Trials of Destiny: Way of The Sword

Hours had passed by since Stella joined them and Jin was listening to her stories from the past year. Stella laughed here and there, Jin listening as she filled him in on what she'd been doing over the past year. He wasn't acting any differently, yet Luna felt an uncomfortable pang every time she glanced over.

It was silly, she knew, but the jealousy simmered all the same. She wasn't completely sure on what this feeling was, but she didn't like it at all. She clenched her fists, trying to shake it off. She knew she had no real reason to feel such a way, yet here she was, annoyed for some reason.

Brom, noticing the tension in her shoulders, leaned over, his voice quiet and casual. "You look like you're about to set something on fire."

Luna let out a small, humorless laugh, shaking her head. "It's nothing," she mumbled, casting a quick glance at Jin and Stella before looking away again. "Just… not sure… I don't know why, but, it feels weird."

Brom smirked, crossing his arms. "Don't worry so much, Luna. You know Jin—he's loyal to the core. A few hours of catching up won't change that."

Luna frowned, her eyes lingering on the pair again. "I know. It's just… I feel like I'm losing my place somehow. Silly, right?"

"Not silly. But unnecessary," Brom replied with a quiet strength. "Trust me. Jin's a good guy. He might be friendly with everyone, but with you, it's different from what i've seen by watching over him the past year or so. He's got your back just like the rest of us do." He paused, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "And besides, you're one of the strongest people here. I wouldn't put my faith in just anyone, you know." He said in a way to make her feel better and smiled slightly.

Luna felt a warmth rise in her chest at Brom's words, her shoulders relaxing a little. "Thanks, Brom. Really."

"Anytime," he said, nodding toward Jin and Stella. "Besides, if he takes too long, we'll just go over there and remind him he's got a team waiting and make knock some sense into him right?" He laughed for a moment reliving the feelings of being a young adventurous wanderer again.

Luna laughed, the tension easing, and with a final glance toward Jin, she felt the jealousy ebb away, replaced by a quiet confidence. Brom was right—she didn't need to worry. Worrying over this after spending so much time around him, knowing how he's like now and much more. There wasn't a point in worrying at all.

A sudden pulse of energy rippled through the air and sent a chill down their spines. The feeling was unmistakable, a shift in ki so powerful it seemed to pull the very air around them. She looked up, catching Brom's wide-eyed gaze; he had felt it, too. All of them had.

"Did you feel that?" Kade asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

They turned instinctively to the south, where the energy seemed to be drawn with relentless force. In the distance, a dark storm was forming, swirling with unnatural speed and intensity. Towering clouds twisted and raged, lightning crackling within the clouds like a caged beast. The storm tore through the land, uprooting trees, shattering rocks, and carving deep wounds into the earth. The air itself seemed to vibrate with the storm's fury.

For a few tense minutes, they watched in stunned silence as the storm raged on, devouring everything in its path. And then, as suddenly as it had formed, it began to dissolve, its massive clouds dissipating into the sky, leaving only destruction in its wake.

Jin broke the silence, his voice low and unsettled. "What… was that?"

Luna shook her head, still staring at the distant ruins left behind. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it wasn't natural."

Brom clenched his fists, his usual calm replaced by a rare edge of tension. "Something's changing out there—and I don't think it's in our favor."

They exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the storm's aftermath settling over them. Whatever lay to the south, it had unleashed a power unlike anything they'd ever seen.

Just as the tension began to settle, a new wave of pressure washed over them—an intense, oppressive force that made the hair on the back of their necks stand up.

Brom felt it first, a weight in the air that felt like it was pressing down on her chest. He glanced at the others. Two distinct sources of energy, powerful and deliberate, were approaching. The ki radiating from them felt—cold, calculated, and filled with an unmistakable strength that made him slightly uneasy.

"They're close," Kade muttered, eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon.

Brom gripped his weapon tightly, his posture tense. "Whoever they are, they're not trying to hide. They want us to know they're coming."

