the dragon's presence doesn't vanish with it.
It lingers in my mind—heavy, coiled. A crimson pressure behind my eyes.
Lose control… and I'll take it.
The voice isn't loud. It doesn't need to be.
I steady my breathing.
When I open my eyes, the dojo comes back into focus.
Polished wooden floors. Paper walls humming faintly with residual energy. Training pillars scorched from past sessions. The air smells like incense and faint ozone. My sword rests in front of me, quiet now—but still warm, as if it remembers the fire.
I look to my right.
Cameron is already standing.
Dark blue scales ripple across his shinobi-gi like storm clouds trapped beneath steel. Faint arcs of energy crawl along the seams, restrained but volatile. His hood is up, shadowing his face—and for once, there's no goofy grin. He looks sharp. Focused. Almost menacing.
Next to him, Maya rises.
Her shinobi-gi forms in smooth, fluid waves. Bright blue scales assemble like rolling water, layer after layer, glowing softly. Calm on the surface—but powerful enough to drown anything beneath it.
Then Jordan.
Her armor manifests slower, heavier. Earth-brown scales lock together with solid weight, thin glowing cracks running between them like fault lines beneath stone. She stands grounded, immovable—like once she steps forward, nothing survives in her path.
They all feel different.
Not just in color—but in presence.
I stand.
My own shinobi-gi responds instantly.
Crimson scales sweep across my arms and chest, forming tightly, each one edged with a dim red glow. The hood settles over my head, shadows clinging to it like smoke. The armor feels light—but beneath it, power hums, restrained, waiting.
Fire—contained, not gone.
For a moment, none of us speak.
We just look at each other.
At the armor. At what we've become.
The dragons' natures are carved into the gi itself—into the angles, the glow, the way each suit moves. This isn't just protection.
It's identity.
Shu steps forward, hands folded behind his back, eyes sharp with approval.
"Good," he says. "Very good."
His gaze sweeps over us. "Now that this bond has formed, it cannot be taken away. Your shinobi-gi is an extension of your weapon—and of yourselves."
Cameron lets out a breath, grinning. Maya's shoulders relax, pride flickering through her calm expression. Jordan nods once, firm, like she expected nothing less.
It feels like a turning point.
Then Shu turns toward the computer at the edge of the dojo.
"One more thing."
The screen flickers to life as he types. A map fills the display—Redwood City and its surrounding districts. Red marks scatter across it: every location struck by Shadowviel. Every soul taken.
The room tightens.
"This," Shu says, voice low, "is your real training for today."
Cameron stiffens. "Our second mission?"
"When?" Jordan asks.
Shu exhales slowly. "The lieutenant you encountered wasn't random. It was deliberate. Drakna is planning something big."
Maya steps closer to the screen, eyes scanning.
"…It's an X," she says.
"What?" I ask, moving beside her.
She traces the lines with her finger. "The docks. The east side. The south districts. Connect them."
A giant X.
"And the center?" I ask quietly.
Maya doesn't hesitate. "Times Square."
Silence drops over the dojo.
"Times Square?" I say. "Why there?"
Jordan's voice is tight. "Redwood's annual celebration. Next week."
Cameron runs a hand through his hair. "So during the biggest crowd of the year… Drakna could take everyone."
"Enough," Shu says sharply. "Panic won't help."
He turns to us, gaze steady.
"We don't know when. But now we know where. That gives us time."
His eyes settle on each of us. On me, just a second longer.
"This time, you'll be ready."
We straighten instinctively.
"Training resumes tomorrow. After school."
"Yes, Sensei," we answer together.
Shu turns away, moving deeper into the dojo, already sinking into meditation.
The tension eases.
We gather in a loose circle as the shinobi-gi powers down—scales fading, light retreating. Weapons are secured. Cameron laughs, shaking his head.
"That was insane. Shinobi-gi? Easily the coolest thing we've done."
Maya crosses her arms, trying to regain her calm. "You're way too excited."
"I'm not excited," Cameron says. "I'm just… happy."
Jordan smirks. "Sure you are."
I slide my sword into my backpack.
"Hey," I say. "You guys want to come over for dinner?"
Cameron blinks. "You're inviting us?"
"Yeah," I shrug. "If you're free."
"I'm in," he says immediately.
Maya nods. "I don't have anything planned."
Jordan hesitates, then smiles faintly. "I wouldn't mind going back."
Maya raises an eyebrow. "Back?"
"I'll explain later," Jordan says.
We head toward the exit, splitting off toward our homes.
"Eight o'clock," I call.
They nod, waving as we part.
As I walk away, the weight of the shinobi-gi still lingers on my skin—faint but present.
When I get home, my parents don't even hesitate.
