Mistvale wasn't so bad. It was scrunched between these gigantic, mossy trees that disappeared into the fog. The sun barely made it through the clouds, making everything look kinda golden. It was like the sun was trying to be cheerful but failing. Kai hated mornings like these.
He'd rather be anywhere else—away from the village, the stares, and the gossip, especially from the elders. They were probably in the hall right now, talking trash about him when he wasn't even there.
Everyone in town knew about what happened at the ceremony last week. It was supposed to be a big deal, but it turned into a total train wreck. Instead of everyone cheering for the next spirit master, Kai's Twin Spirits, the Silver Wyrm and Titanic Hammer, showed up together. They caused a mess. No explosions, thankfully, but the ground shook, the sky went dark, and people panicked.
It was supposed to be good, but Kai felt like a weirdo.
So, there he was, walking through the quiet village, hoping no one would notice him. His bare feet made no sound, and he kept his head down, trying to get to the edge of town. But his peace didn't last.
"Trying to sneak around? You'd be better at it if you didn't trip all the time."
Kai stopped and looked up. Sera Dawnflame stood there with her hands on her hips and a smirk. Of course, it was her. Sera always showed up at the worst possible times, always catching people off guard.
You either loved or hated her. With her wild, red hair, she looked like she'd just walked out of a storm. And her spirit—a Phoenix Flame Serpent—was just like her: wild and hard to deal with. She was trouble.
"I wasn't sneaking," Kai said, rolling his eyes. "I was thinking."
"Thinking?" She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Sure, that's what everyone says."
"I might just walk away," Kai said, trying not to smile at her craziness. "I'm not in the mood."
Sera laughed. "Come on, don't be like that. I know what you're up to."
Kai looked at her. "Oh yeah? What's that?"
"You're hiding from everyone. The elders. Everyone."
"Is it that obvious?" Kai sighed. "What else can I do? People are still talking after last week, and I don't have answers."
"Well, since you won't talk, I will," Sera said, her eyes sparkling. "You made a scene at the ceremony. Summoning both your spirits at once? The Titanic Hammer and Silver Wyrm? Seriously?"
Kai cringed. The ceremony had been insane. The ground cracked as the spirits came out—one huge, the other like a snake, both spinning with power. The villagers didn't know what to do, and the elders? They lost it.
"I didn't mean to," Kai said quietly, running a hand through his hair. "It just... happened. I don't know what's up with me."
Sera shrugged, not teasing this time. "You're not alone. The elders are freaking out. They're talking about you, thinking you're badass."
Kai's stomach dropped. "I know."
"Don't let them get to you," Sera said, crossing her arms. "Listen, I'm not here to make you feel worse. I came to give you some advice: Leave."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Leave?"
"Yeah, get out of Mistvale. I'm leaving too. I'm going to Azure Spirit Academy."
Kai was shocked. Azure Spirit Academy? It was legendary—if you got in, you could be set. But it wasn't easy.
"Are you serious?" he asked. "You? You're going to Azure Academy?"
"Why not?" Sera grinned. "I've got the spirit. I've got the skill. I can do it."
Kai shook his head. "You're nuts. It's hard to get in. You think they'll just let you in?"
"I don't see why not," she said. "But you? You could come."
"Me? What? I don't even know if I want to be a spirit master."
Sera raised an eyebrow, giving him a look. "You talk about running away, but you know your spirits won't stay quiet. You'll have to deal with them regardless."
Kai frowned. She was right. His spirits were part of him, but they weren't spirits most people could handle. The Silver Wyrm and Titanic Hammer weren't normal, and they seemed to push him in weird ways.
"I'll think about it," he said.
"Think about it. There's no time. You can stay here and let the village beat you down, or you can try for something better. I leave tomorrow morning. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
Before he could say anything, she walked away, her red hair disappearing into the fog.
Kai stood there, thinking. Azure Spirit Academy... It was scary and exciting. He'd always felt like he didn't belong in Mistvale like his powers were too much. Maybe Sera was right. Maybe it was time to go.
But as he was about to head home, something stopped him. There was a movement in the mist, something moving between the trees. Not a person or an animal, but something else entirely.
His heart skipped a beat, and he ran toward the movement without thinking. His Twin Spirits started to stir, their presence growing as he got excited. The power inside him was waking up again, urging him into action.
He stopped when he saw it—a shadowy figure with glowing eyes, standing outside the trees. You couldn't see the face, but the cold energy was obvious.
"Who are you?" Kai asked, his voice shaking.
The figure didn't answer, just raised a hand, glowing with an light, and pointed at him.
"You..." The voice was deep, coming from the shadows. "You're the one we've been searching for."
Kai was terrified. What? Who were they? What did they want?
The figure stepped forward, the mist swirling around them. Kai felt the pressure building, the air getting heavy, and something inside him started to stir.
Then, the figure spoke again. "Your destiny starts now."
To be continued...