Riya’s Dilemma

The afternoon sun beat down as Riya stood in the open compound. flames swirled in her hands. Sweat dripped down her face, but she didn't stop.

She poured everything she had into the massive fireball, her breathing was heavy and her heart pounded. The heat in the air was intense, but she barely noticed it.

Right in front of her was an ancient chain, the same kind that had been used to bind Kurugami. If she could burn it, that would prove she was strong enough to be the next Dragon Lord.

But no matter how much fire she threw at it, the chain remained untouched. It didn't melt, didn't even glow.

Riku stood nearby watching with his arms crossed. He wasn't impressed. He saw that Riya wasn't just trying to prove her strength. She was desperate.

"Riya, stop," he said with a calm voice.

Riya flinched but she didn't turn around. Instead, her flames flared even higher and burned wilder. "I'm not done."

"You're pushing yourself too hard," Riku said stepping closer. "If you keep this up, you—"

"Shut up, Riku!" Riya snapped, spinning around. The fire was still crackling in her hands. "Why are you trying to stop me? You should be helping me!"

Riku's eyes narrowed. "Helping you do what? Set yourself on fire?"

Riya clenched her teeth. "I'm not wasting my magic," she shot back. "I'm proving something."

Riku frowned. "And what exactly are you trying to prove?"

Riya turned back to the chain with trembling hands, her flames was still flickering wildly. She took a deep breath and whispered,

"If I can burn this… then I'm the next Dragon Lord."

Riku let out a heavy sigh but his voice sharper this time.

"You know the truth, Riya. The Dragon Lord doesn't have to struggle. A single spark from him is enough to melt that chain. If it's not working for you, then—"

Before he could finish, Riya grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward. Her grip was tight and her eyes was burning with frustration. The servants and guards nearby froze, glancing at each other, but no one stepped in.

They had seen this too many times before . Riya has always pushed herself to the limit and Riku always trying to stop her, and the two of them clashing.

"I'm not giving up!" Riya hissed, her fingers digging into his clothes. "I am the next Dragon Lord!"

Riku started to push her off, but then she suddenly pulled out a small glass vial filled with a dark swirling liquid. Riku's eyes widened in alarm.

"Riya—"

Before he could stop her, she popped the cork. But just as she lifted the vial to her lips, Riku smacked it out of her hand. The glass hit the ground and shattered. The thick dark liquid inside spilled onto the floor like ink.

"Why do you keep taking this?!" Riku snapped. His usual calm cracked as his frustration spilled out. "You're getting addicted to it!"

Riya's glare was fierce. "That potion was made by the Yamigumo Clan! It's supposed to awaken my dragon essence! The blood of the dragon runs through my veins, Riku!"

Riku shook his head, his jaw tightening. "That stuff is ruining your essence, not awakening it!"

"I don't care!" Riya shouted with her voice trembling with rage. "I have to be the Dragon Lord! No matter what!"

Riku let out a deep breath, rubbing a hand through his hair. He looked at Riya, taking in the fire in her eyes. The sheer obsession that was burning her up from the inside.

Before he could say anything else, a servant stepped in and bowed slightly.

"Your father wishes to see you both," he announced.

Riya froze for a second. Riku stayed expressionless, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

Since Ren's death, their father hadn't 't been the same. He had become distant and cold. The man who once trained them, the man who guided them, a man who actually cared, he was gone. Now, he was just a shell of his former self and it seems he was haunted by something unseen.

For Riya, that emptiness was unbearable. She had to fill it.

She had to make him see her again. If Ren had been named the Dragon Lord but was now dead, then who else could it be but her?

She straightened her shoulders, pushing past the servant.

"Let's go."

Riku followed without a word.

When they stepped into their father's chamber, he was standing by the window with his back to them. His arms were crossed. He didn't turn around. He didn't even acknowledge them at first.

Then, finally, his voice cut through the silence.

"The portals are opening."

Both Riya and Riku stiffened.

"For centuries, the barriers have held. Every generation before us strengthened them," he continued, his tone was heavy.

"But now, something, or someone is interfering. Small beasts have started slipping through and attacking the outskirts. And there are whispers… rumors that someone in this city is feeding Kurugami's power."

Riya's hands balled into fists. "What?"

Their father finally turned to face them. His eyes were sharp and piercing. "That's why the portals are breaking open. Someone is weakening the chains that hold Kurugami."

Riku's expression darkened. "Wait… you're saying people are actually helping him? Giving him strength on purpose?"

Their father, Hiroshi gave a slow nod. "Some believe in his return. Others are just too blind to understand the disaster they're bringing upon themselves."

Riya stepped forward and her voice was firm. "Then let me handle it. I'll hunt down the beasts, I'll—"

"That is not the main concern right now."

Hiroshi's voice was cold, shutting her down immediately. He didn't even consider her offer.

Riya clenched her jaw. Her nails dug into her palms.

Hiroshi exhaled with a grim expression. "Kurugami is going to be released soon."

There was silence.

Riya felt her heart stop for a second.

Hiroshi's gaze swept over both of them. "The creatures slipping through? That's the sign. The shackles are breaking. The moment we've all feared is coming fast. And we—" his voice tightened, "—we need the Dragon Lord to step forward. Now."

Riya's pulse pounded in her ears.

Her breath felt shallow.

Her chest tightened.

She had spent years training. She had spent years pushing herself past her limits, she had spent years enduring pain exhaustion, and doubt all for this one moment.

She curled her fingers into fists, forcing her voice to stay steady.

"Who do you think is going to be the next Dragon Lord, Father?"

