Jai went to the washroom before going back to Arrow's room. He washed his face and his hair too. About twenty minutes later, with damp hair, he entered the room. The Flamethrowers were sitting in the room with a space left for him between Arrow and Cahya.
"You're back," Alena exclaimed.
Cahya wiggled his eyebrows, "I know you had a good time with the Windmaster. I heard Aqila is quite easy on the eyes."
"Cahya," Calida groaned and rolled her eyes.
"We were waiting for you to come back so we could all eat together, Jai," Arin explained.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Jai replied, looking outside the massive window. It was late afternoon, and the sun would be beginning to set soon.
"No, we were just talking about the next steps," Calida continued.
"I want to know about Aqila," Cahya demanded.
"Chill out! She's engaged now and not to you," Arrow rolled his eyes.
"She's engaged? She didn't mention that" Jai was puzzled.
"Of course, that's what the hairpin is for. It's an engagement gift, and that's why Sheraga had me send her congratulations from our family," Arrow explained.
"Who's the lucky man?" Cahya asked. He was clearly interested in Aqila's personal life.
"All you need to know is that he's very tall and astute," Arrow retorted to Cahya.
"How was your training, Jai," Arin asked.
"Like everyone said, intense. I thought my arms were going to fall off. This guy takes no breaks! I had to do seven sets of fire kicks with alternating punches to get to the number he wanted. When I finally finished, I thought I would fall to my knees. Then Sheraga was like, 'let's spar'. However, Aqila came and saved the day."
Arrow laughed, "I told you, my brother has no chill regarding anything war-related. You should have seen him. The second Aqila started talking, Jai went ahead and sat down. I almost felt bad for you... almost. Rather you than me."
"So, on a serious note, what are we going to do about Agnes? Arrow told me what Aqila said as well as how Sheraga responded. Suvan sent a note yesterday basically confirming Aqila's information. She's right. Somehow Agnes knows about you," Calida explained. Her tone commanded everyone's attention.
"I want to know what he wants so bad that he's willing to go to war to get it," Jai answered.
"Shouldn't you finish your training first?" Alena questioned. Apparent concern was evident in her voice.
"Yeah, they aren't you supposed to find your team... or your team is supposed to find you or something," Cahya added.
"No, we have to listen to Jai. He's the Legend, not us," Arrow reminded them.
"Jai, Agnes has influence and basically an entire state within his control. Confronting him while you don't have good control over your gift doesn't seem sound," Calida echoed everyone's concern.
"I know, and I promise I will do my part. I'm so glad that I met Aqila. She gave me the boost I needed by telling me a little about the previous Legends. I feel better about using my gift now. I will continue training but don't want a war to come to Pyroc because I'm here. The Firehearts have gone through enough war as it is," Jai asserted. The rest of the Flamethrowers looked at each other and then back to Jai, then nodded in agreement.
Baara slowly entered with a large tray of food, "Thank you, Baara," Arrow acknowledged her. Everyone nodded and murmured their thanks. As Baara left, the group began to eat. Cahya kept looking towards the window, "I'm going outside for a minute," he spoke absent-mindedly.
"Okay," Calida shrugged her shoulders. As she leaned over to eat, Jai noticed a thin chain around her necklace. It had a gold ring band attached. It looked rather large for her relatively small hands. Jai assumed it may have been a gift from Arrow. The pair were close, and it was obvious to anyone with eyes that they were pretty fond of each other.
"Jai, what was Aqila like? Did she have any visions?" Alena asked excitedly.
"She was amazing! She's so tall, even taller than Sheraga. Her eyes are bright, silverish in color and her hair is a shade of gray. She dressed differently than I've ever seen, but all in all, she was really friendly. To be honest, for some reason, it seemed like we had known each other for a long time. She didn't have any visions, though, but she did say that if she did, she'd let me know. Just for that, I'm really grateful."
"I've heard a lot about her, but I've never met her myself. I heard that she is also extremely powerful," Calida chimed in.
"I could feel that in her presence. When she grabbed Sheraga's collar because his dragon was messing with her bird, my heart almost stopped," Jai chuckled.
"Rumor has it that she was born during a tornado. She's a Storm, and you wouldn't want to mess with her," Arrow confirmed.
"What's a Storm?" Jai was puzzled.
"A Windmaster that was born during a storm, specifically a tornado or a hurricane. Their physical strength surpasses the physical strength of most Windmasters," Arrow explained.
"Wouldn't that create some problems?" Alena asked. "They would be stronger than the other Windmasters, so how would everyone else respond?"
Arrow smiled, "In Kashmala and Wyndhm, physical strength doesn't really matter as much as mental prowess. Windmasters' objective is to outsmart and outmaneuver their opponents. Being physically strong is a little perk, but not a big deal to them."
