The early morning light filters through my curtains as I drag myself out of bed, feeling like I've been hit by a truck. It's 6:30 AM, a time I usually only see from the wrong end of an all-nighter. But with Noarin's promise to cook breakfast every day, I've set my alarm painfully early. No way am I making her wait outside my door like some kind of breakfast delivery service.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a gentle knock echoes through the apartment at precisely 7:00 AM. I shuffle to the door, stifling a yawn, and swing it open to reveal Noarin's bright, morning-person smile. How anyone can look that chipper at this ungodly hour is beyond me.

"Good morning, Aruta!" she chirps, breezing past me into the apartment. The scent of fresh air and something floral follows in her wake, a stark contrast to my sleep-rumpled state.

"Mornin'," I manage to mumble, closing the door behind her. As Noarin bustles about the kitchen, already pulling out pans and ingredients, I retreat to my room to make myself somewhat presentable.

By the time I emerge, feeling marginally more human, the apartment is filled with the mouthwatering aroma of Noarin's cooking. We settle at the table, and I dig in with enthusiasm, savoring every bite of the home-cooked meal.

"A flying man?" I repeat, my mouth full of perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs. Noarin nods, sliding her phone across the table to me.

The screen shows a picture of a clear afternoon sky, marred by a tiny, human-shaped silhouette floating impossibly high above the ground. I squint at it, trying to make out details.

"Yes, I found this article last night," Noarin explains, taking a delicate sip of her tea. "My guess is it's a Holder with a gravitational or wind attribute ornament."

I frown, studying the image more closely. "It might not be a real person though," I argue, playing devil's advocate. "It could be a plane or a bird. The silhouette is too small for us to determine."

Noarin's eyes sparkle with determination as she sets down her empty teacup. "Well, there's only one way to find out," she declares, standing up.

I nod, quickly polishing off the last of my breakfast. As I help clear the table, I can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Another day, another supernatural mystery to solve. Who would have thought my life would take such a turn?

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The sun beats down on us as we stand in the exact spot where the mysterious flying figure was spotted. I shield my eyes, scanning the cloudless sky for any sign of our elusive target.

“We’re here,” Noarin announces, holding up her phone to compare the surroundings with the picture. A jolt of recognition goes through me as I take in our location. This place is uncomfortably close to Kai’s house. I silently pray we don’t run into him – explaining this little adventure would be more than a little awkward.

“What do we do now?” I ask, turning to Noarin. Without a word, she makes her way to a nearby bench and sits down, patting the space beside her invitingly.

I sigh, realizing the obvious answer to my own question. Of course we’re going to wait. What else could we do? After a final glance around the area, I join her on the bench.

“How long should we wait?” I venture, already feeling restless.

Noarin’s reply is maddeningly vague. “Until the flying man shows up,” she says, her tone matter-of-fact.

“Oi!” I protest, exasperated by her nonchalance. “That could take forever!”

A mischievous glint appears in Noarin’s eyes as she pulls a water bottle from her bag. “Don’t worry, I know a good place to camp if they don’t show up until nightfall,” she says before taking a long drink.

I feel a twinge of panic at the thought of an impromptu camping trip. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”

Noarin raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What then?”

“Aren’t you going to work?” I ask, suddenly realizing the implications of our stakeout.

To my surprise, Noarin just shrugs. “Eh, my working hours are flexible,” she explains, waving off my concern.

I can’t help but chuckle. “Huh, we sure have a lot of things in common.”

“You too?” Noarin turns to me, her eyes widening slightly.

I nod, gesturing to our surroundings. “If not, I wouldn’t be here,” I point out. A companionable silence falls between us as we settle in for our wait, both of us scanning the skies for any sign of our mysterious flyer.

image [https://i.imgur.com/q0ZldhQ.jpeg]

Two hours crawl by, feeling more like an eternity. The novelty of sky-watching has long since worn off, replaced by a growing sense of futility. I stretch, trying to work out the kinks in my back from sitting so long.

“Hey, don’t you have a backup plan?” I ask Noarin, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. She responds with a jaw-cracking yawn and a shake of her head. I sigh, resigning myself to more waiting.

Suddenly, a familiar voice breaks the monotony. “Good morning, any progress?” Saria materializes beside us, her tail swishing expectantly.

I shake my head, feeling a twinge of disappointment. “Nothing yet.”

Saria’s whiskers twitch thoughtfully. “Well, since I’m already here, let’s take a walk around the area. I can sense magical traces to track down the Holders,” she suggests, leaping gracefully onto Noarin’s shoulder.

I blink, processing this new information. “Why didn’t you tell me that before…” I trail off, turning to Noarin with a mixture of confusion and frustration.

Saria tilts her head, looking equally puzzled. “Noarin didn’t tell you?”

