As the first golden rays of sunlight spill across the wooden floors of the Silver Fang Inn, the quiet morning air was broken by the chime of the front door.
Three figures step inside, their presence commanding yet comforting. The trio inside—Kasumi, Houki, and Shiku—looks up, curiosity flashing across their faces.
Kasumi's eyes widen. Recognition strikes her like lightning, and in an instant, a radiant smile blooms across her face.
Her chair scrapes back as she bolts from it.
She flies across the room, arms outstretched. The three returning legends barely have time to brace themselves before Kasumi wraps them all in a tangled embrace full of warmth, laughter, and long-missed joy.
Just then, Nobori walks out from the back hallway, wiping his hands on a towel, and gives a knowing nod.
"Didn't expect you this early," he says.
The green-haired, tallest one speaks with a wide smile on his face, expressing disbelief at the suggestion. "Of course, you think we would waste time seeing our little Kasumi," he remarks, emphasizing the idea that their visit was anything but trivial.
"Look at her now, Tenka—she's not quite the little one she used to be!" The brown-haired dwarven man chuckles, a glimmer of pride in his eyes as he marvels at her growth.
"I can hardly believe how much you've grown, Brannok! Remember when she was just your height?" Tenka chuckles heartily, ruffling Brannok's hair as waves of nostalgia sweep over them.
Elyra Vel'dael, elegant and timeless with silver-braided hair and glimmering eyes, smiles gently, brushing a strand of hair from Kasumi's cheek.
"You've grown stronger," she says softly, voice melodic and proud. "And more radiant."
That gentle moment is interrupted by a loud whisper from Shiku in the back corner.
"Hey, Houki. Who are these people?"
Houki, arms crossed and still unsure how to react to the sudden presence of Sura's walking legends, mumbles, "I think… those are the former Four Pillars."
Shiku's eyes widen. "Wait—the Four Pillars? Like… them them?"
"Yep," Houki says. "We're standing in the same room as living history."
Kasumi turns and motions for her teammates to come forward. "Guys! Don't be shy."
Brannok gives them both a once-over. "So who are these two young lads?"
"Hey guys this is my Uncle Tenka, my Aunt Elyra, and my Grandpa Brannok!" Kasumi exclaims excitedly.
Tenka steps up to Shiku and gives his shoulder a hearty clap that nearly drops him. "Hah! There's a fire in this one's heart. That's good. Real good."
Shiku straightens, still reeling from the impact, and forces a grin. "Appreciate it, sir. I think."
Brannok lets out a gruff laugh. "You'll get used to his greetings. They're mostly friendly."
Tenka winks. "Mostly."
Then, Elyra steps up to Houki. Her gaze is calm but piercing as if she sees far more than just his posture and stance.
"You walk with silence," she says, her voice smooth like wind through leaves. "And silence is the first language of wisdom. The void chose you for a reason."
Houki bows slightly, caught off guard but composed. "Thank you, Lady Elyra."
Elyra smirks, clearly savoring the compliment."No need to bow to me, young man," Elyra says as she gently lifts his chin, smiling kindly at Houki while acknowledging his respectful demeanor.
Nobori finally steps forward, folding the towel over his arm. His tone turns more formal. "It's good to have you back."
"We wouldn't miss this for the world," Tenka says, turning serious for the first time. "The next generation needs us."
Kasumi's face lights up with a radiant smile. "What brings you all here?" she asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"I called them to help me train you three." Nobori declares with quiet authority, the weight of his words thickening the air around the assembled group.
Shiku's eyes go wide. "Wait—them? As in, all of them?"
Brannok crosses his arms. "Problem?"
Shiku's mouth moves but no words come out. He shakes his head. "Nope. No problem at all."
Elyra steps toward Kasumi, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. With a warm smile, she reflects on how Kasumi had always been their guiding light. Even after the dark days of the last war, Kasumi's spirit served as a constant reminder that their struggles were meaningful. Now, in a full-circle moment, Elyra felt it was their responsibility to remind Kasumi how to navigate through the challenges ahead, just as she had inspired them during their darkest times.
Kasumi's eyes shine with emotion. "I'm glad you're here Aunt Elyra."
Brannok's gruff tone softens. "Then let's act like it. Come on, let's eat. I traveled too many miles to talk before breakfast."
Tenka laughs. "Still ruled by your stomach, I see."
As the group settles around a table, Houki and Shiku exchange a look.
Houki questions, "So the war you were talking about, was it the war that happened ten years ago in Zeodia?"
A heavy silence fell over the former pillars as they exchange uneasy glances, each one unsure of what to say next.
With a sudden shift in the atmosphere, Brannok finally shatters the tension, his voice steady yet laced with curiosity. "How do you know about the war of Zeodia?"
"They're from Zeodia," Kasumi interjects, cutting through the tension of the heated conversation with an unexpected revelation.
A hush falls over the table. Brannok's fork hovers midair. Tenka's easy smile fades, replaced by a shadow of memory. Elyra's fingers, which had been delicately tearing a piece of bread, go still.
Nobori's eyes narrow just slightly.
"They're… from Zeodia?" Brannok repeats, his voice quieter now. More grounded.
Kasumi nods, glancing between Shiku and Houki with calm certainty. "They were there when the fall happened. Survivors."
"Yes, we're from Zeodia. In fact we're from SunCross City." Houki calmly but with a stern voice declares.
Brannok leans forward slowly, the legs of his chair groaning beneath him. "That place was torn apart. We were told there were no survivors… at least not any in SunCross City."
Shiku's expression hardens. "Because no one came for us."
Houki's voice is flat. "We didn't survive because of luck. We survived because we had to."
Tenka exhales through his nose, folding his arms. "So how did you awaken your Èlan cores? Because last I checked the Zeodia Èlan stone was unfunctional."
A beat passes. Shiku glances at Houki, then looks down at his hands—scarred, calloused, trembling ever so slightly beneath the table.
Houki answers first.
"We didn't awaken the normal way," he says flatly.
Brannok's brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Shiku meets his gaze, unwavering "I found the incantation my father kept but everything didn't go as planned."
Elyra arches an eyebrow, a hint of intrigue in her voice. "Your father…?" she begins, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, my father was the mightiest Èlan warrior in the world," Shiku says, a deep sorrow lacing his voice as he reflects on the legacy of strength and honor that once defined their family.
Nobori shifts his eyes to Shiku and Houki "Your last name is Kitoyoshi correct?"
Tenka's eyes widen in disbelief. "You mean as in The Flash Reaper Teshikuki Kitoyoshi?"
A shiver ripples through the pillars, freezing them in place as if an icy breath had swept over them at the mere sound of the name.
Shiku's eyes drop to the table, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles pale.
"…Yeah," he murmurs. "He was my father."
For a long moment, no one speaks.
Elyra is the first to recover from the shock, her voice filled with reverence as she begins to speak. She reflects on the legendary figure of Teshikuki Kitoyoshi, recognizing him not merely as a warrior, but as a myth—a—spectral presence on the battlefield. There were instances when even the most formidable demons, fearing his prowess, chose to retreat rather than confront the forces of that kingdom while he was present. The name of Teshikuki instilled such terror that even the valiant rogue Èlan warriors would turn and flee at the mere sight of him.
Brannok shakes his head, half in awe, half in disbelief. "But we thought he died in the collapse of Zeodia."
He did," Shiku replies, staring into the flickering candle at the center of the table. "Protecting me and Houki and my sister."
Kasumi reaches across, placing a gentle hand on Shiku's shoulder. He doesn't flinch, but his gaze stays rooted in the flame.
Houki, who had remained silent until that moment, finally broke the silence. "I still remember it like it was yesterday," he says, his voice tinged with emotion. "The screams, the fire, the chaos." As he speaks, the vivid memories flood back, each detail etched firmly in his mind, making it feel as though the events had just happened.
Tenka leans back slowly. "And what of your mother and sister?"
Shiku's silence answers that.
Brannok's voice drops to a respectful hush. "You carry a great deal for someone so young, boy. But blood only opens the door. What matters now is how far you walk through it."
Tenka, with his trademark grin returning, claps his hands together. "Agreed. Let's not keep the past on a pedestal. The present needs shaping."
Nobori, who's been silently observing, steps closer and folds his arms.
"I knew bringing you all here was the right call. They don't just need to train their strength. They need to understand who they are—and what this world remembers."
Elyra nods solemnly. "And what it fears."
A knock breaks the moment. Firm. Rhythmic. Official.
Everyone looks toward the door.
A young royal messenger stands there, catching his breath as he bows.
"Sir Nobori. Lady Elyra. Master Brannok. Captain Tenka… the current Four Pillars have arrived. The king requests your presence at the capital gates."
The temperature in the room shifts.
Tenka cracks his knuckles. "Didn't expect them to beat us here."
Brannok mutters, "Let's see if they're all bark or if they've grown into their titles."
Elyra brushes a strand of silver hair behind her ear, elegant but sharp.
"They've grown… but we'll see if they've matured."
Shiku, hesitant, looks up.
"Are we going with you?"
Nobori glances at the trio—his students, his responsibility—and then nods his head.
"Of course you're going. We want you to see the kind of power you're working toward. The weight of the name 'Pillar' isn't earned with strength alone—it's forged through legacy."
Shiku blinks, caught between excitement and intimidation. "So… we're going to meet the current Four Pillars?"
Tenka laughs. "And if they're smart, they'll meet you, too."
Kasumi rises from her seat, fire flickering in her eyes. "I want to see what they're made of."
Houki folds his arms, quiet but resolute. "And I want them to see what we've survived."
Brannok stands, finishing the last bite of bread. "That's the spirit."
Elyra adds softly, "But remember—watch more than you speak. There's more to this meeting than muscle."
Shiku exhales sharply. "Got it. Just… don't let me embarrass myself."
Tenka claps him on the back again, making him stagger. "You will. We all did once. That's how you grow."
The group gathers, the air charged with purpose. Outside, the wind carries the scent of pine and a whisper of distant storms.
As the door to the Silver Fang Inn swings open once more, sunlight bathes their faces—old warriors stepping forward once again, and young ones following in their shadow.
Together, they walk.
Toward the capital.
Toward history.
Toward what comes next.
❧
Kasumi adjusts her shirt, the weight of the moment settling on her shoulders. She glances at her father and then at the three elders who have always been part of her extended family. This isn't just training anymore. This is witnessing the torchbearers of an era meet those meant to carry the next.
Shiku whispers to Houki, "So what do you think they'll be like? The current Pillars?"
Houki keeps his gaze forward. "Strong. Proud. Probably a little arrogant."
"Sounds like you," Shiku grins.
Houki doesn't answer.
The walk to the capital gates isn't far, but every step echoes with significance. As they approach the wide arching entrance of Athedon's outer court, rows of guards salute Nobori and the veterans with stiff precision.
And there they stand.
Four figures in pristine, ceremonial armor stand side by side. Cloaks bearing the Sura Kingdom's crest fluttering gently in the morning breeze.
The Current Four Pillars.
Leading them is a striking woman with short, obsidian hair and piercing blue eyes—her expression unreadable, her posture rigid with confidence.
Beside her stands a broad-shouldered man with dark bronze skin and thick silver gauntlets etched with runes. His arms are crossed, his smirk arrogant.
The third is leaner, dressed in deep crimson with a curved blade at his back. His sharp eyes flick over the incoming group, calculating and cool.
And last is a youthful mage with stark white hair and golden irises—he couldn't have been older than twenty-two, but the sheer pressure of his mana warped the air around him like heat on stone.
They were imposing. Unified. Powerful.
But more than that… they were watching.
Closely.
The lead woman steps forward and gives a formal bow—respectful but not humble.
"Master Nobori," she says. "Lady Elyra. Lord Brannok. Captain Tenka. It's an honor."
Nobori returns the bow with a nod. "So you've finally arrived."
"We made good time," she replies. "The king said you'd be bringing… students?"
Her eyes flick to Shiku, Houki, and Kasumi.
"And these are they?"
Shiku steps forward instinctively. "We are."
Kasumi gives a respectful nod. "We're still learning. But we won't break."
Houki simply says, "We're ready."
The white-haired mage smiles faintly. "Confident."
Tenka steps in before the moment turns sharp. "They have every right to be."
The tall man in silver gauntlets raises a brow. "That so? We'll see."
Brannok grumbles under his breath, "Still smelling like rookies."
Elyra's voice cut through, calm and precise. "Names. Introduce yourselves."
The woman bows slightly. "I am Commander Aeryn Volaris, Wind Mage—Pillar of Strategy and Shield of the North."
The man beside her thumps his chest once. "Gorran Vask, Augmenter of Metal. Pillar of Strength and Shield of the East."
The third one gives a curt nod. "Vael Shin, Lava Mage—Pillar of Precision. Shield of the South."
The white-haired one tilts his head. "Lucen Faelwyn. Sound Mage. Pillar of Balance… and of the West."
Lucen's golden eyes settle on Kasumi. "You must be master Nobori's child."
Kasumi nervously blinks, glancing at her father.
I've heard of the healer who played a big part in fending off a high-ranking demon," he says calmly, almost amused. "I expected you to be taller."
Kasumi narrows her eyes. "I expected you to be taller."
That earns a quiet laugh from Tenka, and even Elyra's lips twitch upward.
Aeryn steps forward again. "We've been informed of your potential. We'll judge it for ourselves in due time."
Gorran's smirk widens. "Let's just hope the stories weren't exaggerated."
Nobori finally speaks, his voice steady and cool.
"They weren't."
A pause.
Then the king's herald approaches from the stone stairway, his golden sash swaying with each step.
"The king awaits. All Pillars, former and current, and your chosen students—his audience begins shortly."
The two generations exchange one final look.
The tension is there—respectful, but unmistakable.
The current Four Pillars step aside, forming an aisle toward the citadel gates.
A gesture.
An invitation.
A challenge.
Nobori doesn't hesitate. He walks forward, and his students follow.
One after the other, the former Four Pillars fall into step behind them.
And as Shiku passes through that corridor of warriors, something shifts inside him—not just fear or awe, but a flicker of belonging. Like walking through history toward a future no one else can see yet.
He glances at Houki.
Houki meets his eyes, silent, resolute.
Kasumi closes her fist at her side, her heart thundering. "Let's make them remember our names."
Shiku nods.
Together, they cross the threshold into the capital.
Where shadows of legacy still stir…
…waiting to be reborn.
❧