"Checkmate," the petite lady declared, her voice ringing with triumph as she deftly placed the game piece into its winning position, her fingers dancing with the confidence of victory. She punched the air, a wide grin spreading across her face, before instantly resuming her composed demeanor. Both her hands smoothed the white hair that had splayed over her forehead during her excited outburst.
"Victorious without even tapping into your shi, huh? How much have you been practicing since we last played?" Kai's deep voice resonated with both admiration and a playful challenge, his eyes narrowing in respect and curiosity. His lion-like mane framed a face rarely showing vulnerability, yet doubt flickered in his gaze as he stared at the chessboard. Dressed in a black, slim-fitting outfit that glistened like a knight's armor, he exuded strength and authority. His movements were unrestrained as he sighed, raising his hands in defeat.
"Not overwhelmingly much as you might think. Let's just say Ben's talents extend far beyond his swordsmanship." As she spoke, a gray-haired man with his hair neatly tied up looked up from his book. Seated on the ground against a wall, some distance away from the two playing chess, he seemed lost in his own world. They were the only ones in the courtyard, which smelled of fresh earth and blooming flowers. Sand shifted slowly around the platform, the gentle sifting sounds blending with the rustle of leaves and distant bird songs, creating a serene atmosphere. The tranquil scene was intermittently punctuated by the soft clinking of chess pieces, adding a rhythmic pattern to the calmness around them.
"You called?" Ben asked lazily. His gray suit, once elegant but now ragged, hung loosely on his frame. The only standout feature was his embellished belt, heavy with ornate designs, hanging on his left hip.
"Oh no, I was just showing Kai how much I've improved at chess," the petite lady laughed awkwardly, her voice trailing off as embarrassment colored her cheeks.
"Are you sure you don't want to spar? Just a light one," Kai's deep voice boomed across the courtyard, his shaggy mane tilting as he watched Ben with keen interest.
"No thanks, man. Not in the mood for landscape sculpting today…" Ben mumbled lazily, his single eye never leaving the lines of his book, the other covered by an old, tattered eyepatch. His voice carried a blend of disinterest and weariness, as if he were lost in the comfort of his reading.
Silence settled over the courtyard, the shifting sands pausing as if to hold their breath. Kai stared at Ben, annoyance etched into his features. He wasn't accustomed to having his requests denied. "Not a problem. I can easily shift everything back again. You are, after all, talking to the greatest earth sculptor around! Come! Aren't you interested in knowing what threat I might pose to your ranking?! You wouldn't say no to your host, would you?" Kai's voice boomed with energy, his intensity rising with each sentence.
"Nah… Maybe next time… Getting into some good stuff here… Also, don't really care much about those rankings," Ben replied nonchalantly, his free hand casually picking his nose and flicking the debris away. Kai fumed at this rejection, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed Ben from his seat. The concept of rankings among the Unwonted was a serious matter. It determined one's status and recognition within their society, especially for someone as influential as Kai, who could transform the landscape around them with unparalleled skill. These rankings were not just about prestige but also about the power and influence one wielded. For Kai, they were a clear measure of his strength and superiority. His ability to command the earth was well-known, and he viewed the rankings as the ultimate gauge of his dominance.
"What if… I were to take that paperback from you? Would you consider sparring with me then?" Kai's annoyance erupted fully as he extended his hands, concentrating a force that tugged at the book Ben was reading. It quickly turned into a tug-of-war, Ben holding onto the book with determination while Kai pulled with invisible energy from his seat. Kai's failure to wrest the book from Ben's grip only fueled his frustration. He intensified his effort, causing the ground behind Ben to bend and warp towards him. Tiles cracked loudly, trees swayed violently, and distant mountains trembled under the immense pressure, the entire landscape reacting to Kai's escalating power. The air around them vibrated with energy, creating an almost palpable tension. Despite this, Ben held on firmly, barely moving apart from his wrist bent from holding onto the book. His loose gray clothes flowed gently around his torso, unaffected by Kai's energy.
"Kai! Stop it! We didn't come here to duel, please!" Devine shouted, her voice trembling with panic. She stood up, only to be unbalanced by the tremors and collapse back to the ground. Her wide eyes reflected the intensity of the moment, fear etched into her features.
