Yelena (raising her voice, curious, slightly wary):"HEY! You guys… you're headed toward the RESTORATION CENTER as well?"
The boy on the far left steps forward, his voice deep and steady, carrying a weight that makes the words linger in the air:"Yeah… but why are there only four of you? Could it be… you're the ones from KOGA SHIROTANE'S GROUP?"
The four exchange glances—a mix of recognition and wariness passing between them.
Rosé tightens her grip on her wand, the faint hum of energy pulsing along its shaft like a heartbeat ready to erupt.
Xitij smirks, but there's a hint of caution lurking behind the grin.
Einar narrows his eyes, calculating every detail.
Yelena, ever the observer, tilts her head, curiosity and suspicion warring in her gaze.
Narrator (off-panel, dryly):"Well… this is about to get interesting. Let's see if they're friends… or foreshadowing trouble."
A sudden shift ripples through the forest—the air itself seems to bend. Clouds scatter, allowing sunlight to pour down, brushing the newcomer's face. His hair—FIERY ORANGE, reminiscent of Rosé's crimson strands—catches the light and glows as if alive.
He smiles warmly, placing his LEFT HAND BEHIND HIS HEAD in a casual, slightly bashful gesture, and bows slightly:"Well… please take good care of him! He may be a nuisance, perhaps a little arrogant—but he has a GOOD HEART. It's… NICE TO MEET YOU. I am ENJI SHIROKAZE of Shirolya, Virelya Nation."
The pause hangs, expectant, as the four take in his presence—half in admiration, half in quiet curiosity.
Narrator (dryly, almost whispering):"And thus, the PLOT THICKENS… ENJI SHIROKAZE, fiery-haired, hot-headed, and full of flair. Names and personalities? ALREADY IN FULL DISPLAY."
Xitij (smirking, hands in his pockets, voice calm but confident):"Well… I suppose introductions are in order. I am XITIJ SUNVAR of TEJORASYA. And yes, I do tend to MAKE AN ENTRANCE."
Yelena (tilting her head, playful grin tugging at her lips):"YELENA VIREST, of SOLVYR. OBSERVER EXTRAORDINAIRE, occasional chaos coordinator, and sometimes HELPFUL."
Aurelio (tall, composed, faint smile, stepping forward):"AURELIO VEYRAS, SLOVYR. Pleased to meet you. Let's hope this trial doesn't EAT US ALIVE."
Thiago (arms crossed, confident, voice resonant):"THIAGO RENARD, ARDOVALE. Don't let the calm face fool you—there's FIRE BEHIND IT."
Einar (takes a deep breath, voice low but steady, stepping slightly forward):"EINAR FROSTVAL, VIRELYA… NICE TO MEET ALL OF YOU."
Soraya (stepping up with a small, teasing smile, a glint in her eyes as she glances at Einar):"SORAYA THALVEN, SLOVYR. And… I must admit, I'm CURIOUS ABOUT YOU, EINAR."
Rosé (slightly puffing up her chest, a faint edge of jealousy in her tone, wand in hand):"ROSÉ D'LORIAN, ARDOVALE. Don't forget me… I can HOLD MY OWN, TOO."
Nia (graceful, confident, voice soft but clear, finishing with a small bow):"NIA KAIMANA, RŌWHENUA. Pleasure to meet all of you."
The group now stands in a circle of mixed personalities: hot-headed, playful, curious, and slightly jealous—ready for the next challenge in the SPARROW DISTRICT.
Narrator (voice booming, dramatic):"Now, they make their way toward the SPARROW DISTRICT… but before we follow, let me entertain some of your burning questions about XITIJ'S TECHNIQUES and the infamous WIND ATTRIBUTE."
One of the readers (leaning forward, eager, waving a hand):"Well… um… WHAT EXACTLY IS THE WIND ATTRIBUTE?"
Narrator (grinning slyly, completely sidestepping the Wind topic):"Oh-ho-ho, tricky question, isn't it? Let's start with the basics before you get carried away. There are FIVE COMMON ATTRIBUTES every aspiring combatant might wield:
Wind Attribute – Connects the lungs to the palms and feet. (No further explanation… for now.)
Fire Attribute – Converts fats, lipids, and muscle into EXPLOSIVE ENERGY. Painful, but effective.
Water Attribute – Gushes water from the same points; includes a muscle to prevent drowning. Clever, right?
Lightning Attribute – Pure electricity, converting chemical energy into sparks. Shocking, literally.
Earth/Magnetic Attribute – Uses the magnetic properties of charged objects and terrain. Close contact usually needed, but versatile.
Ah, yes… plenty more exist—combinations, negatives, conscript modes—but those, dear reader, are TALES FOR ANOTHER TIME."
The group arrives at the Resting Center, only to find that Koga has already left—his mission clear: slay the Sparrow Mini Boss.
On a nearby table, neatly placed, lies a folded letter in Koga's unmistakable handwriting. Rosé picks it up and reads aloud:
Letter from Koga Shirotane:
Hey you lot,
So, I got a head start on the Sparrow Mini Boss. Yeah, I know, I know… don't give me those looks—but come on, it wasn't my fault you guys were sleeping till 10!
Anyway, I see you made it this far, and I have to admit—I respect you for showing up. Most wouldn't bother. But listen closely: this Mini Boss slaying? It's like a race. Only the quick get a shot at it. If you're slow, you'll just miss your chance.
So, here's the deal: wait at the Resting Center. Rest up, gather your courage, and maybe—just maybe—you'll see me come back victorious. I'm counting on you not to get yourselves lost in the meantime.
Oh, and thanks—for bothering to check up on me. Means more than you know.
See you soon… if you're fast enough.
—Koga Shirotane
Narrator (chuckling, off-panel):"Well… of course, they are not very tentative and depart for the Sparrow District anyway. And yes! This was all in Xam, so Yelena still can't comprehend a word of it. Einar is still trying to muster the courage to explain—maybe he will… maybe he won't. But we've well reached over the word goal for this chapter."
Writer (sighing, lazily):"And I'm feeling pretty lazy, so…"
Narrator, Writer, and Koga (in perfect unison, slightly cheeky):"Goodbye :}"