exactly are we?" Houki asks, still clearly confused.
"Yeah, this doesn't look like the Zeodia Kingdom," Shiku adds, sharing the bafflement.
Kasumi took in their bewildered expressions and realizes just how dire their situation is. She hesitates, a flicker of guilt crosses her face. Then, before they could react, she lunges forward, wrapping both of them in a tight embrace. Tears stream down her face as she unleashes a green magic from her hands, healing Shiku's injuries in the process. A gentle warmth spread through his wounds, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. The pain dulls, then vanishes entirely, leaving only a faint tingle behind.
"I'm so sorry—I didn't realize how badly you were hurt," she whispers into the embrace. As the warmth of her hug envelops them, Shiku and Houki share a flashback to their last morning with Kina and the fierce fight against Ikewa and the Ravengers. Just as relief began to settle in, however, painful memories surge to the surface, overshadowing the moment of comfort they had found.
The battle.
The fire.
The explosion.
Ikewa's laughter.
A glimpse of spirits.
Hearing Kina's final words again Shiku gasps, his chest tightens as his hands trembles. A dull heat spreads through his body, growing, intensifying.
"Shiku, you're the light this kingdom needs! The world needs both of you—don't let this be the end"
The fire in his heart feels like a flame that's been burning for eternity.
Houki inhales sharply, an unsettling chill runs down his spine. Time seems to freeze as his body stiffens.
Feeling a strong connection to a different dimension of nothingness.
Mana flares violently around them.
Kasumi stumbles back, eyes wide.
"Wh-what's happening? Kasumi gasps. "Why is their mana going out of control again?" clutching onto her dress in shock feeling the strong aura from them.
Houki clenches his fists, his breath coming in ragged pants. Ikewa… The name alone sent a fresh wave of anger surging through him.
"How did I let Ikewa destroy my life again?" Houki murmurs in disbelief that after all that time, Ikewa still had control over his life.
Shiku clenches his fists, his hands shaking as heat pulses violently through his body.
"Kina, I'm so sorry I couldn't save you," Shiku whispers to himself.
Kasumi takes a hesitant step forward. The mana surrounding them is volatile, unstable. Fear flickers in her eyes.
Kasumi stands quietly, her thoughts racing as she observes the two boys before her. "I don't know what these boys have been through. They look so young... yet their mana is so violent," she muses, feeling the palpable tension in the air crackling with energy.
Suddenly, Shiku and Houki speak in unison, bewildered. "What's this? What's going on?" Their voices echo, filling with confusion and concern. Attempting to soothe their agitation, Kasumi quickly realizes that they are struggling to manage their mana, and her heart sinks with the worry of what could happen if this energy is left unchecked.
With her finger trembling slightly, she points at them, her concern deepening as Shiku feels the immense heat radiating from his aura. For a moment, he is lost in the exhilaration of his newfound powers and thinks, "My dream of becoming an Èlan Warrior is finally a reality."
Kasumi steps closer, her determination evident. "They don't even know how to control it—this could be dangerous!" she exclaims, her voice filled with urgency. "Please, you need to calm down. Focus. Control it, or you'll burn out."
Despite the ache in his chest, excitement surges through him. He has finally awakened. But… was it worth it if Kina wasn't here to see it?
In his excitement, Shiku momentarily forgot his worries about being in an unknown location. With a burst of energy, he began to jump around the room, ecstatically cheering at the top of his lungs. "Finally! I'm an Èlan warrior! Houki, I told you it would work. Can't you believe this?"
Houki, on the other hand, looks at himself with uncertainty, his thoughts swirling. "Control it how?" he wonders, feeling overwhelmed. Just then, an unfamiliar voice echoes in his mind, cutting through the chaos. "Calm yourself, child," it advised.
Taking a deep breath, Houki exhales slowly, willing himself to find some semblance of calm. As he steadies his breathing, the chaotic energy around him begins to waver and, much to his relief, finally recedes. Meanwhile, Shiku continues to buzz with excitement. A wide grin spreads across his face as he celebrates their new reality.
Shiku cheers repeatedly, exclaiming, "I'm an Èlan warrior!" while summoning a flame around his fist.
"Your mana—try to calm down! You'll hurt yourself if this keeps up! Please do your best to focus and relax. Before you burn out." Kasumi exclaims.
Houki gave him a sidelong glance, unimpressed.
"Try not to set the building on fire in the process," Houki sternly declares.
Shiku's mana continues to surge, he jumps around the room, boasting to himself. However, the sternness in Houki's voice makes him come to a sudden stop, bringing him back to his senses.
