Wings of Fire

Raiden gripped tightly onto Shiro's legs as they soared across Qi Mountain and the forest below. The wind slapped against his face, forcing him to sober up. Shiro's fiery wings flapped with power, their heat searing Raiden's hands as they descended toward the mist-covered Four Divisions. As Shiro landed, piercing through the thick fog, he shifted effortlessly back into his human form, his sharp gaze scanning the empty expanse. Raiden stumbled, running to steady himself upon landing, but inevitably rolled forward, groaning.

The Four Divisions was a sacred monument dedicated to the primordial elemental beasts, their cremated remains emanating an ancient, profound energy. The structure resembled a compass, with four towering tombs at each cardinal point. Each tomb, over seven feet tall, bore intricate engravings symbolizing its respective beast: the Black Tortoise adorned with a black pearl-engraved tortoise, the White Tiger with a tiger's face etched in white stone, the Azure Dragon with its likeness carved into sapphire, and the Blood Phoenix marked by ruby-etched wings.

Raiden scanned the monumental architecture, his steps faltering on the cracked, uneven ground. "What is this place?" he asked, his tone equal parts curiosity and skepticism.

Shiro remained pensive, his eyes fixed on the tombs. "It is exactly what you think it is," he replied cryptically.

Raiden, now mostly sober, clicked his tongue in frustration. "A cemetery?"

Shiro turned to him with a look of disbelief. "What—? I mean, yes, sort of, but…" he stammered, uncharacteristically at a loss for words. For the first time in his existence, he felt genuinely dumb trying to explain something to someone he considered less intelligent. Perhaps it was Raiden's audacity to survive such a reckless fall or the way this supposed hobo had thrown him off his game. Regardless, Raiden's presence unsettled him, which was precisely why he had decided to help him. He wanted to uncover what other unpredictable abilities this seemingly ordinary man might possess.

"Yeah, but why are there only four?" Raiden pressed, rummaging through his backpack to retrieve a battered bottle of rum. "Aren't there supposed to be five elemental beasts?" He took a deliberate sip, clearly savoring what appeared to be the last of his stash.

Shiro shook his head dismissively, ignoring the question. "Four. And you drink too much. Do you realize how much that negatively affects your Qi levels?"

"Yeah, Exactly the point," Raiden retorted, wobbling his way toward one of the tomb walls for support. He leaned against it with the grace of a drunkard attempting to appear sober, his movements resembling an awkward breakdance. Armin's absence, no doubt, made his reckless behavior more pronounced.

"I doubt you've even tamed a lower-level beast," Shiro stated casually, his words laced with a subtle edge, clearly intended to provoke a reaction—or perhaps something deeper.

Raiden merely shrugged as he slipped the remaining rum back into his bag. "So, I don't see Armin, nor the dragon chick," he replied nonchalantly, ignoring the jab.

"Well, that seems to be a problem now, doesn't it?" Shiro's grin returned, sly and calculated, as he shifted back into his beast form. His fiery wings unfurled with a dramatic flap. "Turns out she took off to her own place," he added, his tone almost dismissive, though his mind was working through potential next steps.

"You can find your way back, right, little human?" Shiro retorted smugly, enjoying the rare opportunity to call someone as physically imposing as Raiden "little," his elemental form amplifying his sense of superiority.

"Eh? How? Like this?" Raiden blinked, waving his arms like flapping wings in a poor imitation of Shiro. "Nah, I don't think I'll make it."

Shiro was caught off guard by the response. He had expected pleading, whining, maybe even a little groveling. Instead, Raiden's indifferent attitude completely disrupted his plan to assert control. Shaking his head, Shiro prepared to tell the man to tag along anyway—part of his grander scheme—but before he could say a word, Raiden hopped and grabbed hold of his feet just as he had done earlier, ready for the ride.

"Alright, just so you know," Shiro grumbled, irritation flickering in his voice as his wings beat against the air, "I'm going back to my place first. That means I don't work on your terms. I'll take you to your friend when I'm all refreshed."

As they soared above the Phoenix Province, Raiden noticed that the region was far humbler than Qi Village. The most extravagant homes here were those with private gardens or a few extra lanterns.

Looking down, Raiden saw people gathered around small fires. At first, he thought they were burning belongings or offerings, but as they flew closer, he realized the fires were phoenixes themselves, ablaze. When they landed near the palace—a sturdy structure of rock and cement adorned with enchanted lanterns that shifted colors when passed—Raiden stared in awe.

Shiro transformed back into his human form and led Raiden toward the palace. As they walked, Raiden's eyes caught a phoenix rising from its ashes, emerging as a child. He turned to Shiro, his gaze brimming with curiosity. Picking up on the unspoken question, Shiro explained, "That one will be back to an adult in a week."

Inside, they entered a room where bookshelves formed the walls and chairs stood neatly arranged. Shiro sank into one of the chairs, snapping his fingers to ignite the lamps. The room dimly glowed, enhanced by the waning sunlight spilling through the windows.

"How come you don't know basic stuff for a tamer, especially one from Mount Qi?" Shiro asked, raising a brow as he leaned back, his tone sharp but inquisitive.

Raiden's expression shifted, caught off guard. "How do you know I don't know?" he gasped, feigning shock as though Shiro had unearthed a deeply buried secret.

"Cut the crap," Shiro snapped, leaning forward in his chair. His usual sarcasm melted away, replaced by a seriousness Raiden had not seen before. "Tell me about your history. And why do you have a drinking problem?"

Raiden's expression transformed. The drunken aloofness he wore like armor dissolved, replaced by a sober, stoic demeanor.