Chapter Fifty-Five: So They Met

The booming voice of Lord Ignarok filled the vast hall, each word resonant and deliberate. The towering, armored figure took deliberate strides forward, his dark silhouette casting a massive shadow over Yozora, who stood seemingly nonchalant, though his mind whirred with thoughts of Calida and the state of her recovery.

“Yozora, the Boy with Starry Eyes,” Lord Ignarok intoned, his gaze sharp and assessing. “You have caused quite the stir in my realm, stirring fires in hearts both strong and weak alike.” His tone held an unsettling blend of admiration and caution, as though he were measuring Yozora’s strength in each breath, contemplating what he might do with it. “Few enter my domain and dare disrupt the natural order. Fewer still survive unscathed. Yet here you are, earning my attention, a rare feat indeed. Tuner or not, we’ve not seen one of your kind in a century, especially one so young.”

Sarcastically, Yozora thought, “I’m Star Crossed, he’s never seen my kind.”

Yozora shifted his weight, nodding politely but not responding. Though he seemed composed, his thoughts remained fixated on Calida. Nuri had rushed her to the healer’s chamber, and despite the gravity of Ignarok’s words, Yozora’s instincts urged him to leave this dark hall, to run back and see for himself that she was all right.

Lord Ignarok, oblivious to Yozora’s preoccupations, continued, his voice growing deeper, as though reveling in the sound of his own words. “Tell me, boy. Does my realm impress you? Does the heat and might of Ember’s Depths ignite within you a spark of respect for its power?”

Yozora barely held back a smirk, shrugging slightly. “Impressive? Sure, if you’re into fire pits.” His casual tone and dismissive attitude visibly irritated the mighty lord.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Ignarok’s face, but he masked it quickly, his tone darkening as he resumed his monologue. “You stand before the Burning Lord, who has watched as realms crumbled and countless ages passed. Do you understand the privilege…”

A flash of movement cut him off. Yozora had vanished, the space where he’d stood now empty. Lord Ignarok’s expression froze, a mix of incredulity and growing anger.

“Where is that insolent boy?” he growled, his voice low and seething as he cast his aura outward, searching for any trace of Yozora’s hindo. But Yozora had used Kakusu, blending into the shadows with an ease that left no trace for Ignarok to follow.

Umbra, eye fidgeting, she strugs.

Moving silently through the winding corridors of the fortress, Yozora made his way back, his thoughts set solely on Calida. He knew his actions were reckless, but something deep inside urged him on. He navigated the dark halls, his steps quick and sure as he followed the faint pulsing of Nuri’s hindo energy in the distance.

After rounding a final corner, Yozora spotted Nuri standing outside a large doorway, his wings dimmed, a look of anxiousness on his face. When he caught sight of Yozora, relief washed over Nuri, and he gestured him in.

Inside the healer’s chamber, Calida lay on a stone altar, her usually vibrant scales dull and ashen, her small chest rising and falling weakly. The ancient Vulcan healer was hunched over her, chanting softly as a bright, white light flowed from his hands, washing over her still form. The air was thick with the smell of potent herbs, a sharp, warm aroma that mixed with the healer’s own aura of hindo, which pulsed like a soft ember in the dim room.

Yozora approached Calida’s side, his eyes filled with concern as he looked down at her fragile form. The faint crest he had etched onto her chest still glowed faintly, a temporary lifeline he’d crafted to keep her heart beating in the minutes after the attack.

The healer looked up at Yozora, meeting his gaze with a nod of respect. “The crest is strong for one so young,” he said, his tone low but approving. “Yet it is only a delay. The venom has woven deep into her heart.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Yozora’s jaw tightened as he fought back the wave of frustration rising in him. “Do whatever you have to do,” he said. “Mordrin won’t get the last word.”

With a nod, the healer redoubled his efforts, his hindo flooding Calida’s body in gentle waves. Her scales began to regain some color, and her breathing deepened, growing steadier.

Watching from the doorway, Nuri let out a sigh, his feathers brightening with relief. “Thank you, Yozora,” he said quietly, gratitude clear in his voice.

Yozora merely nodded, his focus entirely on Calida’s breathing, watching each rise and fall of her chest as color returned to her face. The weight on his heart lifted, and he exhaled a quiet breath of relief as he saw her chest rise more steadily.

