The towering gates of the Water Kingdom's palace groaned open as Aqua and Raito stepped through, their boots clicking against the polished marble path. The moment the royal guards recognized her, they immediately dropped to one knee, their spears thudding against the ground in unison.
"Welcome back, Princess Aqua!"
The voices echoed through the grand courtyard, filled with reverence. Aqua's chest tightened—she hadn't been called princess in years. Not since she had fled the palace, abandoning her title for love. Yet here they were, still bowing to her as if no time had passed.
Raito squeezed her hand, his grip steady. "They never forgot you," he murmured.
Yuki trailed behind them, wide-eyed, taking in the opulence—the shimmering fountains, the ivy-twined pillars, the scent of salt and jasmine thick in the air.
The throne room doors swung open before them.
At the far end, the Water King sat slumped on his throne, his trident resting at his side like a forgotten relic. His silver hair, once meticulously braided, now hung loose around his shoulders. When he lifted his gaze, his eyes, hollow and shadowed, locked onto Aqua's.
For a long moment, silence stretched between them.
Then—
"You look tired, Father," Aqua said softly.
The king exhaled, long and slow. "And you look just like your mother."
Raito's jaw clenched, but before he could speak, Saya—Aqua's younger sister—breezed in, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Oh, wonderful, the dramatic family reunion," she drawled. "Father's been brooding for years, you know. It's exhausting."
The king shot her a glare, but Saya ignored him, looping her arm through Aqua's. "Come on, sister. Let's go somewhere less... depressing."
The Art Gallery – Secrets in Paint
The heavy doors of the palace art gallery creaked open as Saya led them inside, her silver hair catching the light from the glowing sea crystals embedded in the walls. "You have to see this," she said, her usual playful tone replaced with something more solemn.
At the center of the room stood a massive, newly-framed painting. The canvas still smelled faintly of linseed oil and pigments.
Aqua's breath caught.
There, captured in vibrant strokes, was Kyota—her son—standing atop the jagged cliffs of the eastern shore. His white hair whipped about his face as he faced down a monstrous wave, his hands outstretched as if conducting an invisible orchestra. The tsunami, taller than the palace towers, was frozen mid-collapse, its force being diverted back out to sea.
"This... this was last week?" Aqua whispered, her fingers hovering over the painted image of Kyota's determined face.
The Water King stepped forward, his usual stern expression softened. "Five days ago, to be exact. The fishing village would have been wiped off the map if not for him."
Raito moved closer, examining the details. "But how? The currents in that area—"
"Changed," the king interrupted. "Suddenly. Violently. The wave should have come straight for the capital." He pointed to a small detail in the corner of the painting—a group of fishermen kneeling in gratitude. "No one knew who he was. Just a stranger who appeared from nowhere, saved hundreds of lives, then disappeared into the mist."
Saya leaned against the frame, her playful smirk returning. "It took our best artists three days to complete this from witness accounts. Father's been staring at it ever since."
Aqua's hands trembled as she traced the familiar curve of Kyota's jaw, the same stubborn set to his shoulders that Raito had. "He didn't tell us where he'd be."
Saya's Confession – A Princess's Heart
Later, in Aqua's old chambers—preserved exactly as she'd left them—Saya sprawled across the bed, twirling a lock of silver hair.
"So," she said, grinning, "your son is ridiculously powerful. And mysterious. And—"
Yuki choked on her tea.
Saya's eyes gleamed. "Oh? Does little Yuki have a crush?"
Yuki's face burned. "N-No! I mean—he's—!"
Aqua smirked. "She's been blushing around him since they were kids."
"Auntie!" Yuki wailed, hiding behind a pillow.
Saya cackled. "This is gold." She sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I envy you, Aqua. You actually fell in love. Me? I've rejected fifteen marriage proposals."
"Fifteen?!" Raito blinked.
"Mmhm." Saya waved a hand. "Dukes, princes, some fool who 'controlled the tides of commerce'—whatever that means." She smirked. "I told Father I'd only marry someone who could beat me in a fight."
Yuki froze. "Wait. So... if Kyota—"
Saya's grin turned wicked. "Exactly."
Yuki paled. "No."
Aqua burst out laughing.
Kyota's Limit – A Stranger in the Mist
Meanwhile, deep in the Whispering Woods, Kyota stumbled through the fog, his vision blurring. The blood moon painted the world crimson, shadows twisting like living things.
Move. Keep moving.
But his legs gave out.
He collapsed into the dirt, gasping. The last thing he saw was a pair of worn leather boots stepping into view.
Then—darkness.
The Scarred Healer – A New Mentor
Consciousness returned in fragments.
Firelight. The scent of herbs. A deep voice humming.
Kyota's eyes fluttered open. A man sat across from him—tall, scarred, with one milky eye and a smirk that bordered on annoying.
"Took you long enough, kid."
Kyota jolted up—then hissed in pain.
The man chuckled. "Yeah, you're wrecked. That Calamity spell fried your circuits." He tossed an apple at Kyota's head. "Name's Jiro. And you, little storm, are gonna learn a few things from me."
Kyota narrowed his eyes. "Why help me?"
Jiro's grin widened. "Let's just say... I've got a vested interest in keeping you alive."
"Now eat up well, cause you've got a lot of work to do."
"No, Kyota said There is somewhere I need to go. I must head now, I only got two days."
"Listen, kid, you can fight the king and claim the stone, and just fight the winner at last. I my opinion, you have a week more".
"All you gotta do is train under me and flex your skills to earn the next stone. Once the people find you are strong, they will be excited to see your match,, and then the king will fight you. Simple as that."