Legacy's Wake

The sudden arrival of the three warriors, each bearing the disciplined poise of a knight, brought an air of tension as they locked eyes with Temoshí and her crew.

The woman at the forefront adjusted her glasses, ensuring they sat perfectly upon her face. The sun caught the lenses, briefly obscuring the sharp intensity of her gaze before reflecting outward like a silent warning.

"I must inform you that you cannot proceed any further, young warriors," she declared, her tone firm yet unwavering. "This territory is strictly reserved for royalty. You now stand upon the sacred grounds where Phalris, our revered Goddess of Water, was born. Should you take even a single step beyond this point, the consequence will be immediate execution." She gestured subtly toward the spear embedded in the water before Temoshí, drawing attention to its precise placement.

"One misstep, and that spear will activate a shock zone," she continued, her voice cool and measured. "The resulting current will rend your flesh from bone as if tearing fabric apart, reducing you to nothing more than a broken husk. I strongly advise you to turn back the way you came before we are forced to act. As the Sacred Guards of Phalris' domain, our duty is absolute, and our resolve is not to be tested."

Meanwhile, the young warrior who had hurled the spear remained perched against the towering structure, his arms crossed. His golden eyes, glinting like tempered steel, watched the scene unfold as the wind toyed with his hair.

"Wait... Phalris? She was born here?!" Temoshí's voice erupted with awe, her earlier apprehension momentarily overtaken by excitement. The realization struck her like a revelation—she had been walking upon the very land that had given rise to the divinity she had moments before traveled alongside.

The woman narrowed her gaze, taken aback by his response. "You speak as though you know of our goddess," she remarked, a hint of suspicion creeping into her tone. "I warn you—mocking the Holy Arches and their divinities is a grave offense. Whether you intend to deceive or simply jest, understand this: your presence here has already marked you for execution."

Temoshí immediately raised her hands in urgency, cutting in before the situation could escalate further. "I am not lying," she insisted. "I know Phalris. I traveled with her two years ago when my crew had gone their separate ways. She should have arrived here with the rest of my companions—did she not?" Her voice betrayed her concern, the possibility of Ralphie failing his mission gnawing at the back of his mind.

The woman exchanged a glance with the man beside her, the silent conversation between them revealing a flicker of intrigue. "I cannot yet say whether these are the ones Phalris spoke of," he admitted. "However... I do believe this girl speaks the truth. Perhaps it would be wise to consult our goddess herself. If she recognizes them, then we shall know for certain."

The man, whose attire stood in stark contrast to the regal garments of his companions—so out of place that it hardly evoked the presence of royalty—pushed himself off the wall and descended in a fluid leap, landing behind the other two.

"If these are truly the ones Phalris spoke of," he murmured, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward, "then I'll be the one to put them to the test."

The spear he had previously thrown suddenly stirred, rising from where it had lodged between Temoshí's legs. It shot backward through the air like a guided projectile, whistling as it flew into his waiting hand, snapping into place as though drawn by an unseen force.

"I'm telling the truth," Temoshí stated, her playful awe now replaced by a firm, resolute gaze as she locked eyes with the hooded warrior. She watched as cold breath drifted from beneath the mask covering his mouth.

But he merely scoffed, gripping his spear with practiced ease. "No one's gonna take you seriously, girl," he said, his voice carrying a note of dry amusement. "Phalris was clear—her ally was a man, not some woman claiming his place. You're already guilty of trespassing, and now you expect us to believe this lie? That's another grave mistake on your part, gal."

Without giving Temoshí a chance to respond, the boy took a heavy step forward across the water, his eyes locking with hers. Without hesitation, he dashed toward her, spear pointed directly at her chest, a crackle of electricity dancing along the blade. He thrust it forward with lightning speed, sending a shockwave through the water beneath him, splashing it in a controlled arc.

Temoshí braced for impact, ready to dodge, but before she could make a move, Shanya shot past her, cutting across the water like a force of nature. With a swift horizontal swing of her broadsword, she deflected the spear mid-air, sending it spinning off to the side.

"Not so fast, punk!" Shanya called out, grinning. "You're gonna have to get through me before you even think about layin' hands on Burnsy. C'mon, give me a real show."

The boy, unfazed, watched the spear return to his hand with a carefree expression, while the woman with glasses and her companion stood quietly, observing the exchange without intervening.

"Fine by me..." the boy replied coolly, ready for the challenge.

Temoshí turned to Shanya, her expression one of surprise. "What was that for?" she asked, watching as Shanya casually leaned her broadsword on her shoulder.

