Morning came with the scent of the sea and the distant hum of the marketplace beginning to stir. The squad emerged from their inn, stretching the stiffness from their limbs. A crisp chill still lingered in the air, despite the bright sun overhead. Elias greeted them with his usual grin, but before they could exchange words, Hadrian, the Chief of Trade, approached with a purposeful stride.
"It's time," he announced, adjusting the fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders.
The ancient temple ruins stood before them, its once-grand stonework now cracked and weathered by time. The sea breeze carried the scent of salt and distant thunder, though the skies remained clear. The squad had barely taken in the sight before a figure stepped forward, blocking the entrance.
He was a mountain of muscle, arms crossed over his chest, golden eyes scanning them with the laziness of someone who'd seen this exact scenario play out a hundred times before. His blond hair was a little messy, his sleeveless coat exposing the countless scars lining his tanned skin. He sighed through his nose, rolling his shoulders like this whole thing was already a waste of time.
Hadrian let out a tired groan. "Kurona…"
Kurona clicked his tongue. "Y'know, chief, every time ya show up here, I hope ya got some sense knocked into that thick skull'a yours, but nah. Just bringin' more sorry bastards to fail like the rest." He stretched his arms above his head, bones cracking. "Lemme guess, they wanna take the trials, right? Yeah, nah. Not happenin'."
Velvet stepped forward, hands on their hips. "You don't even know us."
Kurona raised an eyebrow. "Don't need to. Ain't nobody worthy of takin' these trials, and that includes you lot." He jabbed a thumb toward the ruins behind him. "All you're doin' is wastin' yer damn time. This island's screwed, and the only smart choice is packin' up and leavin' while ya still can."
Velvet's expression darkened. "You'd just abandon the people here?"
Kurona snorted. "Tch. That's rich, comin' from an outsider." He rolled his neck, looking Velvet up and down. "Ain't got a clue what it's like, do ya? This island's a lost cause. Even if ya do make it inside, what makes ya think ya can change anythin'? Evengarde freakin' Rest couldn't even pass, ya get me? What makes you special?"
Velvet clenched their fists. "People shouldn't be forced to run from their home."
Kurona let out a short laugh. "Ha! That's real sweet. 'Cept I've seen what happens when people get their hopes up over nothin'. This island don't need heroes. It needs realists." He cracked his knuckles. "And if ya ain't got the sense to leave, I'll knock it into ya."
Velvet grinned. "Now we're talking."
Kurona smirked. "Ain't gonna be talkin' much after I'm done with ya."
Kurona was fast.
Velvet barely had time to react before he closed the gap, throwing a heavy right hook that sent a gust of wind ripping past their cheek. They ducked just in time, rolling under his arm before launching a counterstrike to his ribs.
Their fist connected—
—and it felt like punching solid steel.
Kurona didn't even flinch.
"Hah! That all ya got?" He twisted, slamming his elbow into Velvet's side. They barely managed to block, but the impact still sent them skidding back.
Velvet winced. He hits like a damn warship.
Kurona cracked his neck. "C'mon now, don't tell me yer gettin' scared."
Velvet grinned. "Nah, just making sure you're not all talk."
They shot forward, weaving past his next swing. A quick jab to his jaw—then a knee to his stomach. Kurona staggered a step, but his grin never faded.
"Ooooh, now that's more like it."
Before Velvet could retreat, Kurona grabbed their wrist and yanked them in. They had just enough time to see his smirk before his forehead slammed into their skull.
Velvet stumbled back, stars in their vision.
"Damn," they muttered. "Didn't take ya for the headbutting type."
Kurona shrugged. "Gotta use what ya got."
Velvet spat blood to the side. "Cool. My turn."
They lunged again, faking a right hook before twisting mid-air and planting a kick right in Kurona's ribs. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, actually forcing him back.
Kurona blinked, rubbing his side. "Well, shit. That one actually hurt."
Velvet grinned. "Good. Let's see how much more you can take."
They dashed in again, unleashing a flurry of blows—quick, precise, relentless. Kurona blocked most, but Velvet was faster. Every opening, every shift in his guard, they exploited. A sharp elbow to his chin. A low sweep to his legs. A hammering punch to his gut.
Kurona swayed, letting out a low chuckle. "Heh… y'know what?"
Then—his knees buckled.
His body hit the ground with a solid thud.
Velvet stood over him, panting. "Looks like I win."
Kurona, lying flat on his back, let out a weak laugh. "Yeah, yeah… damn." His voice was barely above a mumble now. "Yer one helluva fighter…"
And just like that, he passed out.
Hadrian sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is going to be a headache later…"
Velvet smirked. "He'll live."
After making sure Kurona was breathing, Velvet, Leonardo, Übel, Rajin, and Kouneli stepped past him and into the ruined temple.
Hadrian followed them to the entrance but stopped just before stepping inside. "This is where I leave you," he said. "I have no right to enter if I'm not taking the trials."
The squad exchanged glances. They didn't know what to expect, but there was no turning back now.
One by one, they entered the darkened chamber. The moment the last of them stepped inside, the doors slammed shut behind them.
Then—darkness.
A sudden wave of exhaustion hit them all at once, and before any of them could react—
—everything went black.
Leonardo's eyes snapped open.
He was no longer in the temple.
The air was too still. The sky stretched endlessly, blue and perfect, yet wrong in a way he couldn't place. The grass beneath his feet shifted with the wind, but the movement felt… deliberate. Like the world itself was watching.
On a distant hill, a woman sat beneath a parasol, posture at ease in a plastic chair. A table stood beside her, a lone cup of tea resting on its surface, untouched. She was pale, her long white hair flowing down like strands of silk, silver earrings glinting as they caught the light. But her eyes—those piercing, violet eyes—were the kind that didn't just see you. They knew you.
Her lips curled ever so slightly.
"The great Luminous has finally graced me with his presence—"
Then, abruptly, she stopped.
A pause.
A long, too deliberate pause.
The amusement in her face didn't vanish, but it shifted—twisting, like a joke only she understood. She exhaled softly, a whisper of breath that the wind carried away.
"…Oh," she murmured, gaze settling on him with renewed interest. "It's not Luminous. It's you."
Leonardo's fingers twitched at his side.
The way she said it—it wasn't disappointment. It wasn't relief. It was something in between.
He swallowed.
"You're the one who created the trials." The words left him before he could consider them.
She inclined her head. "That's correct."
The wind picked up, a slow and steady gust that rustled the plains. It swept through her hair, though not a strand of it moved out of place.
Leonardo hesitated. "Who are you?"
She didn't blink. Didn't look away.
The wind stopped.
Then, with quiet certainty, she spoke:
"I am Ethiron," she said.
"The Eternal Gale."