The Village of Yohei lay shrouded in mist as Ryusei Ryugu arrived at its gates. The once-pristine lake at the village center was still frozen from Yuki's previous mission, the ice stretching in jagged cracks that reflected the early morning sun. Ryusei had spent the last few hours investigating the aftermath, carefully examining the traces of magical energy left behind. Every clue told him something was wrong — far worse than the village had let on. Elementalists had disappeared. The atmosphere was thick with unease, and even the villagers seemed to speak in hushed tones.
Ryusei approached the front of the town hall, his boots crunching over frost and stone. There, a little girl with scarlet hair and violet eyes stood, clutching a necklace with a star-shaped crest — the symbol of the village warden. She looked up at him with cautious curiosity.
"Um… hello," Ryusei began, bowing slightly. "I'm Ryusei Ryugu, from the Kingdom of Ryugu. I was sent here… about the disappearances of Elementalists."
The girl's expression brightened slightly. "You must be the Ryugu my father mentioned! I'm Meisai Kakusu. My father is currently in the meeting hall, but you can wait here if you like."
Ryusei nodded. "That's fine. I'll just… meditate while I wait." He lowered himself onto a nearby bench and closed his eyes. The world seemed to quiet around him as he inhaled deeply, trying to center his mind.
But meditation brought something unexpected. The scenery shifted subtly — colors brightened unnaturally, the frost beneath him disappeared, replaced by a pure, white expanse that stretched infinitely. A voice, soft and unfamiliar, echoed in the stillness:
"Ryusei…"
Opening his eyes, Ryusei froze. Standing before him was a boy with brown hair and piercing red eyes, a calm aura surrounding him.
"Who… who are you? And where am I?" Ryusei asked, taking an instinctive step back. The air shimmered with faint rainbow sparkles, like light bending around him.
"I've created a small space so we can talk privately," the boy said with a small smile. "Don't worry. I'm a friend."
Ryusei's brow furrowed. "A friend? I don't even know you."
The boy chuckled. "Patience. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Ryushi Ryugu."
Ryusei's breath caught. "Ryushi… Ryugu? You… you're the Crowned Dragon of Creation?!" He stumbled backward, landing on his butt, eyes wide.
"Yes," Ryushi said calmly, extending a hand to help him up. "It's good to see you, Ryusei."
Ryusei hesitated but took the hand, standing shakily. "Why are you here? And why me?"
Ryushi's face darkened. "The era of peace… it's coming to an end. The Seal of the Dragon King, which has kept Quintella contained for centuries, has weakened. When it falls entirely, she will be free again."
Ryusei's heart pounded. "Quintella… but you and the Crowned Dragons are the strongest! You can stop her, right?"
Ryushi's expression grew somber. "We tried. Akashino Shitetsu… a thousand years ago… and even now, I have tried. We could not kill her. No matter how much power we brought, no matter the spells, no matter the Dragon Arts we wielded… she endured. Quintella could not die."
Ryusei's fists clenched. "Then… the world has no hope?"
Ryushi shook his head. "There is hope. But it is not in brute strength. The world will depend on the Twilight Faith. Two souls, bound by fate, whose unity can purify chaos itself. They are the last hope to challenge Quintella and restore balance."
Ryusei's voice trembled. "Twilight Faith… you mean… a Chima? A destined pair?"
"Yes," Ryushi said, his voice softening. "But it is far more than just a bond. The Chima is a force of the world itself. When two lights — born of separate paths — merge as one, their power surpasses any ordinary Elementalist. Only through this unity can chaos be challenged."
Ryusei swallowed, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. "And I… I am supposed to be part of this? Me? An F-Rank Elementalist?"
Ryushi stepped closer, his presence overwhelming yet comforting. "Yes, Ryusei. You are not like the others. You carry the spark that Akashino himself carried a thousand years ago. He, too, was a child mocked and underestimated, one who had yet to awaken his true power. And yet, he became a legend, the first Grand Elementalist."
Ryusei's heart pounded. "I… I'm nothing like him! I don't even know my Elemental Art properly!"
Ryushi's eyes softened with a mixture of pride and sorrow. "That is why your journey will not be easy. You will train, you will grow, and you will find your Chima. One day, the two of you will meet, and the world will change. The moment you unite… hope will shine, and chaos will be challenged."
Ryusei's knees buckled slightly. "But… if you and Akashino couldn't stop Quintella… how can I?"
Ryushi's gaze turned grave. "Because you are different. You are Ryusei Ryugu. Your strength is not measured solely by spells or might — it is measured by courage, unity, and the willingness to act when all seems lost. Even the Crowned Dragons, strong as we are, could not defeat her… and yet, we believe in you. The future of the world rests on your shoulders."
Ryusei's eyes welled with tears. "I… I'll do it. I'll find my Chima… and I'll face Quintella. I'll protect the world."
Ryushi smiled faintly, his aura calming the storm within Ryusei. "I know you will. The path is yours, Ryusei. Train hard, grow stronger, and remember: the Twilight Faith will awaken through you. When it does… the world will change. One day, your Chima will appear, and together, you will write the fate of the world."
The wind whispered through the village, as if affirming Ryushi's words. Ryusei took a deep breath, feeling a spark of hope ignite within his chest. His journey had only begun, and though the weight of destiny pressed heavily upon him, for the first time, he felt ready.
"Thank you, Ryushi," he whispered. "I promise… I won't fail."
Ryushi placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "I know you won't. Now, the first step is to understand your Elemental Art — the Meteor Dragon. Only then can you become the light that challenges darkness."
Ryusei nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "I'll train… I'll master my power… and when I meet my Chima. And when that day comes… the world will know hope again."