Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

As the week drew to a close, an unsettling calm settled over the group, almost unnaturally so. Despite the initial caution and mutual wariness, nothing out of the ordinary happened during Rain's stay. However, on the final night of his visit, an inexplicable shift in the atmosphere cast a dangerous aura over the place.

Restlessness bothered Rain's sleep as an eerie sensation hung heavy in the air. Each passing minute felt heavy with tension, leaving him unable to fall asleep. He struggled to rest.

Every time Rain managed to teeter on the edge of sleep, a jolt would disturb his rest, awakening him abruptly. Minutes felt like hours, and the night seemed unending as he grappled with a disquieting feeling that something unseen was in the shadows. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Before long, Rain confirmed that it wasn't just a feeling… he felt two presences trying to mask themselves as they approached his room. They were pretty good at that, if Rain kept his senses sharp the whole time around the mansion, he wouldn't have learned that those two were Asche and Liss. Their presences suddenly disappeared from their rooms, after all.

"They aren't the cream of the crop when it comes to planning ahead now… at least they know how to hide their intentions well," Rain thought.

Rain had no idea what they wanted, but it didn't look like they wanted to fight, it would be foolish to do that in such a place… then again, the people who lived there probably could survive the aftermath of the battle and some stray shots.

Before long, Rain got sick tired of waiting and decided to see what they were doing outside… but since they weren't close to each other, it looked like they didn't feel each other's presence.

"Well, this is one funny incident," Rain thought and then opened the door. "What do you guys want?"

As much as they could hide, they couldn't escape the light of the fireball that Rain created… in the end, they finally saw each other and they showed a mix of many expressions. Confusion, shock, embarrassment…

"You guys want to talk about something?" Rain asked. "Come to think of it, when we walked around, some people were always around, so you guys had to keep the mask of leader of the warriors. It must be exhausting to act like that all the time."

All of a sudden, those two left while showing difficult to read expressions… maybe Rain went too far. Their sudden urgency to leave the vicinity was palpable, and Rain couldn't shake the feeling that their swift exit had a another meaning.

While Rain couldn't be entirely certain, he suspected that Asche and Liss might have wanted to have a private conversation akin to their exchanges from their earlier days. It was an assumption drawn from the familiarity and history they shared, a bond that transcended the years and their respective roles.

Yet, within the current context, such conversations would have seemed out of place, given the expectations others had of them now.

The image they presented to the world, one of stoicism and unyielding strength, might have faltered had they conversed in a manner reminiscent of their former friendship. Their departure seemed an attempt to preserve the facade of solemnity and professionalism they now always wore, protecting the perception others held of them.

"I am out of tact as well… one hundred years had passed since then… the memories of that time are still fresh in my head, but not so much for them," Rain thought.

The weird atmosphere in the mansion dispersed and Rain was able to sleep soundly… the next day, Rain had breakfast with his friends before departing, but his expression seemed a bit better now.

"You looked like you slept well," Branden said.

"I had some time to sort out my feelings here," Rain explained. "As expected, I can't let things continue like this. So, I will have to change my approach to avoid making more mistakes."

Asche and Liss just kept eating like usual as if nothing had happened the previous night. Their actions made Rain realize something… even if one hundred years had passed and they had changed a lot, they were still friends.

A lot of things got on the way of their friendship, but things could return a bit to how they were before… Not completely the same way, since they all aged and gained a lot of experiences and the situation was different, but close enough.

"We didn't find any traces of the others since we separated, so you will probably have a hard time finding them," Esmeralda said. "This world is much bigger than we had imagined… but at least this area is peaceful enough for us."

"Contentment is a good thing, but I still think that I need to keep doing my best to improve the situation in the world," Rain said. "I might not be good enough for that, but eventually I will find a way to pull it off."

Upon hearing Rain's determined words and sensing the familiar presence emanating from him, a sense of recognition and reassurance washed over everyone present. It was as though the aura surrounding Rain carried the essence of the person they had known years ago. This unexpected familiarity sparked a powerful hope within them, igniting thoughts of reclaiming their lost homeland.

However, they quickly got rid of these notions from their minds.

Despite the brief moment of nostalgic optimism, they were aware that the reality of their situation was far more intricate. Their world had changed significantly, and regaining their homeland remained a distant dream.

After their heartfelt exchange and the shared reassurance of their camaraderie, Rain was escorted by Asche and Liss to the port. As they approached the harbor, Rain made a gesture, indicating that he wouldn't require the port's services.

"See you guys soon, I will bring everyone else with me," Rain waved his right hand.

With a smile, he took to the sky, effortlessly soaring above them…