Location: Aghnikhaat Imperial Palace
The aroma of roasted spices and fresh fruits lingered in the air as golden light filled the breakfast hall of the imperial palace. Seated on his elevated jade throne-like chair, Emperor Stromas Ignis calmly chewed through his morning meal. The air was still — calm before an impending storm.
The door opened with a respectful creak.
IMPERIAL ADVISER (bowing):"Your Majesty, I have brought them, as per your orders."
Two figures entered.
One was clad in elegant white robes — Wuxing, his presence silent and unreadable, a walking phantom. Beside him was the rough-looking yet well-respected Principal of the Ashes Academy — Smorken Kenvis.
Together, they kneeled.
WUXING & SMORKEN:"We pay our respects to the Emperor."
EMPEROR STROMAS (stern):"Explain, Smorken."
SMORKEN (keeping head low):"He is the son of a close friend. That friend once saved my life. After his passing, I raised Wuxing as my disciple. He is not of the Thundergun Dynasty. He is loyal to the empire."
STROMAS (raising an eyebrow):"Then how is he so proficient in lightning magic?"
SMORKEN (calmly):"He inherited it from his mother… she possessed the Tyrant Thunder Body."
STROMAS (suspicious):"His mother… is she of the Thundergun clan?"
SMORKEN:"No, Your Majesty. She was a member of the Kysers — a fallen lightning clan of the Empire, once residing in the northern plateaus. They perished in the Arsyn Massacre."
STROMAS (eyes narrowing):"Kysers…?"
ADVISER (stepping forward):"Yes, Your Majesty. The Kysers were indeed a fallen clan of the Empire. Powerful lightning users. If not for their allegiance to the heretic Arsyns, they would have been a great power house within the empire."
STROMAS (firm, rising from his chair):"What power house? What my great-great-grandfather, Emperor Targen Ignis, did was right. The extermination of Arsyn's followers was necessary for the Empire's growth. The peace we enjoy now — it is born of their destruction."
ADVISER (nodding):"I understand, Your Majesty. Yet… some Arsyn followers still remain hidden in the northern mountains. We must continue to watch them closely."
The grand doors opened again.
COMMANDER (marching in):"They've adapted to the labyrinths and cave systems up north. The best we can do is keep them sealed inside — not allow them to infect the rest of the empire."
STROMAS (waving it off):"Enough of that. Tell me… how are the preparations for the Summer Festival?"
ADVISER (with a slight smile):"Perfect, Your Majesty. This year's harvest has been abundant. And with the rise of talented young warriors, the people's spirits are higher than ever. It may be the grandest festival in recent memory. We've also ensured security is tight across all territories, given the unstable political climate of the continent."
Emperor Stromas walked toward the palace window. From the heights of the Solaren Palace, he looked over the glorious capital — vibrant streets, crowded markets, festival banners fluttering in the breeze.
STROMAS (softly, to himself):"Good… "
NEXT DAY: GUEST PALACE TRAINING GROUNDS — EARLY MORNING
HUORIN(yawning):Ugh… I can't even slack for two days. After all that intense academy training, my body's fully wired for it now. Guess that's why adults are always in top form.
ROCYAN:Hah. I thought you'd sleep straight through till the festival, like a true sloth.
HUORIN:Wait—you're here to train too?
ROCYAN:You think you're the only one with habitual training syndrome?
HUORIN:Yeah… Seems like nobody can slack for even two days. Guess I win.
OSMIAN:No, you don't. I'm just here to watch till breakfast is ready.
REN:Makes sense. A monster like you has no need to train.
OSMIAN:We pure mages train in the library, thank you very much.
HYUMAN:That's why you're an idiot who only thinks about charging like a bull. No brains used.
REN:What'd you say, you white ape?!
HYUMAN:Ape? You're a full-blown chimpanzee!
HUORIN & ROCYAN:Enough!
REN & HYUMAN(straighten up):Yes, Your Highness…
MEENA(sighing):What can we even do? It's so boring…
TENCY:Let's play a game?
Suddenly, WUXING lands silently on the ground near Meena and Tency from the rooftop.
MEENA(startled):AHH! Stop spawning like that!!
TENCY(covering her heart):I wasn't scared! Just… surprised!
MEENA(snickering):Yeah, right…
HUORIN:Looks like you're the one most bored out of all of us.
OSMIAN places a hand on WUXING's shoulder.
OSMIAN:So... you wanna join the game too, huh?
WUXING nods silently.
OSMIAN:Then you've gotta say something.
Everyone looks at Wuxing with sinister curiosity.
WUXING: ...(unsheathes his katana)
EVERYONE:Okay, okay! You're in! No need for words!
ROCYAN:So what game are we playing?
TENCY:Cricket! Let's play cricket!
On the ground:
OSMIAN bowls the first ball. It's literally on fire due to the speed. ROCYAN hits it high.
ROCYAN:WUXING, catch it!
Before it even lands, the ball turns to ash and vanishes into thin air.
WUXING: (looks at his hands) ...?
ROCYAN:Yeah… This won't work.
HUORIN:Nope.
Every game they try ends up failing before they can enjoy it. Later, they're all sitting under a tree, munching lunch and brainstorming ideas.
ROCYAN:Soccer?
HUORIN:One kick from me and the ball's done for.
TENCY:Chess?
EVERYONE:Boooring!
WUXING draws a running race in the sand.
OSMIAN:You're a lightning user, you clever little cheat...
OM SUNFIRE:Guys, face it. We're monsters by normal standards. We can't play games made for regular people. We need games made for us.
OSMIAN:You're right… So what are you suggesting?
HUORIN:Kabbadi?
ROCYAN:Yeah! Heard it's pretty famous in Amizhvara.
HUORIN:Yeah, and since it's all about physical skill, it works.
OM:No no, I'm talking about "Aghni Kattu."
TENCY:Wait, isn't that the game where you subdue Infernal Bulls? We're near the Summer Festival—no owner's gonna let us play with their bulls. And they're not easy to tame.
OM:Exactly. That's why I said—we need a monster's game. What if… we try to subjugate something even stronger?
OSMIAN(grinning):Now we're talking.
ROCYAN:Tell me more, you bald-headed menace.
HUORIN smacks the back of Rocyan's head.
HUORIN:Show some respect! Sorry, Om.
OM:It's fine. I'm talking about Vortals. Carnivorous magical horse beasts. They're wilder and stronger than Infernal Bulls—perfect for us.
HUORIN:Yeah, I've seen one at the infantry ranch. Menacing beasts.
ROCYAN:But aren't they only found around the Northern Regions?
OM:Exactly. I know a place near Nortin City where they roam. If we take the Ember Train, we can make it back before the festival.
HUORIN:Om, you're a genius!
With excitement in the air, all of them spend the rest of the day chatting and planning the thrilling trip ahead, laughter echoing across the grounds.