Episode 8: Decision

“Teach me everything.”

Ven says the words with as much confidence as he can force into his voice, adding extra bass to make himself sound fearless. But behind the act, he is absolutely terrified.

Enishi smirks. “So I guess you’ve made your choice then?”

Ven nods.

“This road won’t be easy. Are you sure you want to do this?” Enishi's expression becomes serious. “Because once you start, you won’t be able to quit. Do you understand?”

Ven nods again.

“Very well, then.” Enishi turns toward the path. “Let’s go to the Tower.”

“This is going to be interesting,” Nyx says, folding his arms as he begins walking toward the forest.

Kia winks at Ven before following behind him.

“Come,” Enishi says. “They are expecting us.”

Ven takes a deep breath and follows.

He has no idea what awaits him inside the Tower, and honestly, that might be the scariest part. Everything that has happened since arriving in this strange world has left him feeling as though the ground beneath his feet is constantly shifting. Nothing makes sense anymore. His mother is gone. He is apparently a Tenari. He can somehow create fire, and three complete strangers have told him that he has a destiny he never asked for.

Yet, despite all of that, Ven keeps walking.

Thirty minutes later...

The four of them continue through the forest in silence. Enishi, Nyx, and Kia walk side by side while Ven follows several feet behind them, his eyes constantly moving between the trees and the people ahead of him.

He still keeps his guard up.

They have helped him, and Kia has shown him nothing but kindness, but Ven has learned the hard way that trusting someone simply because they claim to be helping him is dangerous. For all he knows, this Tower could be another trap. Besides, if they decided to hurt him, there isn't much he could do about it.

Kia glances over her shoulder and notices how far behind Ven has fallen. She slows her pace until she is walking beside him. “So, I’m Kia,” she says.

“Hi,” Ven replies.

“I know this is a lot for you to take in.”

“It is.”

Kia looks ahead as they continue walking. “I’m sorry. For everything you’ve been through.”

Ven looks at her and notices the sincerity in her soft blue eyes. There is no pity in her expression, only genuine concern. For the first time since arriving in this world, Ven feels as though someone actually understands how overwhelmed he is.

“Thank you.” He pauses, lowering his gaze. “For what you did for me back there.You’re a lot nicer than the other two.” Ven points toward Enishi and Nyx.

Kia laughs. “They’re not so bad. They’re just two big dummies.” She shakes her head. “Especially Enishi. He’s a pain in the ass.”

“I can hear you,” Enishi calls from ahead.

“Whatever,” Kia replies. She smiles before continuing, “We’ve known each other since we were children. We’re practically siblings.”

“Oh, really?” Nyx says.

He turns around with a grin. “I don’t think siblings are supposed to sleep with each—”

A splash of water suddenly hits Nyx directly in the back of the head.

“What the hell?!”

Nyx wipes the water from his face and turns around, flipping Kia off.

“Shut up, or there’s more where that came from!” Kia snaps. “Asshole!”

Enishi laughs, clearly amused by the two of them.

Ven, meanwhile, stares at Kia in disbelief. He has seen enough strange things since arriving in this world to know that he probably shouldn't be surprised anymore, but watching someone casually shoot water from their hands is still difficult to process.

“You!” He points at Kia. “You shot water out of your hands!”

“Yes.” Kia smiles. “I’m a Water Madokai.”

“So you control water?”

“Yes.”

She raises her hand, and a small sphere of water forms above her palm. Ven watches closely as she gently moves her fingers, causing the sphere to swirl and rotate in the air.

“Water Madokais can manipulate water in any state.” She continues to move her fingers, effortlessly controlling the floating sphere. “As long as water exists, there isn’t much we can’t do with it.”

She looks up toward the sky.

“We are strongest at night, especially under a full moon.”

Ven watches the water floating above her hand, fascinated by how naturally she controls it.

“Are you from the same place as them? Voltaria?”

“No.” Kia shakes her head. “I’m from the Kingdom of Rain. The Water Kingdom.” She gestures toward Enishi. “Enishi is from a small village outside of Voltaria.” Then she points toward Nyx. “Nyx was born in Nymbus. The Kingdom of Wind.”

“I see.. Are any of you capable of wielding two elements at once?”