The footsteps grew louder, though no one could yet see the figures in the distance. The air thickened with each step, the pressure building until it felt as if it were pressing down on their very bones.

Then, through the haze and settling dust left by the storm, two figures began to emerge. Their strides were calm, almost casual, yet their presence was anything but. The closer they came, the more intense the pressure became, forcing the group to brace themselves against the overwhelming energy.

"Get ready. Whoever they are… they're not here for friendly conversation." Jin said loudly grabbing his blade tightly.

Here's an expanded version with the description of the two mysterious figures:

As they drew closer, the group could make out their appearances: one was an elderly man, perhaps in his eighties, with a presence that was both regal and foreboding. His hair was thin and silver, falling to his shoulders, and his face was weathered with the lines of a thousand battles. Despite his age, his posture was straight, his steps purposeful, as if every movement held an unspoken strength.

Beside him walked a younger man, likely in his twenties, with a blindfold covering his eyes. His expression was calm, almost serene, and he moved with a precision that was unsettling. Though he couldn't see them, or so it seemed, he navigated each step with confidence, as though he could sense everything around him with flawless clarity. His hands were relaxed, but there was a tension in his stance—a readiness that told everyone he could strike at any moment if needed.

The old man stopped a few paces away, his gaze sweeping over the group with an intensity that made them feel as though he could see right through them.

"So, this is the gathering we sensed," the old man said, his voice surprisingly strong and steady, carrying a weight that seemed to resonate in the air. "Children, who are you to stand before us, filled with such purpose?"

The younger man said nothing, though Jin could feel his attention locked on them, even behind the blindfold. His presence was calm but charged, like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

Jin took a small step forward, his face guarded but unafraid. "We could ask you the same thing. You come here, bringing this kind of pressure, and expect us to stand down?"

The old man's lips curled into a faint smile. "Stand down? No, that's not what I expect. But perhaps… that's what I wanted."

Brom shifted, his grip tight on his weapon as he glanced at Luna. "These two are different," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with caution. "Be ready."

Luna's gaze moved between the old man and the younger one, a strange feeling twisting in her gut. Whoever these two were, they weren't ordinary travelers or warriors—they were something much more dangerous.

As the silence stretched between them, the young man finally spoke, his voice calm and composed. "We're not here for a fight," he said, his head turning slightly in their direction, though his eyes remained hidden behind the blindfold. "We were training nearby when we felt the ki surge heading south. We followed it out of curiosity… and happened to come across you all."

He paused, inclining his head in a respectful nod. "We didn't mean to cause any trouble."

The old man regarded the group one last time, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. He placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, signaling it was time to go.

As they turned to leave, the old man glanced back briefly. "The paths we walk may cross again, or they may not. Either way… may your purpose guide you."

With that, the two figures continued on their way, the pressure of their presence slowly fading as they walked off into the distance, leaving Jin and the others standing in silence, each of them still feeling the lingering weight of the encounter.

Brom let out a long breath. "Well… that was different."

Luna nodded, still watching the two figures until they were out of sight. "I don't know who they are… but something tells me they're more than they seemed."

Jin shrugged, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Guess we'll find out someday, or we won't." He gave the group a reassuring grin. "For now, let's just keep moving. Whatever that storm was, it wasn't a good sign."

Jin sighed again before speaking up. "I say we head west." He said in a slightly deep tone and Luna immediately nodded in agreement wanting to leave the area.

The rest of them nodded and they all began to walk West. Jin turned his head towards Stella who wasn't following. "Are you not coming with?"

Stella slowly shook her head no. "… I still have things I need to do before I think I can join you. I'm sorry… please go without me for now I promise we'll meet the moment I'm finished with everything. I'll come find you."

Jin sighed and simply nodded before walking off to the caravan and jumping in with the rest of his party and Brom sat down at the front before they all took off west.

Stella smiled watching Jin leave again before quietly turning east. "He is doing fine… I guess. There was something different though, his eyes were a lot darker than before... I guess that's what happens to those who venture into the famous Valor's Reach though." Stella's smile faded and began her walk with her katana on her side.