The Wind Blades had decided, somewhen in the night and without Tatsuya’s input, to depart before the first rays of the morning sun made an appearance — and so, after a short breakfast (a day-old bread and cheese), all signs of the camp was erased; the tents were dismantled and packed away, the last night’s ashes were spread into the trees, and dirt and leaves covered where the campfire had been.

Tatsuya could tell Jao was anxious to have everyone moving, in case Kuro’s attack dogs were searching for them, as the man’s narrowed eyes scanned the surrounding woods in the clearing — even as he barked orders and proffered bundles of clothes for the group. As a tentative member himself, Tatsuya was thankful for said bundle and rushed to replace his tattered shorts with a shirt and pants. Although they were baggy enough to fit him half-over, they were in a better condition and, if necessary, a spare piece of twine would keep them up.

While clothes weren't strictly needed, as air elementals knew how to regulate their body temperature with their breathing, it (along with the cloak; coarse yet clean and definitely not his) would hide his full-body bandages from curious bystanders — at the expense of suspicion, maybe, but that was manageable, and there were bound to be others in similar wear.[1]

He wasn't given any sandals or boots, but it also wasn't needed; they were going to be riding and his feet were calloused enough to handle any stretch of the journey that necessitated walking.

Satisfied, he approached the group as they gathered around Jao, mindful of the whisperings and furtive looks cast his way.

“We’ll be heading for the capital, Eldria,” the leader said, glancing at everyone individually before settling his eyes, momentarily, on Tatsuya, “but our horses are still tired, and won't be able to travel far in the meantime, so we will stop at Elmwood and lodge at an Inn for some time.”

The thought of a warm bed and warmer food made him ache, but he dared not dwell further on it. The Wind Blades were, technically, criminal rebels, which meant any notice of them was to be reported immediately — and failure to do so was, usually, punished severely.

Tatsuya flicked his eyes toward Jao a few times, trying to impart his line of thought; the man, as had shown, was quick on his feet and didn't need longer than a few seconds to decipher the expression sent his way and answer.

“Don’t worry, this isn't our first time sneaking into a village. We won't be reported.”

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That was the last of it; soon after, everyone but Tatsuya wrapped clothes around their heads and over their mouths to hide their identities, and with a few more whispers, it was decided (without his input again) that he would ride with the last male member, Rei; dark-skinned and tall with a low haircut and piercing blue eyes.

There were no objections from either of the two and, with a sharp bark from Jao, the group was off, weapons visibly on their person.

The journey to Elmwood was slow, the road long and dry, the sun above a merciless weight that brought with it a heat only a few members were able to ward off with their elements. The dust rose with each horse’s hoof falls, coating most of their clothes and skins in a thin layer of dirt and grime.

The journey was tough, but they were tougher. They were elite warriors used to travelling, after all, and even Leia, the most outspoken member, only complained half-heartedly to stave off boredom. Others were silent, focused on keeping eyes out for any ambush because the road was dangerous, too. Since they were far from the capital, bandits roamed the woodlands, preying on weak travellers and caravans alike, taking what they wanted and, in most cases, leaving the rest to die — and so, there was a certain tension in the air, an undercurrent of peril (real or imagined) that was suffocating in its rising intensity as time wore on and kept them on their toes.

Tatsuya was still sore from the previous day’s interrogation — the damage minor enough for his healing factor to handle it — but even he, when (to his annoyance) he wasn't distracted by Farah’s riding form, was making judicious use of his element to detect subtle changes in air pressure within his range.

It was just after the group had stopped briefly to rest the horses and give themselves a break, on a barren plain, that they encountered trouble.

They had noticed a cloud of dust rising up in the distance and assumed it to be a caravan or another group of travellers, but, as it got closer, they saw it was a band of four raiders, armed and mounted on horses, their faces similarly covered with scarves.

The moment of hesitation — thoughts of if the raiders were just in haste, and the Wind Blades weren't actually their target — cost them as the band opened with an attack that raised the earth and sent them flying off their horses.

The Wind Blades were not the only group with a mix of elementals and so, Tatsuya wasn't surprised when a slash of air slammed into him before he could regain his composure mid-air, courtesy of another air elemental with a bo staff. Only a quick burst allowed him to land safely, rolling to his feet in one smooth motion.

The raider, decidedly female, didn't speak but instead charged at him — and Rei, he realised; the man had landed nearby — brandishing her weapon. Even as he rushed her, faster than the water elemental, just for a moment, he was aware of the two groups, spread out in the plain, clashing in a frenzy of elements and skills, before he focused his mind on his fight.

In a world where the very elements were manipulated at the behest of every man, woman, and child, it was believed that people had cried out to the spirits to instil some form of individuality and uniqueness, and the spirits had answered in the form of another blessing: specialities — an aspect of one’s character manifested by the mostly unique way their element was used. There had been numerous studies done on specialities by scholars over the years, but none could provide any logical explanation or reason for their existence; many could go their entire lives without unlocking it, regardless of their challenges or mastery over their elements, while others would wake up and, in the midst of practise or battle, perform a previously-unheard feat.

However, it seemed the air elemental had unlocked hers as, with a mere twirl of her staff, a spirit-damned tornado bloomed into existence around Tatsuya, and it took him — twisting and spiralling at the whims of a natural disaster — an inner strength he didn't think he had to keep himself from hurling out his meagre breakfast.

Fix this!