Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Crimson Dawn

The hissing wind of the storm swirled around the steep slopes that guarded the secret entrance to the caverns of Ishkar. The roar of thunder and the shriek of the wind joined in a chaotic dance that seemed almost to herald the arrival of those destined to disturb the ancient stillness of this mysterious place. Okita, Nael, and Velka advanced determinedly through the narrow, darkened passage, where ancient inscriptions carved into the rock stood like guardians of a forgotten past. Each footstep resonated with the echoes of fallen Titans, whose shadows rose in the memories of those brave enough to venture into the unknown. At the end of the tunnel awaited the promise of a burning refuge, the hidden sanctuary of Crimson Dawn. Stepping through the hatch that opened with an ancient groan, Okita felt the vibrant energy that permeated the air, illuminated by the soft, blue light from the crystals embedded in the walls. Velka's formidable figure was greeted with a fleeting hug by Akane, whose eyes shone with a glimmer of relief beneath the cold mask she wore. Minato, with his electric ease, appeared to challenge the newcomer with his presence. "So this is the one who stole the sword of the sun," Minato pronounced, with a defiant look. "I was hoping it would be someone taller and more muscular." "And you're a talking lightning rod," Okita countered, raising an eyebrow gracefully. Amid resigned murmurs, Nael watched the interaction with a mixture of skepticism and determination. However, before the sparks of rivalry could ignite, a new presence made itself felt in the room with the force of a relentless tide. It was Kaera. The sovereign of Crimson Dawn burst onto the scene, emanating an aura of unwavering authority. With her snow-white hair and eyes blazing with the intensity of one who has faced darkness too many times, Kaera issued her challenge without hesitation. "Okita," she called firmly. "The wielder of the sun sword, the traitor to the Empire." Silence hung in the remote refuge, like a thick veil enveloping those present. Their gazes locked in a silent play of doubt and certainty. Minato's voice rang out in the thin air, defiant yet firm: "Will you be capable of killing?" The question, simple in its formulation, reverberated like an ominous echo off the stone walls. Okita, his gaze lost on an invisible horizon, seemed to stop time with his bated breath. His eyes, dancing shadows from a dark past, settled on Kaera, searching her gaze for that flame of approval that would absolve him. "If killing proves to be the only way to save what we love... yes, I am willing," he murmured with a solemnity that made one's skin crawl. The silence thickened, heavy with expectation and a hint of fear. Kaera, with her eyes of ice and fire, seemed to peer into Okita's soul, searching for the most intimate and disturbing truth. "And are you prepared to carry the weight of a lost life in your hands?" Kaera's voice resonated with unwavering seriousness, weaving questions that stabbed like daggers into Okita's conscience. "On our missions, death lurks at every moment, every decision comes with a price. Are you willing to pay that price?" Okita's skin prickling, the weight of responsibility hanging like a millstone around his shoulders, it took him a moment to respond. The memory of faces blurred by time, of tears shed in silence, rose like a specter before him. "I do not wish it, but I cannot deny it." "I am willing," he whispered with determination, with the cruel certainty of a man destined to do the unthinkable. Kaera, with steely grace, extended his mechanical arm, revealing a cryptic inscription etched into his palm. His words echoed like an ancient oath: "A single spark can set the night ablaze." And then, the pact was sealed in a brief handshake. The shelter, thrumming with an almost palpable energy, Okita would now be part of Crimson Dawn...