Shiku is overflowing with excitement, unable to contain his energy. He reaches out to Houki, urging him not to play it cool. "Oh, come on, Houki! Don't act all cool now. You're just as pumped as I am—admit it!" he exclaims, a broad smile lightens up his face.
Meanwhile, Houki is shifting his attention back to Kasumi. His curiosity surges as he confronts her with a question that has been nagging at him. "So by the way, you never answered my questions. Where are we and who are you?"
Kasumi, taking a deep breath, feels the chaos swirling around her. The food tray hugs tightly against her chest as she tries to gather her thoughts. After a moment of preparation, she clears her throat, determined to break through the excitement and confusion they were all experiencing. "Oh, pardon me. I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kasumi Donaka, and this is the Sura Kingdom. Who might you two be?"
Houki responds with a calm demeanor, "I'm Houki, and this idiot is Shiku. We're from The Zeodia Kingdom." His tone is steady, contrasting with Shiku's earlier exuberance.
With a furrowed brow, he continues, "How did we get to the Sura Kingdom? It must've been that portal I created that day." The weight of the question hangs in the air, deepening the mystery of their unexpected arrival.
"What, The Zeodia Kingdom! No one has had an active Élan Spirit from there in the last ten years." Kasumi exclaims dramatically, as hearing the news of the boy's home kingdom stuns her.
Kasumi's thoughts race as she ponders the recent events. "Maybe that's what that massive mana surge was," she muses to herself, trying to connect the dots. As the conversation between the three continues, the atmosphere shifts suddenly.
Without warning, a young man clad in silver armor storms into the building. His fierce demeanor commanded attention as he angrily shoves past the patrons, his frustration palpable. With a forceful swing, he throws open the wooden doors of the inn, the sound echoes through the room, marking his arrival with an unmistakable intensity.
The loud boom coming from downstairs startles them as he continues his big commotion in the inn.
His booming voice bellows from downstairs, intimidating the people around him. People sitting at tables and the bar jolt back and stare in shock at his ignorance and rudeness.
"Where is that worthless healer? Get her out here before I destroy this place!" The young man shouts, demanding Kasumi's presence.
Shiku raises a curious brow. "Woah… what's going on down there?"
Before Houki could respond, Kasumi has already bolts from the room, her tray of dishes forgotten as she rushes toward the source of the shouting.
Houki and Shiku exchanges a glance before following her toward the commotion.
Downstairs, the sight that greeted them made Kasumi freeze in her tracks. Her face pale, her breath hitching, the tray slips from her hands, shattering against the floor.
A man—tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating an oppressive green aura—stands in the center of the inn, his presence alone making patrons shrink away. His expression twists with rage as he storms toward Kasumi, spitting at her feet.
Kasumi takes a few steps back, stumbling over the boys. Seeing the fear on her face, they straighten up, ready for a fight.
The young man takes a step forward.
"You! You fucking piss poor healer. I stayed at this inn for two whole days and I'm still feeling pain from my injury. I want my money back!" the young man demands, angrily pointing directly at Kasumi.
Kasumi raises her hands in fear trying to defend herself from any incoming attacks.
"Please don't do this. I tried my best to heal you. Your injury wasn't that bad. You shouldn't feel the pain anymore." Kasumi pleads, trying not to look the young man in the eyes.
The man took another step forward, his aura flaring—
Only to find himself blocked.
Houki and Shiku step in front of Kasumi, their bodies tense, their eyes sharp. The shift in their stance was clear: if he took one more step, there would be a fight.
Houki narrows his eyes. "I suggest you stop before you regret it."
Shiku, on the other hand, is grinning ear to ear. Cracking his knuckles, he stretches his left arm, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"Houki, let him, I'm ready to see my power as an Èlan Warrior!"
He clenches his fists. "I wonder how my powers actually work…"
Houki looks back at her with a slight smile silently trying to reassure her that she'll be okay. Before turning his head back to the man and glaring back at him.
The man sneers. "Tch. What, a couple of brats think they can intimidate me?"
But then—he felt it.
Their auras explode outward. The sheer density of their mana fills the room like a suffocating tide, drowning out his own presence.
His breath caught.
"What's with these kids mana?" the young man thinks. Looking on at the massive mana released by the boys.
The man unsheathes his sword in a flash, its steel glinting in the dim light of the inn. Pointing it forward he stares at them for a few seconds then dashes in towards Kasumi; his sword raised high, thinking he can bulldoze through the boys.
Houki thinks about her safety as he portals her back to the room they were in before the boys roll in different directions out of the way, gaining a slight distance.
In the blink of an eye, she disappears, swallowed by a swirling portal of black void.
Only for her to vanish.
The man swings his sword only to vigorously slice through the air.
