Kage no Densetsu: The Shadowborn's Quest

The ship floated smoothly through the sky, the endless clouds stretching in all directions. The hum of the engines filled the air as Ren, Sakayanagi, and Shigan slowly regained consciousness.

Ren was the first to sit up, his hand instinctively gripping his head. "Tch... what happened?"

Sakayanagi groaned, rubbing her temples. "Did we win?"

Shigan sat up, stretching his arms with a deep sigh. "Feels like we did, but why does my body feel like it got run over by a mountain?"

Kaelen leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You guys were out for a while. Raidon and I had to carry you to the ship."

Ren's eyes snapped toward the stranger sitting at the front, his samurai hat tilted slightly forward.

Raidon turned his head slightly, smirking. "Good, you're awake. Saves me the trouble of explaining things twice."

Ren narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?"

Raidon spun his seat around, resting his arm on the control panel. "Name's Raidon. I'm from the Thunder Skies. I saved your asses back there."

Sakayanagi rubbed her chin. "Thunder Skies... Kaelen mentioned something about it. You said it's beyond the Tellus?"

Raidon nodded. "That's right. It's a realm so high above, past the normal reach of the world, that only those who can break through the Lightning Veil can enter. That's why no one comes and goes freely."

Shigan tilted his head. "So why are you here?"

Raidon smirked. "To kill someone."

The atmosphere shifted.

Ren's body tensed.

It was then—a flash hit him.

A vision. A memory.

A woman—his mother. Screaming. Crying. Blood staining the cold floor beneath her.

And the figure standing over her...

He looked exactly like Raidon.

Ren's breathing grew shallow. His eyes darkened.

Without thinking, he lunged.

SHING!

A shadowy, ethereal blade formed around Ren's hand as he grabbed Raidon's collar and pinned him against the ship's control panel. His grip was tight, merciless.

His voice was cold and sharp.

"Were you the one who killed my mother?"

The ship fell into silence.

Kaelen stepped forward. "Ren—"

Raidon didn't move. Didn't flinch.

He simply stared into Ren's furious eyes, completely unfazed.

Then he spoke.

"No."

Ren's grip tightened. "Don't lie to me—"

Raidon sighed, brushing off Ren's hand as if it was nothing. "Listen, kid. I've never killed anyone in my life, other than one man—an evil prince who was about to become king of the Thunder Skies."

Ren hesitated. "What?"

Raidon leaned forward slightly. His voice was calm, but there was weight behind it. "There's a man who looks like me, isn't there? He's a killer, isn't he?"

Ren's mind raced.

Could it be...?

Raidon's next words shattered everything Ren thought he knew.

"Ren... you're not from this world."

Ren froze.

The words echoed in his mind.

"Your home isn't on Tellus. It's on Luna. You were summoned here to gather the stones."

Ren's heart pounded. He clenched his fists.

"Luna...?"

Raidon nodded. "Your enemy—the one who killed your mother—isn't from here either. He's a traveler. A man who mindlessly kills as he moves from realm to realm. That's the one you're after."

Silence.

Ren exhaled slowly, his blade of shadows dissipating. His body relaxed—but his mind did not.

"Then I will find him... and I will kill him."

Raidon smirked. "Good. That's what I like to hear."

A Feast from the Thunder Skies

The tension slowly eased as Raidon leaned back and pulled something from his pack—a mysterious folded tablecloth.

Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to be?"

Raidon grinned. "Dinner."

He unfolded the tablecloth and placed it on the small dining table inside the ship. It shimmered with a strange golden glow.

"This is a Thunder Skies Feasting Carpet. Call a dish, and it will appear."

Shigan's eyes widened. "No way."

Kaelen smirked. "Told you everything from the Thunder Skies was ridiculous."

Raidon cracked his knuckles. "Alright, let's eat. I suggest starting with something light."

Sakayanagi hesitated, then muttered, "Stormcrest Soup."

In an instant, a large ceramic bowl appeared in front of her. The soup was a light blue broth with thin, swirling white mist floating above it. It smelled like fresh rain and warm spices.

Shigan's mouth watered. "Okay, that's sick. I want... Skyfang Steak."

A perfectly grilled piece of meat appeared, sizzling slightly. It had strange, silver-blue marbling, and when he cut into it, the juices released a faint spark of electricity.

Ren, still lost in thought, muttered, "Thunder Lotus Rice."

A bowl of dark purple rice appeared, dotted with golden grains that gave off a faint, pulsating glow. The aroma was deep and earthy, with a hint of sweetness.

Kaelen grinned. "Sky Chaser Ale."

A glass of bright, sky-blue liquid appeared, bubbles rising to the surface. It smelled like fresh air after a storm.

Raidon laughed. "Going straight for drinks, huh? Alright, I'll take Lightning Tempura."

A plate of golden, crispy fried shrimp appeared. The batter crackled slightly with static.

They all stared at the feast before them.

Sakayanagi picked up her spoon, blowing gently on her soup. "This is insane."

Shigan took a bite of his steak. The flavors burst in his mouth like a shockwave.

Ren, still deep in thought, took a spoonful of his Thunder Lotus Rice. It had a strange, almost electric tingle on his tongue—but it was comforting.

Finally, Raidon raised his glass. "Welcome to the taste of the Thunder Skies, kids."

They clinked their drinks together.

And for the first time in a while, they enjoyed their meal.

To Be Continued...