The order came before dawn.
A fracture had appeared at the border between the Air and Earth realms—an unstable rift where wind cut too deep into the ground, tearing stone apart instead of passing through it.
Yang stood at the edge of the Sky Dominion's outer platform, staring down at the disturbance. The air below twisted violently, clashing against rising earth that refused to yield.
"This is spreading," an elder warned. "If left unchecked, it will reach the lower settlements."
Yang already knew.And he already knew who could stabilize it.
"Bring Rui Jiang," he said.Rui arrived moments later, unrestrained but closely watched. He took in the sight below with a single glance, his expression tightening.
"The wind is forcing itself into the earth," Rui said. "It's not flowing. It's cutting." Yang's eyes stayed on the rift. "Then stop it."Rui turned to him. "I can stabilize the ground, but not alone. If you keep forcing the wind down, it will only tear deeper."
Yang finally looked at him. "You're telling me how to control my own element."
"I'm telling you how to keep it from destroying what it touches." For a moment, the wind sharpened dangerously.
Then Yang exhaled."Very well," he said. "You lead. I adjust.". Rui blinked—just once.
He had not expected that.
They descended together.The closer they came to the rift, the stronger the resistance grew. Wind lashed out violently, slicing through stone as the earth rose in jagged defense.Rui stepped forward, pressing his palm against the ground. The earth
responded immediately, spreading outward in wide, stabilizing waves.
"Slow the current," Rui called out. "Don't suppress it—redirect it.". Yang clenched his fist.
The wind obeyed reluctantly, shifting from force to flow. The cutting edges softened, spiraling instead of striking.
Rui felt it instantly "That's it," he said. "Hold it there." The earth surged upward, not to block the wind, but to guide it—stone forming channels instead of walls. The rift trembled, resisted, then slowly began to close.
Yang watched closely.Where Rui stood, the wind calmed.Not weakened.But Balanced.
For the first time, Yang did not need to force control.
The elements responded naturally.Together.
The rift sealed with a low, resonant hum. The land steadied. The air smoothed.Silence followed.Rui staggered slightly as the strain caught up to him.Yang reached out without thinking, catching him by the arm.
For a brief second, neither moved.
The wind around them stilled completely.
"You pushed yourself too far," Yang said, his voice lower than before. Rui steadied his breath. "Someone had to."
Yang released him slowly."You were right," he admitted. "About the balance." Rui looked up, surprised—not by the words, but by the honesty.
"And you were right," Rui replied. "Control matters. Just not alone."
Their eyes held.Not as enemies.Not as allies.Something unsettled. Something unfinished.Above them, the wind shifted—not in resistance, but in quiet approval.
And far away, unseen by either of them, another Brilliant pulsed—
this time, not with damage…
…but with awakening.