Feeling a burst of relief, Yozora looked over at Nuri, raising an eyebrow. “Well? Aren’t you going to put it on?”

Nuri gave him a blank stare. “Put what on?”

Yozora groaned, dragging a hand down his face in exasperation. “The armor, Nuri! The one I crafted for you with all those feathers. Did you forget?”

“Oh! Right, right…” Nuri fumbled through his plumage, finally producing the armor Yozora had made. He inspected it with a curious expression, as though he couldn’t quite believe it had come from his own feathers. “Who’d have thought my feathers would look this good?”

The armor was indeed striking, thirty feathers painstakingly interwoven with Yozora’s hindo, creating a flexible but protective casing. The feathers glowed with warm shades of crimson, orange, and gold, catching the light as though lit from within by a living flame. Each piece shimmered with an ember-like glow, casting a warm, magical light across the dim room.

“Go on, try it,” Yozora urged, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

With a moment’s hesitation, Nuri began the transformation. As he crouched, his body seemed to shrink, his feathers folding and reshaping as he channeled his energy into the form Yozora had designed. The armor came alive, drawn to Nuri’s fiery essence, merging with his feathers and binding together in a display of intricate craftsmanship. Each piece clicked into place seamlessly as his majestic hawk form condensed and shifted into a humanoid shape.

Nuri’s wings folded down, transforming into a fiery cloak that flowed like molten embers along his back. The brilliant plumage became a sweeping cape that billowed behind him with every movement, glowing with flickers of crimson and orange. His legs elongated, transforming into the shape of a warrior’s, while his talons softened, reshaping into hands and feet. Yet, his fingers and toes retained a faint, claw-like edge, each tipped with a dim ember-like glow that hinted at the ferocity still within.

Lord Ignarok finally found Yozora and Nuri, halting mid-approach as he observed Nuri’s transformation. His eyes, normally aloof and guarded, widened ever so slightly with astonishment. “Remarkable… he has achieved for Nuri what I have sought for centuries,” he muttered, unable to disguise the note of admiration in his voice. For someone of his power and pride, it was no small admission.

Piece by piece, Nuri’s feathers encased him, transforming into armor that pulsed with a life of its own. His torso was fitted with feathered plates that glowed softly, catching the light with every subtle movement. The armor was an extension of Nuri’s natural flames, alive with an ember-like shimmer that intensified with his breath. His face retained the sharp lines of his avian heritage; the fierce, golden glow of his eyes remained, now more expressive yet still filled with an intensity that spoke of his wild origins.

Nuri straightened, now standing tall, matching Yozora’s height. He flexed his newly formed fingers, marveling at the dexterity and strength that pulsed through them. For a moment, he looked down, caught in silent awe as he moved each limb, his armor glistening with every small movement, a perfect reflection of his own inner fire.

He turned to Yozora, “This… this is remarkable,” he murmured, his voice softer, almost human, though it still carried the faint timbre of his wild, avian spirit. “To think, all these years… I never imagined such a form.”

From the doorway, a slow, rhythmic clapping echoed into the chamber. “Yozora! You dare to flee from my presence?”

Nuri’s feathers bristled, his posture tense, wide-eyed. “Yozora… you left as the Lord was speaking to you?” He gave Yozora a look of disbelief. “Are you completely out of your mind?”

Yozora, unfazed, simply twisted his pinky finger in his ear with a bored expression. “Yeah, well, I had priorities. I had to check on you two and make sure that armor actually worked.”

Ignoring the towering presence behind him, Yozora gave Nuri’s shoulder an enthusiastic slap. “It suits you, Nuri. Looks pretty badass if you ask me.”

Lord Ignarok’s eyes narrowed with a flicker of intrigue and restrained anger, yet a faint trace of amusement lingered. This defiant boy was unlike any other Tuner he had encountered. “causing more ruckus,” Ignarok mused, his gaze assessing Yozora with an intensity that could’ve frozen molten rock.

Yozora tilted his head, his expression cool and indifferent. “Guess that’s me,” he said, barely masking the sarcasm. “Got you all riled up, huh?”

A sudden change swept over Yozora as he finally turned, facing Lord Ignarok with a tilted head and a defiant smirk. “Alright, Igy. It’s just you and me now.”