Shiku's hands burn with heat.
Then—
A voice sounding like it was coming from Shiku's soul rang through his head.
"Shiku, your body is now the spark to my eternal flame."
Fierce, untamed flames engulf his fists as he lunges forward, each punch trailing fire. The man barely managed to block, his sword ringing against the onslaught of burning strikes. Sweat forms on his brow from the sheer heat.
Shiku's laughter rings through the air. "This is insane! My spirit's freakin' awesome!"
Houki sighs. "Shiku, the point is to use mana, not burn the place down."
With the young man's and Shiku's auras clashing.
Dodging another wild swing, Shiku handsprings backward.
Houki grabs a dagger from a cowering bystander. With a flick of his wrist, two black portals materialize—one by his hand, the other behind the man.
Houki stabs through the portal
A sharp grunt escapes the man as the dagger pierces his ribs.
Houki twists the void, relocating the blade mid-air—
Straight into the man's knee.
He staggers, his defenses breaking for just a second—
Giving Shiku an opening.
With a burning fist, Shiku smashes his knuckles into the man's face before using the momentum to backflip off his sword. He lands with a massive grin, staring in awe at his flaming hands.
The man collapses onto his back, his armor clanging against the floorboards.
But he wasn't done.
Getting up and holding his ribs he creates multiple sharp tentacle-like vines from his sword, whipping them around, smashing tables, breaking windows, and hitting people in the inn trying to catch the boys who are running around and dodging them.
Jumping and flipping around using the environment to avoid the vines Shiku clenches his fists, attempting to reignite them—
Instead, his feet burst into flames.
He skids across the wooden floor, leaving a scorch mark on the wood. Barely staying upright. "Wha—?! My feet?!"
Confused, he's forced to block a vine, getting a slight cut on his cheek and on his hand. He then charges in faster than before almost tripping over his feet.
Jumping toward the young man only to get knocked out of the air by a whipping vine, smashing through a table, Shiku grunts and looks around. He gets back up looking over at Houki who is flickering in and out of portals, narrowly dodging the relentless vines. Losing control of where he's landing, almost getting hit by the dagger flung by due to losing mana and using too many portals.
"Houki thinks he's so cool, but I have to admit his Élan magic is awesome." Shiku thinks, feeling slightly jealous of Houki's control of his magic.
They both glance at each other and nod in silent agreement; together, they charge at him. The young man sends more whipping vines toward them.
But before they could reach their opponent—
In the blink of an eye, a massive, well-groomed man suddenly grabs a vine and stops its momentum completely.
The entire inn froze.
Stopped in their tracks at the sight of the big muscly man standing in between them and the young man. He stands angrily glaring at everyone involved in the commotion. His towering presence stood before them. His sheer size alone is imposing. His yellow aura flares, raw power radiating from his very being.
The innkeeper's presence is overwhelming, a force that cannot be ignored.
The man turns to Shiku and Houki, then the young man suddenly takes this as an opportunity to attack the boys but gets interrupted by the inn owner who instantly turns around.
In an instant, his yellow aura ferociously explodes around him. He flexes his big muscles ripping his shirt off.
"What the hell is going on here? All you idiots need to knock it off!" the inn owner exclaims.
The young man runs toward them at full speed, sword raised high.
"Get out the way old man!" the young man shouts, feeling embarrassed. The anger in his eyes shows pure hatred.
Quickly turning his right arm into a giant wolf's paw with a thunderous howl and with a single punch, the inn owner smashes his fist into the young man's chest, sending him crashing through the floorboards.
"I SAID KNOCK IT OFF! You want to cause trouble in my inn? Over my dead body." Disappointment and annoyance drapes his face.
Creating a huge gust of wind and blowing the boys back a short distance, they manage to stay on their feet by using their aura and crossing their arms in front of them to block.
Dust and debris settle as the innkeeper stood, glaring down at the unconscious figure.
Looking at the massive man they both feel the pressure of his gaze upon them.
Surveying all the damage to his inn, such as the broken windows, tables, and glasses he approaches the boys angrily and without a word, grabs them both by the collar and hoists them up effortlessly.
Shiku gulps.
Houki frowns.
The innkeeper's eyes lock onto them, full of irritation.
"Y-you don't understand! We were just—" Shiku starts.
Kasumi rushes back down to the main lobby concerned for the boys only to see the young man unconscious on the floor with the innkeeper's grasp on the boy's collars.
Grabbing the massive man's arm to stop him from hurting them, she pulls on it with all her strength.
"Dad, stop!"
Her face is a bright red full of embarrassment as she stares at him with tears forming in her eyes. The innkeeper puts them down before turning quickly to her and bows repeatedly, embarrassing her even more as the boys look on.