I fix Noarin with a questioning look. She turns away, mumbling something inaudible.

“What?” I press, leaning closer to hear.

“I forgot!” Noarin blurts out, covering her face in embarrassment. I can’t believe it – such crucial information, and she just… forgot? I sigh, torn between exasperation and amusement at her flustered state.

“Whatever, let’s walk around,” I say, getting to my feet and stretching out the stiffness in my limbs. Noarin follows suit, her cheeks still tinged with pink from her earlier admission.

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We set off, wandering the streets with no real destination in mind. Our path takes us past various shops, and we pause occasionally to browse, paying special attention to stores selling accessories. After all, any one of them could potentially be an Ornament in disguise.

As afternoon wears on, we find ourselves in a nearby park, seeking refuge from the heat under the sprawling branches of a massive tree. I sink down onto the grass, relishing the feel of it against my skin – a simple pleasure I’d almost forgotten during my six-month self-imposed isolation.

“It’ll be dark soon,” I observe, munching on a piece of bread I’d picked up earlier. “Should we keep looking?”

Noarin furrows her brow, deep in thought. She glances at Saria, seeking input.

“I can’t force you,” Saria says, settling down next to Noarin. “If you want to stop and rest at home, that’s fine.”

“What about you, Aruta?” Noarin turns to me, her eyes searching my face. “Do you want to keep looking?”

I lean back against the tree trunk, considering. Part of me is ready to call it a day, but another part is reluctant to give up. “Eh, I’ll go along with your decision,” I finally say, leaving the ball in her court.

Noarin ponders for a moment, then starts to rise. “Yeah, I think we-“

“Wait!” Saria interrupts, suddenly alert. Her ears perk up as she scans the sky intently. “There they are!”

My heart leaps into my throat as I follow Saria’s gaze. Sure enough, a silhouette is visible against the darkening sky, growing larger and more distinct with each passing second.

“They’ll land near here!” I whisper urgently, ducking behind the tree. Saria and Noarin follow suit, our earlier fatigue forgotten in the rush of adrenaline.

We watch with bated breath as the figure descends, touching down in a nearby clearing. As they look around, seemingly checking if the coast is clear, I risk a peek from our hiding spot. My jaw drops as I recognize the mysterious flyer.

image [https://i.imgur.com/v1hpglg.jpeg]

“Kai?” I blurt out, stepping into view before I can stop myself. The figure whirls around, startled by my sudden appearance.

“Aruta?” Kai’s voice is filled with equal parts surprise and dismay. I approach him, waving awkwardly, my mind reeling from this unexpected turn of events.

“Damn, you saw me,” Kai says with a rueful smile. It’s surreal, seeing my old friend in this context. Kai Yosuga, one of my closest friends since high school. Brilliant, eccentric Kai, with his quirky habits and penchant for the unpredictable. The same Kai who once spent an entire day carrying a random pebble in his pocket “just because,” or who would pluck leaves from trees only to tear them in half, chewing one piece and discarding the other.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, his tone a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

I opt for a light approach, trying to diffuse the tension. “Mythbusting? We’re trying to solve a mystery about the flying man,” I explain with a shrug.

Kai’s eyes light up with interest. “Sounds fun, can I join?”

I can’t help but chuckle at the irony. “Well, we already figured out who the flying man is,” I say, pointing at him meaningfully.

“Oh right…” Kai scratches his head sheepishly. Then his brow furrows as he processes my words. “We?”

On cue, Noarin and Saria emerge from our hiding spot. I make quick introductions, watching as Kai’s eyes widen slightly at the sight of Noarin. I catch the beginnings of a knowing grin spreading across his face and shoot him a warning look. To my relief, he seems to get the message, his expression sobering.

“You guys don’t really look shocked even though you see me floating around,” Kai observes, his tone careful.

“Oh yeah, about that,” I turn to Noarin, silently asking permission. She nods, then flicks her finger, conjuring a small flame that dances in her palm.

Understanding dawns in Kai’s eyes. “I see,” he says simply, taking it all in stride.

“We need to tell you something about that,” I say, sensing an opportunity. “Do you have time?”

Kai nods, his curiosity clearly piqued. “Sure, let’s talk while we eat. I’m hungry, can we talk at the restaurant?” he suggests.

I glance at Noarin and Saria, receiving a nod of approval from Noarin. As we make our way to a nearby eatery, I can’t help but marvel at how quickly our little group has expanded. It seems the world of Ornament holders is smaller than we thought.

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The restaurant buzzes with the low hum of conversation and clinking cutlery as we settle into a booth. Between bites of food, I lay out everything – the origin of the Ornaments, the rift threatening our world, and our mission to find other Holders. Kai listens intently, his sharp mind quickly piecing together the information.