Shanya flashed a grin. "Y'all were havin' too much fun while I was stuck here munchin' on Ralphie's cooking. Gotta admit, you sure take all the excitement. Lemme handle this one—gonna prove myself instead of ya, Burnsy." She pivoted, refocusing on the boy.

For a moment, Temoshí said nothing. She simply grinned, her eyes lighting up with amusement. "All right, bet. Go for it! I'm gonna cheer you on!" She raised her arm with enthusiasm, while Chiaki stood beside her, arms crossed, quietly analyzing the scene before them.

The woman adjusted her glasses once more, watching the unfolding duel with a cool, measured gaze. "Don't be a fool, Trice. You're underestimating that woman." But Trice, unfazed, simply sighed beneath his mask.

"I can handle a little feline like her. Not letting these impostors through. I'll take care of it my way." He announced, his voice tinged with confidence. He took his stance, legs bent, spear gripped tightly as he prepared for the assault.

In an instant, Trice surged forward, his movements sharp and calculated. With remarkable agility, he glided over the water's surface, his feet barely causing a ripple. His spear trailed behind him, cutting through the air like a blade. As he closed the distance between them, the water rippled violently beneath him, the surface shifting with his speed.

Shanya stood poised, her broadsword held firm in front of her. Her stance was low, body coiled like a spring, prepared to counter the incoming strike. Trice lunged, swinging his spear in a fast, horizontal arc aimed at her midsection. Shanya reacted instantly, raising her blade to intercept the strike, the spear crashing against her sword with a sharp clang. The force of the impact vibrated through her arms, but she held her ground, her crimson and black flames sparking along the edge of her blade as she pushed back, using the power to enhance her strength.

Trice quickly pulled back, spinning to the side with a fluid, nimble move, his body almost twisting in the air. His spear flicked out in a quick jab, aimed at her chest. Shanya, anticipating the move, twisted her body sideways, using her agility to duck under the spear thrust. She responded immediately, slashing her broadsword upward in a diagonal strike.

Trice shifted, his body moving in perfect sync with the weapon's arc. He twisted away just in time, narrowly evading the blade, but the decaying flames on her sword singed his sleeve, the black and crimson fire crackling and leaving a charred mark.

He gritted his teeth, quickly recovering and using his magnet abilities to manipulate the spear. It snapped back into his hand, humming with energy. He raised the weapon, the metal glowing faintly with a magnetic charge. With a fluid motion, he sent it flying through the air, twisting the spear in mid-flight. The weapon moved like a serpent, aimed at Shanya's unprotected side.

Shanya grinned, stepping aside as the spear zipped past her, her black gauntlet-clad arm snapping out to deflect it. The gauntlet's clawed tips scraped against the metal, sending the spear veering off course. Using the momentum, she lunged forward, the claws extending in a swift strike toward Trice's exposed side.

Trice spun out of the way with remarkable speed, narrowly dodging the attack. He leapt backward onto the water, his feet skimming the surface with near-silent precision. He planted the spear on the water and used it as leverage to push off, dashing in again with lightning speed.

Shanya, already in motion, met him with a powerful low sweep of her broadsword, aiming to catch him at the legs. Trice responded with a quick flick of his wrist, using his magnetic ability to guide the spear downward, just in time to block the strike, the blade scraping against the spear's shaft. The force of the blow sent vibrations up Trice's arms, but he remained balanced, pushing off the water and spinning to land on the opposite side.

Shanya's flames flickered around her, growing more intense, wrapping around her sword in an aggressive display of power. With a snarl, she lunged, bringing her broadsword down in a devastating vertical strike. The crimson and black fire surged along the edge, intensifying the attack.

Trice raised his spear in defense, but the heat from the flames caused the metal to shimmer, his hands feeling the strain as the weapon vibrated from the intensity of her blow. He could feel his magnetic abilities struggling against the force of her attack, but he held firm, trying to twist the spear to deflect her strike.

The collision of metal on metal rang out across the lake, the clash of their weapons sending shockwaves through the water. For a split second, neither of them moved, their weapons locked in place as the fire and magnetism fought for dominance. Shanya's fiery aura flared brightly, but Trice's focus remained sharp, his magnetic field keeping the weapons locked together in a standoff.

With a sudden burst of strength, Shanya kicked off the water, breaking the deadlock and spinning to deliver a follow-up strike with her gauntlet-clad fist. The claws on her arm shot forward, aiming to strike at his exposed side.

Trice quickly raised his spear, using it to deflect the blow, but the force of the punch sent a jolt of energy up his arm, momentarily disorienting him. He staggered back, realizing his opponent's power was far more dangerous than he had initially thought.

Shanya took advantage of his momentary weakness, stepping in close and preparing for the next assault.

"Not too bad, for a rookie!"

To be continued...