"I'm going to go check on Cahya," Arin smiled gently and stood to leave.
"Sis, wait, aren't you gonna finish your food," Alena asked, "or did those candies spoil your appetite?"
"I think I had too many candies, but I'm fine. I'll be back soon," Arin gently closed the door behind her.
"Hope she's okay," Calida murmured.
After everyone finished eating, Calida and Alena left to go to their shared room. Arrow plopped onto his bed, "What's up?"
"Nothing, why do you ask," Jai replied as he headed toward the window.
"Seems like everybody is starting to act all strange. First Cahya, then Arin, and now you. I just wanted to know if something was bothering you," Arrow explained, running his hands through his blood-red hair.
"I mean, I wouldn't say that anything is bothering me. I just have a lot of questions. They are mainly about Agnes, and I don't feel afraid or anything like that. I have this burning sensation that Agnes knows things about my life that I don't. Things that I probably would know if I hadn't lost my memory. Then there's this anger about not knowing and realizing that what I can't remember could put people in danger."
"I can't say that I can help with that. I can't even say that I really understand. Just know that the Flamethrowers want to help, and we won't leave you when you need us most. We aren't afraid either," Arrow sighed.
"I know," Jai walked away from the window and sat on his bed. Arrow was already starting to drift off to sleep; however, Jai wasn't tired. The pulsing energy from the volcano was keeping him awake. He could shake the feeling that something was slightly off. Carefully, he headed to the door and proceeded to go outside to the back near the volcano. Jai intended to see the volcano, but he stopped when he noticed Arin sitting on her knees on the stone slab.
"Hey, you okay, Arin?"
"Yeah," she didn't even look in his direction.
Feeling like yeah meant no, Jai decided to talk to her instead. He slowly sat on his knees beside her. The sun had already set hours ago, and it was dark outside. The moon was almost full, the light gently illuminating her face, enhancing her natural beauty.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she replied sharply, never making eye contact with him.
Jai sighed and stretched his legs out before laying down on the slab, "Is this how you normally are, and the happy person earlier was just you being nice?"
"What," she looked at him, puzzled by his question. "No, I just have things on my mind right now," she whispered before looking back towards the edge of Pyroc.
"I was just asking. Everyone has been making accommodations for me, and I know that I'm doing nothing literally for them. It feels strange back home. Arka gave me a lot, but he also expected a lot from me. I guess I'm saying that it feels like everyone, especially the Flamethrowers, is giving me so much. I feel like I'm just taking and not giving anything back. That's why I'm trying to get to know everyone and respect everything I'm being given."
"You're giving us a lot too. This People's War has lasted for almost three hundred years. People are tired and giving up on the Universe and themselves. People are broken and divided, with no one strong enough to turn things around. Your very existence gives the world hope. And for the Firehearts, you're our sign of freedom. That in itself means a lot," Arin replied. "Sorry, I was rude earlier. My thoughts were just somewhere else."
"Somewhere like?"
"Have you ever wanted to be someone else," she asked him.
"Yeah, I guess after meeting Aqila, I want to be like her. Fire is about freedom. She had freedom and knew her destiny and was chasing it feverishly. It motivated me, to be honest. I love how the Flamethrowers made a conscious choice to be Flamethrowers. Still, it's different when the Universe decides who you would be. The Universe decided that Aqila would be a seer. She never once hid that she was one. I always had to hide my gift, fearing it would change the color of my eyes and anger Arka. Then after Aqila told me about the previous Legends, I knew why the Universe sent her my way."
"Why?"
"To tell me to be myself, embrace everything that I am. And also, as a Legend, to embrace everything that I'm not. I needed someone to tell me that," Jai sighed.
Arin giggled softly, "In that case, I'm glad you met her too. I just want to see you realize your destiny and find your purpose. I'm in your corner and really believe in you."
Jai chuckled, "Yeah, I've known that from the start. I know I've never said this, but I appreciate it."
"Anytime," she whispered and gently patted his shoulder. "I'm going to sleep, Jai. Thanks for coming to talk to me," she stood to leave.
Jai didn't move, "Anytime," he replied. Arin went back inside the palace. Jai sighed, feeling relieved that everything was okay with her. Slowly, he sat up and stared at the volcano. In the distance, he heard voices. As Jai quietly approached the volcano closer and closer, he saw Cahya and Calida. They seemed to be in a heated argument.
"I can't believe you're not coming with me! She's our mother," Cahya fumed.
"I can't just leave the Flamethrowers! I'm their leader. I have to protect them," Calida retorted.
"I'm going with or without you!"
