Endless... P.2

~ Omniscient Pov, A few Days Later... ~

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"Man, am I glad for morning to arrive..." Saya said, yawning as she stretched her arms above her head. A satisfied smile crossed her face as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Nearby, Rei sat on a tree stump, tending to her blade with quiet focus. The whetstone scraped rhythmically against the metal, the sound soft but steady in the morning stillness.

"You're always glad for morning," Rei said without looking up. "You'd sleep the whole day away if I let you."

Saya smirked, plopping down on the grass beside her. "What's wrong with enjoying a little sleep? At least I'm not out here glaring at trees like they've personally insulted me."

Rei paused, raising an eyebrow at her companion. "You're too relaxed, Saya. It's not normal to be this carefree."

Saya waved her off with a laugh. "You're just mad I know how to have fun. Come on, it's been days. If anyone was watching us, they're long gone by now."

Rei didn't respond right away, her eyes scanning the tree line as the whetstone paused mid-motion. "Maybe," she muttered, sheathing her blade. "But I still don't like it."

Saya sighed, flopping back onto the grass with her hands behind her head. "You've gotta chill, Rei. Not everything's a battle waiting to happen."

Rei, looked down for a moment before responding, "I... I guess you're right... I've just been feeling tense lately. I think it's because of that damned engagement I have with the prince..."

Saya propped herself up on her elbows, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, that again. I thought you were over worrying about that guy."

Rei's lips tightened into a faint frown. "It's not him, really. It's the whole situation. Being tied down like this—it's just... it's not who I am, Saya." She tossed the whetstone into her pack and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "He's fine, I guess. Strong, decent enough. But every time I think about it, it feels like I'm being shoved into a cage."

Saya sat up fully now, brushing bits of grass from her hair. "Well, to be fair, you're not exactly the 'princess at the ball' type. You'd probably punch him during the first dance." She grinned, but it quickly faded when Rei didn't laugh.

"Ah, sorry... Hehe." Saya said, her tone softening. "I know it's not easy for you."

Rei exhaled sharply through her nose, sitting back against the stump. "I don't even know what the point of it is. Political alliances, strengthening bloodlines—it's all just excuses to control us. And now I'm stuck pretending like this is some grand honor." She scoffed, shaking her head. "If it weren't for the clan's expectations, I'd have walked away from it already."

Saya hesitated before leaning closer, her voice low. "Then maybe you should. I mean, it's your life, Rei. Why let someone else decide how you live it?"

Rei glanced at her, her expression conflicted. For a moment, the tension in her shoulders seemed to ease, but the weight of her responsibilities remained clear in her eyes. "Easier said than done," she murmured.

Saya reached over, giving Rei's arm a reassuring squeeze. "Yeah, but it's not impossible. You've got options, Rei. You always do."

"Yeah~ Sure... Hey! What do you say about exploring a bit more today? Since it is our last day on the mission." Rei offered.

Saya rubbed her chin for a moment, "Sure, I don't see why not. But! I say we explore that cave we found yesterday. It could have stuff there we could use.

Rei gave a small nod, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Alright, that works for me. That cave did seem... interesting." She stood, dusting off her pants and stretching her arms. "Besides, better to kill some time before heading back to deal with all the 'royal' nonsense."

Saya grinned, hopping to her feet with far more energy. "Exactly! Plus, you never know what we might find. Treasure, weird artifacts, maybe even a rare beast to take down. Could be fun!"

"Or dangerous," Rei pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

"Eh, danger's part of the job." Saya winked, her playful tone belying the seriousness of her words.

The two gathered their gear quickly, Rei ensuring her blade was secured at her side while Saya slung her pack over one shoulder. The sun climbed higher as they made their way through the forest, retracing their steps toward the cave they had stumbled upon the day before.

When they arrived, the entrance loomed before them like a jagged mouth, dark and uninviting. Faint traces of energy, almost imperceptible, emanated from within, making the air feel heavier the closer they got.

Saya whistled, leaning against a nearby boulder. "Yup, still creepy. Guess that's our sign it's worth checking out."

Rei's eyes narrowed as she stared into the cavern. "I don't like this place. There's something... off about it."