She knew it was obviously not her or Riku but they haven't showed any sign of it yet. She only wanted to know what her father has in store for them. Most especially her. 

Hiroshi didn't answer right away. He just stared at her. His expression was unreadable.

The silence stretched. It was a heavy and suffocating one.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"There is no sign of the Dragon Lord yet."

He didn't want to directly tell them they didn't have the magic to qualify them as the dragon lord, Riya immediately noted. 

Riya's jaw clenched.

"So," Hiroshi continued, "The Academy that was once closed in the past because we didn't need it in the past since there had not been a threat about Kurogami. A place where the strongest from every clan can train and grow." The man paused, allowing the words to sink the children's head before saying. "Since it's obvious that neither you and Riku possess special powers to distinguish you as a dragon lord, you are more less like the other youths with magic. The only difference is that you are a dragon." 

Hiroshi's voice felt like a knife that sliced through Riya. 

Did he just compare her to the other people? 

She was supposed to be superior! 

Her fist clenched, with her knuckles turning white. But she couldn't do anything but watch because he has said the truth.

Riku noticed the emotional turmoil she was going through but then, he could nothing or little to calm her too. 

"Now the main purpose of the academy is to find someone, Since you are just like every other Youth from different clans, you will attend the same academy with them, Train and polish your powers." Hiroshi said as if it was supposed to appease Riya.

"It didn't have to be the Dragon Lord who fought Kurugami. If another warrior from a different clan turned out to be strong enough, then they could take on the fight instead." 

The more Hiroshi spoke, the more it felt like Riya was dealt a serious blow. 

How could he easily take away the destiny she has clung into like this?

She had even killed Ren in the past by giving him Fangbane to even ruin his dragon essence when the boy has showed a little sign that he was the bloody dragon lord. 

And when he was born again, he had died instantly. From that moment, she felt the guardians were on her side. She would definitely come to possess the required power to become the dragon lord in the future. 

"The academy was a way to find that person. In the end, it didn't matter who stopped Kurugami, what matters was that someone did." Hiroshi added, cutting through her thoughts. 

Riku stiffened beside her. Riya's breath caught in her throat, trying hard to accept all of these. 

"Perhaps," Hiroshi continued, but his gaze was distant, "the gods have not intended for the Dragon Lord to be the one to face Kurugami this time because he hasn't produced one. He wanted to think about Ren, the child he had asked the seer to take far away, but he brushed off the thought instantly. That bad luck can't be a dragon lord. And for all he knows, the kid would be dead somewhere. It was hard for anyone to survive without magic around her. 

Riya on the other hand was still struggling with her emotions. 

Her hands clenched at her sides as she took a step forward. Her voice was sharp as she stopped hesitating and blurted. 

"Father, you're pushing away our family's destiny! For generations, we have been the ones chosen to stand against Kurugami. How can you just give that up?"

Hiroshi's jaw tightened. "You think this is easy for me? You think I haven't struggled with this decision? There is no other choice, Riya. Neither you nor Riku have shown any signs of being the Dragon Lord. Your flames—" his voice hardened, "—are not enough. Not strong enough. And if our family cannot produce the next Dragon Lord, then we must take drastic measures."

Riya's heart pounded with a storm of emotions. She and Riku, now 24, had spent their entire lives preparing for this. Training, pushing themselves to their limits, believing they were destined to carry their family's legacy. But now? If their flames weren't enough, if their family was no longer at the center of this battle, what did that mean for them?

Would the kingdom still revere them? Would they still hold the same respect and fear? Or would they be cast aside, forgotten?

She refused to accept it. "There has to be another way," she said desperately. 

"Maybe if we wait a little longer… maybe if I keep training, the gods will strengthen my flames. Maybe they're just testing me!"

"It is decided," Hiroshi cut in with an edge of finality.

"Father—!"

"Enough, Riya," Riku's voice interrupted as he placed a hand on her shoulder. His expression was calm, but there was a warning in his eyes. "We need to accept this."

She turned to him in frustration. "How can you say that? Do you realize what this means for us?"

Riku sighed. "I do. But fighting against fate won't change it. If Father has made this decision, then it's for a reason."

Riya bit her lip and her fingers trembled. It wasn't fair. How could her father just accept this so easily?

Hiroshi exhaled, rubbing his temples as if he, too, was exhausted by the weight of it all.

"The coming months will be tough," he finally said. "The academy will soon make an announcement about choosing the new hero to face Kurugami. Every clan will have a chance to prove themselves, and the strongest among them will rise."

His eyes darkened. "On the day of the lunar eclipse, the new hero will be announced."

Silence filled the room. It was heavy and unyielding.

Riya's nails dug into her palm.

The lunar eclipse.

No.

No, no, NO!

For years, she had believed it was her destiny. That she would rise, she would claim the title, she would be the one to defeat Kurugami.

Only a Tatsuya could wield that power. That's what she had always known. Always believed.

But now, her father was saying it could be anyone.

As if she was just like everyone else.

As if everything she had fought for, as if everything she had sacrificed meant nothing.

Her teeth pressed together so hard her that jaw throbbed. Her father's words rang in her ears, over and over that it suffocated her.

She wasn't going to let this happen.

She wouldn't let someone else take what belonged to her.

Her fists clenched at her sides as the thought formed

Then I'll go to the academy, she thought aloud

Hiroshi and Riku were still talking, but she wasn't listening anymore.

I'll attend the academy. I'll prove myself. And I'll make sure no one, NO ONE outshines me.

But does fate have the same plan?

It's hard to guess.