Shiku scratches the back of his head in confusion.
Houki stares in frustration, his expression reflects his annoyance.
"So what happened here? And you better talk quickly."
"They were only trying to help!"
"Y-yeah we were only trying to help sir." Shiku stutters, pointing at Kasumi.
Nobori quickly shifts his back and forth between Kasumi and the boys. Realizing Shiku's telling the truth from Kasumi's reaction to them.
He hugs both boys tightly, lifting them up and swinging them around.
"Thank you for saving my little pumpernickel." Nobori gleefully cheers.
"Nobori always becomes such a wimp when it comes to Kasumi," a patron of the inn jokes.
He looks over at the bystander with contempt making him shiver with fear before going back to sipping his drink.
The inn owner tosses the young man outside making him roll onto the road. Groaning, the young man shakes his head dizzily, trying to piece together the events that had swept him into this chaos.
The inn owner walks past them waving his hand and motioning them to follow him to his office. The group hesitates but follows him, curiosity piqued by his sudden invitation.
"Come with me, you three, we need to talk," Nobori demands, walking in front of them.
Shiku casually follows Kasumi and her father.
Covering his mouth with his hand, Shiku whispers to Houki "I swear, everywhere we go, it's just chaos."
Houki sighs, "Tell me about it."
He throws the dagger back toward the person he took it from perfectly hitting a bullseye on a dart board close to the person's head before following the rest of them to the office.
In his office, the room is medium-sized and neatly organized with a massive Sura Kingdom logo in between two large windows. Sitting at his white wood desk, he looks at the boys with his hands clenched together. The tension in the air is palpable as the inn owner's piercing gaze feels like he's staring into the boys' souls.
He stares for a few moments before clearing his throat. Kasumi stands behind him with her head held down in embarrassment at having the feeling of causing trouble again. Her father's voice breaks the silence.
Kasumi tries avoiding looking at her father because she believes she's an incompetent healer. Her thoughts whirl around her head like a storm. She wants to prove herself, to show that she can do more than patch up small scratches.
"So how are you boys going to be paying for the damages to my inn?" Nobori asks, his gaze unwavering and voice as steady as molten steel.
Kasumi raises her head. Finally mustering up the confidence to speak. "I'll work extra shifts," she offers her voice barely a whisper but filled with determination.
"These are the boys I found outside of the city's walls. They were only trying to help," Kasumi pleads. "They're from the Zeodia Kingdom."
"So these are the boys you mentioned before the ones you save?" Nobori ponders. "Wait the Zeodia Kingdom! How do you have an Èlan Spirit?"
They explain the day leading up to their arrival to The Sura Kingdom in every detail they can remember. Every word gave them vivid flashbacks of that day and noticeably breaking Kasumi's heart. The inn owner rubs his beard pondering over the story he just heard from them.
Lifting one of his eyebrows and leaning more into his hands he shifts his disgruntled look into his eyes to more of an intrigued look.
Kasumi looks on, noticing both of the boys' discomfort toward the situation.
"So by a freak accident, you two became Èlan warriors. That's unheard of. The Èlan rituals are sacred and Èlan Stones can be only activated through the most deliberate of ceremonies. With an incantation only known by the royal family or the Four Pillars. Or in Zeodia's case, the Queen's Court," Nobori explains relaxing back into his chair.
Houki couldn't quite comprehend how they ended up in their current situation, but there they were, faced with the unexpected. Shiku, on the other hand, is filled with excitement. He exclaims, "I don't understand it either, but it's awesome! I'm finally strong enough to fix my kingdom!"
Nobori, however, raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Strong enough, huh?" he says, slowly rising from behind the desk. A broad smile spreads across his face as he unleashes a beastly yellow aura, transforming into a fearsome creature resembling a werewolf, draped in white fur. His bright blue eyes gleam with intensity against his now black scleras, making him seem even more imposing as he towered over the seated boys.
Shiku jolts backward in his seat, while Houki finds himself compelled to bow. Both of them felt the overwhelming pressure emanating from the inn owner. Sweat drips down their faces as they struggle against the weight of the moment, desperately trying to escape the predicament but finding no way out.
After a moment, the inn owner detransformed, dissipating his mana and erupting into laughter. Nobori then looked at the boys with a mix of seriousness and reassurance. "As awesome as it might be," he begins, "Something like this remains undocumented, leaving us uncertain about the potential outcomes. However, if my daughter trusts you, then I, Nobori Donaka, will take responsibility for you boys. Before we proceed, though, there's a tournament coming up that we need to address first. Impress me then, and I'll consider training you boys to make you real Èlan Warriors!"
❧