"Oh, come on," Saya teased, giving Rei a light nudge. "What's the worst that could happen? It's just a cave."

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Rei didn't respond immediately, her instincts prickling as she scanned the shadows. Something about the cave's atmosphere felt wrong—like it was holding its breath, waiting for them to enter.

"Fine," Rei finally said, her tone cautious. "But we're keeping our guard up. No distractions, no splitting up. Got it?"

"Got it, ma'am." Saya replied, her smile much brighter than before.

The two stepped into the cave, the air cooling instantly as the darkness swallowed them. Their footsteps echoed faintly off the uneven walls, and the faint hum of energy seemed to grow stronger with each step.

"Do you feel that?" Rei asked, her voice low.

"Yeah..." Saya muttered, her playful tone replaced with a hint of unease. "It's like... the air's alive or something."

Rei placed a hand on the hilt of her makeshift-blade, her sharp eyes scanning every shadow. "Stay close. Whatever's in here, we're not alone."

The cave's interior grew colder as they moved further in, the light from the entrance fading until it was just a faint speck in the distance. Saya lifted her arm releasing a small KI sphere, its beam cutting through the darkness to reveal jagged rock formations and extremely uneven ground.

"Cozy place." she muttered, trying to lighten the mood, though her voice was quieter than usual.

Rei didn't respond, her focus razor-sharp as she scanned the shadows ahead. The faint hum of energy they had felt outside was stronger now, vibrating subtly in the air around them.

"Stop," Rei said suddenly, holding out an arm to block Saya's path.

Saya froze, her flashlight beam darting around the cavern walls. "What is it?" she whispered.

Rei didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on a faint glow further down the tunnel. It flickered like firelight but had an unnatural, golden hue; "There's something up ahead," she said finally, her voice tense.

Saya leaned to the side, trying to get a better look. "Huh... Weird. Doesn't look like fire, though. Should we check it out?"

Rei hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Carefully."

They moved forward, their steps slow and deliberate. The glow grew brighter as they approached, illuminating the cavern walls with a strange, pulsating light. When they rounded a corner, the source of the glow came into view—and both women stopped dead in their tracks.

In the center of the chamber, partially embedded in the rocky floor, was a large cocoon. Its surface shimmered with golden energy, writhing and pulsating as though something alive was trapped inside.

"Uh... What the hell is that?" Saya whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rei took a cautious step forward, her hand tightening on the hilt of her blade. "I don't know... but it's giving off a good amount of energy. This might be what we've been sensing..."

Saya crouched slightly, trying to get a better look without getting too close. "It almost looks like... a Saiyan's aura, but not at the same time... You think someone's in there?"

"Maybe." Rei said, her eyes narrowing. "But whatever it is, it's definitely not normal."

The cocoon pulsed again, but much brighter this time, sending a ripple of energy through the chamber. Both women flinched as the ground beneath them vibrated slightly.

"Okay, this is officially creepy," Saya muttered, stepping back. "Do we touch it, or do we run?"

Rei didn't answer immediately, her instincts warring with her curiosity. The cocoon pulsed again, and for a brief moment, a faint outline of a humanoid figure was visible within...

Rei's grip on her blade tightened. "We're not running." she said firmly. "Not yet. Let's figure out what we're dealing with first, it's what we're here for."

Saya gave her a doubtful look, but didn't argue. "Alright, but if this thing explodes or starts moving, I'm blaming you."

As they edged closer to the cocoon, its surface shimmered again, the outline inside becoming clearer. And then, without warning, the cocoon gave a violent shudder, sending out a shockwave of energy that knocked both women off their feet.

Rei scrambled to her knees, her blade already drawn as she stared at the cocoon. Its golden surface was cracking now, beams of light spilling out through the fractures.

"Rei," Saya said, her voice trembling slightly. "I.. I think it's waking up."

The cocoon shuddered again, the cracks widening as the energy within began to spill into the room...

Both women shielded their faces from the light that was emanating from it, but as soon as it came, was just as soon as it went.

"Saya! Be on guard!" Rei shouted loudly. Saya soon followed swiftly... Both backing up to see the threat.

But to their surprise... What they saw was, another Saiyan...?

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END