"Ah, I'm so sorry, Devine." Kai instantly ceased his pressure on Ben, swiftly moving to help Devine up. "You must forgive me. It's not often that I get distinguished guests like yourselves here. It reminds me of the old days when testing each other's strength and shi drove us to be better."
"That's okay… but we aren't here for that today. Just passing through." Devine patted herself down neatly before facing Kai. "I also can't let you harm Ben in any way. He's my guide now. If you both got hurt, I'd definitely find myself back in Eden by the end of the week."
"That's right, you don't want any of those rats coming after us now… super annoying to shake off." Ben chipped in, his eyes still glued to his book. He had shifted from an upright sitting position to lying on his back, completely unfazed by the commotion. Kai fumed at Ben's indifference but turned his attention back to Devine.
"So, what drove you to leave Eden?" Kai asked, waving his hand across the chessboard. The pieces reacted, slowly blending into the clay board until only a seamless flat surface remained.
Devine hesitated, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for words. Kai watched her intently, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Congrats! You recently achieved shi resonance, didn't you!?" He laughed before she could respond. "How are the old twins taking it? They must be jealous, you surpassing them within a year of joining."
"It is why I left… The moment they discovered I had surpassed my limit, they planned to turn me into a puppet… I had to escape. Luckily, I bumped into Ben on my way out of Eden. We've been journeying aimlessly ever since." Devine's voice softened with sadness.
"That is too bad… What does your resonance do? If you don't mind me asking… A ken sensor achieving resonance is quite remarkable, isn't it?"
"I can't quite grasp it yet, and it takes a toll on me… But from what I've gathered and tried, I can do a bit of future reading. It manifests in various paths and segments."
Kai stared at Devine, his mouth agape before a broad smile broke across his face. "Then… I must trouble you to read my future once you have a better handle on this…" His eyes bore into her with intense focus, eager to extract predictions. "Imagine if you had this before our division. Would things have been different? I don't think anyone has achieved this historically, at least not since Mother's time. She had someone who could read the future, shi pathway reading, they called it."
"What's done is done, I don't think this gift is meant to change the past or the future. I can't even track down where Aella is, and she left with Rai just before the war." Devine paused, visibly affected by the conversation. "Many died then, which is very unfortunate. As much as many disagree with Skye's ideals, you have to admit, Eden has a very capable leader. It seems better than before, at least from what I've heard."
"Did we find out if Aella's kid is one of us?" Kai asked, his interest piqued.
"No, I can't even tell you when she gave birth. I'm sure the child was born safely, but we've had a surge of births of our kind as of late, her infant could have been birthed undetected." Devine ended her response with a sigh. "I feel big changes happening again Kai, much bigger than the split we've had. A new ominous presence has surfaced…Even the Shi Sisters acknowledged it….before I realized their plans to use me. I know the Josobu wants nothing to do with Eden anymore, but we are all still one... Someone needs to keep an eye out for the Unwonted, in case our current Heads miss something," Devine closed her statement somewhat timidly. The shift in her tone was well reasoned. Kai looked infuriated.
"That shithead Skye, isn't her doing in Eden's best interest?" Kai's words were calm, but his furious aura betrayed him. The ground cracked beneath him, as though the mention of Skye stirred tense memories. "Is this why you came? To ask me to keep an eye on Skye after everything she's done? Why not go straight to Skye with your concerns rather than come all the way here." Kai paused, his tone turning menacing. "Did Skye send you here?"
"No, Kai, no! It's not like that. I just feel like I can't talk to anyone anymore, and we just happened to be passing by. Since the division, everyone's retreated to their own corners, minding their own business. The Shi Sisters weren't the only reason I left. Call me paranoid, but I sense something is happening. Maybe it's Eden's partnership with the Wonted, maybe it's that new presence…"
"Can't you use your resonance to figure this out?" Kai interjected, his tone carrying a hint of accusation.