"Cahya, listen to me-"
"No! You listen! Father named you the leader of the Flamethrowers. That's fine. I have always supported your decision, good or bad. But when he died, he made me the man of the house. It's my job to put my life on the line for your and mother's safety. Bottomline! When are you going to support me in my duty," Cahya asked his sister.
"I can't leave them," Calida firmly replied.
"Fine, then don't," Cahya began to walk away, "you won't find me in the morning."
"Cahya, stop!"
"Leave me alone," Cahya bellowed and threw a fire punch at his sister.
Calida narrowly ducked, "Why would you do that," she yelled, then fire punched at him.
The pair engaged in a heated battle. Calida kicked and punched fire at her younger brother. Cahya never seemed phased and expertly dodged her attacks, violently countering with his own. To Jai's surprise, Calida was a good fighter, but Cahya easily outmatched her. Cahya pushed his sister away, and she lost her balance, hitting the ground hard.
Cahya turned to walk away, "Like I said, I'm leaving."
Calida grabbed her bow and arrow, and Cahya shook his head as he readied. He turned, and at that moment, they both released an arrow. "Ignite!" Cahya bellowed.
Both arrowheads made violent contact, and immediately two flaming creatures erupted. They appeared as phoenixes, with Cahya's noticeably larger than Calida's. The phoenixes fought intensely. Jai stood in awe, having never seen anything of such magnitude before. The phoenix of Cahya's arrow eventually consumed Calida's.
"I don't even know why you tried that. Enough, Cal, we aren't children anymore. I'm leaving," Cahya took a deep breath and resumed his usual demeanor. Calida lay on the ground, defeated by her younger brother. With nothing but his bow and quiver filled with arrows, Cahya continued walking past the volcano as if nothing had ever happened.
Jai hurried to Calida's side, she was sweating, and stray hairs were falling around her forehead.
"How much did you see?"
"I heard some noises and came this way. I just saw you laying here and that shadow walking away," Jai lied. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. That was Cahya, and we argued and roughed each other up a bit."
"What's going on?"
She sighed a long, heavy sigh. Finally sitting up, she replied, "Our mother sent us a secret message to the cabin, and it was forwarded to us. Agnes captured her. He wants her to reveal where the Flamethrowers have taken the Legend. She wouldn't speak, so he will burn the entire forest. He already knows that's where we hide out."
"What are you going to do?"
"I have to protect the Flamethrowers. My father left me in charge of his legacy. I have to protect them. Cahya wants to break mother out of Agnes' headquarters, and he can try. Our mom is a Flamethrower as well. She would never give us away."
"You're willing to let your mother die?"
"I don't want her to die, but I can't jeopardize the mission. I made a promise to my father. You're here. The Legend is here. I'm going to fight for this," Calida replied.
"Cahya's not wrong for wanting to save her. I didn't think your leadership was like this," Jai reflected.
Calida stood up and pointed at Jai, "Look, we have two different realities of life. You're in no position to judge me!"
Jai slowly stood up, "I'm not judging you, Calida. You want to move the Flamethrowers from the forest. I get that, but you can do that from here. Like you've done everything else, messenger hawk, signals, whatever you choose. You're not wrong for wanting to save them, but you're running too. You want to return to the forest and fight to protect everything your family has built. I understand that. It's honorable. But your mother is a Flamethrower, and she might need you right now. The Flamethrowers can build a new home, but can you find a new mother? We are Firehearts. We are brave and courageous. Our passion for what we believe in gives us strength and power. That doesn't mean that we don't have fears. It just means we don't let fear stand in between us and victory. I'm not going to stand here and be a reason why you don't fight for your family. Your family always fought for you. Bring the Flamethrowers here, and we can break your mother out together."
Calida sighed, "You're right. I did want to defend our forest. That cabin and those hideouts have been there for almost three hundred years. So many memories of my father and grandfather are within those walls, and I can't imagine not fighting for them. But legacy resides in people, not things. I'll bring the Flamethrowers here immediately, then we can join Cahya. I'll tell Arrow everything in the morning."
"Sounds good. I knew you were a good leader," Jai smiled.
"Thanks," Calida replied.
"Real leaders admit their shortcomings and fight to change them. Well, I'm going to try and sleep. I have to withstand the DragonLord tomorrow."
Calida laughed, "Yeah, I almost forgot about that. Well, I'm going to prepare a message for the hawk. Good night."
Jai waved and started back towards the palace. Calida watched him leave and smiled to herself. "Dad, the Legend is better than we could have ever hoped. He really embodies the Fireheart values. His gift is really odd, but the Universe knows what we need. He's like a gentle fire that brings light and warmth. We'll try our best to support him, just like you taught me."