CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Humans were pack creatures. When individuals were placed in situations where they had to work together, live together, or navigate challenging circumstances together, it wasn't unusual for them to find common ground, build trust, and develop a sense of camaraderie within themselves. The in-group preference; the sense of us that stood in opposition—or at the very least, stark contrast—to them. The other. It was the strongest motivational force that existed on the battlefield.

Beyond creed, beyond honour, beyond even love, lay only that bond with one's fellows. Where someone would hesitate to ever fire a gun normally if it were in the defence of their friend in a desperate situation, suddenly, murder would become a matter of course.

Of course, there were exceptions.

Sure, as days turned into weeks, and eventually, weeks turned into a month, Tatsuya was in an unfamiliar environment with only the Wind Blades as company.

Sure, he spent his time training, either in armed combat against Rei, as the water elemental was the only one most fond of using weapons in the group, or in unarmed combat: using his elements in spars against Farah and Zoel—or rather, Ava, as the seal was the vine elemental between the both—or both, and; without the use of elements against Leia (much to her continued displeasure, and usually under Jao’s supervision).

But he had been through so much more that it barely even scratched the surface of his psyche. Unlike everyone around him, he would probably forget them all after a month's separation. He never quite bonded with them, and that was fine. After all, this was merely a means to an end—it was all accounted for.

But there was an exception he hadn't accounted for.

The fire elemental, Farah.

The days of his first week, after the reveal of the group’s goal, had been marked by the rising and setting of the sun, the gradual healing of his injuries, and slow stretches done with caution and in the company of Farah.

The woman had stuck by him ever since that moment they shared by the stream.

Tatsuya was not a child. He knew he had feelings for her. She possessed an enchanting beauty that had instantly captivated him. Her laughter echoed in his mind, a breath of fresh air amidst the monotony of his routine, and her presence lingered in his thoughts long after they parted ways.

He found himself drawn to her, and it wasn't long before they became friends, sharing smiles, stories—only ones he was comfortable talking about—and heartfelt conversations. In those moments spent together, he discovered that she was not only beautiful on the outside but possessed a depth of character and a perspective on life that intrigued him and only brought them closer.

However, deep within his heart, he knew that allowing his feelings for Farah to flourish could potentially distract him. He was a driven and ambitious individual with a clear vision of his goals and a burning desire to achieve them. He had dedicated his life to his promise, tirelessly working day and night to gain enough strength to be able to kill Kuro—and he had read and seen others lose their focus, their dreams fading into mere illusions as they succumbed to the allure of love. He was determined not to fall into the same trap.

Nevertheless, he was grateful, more so because it meant he didn't have time to reflect on his more turbulent thoughts—or the conflicting feelings that bubbled to the surface whenever they spoke about the capital and their goal—than anything else. But it was honestly mentally draining; Tatsuya felt that the different things he had to juggle were steadily increasing in pressure, and it was only the old sentiment of never giving up that kept him from lagging.

Still, he could hardly complain as even with the hang-ups, he showed incredible results after every day—small victories (improvements in areas he lacked) that became his guiding light, providing him with motivation—and the nights when the group reconvened around the campfire were moments of much- needed respite and recovery.

The latter were usually filled with chatters, most of the members willing to share their own stories with him, the newcomer; each took turns to reveal pieces of their lives, creating a tapestry of diverse experiences and shared humanity while indulging in their rationed food and water.

On one such night, Rei spoke about his journey of self-discovery and how he had left his life as a minor noble of no importance to pursue a simpler one. The water elemental revealed to them, as they sat in a loose circle, that he had immersed himself in meditation, spirituality, and connecting with nature. His words painted pictures of the peace he had found within himself and the importance of embracing simplicity in a chaotic world.

However, Tatsuya was hardly listening as something caught his attention. A familiar unpleasant sensation made itself known to him, appearing as hotness on the back of his neck.

They were being watched.

With deliberate ease, he exchanged discreet glances with the others, receiving sharp nods—disguised as vibrant gestures in response to Rei’s stories—before he fixed his eyes on the horizon as if deep in thought. The distant lights of the celestial bodies twinkled in the distance, the dim illumination from both providing the slightest protection against the overwhelming darkness, and more importantly, the night’s breeze whispered across his body.

Yet, precaution dictated he dared not turn and look around.

If something or something was observing him, deviating from his course of action too much could alert them that he was very much aware of their presence—even if he couldn't determine from where their presence originated—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t take any action against them. He was just restricted to subtle ones, which, considering his passive ability, should be enough.

Closing his eyes, Tatsuya focused his mind and attuned himself to the currents encircling him, and with each breath, he felt the delicate vibrations and whispers of the wind as if it was speaking directly to him. Eventually, he detected the disturbance in the currents’ natural flow and, subsequently, furrowed his eyebrows in concentration as he tried to decipher its probable source.

When that, too, was eventually found, he opened his eyes and casually brushed his hand through his hair in the direction of said source, a hidden message sent to Jao without uttering a single word. He saw the message seamlessly conveyed from one person to the other using fairly innocuous gestures: a slight tilt of the head or a seemingly innocent shift of a body part— every movement was a secret dance performed in plain sight.

Unfortunately, their watchers were not the type to remain idle; Tatsuya's only warning before a thunderous boom echoed through the night was the displacement of air and the increasing length of a large shadow below him. The impact shattered the tranquil atmosphere, sending air whipping furiously—along with bits of dust and dirt—tousling his hair and sending sparks flying from the fire.

Fortunately, the wind had embraced him just in time and lifted him off his feet, though he had to exert sufficient control over the currents to prevent himself from being blown away—and when he descended, he was still using his passive ability as his eyes and ears (in place of the actual organs), focusing his attention on the subsiding particles.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that the others, silent as they were and in wary stances—in close proximity to each other with their gazes similarly drawn to the affected area—were waiting to see just what (or whom) had been bold enough to make such an entrance.