[Raijin Woodlands – Mid-Battle]
The scent of burned fur lingers in the air. One horned wolf lies smoking, its body convulsing from the leftover charge. The source—Kairyuuha, standing calmly with glowing fingertips, eyes glinting with curiosity and power.
"That was… one way to do it," Mei mutters, fire still burning in her palms.
“Focus!” Yui shouts from the trees above. “Three more incoming!”
Kazuki dashes forward. “Kairyuuha—let’s go!”
They move like lightning themselves. Kairyuuha charges, eyes locked on a second wolf. Its horn pulses, but before it can release a bolt, he flicks his wrist, sending a crackling javelin of lightning that spears through its eye.
Mei conjures a swirling fire vortex, driving the third wolf into Kazuki's range. With a sharp breath, Kazuki channels raw mana—electric sparks dance along his blade—and he slices upward, clean through its skull.
The last wolf lunges at Mei, but she spins back and casts a chain of flame that coils around its neck, dragging it to the ground. A final fire bolt ends its suffering.
Silence falls. Smoke rises. The party breathes out, their surroundings littered with scorched trees and twitching monsters.
“…Did we just destroy everything?” Tora asks, stunned.
“No,” Mei says with a proud smirk, “they did.”
---
[Scene – Post-Battle, Forest Trail]
Kazuki and Kairyuuha walk together, carrying satchels stuffed with wolf horns. The other members give them space, exchanging glances.
“You felt it, didn’t you?” Kazuki asks.
Kairyuuha nods. “The way mana flows. The wolf’s lightning was easy to… mimic. Once I understood the current, the shape followed naturally.”
Kazuki’s eyes narrow. “You learned it in one shot. That’s insane.”
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“No,” Kairyuuha says, glancing at him. “It’s natural. You’ll reach it too. You’re my brother.”
Kazuki’s lips curl into a faint smile. “Right.”
A pause. Then Kazuki quietly says, “No other kids our age can do this. Right?”
Kairyuuha shrugs. “If they could, they would’ve killed the wolves before us.”
---
[Scene – Guild Hall, Evening]
The receptionist tallies the horns, eyes wide. “Impressive. These beasts weren’t pushovers.”
He hands over 20 bronze coins each to Kazuki and Kairyuuha.
Kairyuuha stares at the money. “...Is this a lot?”
Kazuki leans in. “What’s it even worth?”
Mei smacks her palm to her forehead. “You two really are from the middle of nowhere.”
She walks them over to a nearby table. “Okay, listen. Basic currency: 100 bronze = 1 silver. 100 silver = 1 gold. 100 gold = 1 platinum. A loaf of bread? 2 bronze. A decent inn? Around 12. Got it?”
Kairyuuha tilts his head. “So this is... the beginning of wealth?”
“No,” Mei deadpans. “It’s the beginning of poverty.”
---
[Scene – Outside the Guild]
Kairyuuha looks up at the twilight sky. “Mei.”
“Hm?”
“Is there a place I can learn about this world... and magic?”
She raises a brow. “Didn’t expect you to ask that.”
He stays silent.
“Come on,” she says. “I’ll take you to the library.”
---
[Scene – Grand City Library]
The stone building looms above them, ancient and massive. Stained glass windows depict magical beasts and legendary spells.
“This is where knowledge lives,” Mei says. “Don’t break anything.”
The party stops at the entrance.
“We’ve got some errands,” Yui says. “Catch up later.”
Even Kazuki waves. “I wanna practice lightning again.”
Kairyuuha nods.
He steps inside alone, drops a bronze coin at the entrance fee desk, and walks into the aisles. People sit around reading, taking notes.
“So this is where knowledge is stored,” he mutters.
He picks up a thick book—“History of the Elemental War.”
Opens it.
Stares.
“…What is this language?”
The letters twist like foreign symbols. He lets out a disappointed sigh.
---
[Scene – Forest Clearing]
Kazuki pants, crackles of electricity dancing across his hand. “C’mon… you can do this.”
He clenches his fists, then—SNAP! A line of lightning zips through the air.
He grins. “Yes!”
“You’re improving.”
He turns—Mei stands there, watching.
Kazuki scratches his head. “It’s tough. But I wanna catch up to him.”
“He’s different,” Mei says. “Kairyuuha might be a once-in-a-century prodigy. You both might be.”
Kazuki frowns. “Why?”
“Lightning aptitude alone is rare. But both of you can use multiple elements. That implies you might have all elemental aptitudes.”
Kazuki blinks. “I… don’t even know what that means.”
She sighs. “Figures. Since he taught you... wait—does he even know how to read?”
Kazuki shrugs. “I don’t think so. He’s never seen a book before.”
Mei’s eyes widen. “Crap.”
---
[Scene – Library, Night]
Mei rushes in. “Where is he...?”
She finds him in the far corner, a book open on his lap. He seems… focused?
She approaches carefully, then hears soft muttering.
“A for Apple... B for Bird... C for... Cat?”
She blinks. “...Is he sleeping?”
“Hey! Get up!!”
Kairyuuha jolts upright, groaning. “Ugh... it's just the ogre girl...”
WHAM.
A punch lands square on his head.
“Stop calling me that!!”
The librarian appears, finger on her lips. “Quiet.”
They both nod in apology.
“Explain,” Mei whispers once the coast is clear.
“I didn’t know how to read. So I listened. Some kids were getting taught in the next aisle. I memorized the sounds.”
She stares in disbelief. “...You eavesdropped a language class and learned how to read human script in one day?”
“I mean… mostly.”
She mutters, “You’re ridiculous…”
Then sighs.
“If you ever have trouble—ask me.”
Kairyuuha smirks. “Thanks, ogre girl.”
BAM.
Another lump. He groans, holding his head.
She walks away, huffing. “Call me that one more time and I’ll knock you out.”
Kairyuuha grumbles, “How does she hit that hard…”
He reopens the book. The library light glows gently on the pages.
“…Back to studying.”