"It can only be done with skin contact, and I can't control it. It happens randomly," Devine's voice was exasperated. As if sensing the shift, Ben looked up from his book. "And no, this thing I feel… It's something very new. I've never sensed this before during my time with the Ken Sensory group. Maybe if you send someone from your team to scout and gauge…" Devine was cut off by a flurry of movements. Ben appeared beside them with lightning speed, catching Kai's outstretched right arm just before it reached Devine. Gripping hard, Ben strained to force Kai's hand away, his muscles visibly tensed. The air crackled with energy as their powers clashed, creating visible distortions around their hands.
"Stop this or I'll cut your arm off," Ben warned through gritted teeth. "Devine, get back!"
"You seem to forget I have another hand," Kai smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He stretched his left arm, motioning toward Devine. The retreating woman was flung towards Kai like a ragdoll, her forehead landing in his hand, skin touching skin. Devine's body immediately shuddered, convulsing violently from the point of contact.
"Stop it!" Ben roared, his voice echoing across the courtyard. His free hand moved to his belt, summoning a sapphire blue sheath and drawing a brittle-looking blade. In a split second, Kai dropped Devine, emitting a gravitational force that bent the energy wave produced by Ben's swing. The air shimmered with the clash of their powers, creating a shockwave that rippled through the courtyard. Both were knocked back, but Ben quickly got up to pick Devine up.
"This wasn't what I intended, Kai," Devine gasped, her body trembling from the residual energy of Kai's touch, her voice barely a whisper. Her skin felt numb, the residual energy making her shiver involuntarily. The surroundings bore the marks of their conflict. Tiles and pillars crumbled and bent, long gashes slowly opening across the courtyard, angling sharply away from Kai toward the roofs and mountains behind them. Temple structures and mountain rocks began to break apart, dust and debris filling the air, creating a hazy veil that obscured the destruction. The courtyard, once serene, was now a chaotic battlefield, its tranquility shattered by the violent clash.
"What did you see?" Kai asked, his voice a blend of solemnity and urgency. His eyes narrowed, seeking answers.
"I don't think you're in any position to ask that now," Ben rebuked, his voice cold and resolute. One arm supported Devine, while the other hung tensely by his side, ready to draw his blade again if needed.
"Come on, didn't you enjoy that, Sword Saint?" Kai grinned, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. The title "Sword Saint" was not given lightly; it was reserved for those who had mastered the art of the blade to near perfection. The sand beneath Kai responded to his will, swirling up in intricate patterns around his feet, wrapping his form in a protective, ever-moving barrier. Each grain moved with precision, reflecting his effortless control. Kai was not just any earth sculptor; his ability to move the earth with such ease marked him as one of the most formidable among their kind. His casual demeanor, with hands relaxed by his sides, stood in stark contrast to the maelstrom of chaos he commanded, the swirling sands emphasizing his unparalleled mastery.
"Sociopath, you and everyone in your group… We are leaving. It is best we never see each other again," Ben declared, his voice firm and unyielding as he bent down to let Devine climb onto his back, his eyes never leaving Kai.
"Hold on…" Devine whispered weakly, her voice barely audible. "Kai, I saw it, your path. Are you ready to deal with destiny?" She staggered over to Kai, each step faltering as if it required immense effort. She gestured for him to kneel. He obeyed without hesitation, his curiosity overcoming his abrasive nature. Kai's eyes widened with anticipation as he knelt before her, his usual confidence giving way to a childlike eagerness. She leaned against his armor-like outfit for support, her breath ragged as she whispered into his ear. The ordeal had left her greatly weakened, her voice barely audible over the sound of her labored breathing. Ben observed, a hand on his sheathed sword, his posture tense and alert. The whispers continued for a while, Kai silently listening, his eyes narrowing in concentration as Devine prophesized to him, the weight of her words visibly affecting him. Eventually, Devine was on Ben's back. Kai stood frozen, his eyes fixed on them as Ben leaped towards the sky, disappearing behind the mountains. A mixture of determination and trepidation lingered in Kai's gaze, reflecting the gravity of the prophecy he had just heard. Moments later, Kai frowned and muttered to himself, his hands moving with precision. The ground, earth, and cement that had been shredded apart from their tussle began piecing back together, restoring itself. The courtyard's tranquility was eerily reinstated, a stark contrast to the recent chaos, as though nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened.