After Allison and Amy left, The prince and Yuri stood by the window, lost in thought as the moonlight bathed the scene outside. Yuri broke the silence with a whispered concern. "Bakari, haven't we stayed too long without knowing the full-bloods' plans?"
Bakari sighed, acknowledging the challenge. "Yes, but with my jet out of commission, we're stuck. While the full-bloods operate from the Star Glider, we're in the dark."
Yuri's determination didn't waver. "How about we focus on fixing the jet for now?"
"We could try," Bakari conceded, "but without a way to track them while they remain on the Star Glider, we're still blind."
Yuri pondered this, a curious expression on his face. "What did your father make that thing out of, anyway? And, more importantly, who knew that his jet could jump through dimensions?"
Their thoughts were interrupted as the girls entered the living room. Amy cleared her throat, drawing their attention.
She stood confidently, her pirate ensemble complete with a tricorn hat and a richly embroidered vest, channeling the allure of the high seas. Beside her, Allison moved silently, her ninja attire sleek and shadowy, her eyes sharp and alive with mischief.
"Do you boys want to join us for a party?" Amy asked, her tone playful.
Yuri raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Like a celebration?"
Allison nodded, an approving smile playing at her lips. "Exactly."
"What kind of party is this?" Bakari inquired.
"You know," Amy replied with a playful wink, "music, friends, dancing, and all the good stuff."
The boys shared a knowing glance, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Yuri tilted his head slightly in agreement, while the urge for new experiences welled within Bakari. Acknowledging this, he turned to Yuri, offering a quiet apology for the diversion.
With renewed excitement, Bakari faced the girls. "Count us in."
Amy's delighted shriek echoed in the room as she clasped their arms, drawing them into their adventurous fold.
Upon their arrival, Amy rang the doorbell, and moments later, the door swung open. A man greeted them with a warm smile.
"Oh, you came!" he exclaimed, pulling Amy into a hug. Bakari couldn't help but look away, wrestling with a twinge of jealousy.
As they pulled apart, the man acknowledged Allison with a friendly nod. "Hey, Allison," he said, waving.
Surveying the newcomers, he paused, then gestured to Yuri and Bakari. "And who are these guys?"
Yuri stiffened slightly, not entirely appreciating the scrutinizing gaze, but Amy quickly interjected. "These are our... old high school friends, Yuri and Bakari."
The man relaxed, offering a casual salute. "What's up, fellas?" They exchanged greetings with a friendly pat.
"Make yourselves at home," he added, stepping aside to let them in.
As they entered, a palpable wave of energetic conversation and music hit them.
The girls, intent on introducing them to more faces, handed each a red cup filled with an unfamiliar drink, urging them to try it.
Yuri took a sip and immediately spat the offensive liquid back into the cup, setting it aside with a grimace.
Bakari, equally disgusted, downed his quickly before passing it off to a passing guy.
The girls checked in, concerned, but the boys assured them they were alright, though Yuri whispered complaints to Bakari about wanting to be elsewhere.
During a sudden uproar, attention shifted as everyone glanced at their phones.
A nearby group of girls eagerly chatted about a spaceship spotted in the sky. Yuri and Bakari exchanged a look, voices overlapping. "Did you hear that?"
Bakari, sensing opportunity, suggested they investigate. Yuri, eager and insistent, grabbed Bakari's arm.
"Let's not waste time telling them. We find this, handle it, and go home."
Bakari nodded in agreement, and together, they slipped away as Amy glanced in their direction. She voiced a quiet hope that they weren't leaving without a word.
Once outside, they launched into action, their feet expertly finding purchase on the rooftops as they traversed the city with agile precision.
The thrill of adrenaline coursed through them, each leap carried by an inner drive to uncover the truth.
Nearing the city outskirts, Bakari abruptly stopped at the forest's edge. Yuri turned, frustration evident. "What are you doing? We're almost there!"
"I know," Bakari replied, his voice tinged with gravity. "But this is where my jet crashed."
Yuri's eyes widened. "You think they're looking for it—or for us?"
Before Bakari could reply, the Star Glider zipped above the trees, a sleek silhouette against the night sky.
The force of its passage whipped the air, a vortex of displaced leaves and snapping twigs testifying to its impossible speed. "There it goes," Bakari pointed out, urgency in his tone.
Yuri watched as it created a rift and vanished before their eyes.
Frustration boiled over, and Bakari slammed his fist into a tree, splintering the bark. "Hold on," Yuri urged, focusing. "I can sense one of them."
Frustration boiled over, and Bakari slammed his fist into a tree, splintering the bark with raw force. "Hold on," Yuri urged, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "I can sense one of them."
Yuri followed the elusive energy signature through the dense forest, guided by instinct and determination.
As they pressed on, the gentle humming grew clearer, weaving through the cool night air.
They soon emerged onto an elevated plateau that overlooked a shimmering lake, its surface catching the moonlight in a dance of silver ripples.
At the water's edge, moonlight illuminated a towering, dark-skinned man. His physique spoke of immense strength, his features refined and elegant. Startlingly, his blue irises shone against eyes with inky black sclera, seeming to hold ancient secrets.
Adorning his powerful arms were golden gauntlets, shimmering with an ethereal light.
He knelt, fingers sinking into the earth, lifting a handful of soil to his nose. The rich, loamy scent filled the air, and a satisfied smile played on his lips.
"This will do," he murmured, his voice resonant and profound, as if the very earth listened.
The prince, his voice a low growl, whispered, "Wait..." He paused, a flicker of something unexpected crossing his face.
"He's humming the song..."
Yuri listened intently, the familiar reggae melody drifting on the breeze.
Yuri squinted. "What's he doin'—" He paused, his eyes locking on the figure. "Is that Valdo?"
Bakari, taken aback, looked at Yuri in shock. "Yeah, that's him," he confirmed, his mind racing.
The stranger fully turned. The boys emerged from behind the tree.
Valdo chuckled, wading out of the lake. "The king's heir and the chief's son... quite the reunion. Your fathers would be thrilled."
Bakari exploded, "What in the stars are you and the Celetians doing here?"
Valdo's voice was a low rumble, filled with the weight of ancestry and otherworldly authority. "That knowledge is a privilege, not a right. Perhaps, through your actions, you will earn it. Or perhaps not."
Bakari replied with a grin that spoke of mischief and defiance. "Fine, have it your way." With that, he and Yuri moved as one, leaping down from their perch with the grace of panthers.
Yuri's breath caught. A slit opened on his forearm, and jagged bone pushed through.
He gritted his teeth and grunted, muscles straining as he yanked the sword free. Pain flared sharp and raw, his face tightening with the effort.
The bone sword's edge glinted dully in the moonlight light, a silent promise of devastation.
Valdo, calm in his purpose, raised his arm with solemnity. His blue eyes glowed brighter, and the runes on his arms shone with a matching blue light. An unseen force beckoned.
With cold detachment, he declared, "I harbor no hatred for half-bloods or humans. After too long in the void, I've simply come to… savor the experience. To remember what it feels like."
But if it's a challenge you seek, then let the sons of the Flamekeepers and the Vainbreaker show their worth."
The dust swirled into a sword that formed seamlessly around Valdo's fist, its sharp edge poised for battle.
Bakari swiftly retrieved a rod from under his jacket and, with a click, activated a blue plasma blade that crackled with energy.
Their weapons clashed with a thunderous sound, Valdo's sword slicing upward as he spun gracefully.
Bakari's heart raced, eyes wide, as Valdo's blade neared. But Yuri's sword blocked the strike with a decisive clang, snapping Bakari back to reality—"Blast, I almost died."
Fright flickered in Valdo's eyes as he glanced at Yuri, who forcefully shoved his sword aside. Annoyed, Yuri slashed down, prompting Valdo to step back.
Valdo hovered his hand over his neck, smirking. "You're fierce. I like you."
Yuri grabbed Bakari's arm, urgency in his tone. "Focus. We can't win by just defending. Let's go on offense."
Bakari nodded. "Yeah."
Together, they surged forward with lightning speed, flanking Valdo with precise, powerful movements
Valdo met the assault with formidable skill, blocking Bakari's plasma blade in an elegant yet forceful dance.
He caught Yuri's descending sword mid-air, blue blood seeping from where it nicked him, his voice calm as he stated, "No, boys, this will not do."
United in their next move, Bakari and Yuri drove their knees into Valdo's torso. He staggered slightly, yet his smile lingered—amused, unyielding.
Bakari seized the moment, hurling his swords toward Valdo with intent, only for Valdo to slam it into the ground with his dust-formed sword, the impact echoing through the chaos.
Undeterred, Yuri surged forward, blitzing Valdo with a series of rapid attacks.
His timing was impeccable, interweaving with Bakari's strikes like a tapestry of orchestrated violence.
As they engaged, Yuri held back, watching for the perfect moment, until a well-placed punch sent Valdo reeling towards Bakari.
Bakari extended his hand, and with an unseen force that seemed to ripple through the air, Valdo was suddenly hurled against the ground.
The earth quaked beneath the impact, sending cracks spidering outward as dust and debris surged upward.
Standing resolute amidst the chaos, Bakari's eyes bore into Valdo, a cool, composed challenge in his steady voice, "You give up yet?"
Valdo, slowly rising to one knee, chuckled. "I see you've picked up the family business.
"Celestial blood? I see nothing but weakness!" Valdo spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Where is the authority you should possess? The power to move mountains, to command the very elements?"
Irritation flickered in Bakari's eyes as he swiped his hand dismissively, refusing to rise to Valdo's bait.
Valdo stood, getting back to his feet with a resilience that seemed to anchor him to the earth, his defiance almost tangible.
Yet, as Bakari blinked, Valdo suddenly vanished from sight; his mocking laughter seemed to dissolve into the air.
Bakari searched the scene, his eyes darting around for any sign of his elusive adversary.
Yuri, sword slowly raised, mirrored Bakari's cautious scan of the surroundings, every nerve on edge as they anticipated Valdo's next move.
Valdo materialized behind Bakari with ghostly silence.
"Bakari, behind you!" Yuri yelled, sprinting to close the distance. But it was too late. Valdo's grip locked onto the back of Bakari's neck, forcing a pained yell from him.
In a swift motion, Yuri hurled his axe toward Valdo. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Valdo appeared before him, somehow even faster than before—a blur of motion. In one arm, he held Bakari, dangling helplessly.
With a smug grin, Valdo whispered, "Vainbreaker," before his hand shot out to seize Yuri's face.
In an instant, he slammed both Bakari and Yuri into the ground with a force that shook the earth, leaving Yuri's axe embedded in a nearby tree, a silent witness to Valdo's unyielding speed and power.
Bakari's body was wracked with pain—each nerve alive with agony. His back felt numb, his head throbbed violently, threatening to explode from within.
Standing over them, Valdo proclaimed with unsettling confidence, "Without Orion, the king, queen, or any royal blood, there's no stopping what's to come.
I've already won. You're weak, but not for being half-breeds. That should make you stronger."
Bakari, barely clinging to consciousness, longed for Valdo's rant to cease.
Yuri extended a supportive hand toward Bakari, yet Valdo's cruel grip twisted it viciously, prompting Yuri's anguished cry. As Bakari's eyes blinked open, determination hardened his expression.
With reckless resolve, Bakari ripped the glowing, fist-sized energy core from the gauntlet on his left arm and slammed it into Valdo's thigh.
Valdo howled, retaliating with a brutal stomp to Bakari's chest, drawing violet droplets and intensifying the searing pain.
Valdo wrenched the core out, inspecting it with curiosity. "Hmm," he mused, before noticing the rapid heating.
The core began to scorch his palm, and he dropped it with a reflexive curse.
Time slowed for Bakari, watching as the core descended toward him—a moment stretched into eternity.
It detonated upon impact, the ensuing plasma blast engulfing the area with blinding intensity.
The explosion was a symphony of light and sound, a thunderous chorus that consumed everything within its reach, marking the forest with its indelible power.
After the blast had subsided, Valdo staggered to his feet amid the smoldering remains of the once-lush forest.
The air shimmered with heat, the trees around him crackling with the remnants of the scorching plasma burst.
Half of his body was a brutal display of the blast's fury—muscle fibers exposed and seared raw, a tapestry of agonizing damage.
Slowly, painfully, the wounds began to heal, but the recovery was agonizingly slow and incomplete.
He screamed—a primal, tormented sound—and limped toward the sprawled prince, his gait a predator's angry lope. "You sly bastard," he growled, through gritted teeth.
"So devious…I almost respect it." His hand hovered, trembling with menace, mere inches from Bakari's vulnerable throat.
Just then, a tremulous voice cut through the acrid air, causing Valdo to freeze. "You touch him, and I'll make sure you regret the day your father met your mother."
Valdo turned his gaze toward Yuri, whose bone armor hung in tattered remnants from his body, one half of his face an ashen shadow of its former self.
The raw burns etched a grimace into his features, yet his lone eye burned with unflinching resolve. Sizing up the situation, Valdo retracted his hand, nodded a begrudging acknowledgment of Yuri's threat, and then leaped into the sky, disappearing into the smoky canopy of the forest above.
Yuri watched him vanish, then stumbled over to Bakari, dropping to his knees beside him. "No, no, no," he murmured, horror-stricken at the sight of his brother. Bakari lay there, his body scorched, purple blood seeping from where his right arm had been severed, staining the earth below.
"Come on, brother. I'm not losing you," Yuri urged, gently cradling Bakari's head. "I need you to breathe."
Bakari's eyes, brilliant with unshed tears, met Yuri's. "I can't, I can't—" he whimpered, every word a battle. "It hurts…it hurts so much…"
"Shh, you can," Yuri coaxed, his voice tender but firm.
"Don't talk like that. We've barely started this journey. Do you think my father sent us here to die? No, we're meant for more. So breathe."
Collecting courage from his brother's words, Bakari swallowed hard, forcing air into his lungs.
Each breath was a laborious wheeze, his body steaming as it commenced the arduous process of healing.
"That's it, you're doing it," Yuri encouraged, his eyes shimmering with emotion. "You're doing it."
With a groan, Bakari rolled from Yuri's grasp, coughing as the air returned to his tortured lungs.
Despite the pain, despite everything, the flame of life flickered stubbornly within him, refusing to be extinguished.