“Damn, that’s messed up,” Kai says finally, leaning back and crossing his arms. “So you guys are looking for Holders like me now?”

I nod, feeling a mix of hope and apprehension. “Yes, we need your help to deal with this mastermind. But if you don’t want to help, it’s okay. We just ask you to keep your power low.”

To my surprise and relief, Kai’s response is immediate and positive. “Yeah, sure, I’ll help,” he says casually, popping a French fry into his mouth.

“Are you sure?” I press, not wanting him to feel pressured.

Kai’s face softens into a genuine smile. “This is the first time Aruta has asked me for help. There’s no way I would turn him down,” he says, his tone warm.

I return his smile, feeling a rush of gratitude. “Thank you. By the way, does anyone else know about your power?”

Kai’s expression turns sheepish. “Ahh…” he hesitates, putting his hand to his mouth.

A sinking feeling settles in my stomach as I connect the dots. “Rishia?” I guess, already knowing the answer.

Kai nods slowly, confirming my suspicion. “I even took her floating once,” he admits, covering his face in embarrassment.

I shake my head, not really surprised. This is Rishia we’re talking about, after all. Her ability to ferret out secrets is practically supernatural in itself. I turn to Saria, a new concern forming.

“Can we explain all this to Rishia later, even though she’s not a Holder?” I ask, worried about bringing another person into our already complicated situation.

To my relief, Saria nods. “Sure, I don’t mind,” she replies telepathically, mindful of our public setting. “As time goes on, non-holders should learn about the existence of magic anyway.”

I nod, taking a sip of my cola. “Well, we should arrange another meeting with Rishia later,” I muse, already trying to figure out how to break the news to our perceptive friend.

Noarin, who has been quietly observing our exchange, suddenly speaks up. “Oh, and may I see your ornament?” she asks Kai, her eyes bright with curiosity.

“Sure, here,” Kai says, reaching into his shirt and pulling out a red necklace. The pendant gleams under the restaurant lights, seeming to pulse with an inner energy.

Noarin leans in, examining it closely. “It is indeed a gravity attribute,” she confirms. “You should be able to do some gravity manipulation with it.”

Kai’s eyes light up with excitement. “Like making things float?” he asks eagerly.

At Noarin’s nod, Kai immediately puts his newfound knowledge to the test. He holds his palm over my cola glass, his face scrunched in concentration. To our amazement, the glass slowly rises into the air, defying gravity

“Neat!” Kai exclaims, clearly pleased with himself. He releases his hold, and the glass drops back to the table with a small thud.

I watch in awe, marveling at how quickly Kai has grasped his powers. It’s a stark reminder of just how brilliant he is. Back in high school, his name was always at the top of the class rankings, striking fear even into the hearts of upperclassmen. I’ve often wondered why someone as smart as Kai would want to be friends with someone like me.

“When did you get your ornament?” I ask, curious about the timeline of his abilities.

“When we entered high school,” Kai replies, munching on another fry. “But I only found out about my ability recently.”

He turns his attention to me, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “Anyway, what about you, Aruta? I haven’t seen you show us your ability yet.”

I grimace, remembering the spectacle I’d inadvertently caused. “I can’t, it’s too flashy. Literally,” I explain, pulling out my phone. I open my social media and show Kai the post about me shooting light beams into the sky.

Kai’s eyes widen as he takes in the image. “That’s you? Cool,” he says, clearly impressed. “But yeah, too flashy. Is it some kind of light manipulation power?”

I nod, pocketing my phone. “Yeah, still figuring out the extent of it, though.”

As our conversation winds down, I realize with a start that night has fallen. We settle the bill and make our way out of the restaurant, the cool evening air a refreshing change from the stuffy interior.

“Well, see you tomorrow,” Kai says, giving us a casual wave.

“Yeah, thanks again for agreeing to help us,” I reply, returning his wave as we part ways.

But as soon as I step outside the restaurant, chaos erupts. A barrage of projectiles hurtles towards me at alarming speed, catching me completely off guard. Before I can even think to react, Noarin springs into action. With lightning-fast reflexes, she draws her sword and darts in front of me, her blade a blur as she parries each incoming projectile.

“Tch!” she grits out, her face a mask of concentration. Without missing a beat, she takes off running, clearly in pursuit of our unseen attacker.

“Hey, wait!” I call out, my heart pounding as I give chase. I’m vaguely aware of Kai following close behind, drawn into our unexpected battle.

We arrived at an empty park, there’s no one around except us and one person who’s just standing in the middle of the park, menacingly. He has long hair and wears a black robe.

“Hello, I thought I killed you,” the man in the robe begins to speak. Anger quickly built up inside me when I realized what he meant.

“Iron Tempest!” Noarin shouted angrily.