Azura, Easton
The sun glared down over the mountainous forest, casting sharp shadows beneath towering trees. The path twisted and climbed, lined with shrubs and patchy grass. Birds chirped... then suddenly—
"Are we not there yet?!"
The voice boomed through the trees as Code, Nara, and Hina emerged from the underbrush.
"Relax, we're almost there," Nara replied, wiping sweat from his brow.
Hina trudged silently behind them, the soft squish of flattened grass the only proof she hadn't vanished.
They climbed higher and higher, the trees thinning as they neared the summit. Eventually—
"We're here!" Nara declared dramatically, hands on his hips like a hero unveiling a hidden temple.
Code's eyes widened. The mountain's bald, rocky peak was completely different from the dense forest below. And the view—oh, the view.
For the first time in a while, a smile tugged at Code's lips.
"Pretty awesome, huh?" Nara grinned.
"Yeah. The view's amazing," Code replied.
"This is the tallest mountain in Azura," Hina added, her voice light for once.
"You don't get views like this in Hazen," Code said, then paused. "Wait, why's it bald though?"
"Lightning strikes," Nara answered. "So high up, it gets zapped a lot."
"Right," Hina nodded. "It's the result of Tenzen and anti-Tenzen clashes—makes this place poor in both. Perfect for training."
"So I won't get interference from the atmosphere?" Code asked, eyes lighting up.
"Exactly," Nara said. "Your own energy's all you've got to rely on."
"Sweet! Emission phase, here I come," Code muttered, cracking his knuckles.
"I'm gonna train over there," Nara said, pointing at a lone boulder on the right.
"Great," Hina yawned, plopping down under a nearby tree. "I'm just gonna do some spiritual napping."
Code watched them scatter, then turned to find a quiet spot for himself.
"There!" he spotted another boulder, roughly the same size, sitting far off across the hill.
He made his way over and leapt on top, settling cross-legged. The breeze whispered across his face. All was still.
"Feel the flow…" Van's voice echoed in his memory.
Code focused, guiding the buzzing sensation of Tenzen through his body.
And then—
Boom!
"Raging firestorm!!"
Code's eyes flew open. "Huh?!"
It was Nara.
"Crimson burst!"
Another explosion of fire burst against the rock.
"Muhahaha! You demons are toast!" Nara roared, unleashing imaginary death.
Code jumped down, stomping toward him.
"Nara!"
Nara turned, grinning. "Yo, mate."
"I'm trying to meditate and you're out here pretending you're fighting an army?!"
"Sorry," Nara chuckled. "I get in the zone, y'know?"
"You annihilated that boulder."
"It was giving me attitude."
Code rubbed his temples. "Just... try to be quieter, alright?"
"As a benevolent sorcerer, I shall consider the weak," Nara declared, dramatically bowing. "I'll cease the raid."
With a deep sigh, Code returned to his boulder.
"Feel the flow…"
"Let it move through every part of your body…"
The Tenzen energy began to respond, pulsing through him.
"Now, pass the Tenzen to your palms…"
He felt it—almost—
Aaaaaaaaahhh!
"Not again!" Code snapped his eyes open.
"Spider! Spider!" Hina screamed, flailing wildly.
It was one spider.
Code stared. "I was expecting a swarm."
"Code, help!" Hina cried, running behind his boulder like a terrified child.
Nara, meanwhile, was convulsing in laughter, rolling on the grass like he'd heard the funniest joke of his life.
Code sighed, grabbed the spider, and flicked it into the forest.
"Phew…" Hina exhaled, hand on her chest.
"You're scared of spiders?" Code asked, genuinely baffled.
"W-well, yeah!" she stammered. "I'm a girl. We're supposed to be scared of bugs!"
Code tilted his head. "That's... not how it works."
"I felt something crawl on my face and it was this eight-legged horror! You try waking up to that!"
He looked past her toward Nara—who was still wheezing from laughter.
"Tch... He totally planted it," Code muttered. "You guys are a nightmare."
"Sorry, couldn't help it," Hina said, flicking her hair like a diva walking a red carpet.
Dragging his feet, Code returned to his boulder. "One peaceful moment. Just one…"
He sat, exhaled, and closed his eyes—
"Oi! I said ladies first!" Hina snapped.
"Says who?! I'm using the hot bath first!" Nara shot back.
Code's eye twitched. He jumped down from the boulder again.
"You know what? I'm done."
Hina and Nara turned mid-argument.
"Let's ask Code!" Hina said.
"Yeah! He'll pick me!" Nara grinned.
They both looked at him—and froze.
He was staring at them like a disappointed parent watching his kids fight over toy swords at a funeral.
"Uh... what's with him?" Nara whispered.
"You're asking me? You started it!" Hina hissed back.
Code sighed, facepalming. "You two argue about the dumbest things."
"She started it!" Hina pointed.
"Don't drag me!" Nara cried.
Code waved them off. "Forget it. The sun's setting and I can't even touch the emission phase thanks to you two."
He turned to walk away, grumbling.
Then—
"Wait!" Hina called out.
He paused.
"I have an idea. One that might actually help you reach the emission phase."
"…Tomorrow," Code said flatly.
"No! No meditation needed. Just... a duel."
Code blinked. "A duel?"
"With who?" he asked, suspiciously.
"Nara."
"What?!" Nara nearly fell over. "Why me?! You came up with this!"
"Consider it punishment for disturbing his training," Hina said smugly. "Unless someone's scared?"
Nara twitched. "Tch. I'm not scared of anything!"
"Great," Code smiled. "Let's do this."
The two stepped into the clearing, locking eyes. Sparks practically flew between them.
"Van did say real experience helps," Code thought.
"Oi, don't expect me to go easy on you!" Nara shouted.
"Hmph. That's my line," Code replied, narrowing his eyes.
"Alright, start!" Hina yelled.
Swoosh!
The battle had begun.
***
TBC