She shakes her head. “That is an extremely rare occurrence. I believe only five or six people in history have ever been able to wield two elements simultaneously. Madokais like that are called Duokais.”

Ven takes a moment to process everything she has told him. There are kingdoms, different types of Madokais, and powers that he never knew existed. His old life in Japan suddenly feels impossibly distant.

“How many kingdoms are there?”

“Four.”

Kia begins counting on her fingers. “Wind. Water. Fire. Earth.” She pauses, and the playful expression on her face fades slightly. “Earth, however... the Kingdom of Grout...” Her expression changes slightly. “No one has heard from them or seen an Earth Madokai in years.” She looks toward Nyx. “The same can almost be said about the House of Wind.”

Nyx shrugs at that.

“But then again, they’ve always kept to themselves.”

“Hiding?” Ven asks.

Kia shrugs. “Either that... or they’ve been wiped out.”

Ven becomes quiet.

The idea bothers him more than he wants to admit. Entire kingdoms can simply disappear in this world, and apparently nobody knows why.

After a moment, he decides to change the subject.

“What exactly is this Tower you keep talking about?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

Kia tosses the water sphere she created straight at Nyx. It splashes against the back of his head, soaking his hair and the back of his shirt.

“What was that for?!” Nyx shouts, spinning around.

“Because you’re an asshole!” Kia yells back.

Ven can't help but grin. “How old are you two?”

“The same age!” Kia snickers.

Nyx wipes his hair and mutters under his breath. “Twenty-eight and yet she still acts like an insolent child!” He continues walking, still grumbling to himself.

“Okay, you two,” Enishi says. “If you’re finished fighting, we should explain what’s coming.” His attention shifts toward the path ahead. “We’ll reach the gates soon.”

“Yes," She looks toward Ven, and her playful expression disappears. “Just be prepared for... the stares.”

Ven raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Fire Tenaris aren’t exactly welcomed by many.” Kia's voice becomes more serious. “And there hasn’t been a Tenari sighting in a very long time.” She lowers her voice. “If I were you, I would keep your head down and avoid drawing attention.”

“Why?”

Kia hesitates. “People are afraid of Fire Tenaris. Their history... isn’t exactly a good one.”

Ven frowns. “So why bring me to this Tower if I’m not welcome?”

Kia looks forward again and sighs.“It’s complicated. “You’ll understand soon.”

Ven says nothing.

He continues walking, but Kia's words remain in his mind.

People are afraid of Fire Tenaris.

For some reason, that doesn't make him feel any better about entering the Tower.

“We’re here.”

Enishi's calm voice pulls Ven from his thoughts.

Ven looks ahead and his eyes widen at what is infront of him.

Standing before him is an enormous tower that seems to stretch all the way into the clouds. Its size is almost impossible to comprehend from where he stands. A massive wooden gate surrounds the entrance, towering over them and making Ven feel incredibly small.

For a moment, he simply stares.

So this is the Tower...

The four of them approach the entrance and stop.

Two men wearing black robes stand atop the massive gate. Their posture is rigid, and each carries himself with the unmistakable presence of someone trained to fight.

Guards.

Enishi looks up.

One of the guards notices them and gives a small nod.

“They have returned.”

The guard turns toward the others.

“Open the gates!”

A deep groaning sound echoes through the forest as the massive gates slowly begin to open. The sound of wood and metal grinding against each other reverberates through the area, and Ven instinctively takes a small step backward.

Kia notices and leans toward him.

“Remember...” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “Just walk forward. Don’t say anything to anyone.”

Nyx smirks. “Don’t make any sudden movements. Don’t blink. Don’t smile.” He pauses. “Don’t even breathe.”

“Shut up, fool,” Kia warns.

Ven shakes his head, already regretting ever agreeing to come with these people.

The gates finally open completely.

Beyond them lies the Tower.

Ven takes a deep breath as he steps forward with Enishi, Nyx, and Kia.

He doesn't know what waits for him on the other side.

He doesn't know how many people will stare at him.

He doesn't know what they will think when they see his ears.

And he certainly doesn't know what kind of future awaits him inside those walls.

But there is no turning back now.

Whatever waits for him inside...

His new life begins now.