They agree immediately, already buzzing with curiosity, like they've been waiting all day for this moment.
My dad leans against the counter, arms crossed, a grin tugging at his face.
"So," he says, "who's all coming over?"
"Jordan, Cameron, Maya, Ava, and Zack."
My mom's face lights up instantly, like I just told her I won the lottery.
"Wow," she says warmly. "You made so many friends."
I blink, then smile.
"Yeah… I guess I did."
She claps her hands once, already turning back to the kitchen. "Alright, then. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."
Suddenly the house explodes into motion. Cabinets open. Pots clatter. The kitchen fills with noise and energy. I've never seen them this excited over a dinner before—especially not for something that wasn't a holiday.
I laugh under my breath. "You know I can help, right?"
My mom waves me off without looking. "Go upstairs and get ready. We already laid out snacks and drinks."
"You sure you don't need help?" I ask again.
"We're good," she says. "Go."
"Go get ready, kiddo," my dad adds, already chopping something.
I head upstairs, the familiar creak of the floorboards following me like an old memory. The house feels warm tonight—alive.
After a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I change and check the time.
Eight o'clock.
As I walk down the hallway, my thoughts drift—Sensei Shu. The Dragon Keepers. The secrets stacked on secrets. The more I learn, the less simple everything becomes. I always thought power was straightforward. Strength. Control. Responsibility.
Now it feels like a maze.
I shake my head just as the doorbell rings.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
I open the door—and blink.
"Jordan?"
She stands there, hands in her jacket pockets, posture relaxed, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You're first," I say.
"Well," she replies smoothly, "I like to be on time."
She steps inside, immediately meeting my parents.
"Hi, Mrs. and Mr. Ashborn," she says politely. "It's nice to meet you again."
"Likewise," my mom says warmly. "And thank you for taking care of our son."
My dad nods in agreement. "We really appreciate you."
I frown slightly. Since when—
Jordan catches my look and laughs.
"No problem. Anytime," she says. "He has a habit of getting in over his head. I just keep him grounded."
"As if," I mutter.
My mom gestures toward the living room. "Make yourself comfortable. Snacks and drinks are all set."
Jordan thanks her and sits down, settling in like she belongs.
The doorbell rings again.
Ava and Zack this time.
I introduce them to my parents, then to Jordan—and almost instantly, they're talking like they've known each other forever. It's effortless. Natural.
A few minutes later, Cameron and Maya arrive together—of course they do. They always show up as a pair.
They're like the glue of the group. Even when Jordan and I clash, they have a way of calming things down. When they argue, it's never sharp—never mean. Just concern, wrapped in words.
I don't think we'd function without them.
Soon, everyone's spread across the living room. Talking. Laughing. Arguing over snacks. For once… it feels real.
Normal.
I lean against the wall, watching them, smiling without realizing it. This fragile sense of normalcy—this life I thought I lost—feels closer than ever.
Family. Friends. A home.
Even Jordan.
I'm surprised, honestly, by how well Jordan, Cameron, and Zack hit it off. They bond over sports, stats, teams—suddenly they're a trio, arguing passionately like they've done it for years.
Cameron and Ava drift into conspiracy theories and ghost stories. I didn't even know Maya liked that stuff—but she's smiling more than I've ever seen, her usual calm giving way to genuine joy.
It's… nice.
We end up playing board games. Charades.
Teams split quickly:
Me, Jordan, and Zack versus Cameron, Maya, and Ava.
Cameron goes first.
"You got this," Ava says confidently.
"Watch and learn," Cameron replies, stepping up.
The word is horse.
What follows is the worst horse impression in human history.
Somehow… they still get it.
"Yes!" Cameron cheers, high-fiving Ava.
"That was awful," Maya says, shaking her head—but she's smiling.
Our turn.
Jordan goes up. The word: helicopter.
She flaps her arms, spins in place, makes loud whup-whup noises. It's ridiculous. Completely unhinged.
I can't stop laughing.
Zack guesses it—somehow.
Jordan turns red. "Don't say a word."
"I won't," I promise. "I swear."
Final round.
Maya's word: party.
She jumps, spins, dances awkwardly—nothing. Then Zack suddenly snaps his fingers.
"Party!"
Ding.
My mom announces the win.
Team two explodes in cheers.
"Take that, Cameron!" Jordan says.
"Next time," Maya replies calmly, "we'll beat you."
Laughter fills the room as the TV turns on.
Eventually, I slip outside.
The night air is cold, sharp against my skin. Stars scatter across the sky, distant and quiet.
Sensei Shu's voice echoes in my head.
The lieutenant.
The warning.
You will be the key to everything.
I stare up at the sky as the cold seeps in, wondering what that really means—and what it's going to cost.