ART

"I think we can close out this topic for now," Reiji said softly, his low voice cutting through the quiet daybreak, overpowering the faint crackling of the dying campfire.

Lyrien, who had been gazing at Lyra as she slept, turned her head to look at Reiji. 

She nodded in agreement. "You're right. You're gonna need some time to process everything."

Reiji stood up and stretched, letting out a small sigh. "I'm not the kind to overcomplicate things. This will probably sit in the back of my mind until the time comes when I need to face it," he remarked, referring to their earlier discussion about his mysterious arrival in Paragonia.

"There's one more important thing you should know before Lyra wakes up," Lyrien said, pulling Reiji's attention back to her.

Reiji, who had been pacing around and enjoying the cool morning breeze, turned to her. "Almost missed it," he said with a faint grin. He walked back to his spot by the campfire, settled himself down, and added, "ART ability?"

"You got it," Lyrien confirmed with a nod.

Once Reiji was seated, Lyrien began her explanation. "ART ability is a unique, one-of-a-kind power that an individual possesses. However, not everyone has this ability, and among those who do, some have powers that aren't particularly impactful."

"One example is Mercantis' administrator, Pietro, from the royal bloodline of House Eldridae," Lyrien began. "He has an ART ability that allows him to understand a Tamed Beast's words and make the beast understand his."

"Is that similar to Tati's ability?" Reiji wondered. "She doesn't seem to understand Bobbin's exact words, but... could that mean she also possesses ART?"

"I should start making a list of questions to ask Tati when I see her," he thought.

"You see," Lyrien continued, "Pietro's ability lets him establish a mutual understanding with a beast, but it doesn't make him their master."

"Point taken," Reiji said with a nod, "Thank you for a precise clarification."

"Good, that was just the beginning, Reiji," Lyrien warned. "This is where it gets complicated."

She paused briefly before asking, "Are you aware of elemental affinity?"

"Yes," Reiji replied. "Although, we weren't able to identify mine. Or… maybe I don't have any affinity at all."

"So, you still don't know what magic you can use?" Lyrien asked.

"Well… yeah," Reiji admitted, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"It's impossible for you not to have any affinity at all," Lyrien reasoned. "There must've been something wrong during the time you were trying to identify it."

"Impossible? How?" Reiji inquired.

"ART is an ability tied to a person's elemental affinity," Lyrien explained. 

Reiji nodded and asked, "Can you help me identify it now?"

"I can only help with the affinities I have—fire and water," Lyrien replied. "But back in Bellatoria, I can guide you through a proper identification."

"Alright, let's wait until we get there," Reiji agreed.

"Is that all I need to know?" he asked.

"All that I can think of, yeah," Lyrien confirmed. 

Then, with a more serious tone, she added, "Just so you know, if your arrival here is an isolated case, you're the first 'Earthborn' to step foot on our land in centuries."

"Thank you for sharing," Reiji said, "But honestly, I don't know how to feel about it."

"If Sonora summoned me here, then I must have a purpose. But if not—if someone used the summoning portal—then I may be being manipulated," Reiji thought to himself.

He let out a small sigh, then abruptly hit his face with his hand. "Forget about it for now," he told himself.

"Apologies for opening it up again." Lyrien stated, "But, why'd you hit your face like that?"

"I was just trying to brush off a thought," Reiji explained. "But anyway, do you mind sharing what you're here for? And why were you being chased by the likes of Krogar?"

"Well…" Lyrien began, but she was cut off by Reiji, who raised a hand and whispered, "Shush! Lyrien, I hear something."

Lyrien stopped mid-sentence, her expression shifting to alertness. She strained her ears to listen, and soon the soft rustle of leaves reached her.

Reiji and Lyrien exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to alert Lyra and prepare for whatever was approaching.

Lyrien rushed to Lyra, quietly waking her. Meanwhile, the rustling grew louder, drawing closer with each passing moment.

Reiji gripped his sword. Behind him, Lyrien stood protectively near Lyra, who was groggily trying to take in the situation.

"It's here," Reiji whispered.

The rustling intensified, and when it was close enough to strike, Reiji moved without hesitation, his blade poised for action.

"WAIT!" Lyrien and Lyra shouted in unison, their voices sharp with urgency.

Reiji froze mid-strike, his gaze locking onto the source of the sound—a battered and scarred man who stumbled into view.

The man's weapon dragged along the ground as he moved, his broad shoulders slumping under the weight of exhaustion. 

His face was gaunt, his eyes sunken, and he looked as though he had emerged from the depths of some hellish nightmare.

"What happened to this guy?" Reiji muttered, cautiously observing the man's towering, six-foot frame that exuded strength despite his weakened state.

"Reiji! He's one of ours!" Lyra exclaimed, urgency in her voice.

Reiji immediately lowered his sword and approached the man, who offered no words—only labored breaths, like a ghost of a man who had been stripped of purpose.

Lyra rushed toward the man, halting his aimless, stumbling steps.

"Lyrien!" Lyra called out urgently. "Tend to him!"

Lyrien stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But... Cornelius is strong. He's a champion," she muttered, her voice tinged with shock.

"Lyrien!" Lyra shouted again, this time louder and filled with urgency.

The sharpness in her sister's voice snapped Lyrien out of her daze. Her gaze shifted to Reiji, whose eyes glowed faintly blue as he stepped closer to Lyra and the injured Cornelius.

"Let me help," Reiji said calmly, his tone steady.

"Reiji!" Lyra exclaimed, relief washing over her face. Knowing Reiji was there brought her a small measure of comfort.

She pleaded desperately, "Please! Do the same healing you did for me! Please!"

"Lyra, calm down. He's still alive," Reiji said, his voice soothing, trying to ease her worry.

Without hesitation, Reiji knelt beside Cornelius and activated his ability, focusing his power on reconstructing the man's battered and broken body.