The air crackled with energy as Kazimir stood on the beach, his gaze fixed on the sky where the eclipse was nearing its peak. The wind was soft, carrying with it the scent of saltwater, and everything seemed to slow down as the world around them shifted.
Kazimir turned to Riah, his eyes reflecting the celestial event unfolding above. "So this is what Crimson State looks like…"
Riah giggled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So this is what Dimensional Entity looks like."
Kazimir smirked, his lips twitching in amusement. "Tss… You wanna be funny?"
Riah laughed, her voice light, yet full of warmth. "Yes, because I'm so happy we get to see the eclipse together."
Kazimir's eyes softened as he looked at her. "Yeah, it's pretty cool. Especially here, on a beach… which, by the way, I still have no idea how we ended up here."
Riah's grin widened mischievously. "Maybe because you blew away the forest and created a beach."
Kazimir raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Last time I checked, my abilities weren't capable of creating things."
"Kazimir, are you retarded?" Riah's laugh filled the air. "Disasters cause changes to the earth, dummy."
Kazimir crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at her playfully. "I know that, but we were nowhere near an ocean. So how in the world did I create one?"
Riah's laughter rang out, carefree. "I'm just making fun of you! We ended up here, and it wasn't exactly where we were supposed to be—but look at us now."
Kazimir narrowed his gaze, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Exactly. I knew you were trying to trick me."
Riah shot him a teasing glance. "Yeah, and you almost believed me."
Kazimir turned his face away with a mock frown. "No, I wasn't."
Riah playfully stuck her tongue out at him. "Liar."
Her eyes shifted to the horizon, and her voice softened as she noticed the growing crowd gathering on the beach. "Oh, look. Everyone's here, as well as some civilians to watch the eclipse."
Kazimir gazed toward the gathering, and then back to Riah. "Well, the beach is nice. I get why they'd come here."
Riah's gaze lingered on the sky, a sudden seriousness in her voice. "It also feels like the perfect time."
Kazimir tilted his head, puzzled. "Perfect time for what?"
Riah met his gaze, her heart racing as the words tumbled from her lips. "You remember when we first met? How we started off wrong and got into that fight? I thought you were an asshole. I wanted to shut you up, but you didn't take me seriously, and you were so damn stubborn—until I cut that blindfold off."
Kazimir burst into laughter, his chest shaking as the sound rang out across the quiet beach.
Tojo, watching from a distance with Raijin, raised an eyebrow. "Why is he laughing like that?"
Raijin, equally baffled, shot a glance at Xavier. "Damn, what did she tell him? He's cracking up."
Xavier scratched his head. "Is this normal? He doesn't act like this."
Jessie, standing nearby, grinned with understanding. "He used to be like this before… you know, before our mother passed. I think he's finally let it go. He's free now."
Neve, with a teary smile, wrapped her arm around Jessie's shoulder. "Aww… My baby boy is finally happy."
Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Your baby boy?"
Neve shot her a teasing look. "Girl, shut up. He's like a son to me. I've watched him grow so much in such a short time."
Jessie smirked. "If anything, it's more believable if you were Raijin's mom."
Raijin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Yo, the fuck does that mean?"
Jessie shrugged, a wicked grin on her face. "It means you're both delusional."
Everyone burst into laughter, except for Gendai, who remained silent, watching Kazimir and Riah.
Riah's expression softened as she took in the sight of Kazimir laughing. Her heart skipped a beat. "What's so funny?"
Kazimir, still chuckling, met her eyes, his smile genuine. "Nothing. It's just… seeing how far you've come. I remember when I thought I was a goner after our fight. I had to let out everything I was holding in before I died."
Riah's eyes glistened with emotion. "You're so different now, Kazimir."
Kazimir's gaze lingered on her. "I'm looking, princess."
Riah smiled warmly, her voice low. "You remember what you told me after that fight? You said, 'Let your soul be guided by the moon as it peaks through the clouds, and you'll find what you truly seek.'"
Kazimir's smile softened, his gaze never leaving her face. "Yeah, I remember."
Riah stepped closer, her heart pounding. "What I truly seek is you, Kazimir. I love you. I love everything about you—the way you carry your burdens, how you always put others first, making sure they're safe. I want to share those burdens with you. I don't want to just be your rival, I want to be someone who truly understands you."
The others, still standing off to the side, had all gone quiet, their eyes fixed on the couple.
Neve, her hands clasped together in excitement, whispered, "Oop, Riah's confessing to him!"
Jessie smirked, shaking her head. "This is a sight to witness."
Raijin crossed his arms, a grin forming on his face. "Seems almost perfect. And the moon's about to cross in front of the sun too…"
Gendai remained seated, her eyes locked on Kazimir and Riah, her expression unreadable.
Riah's voice was soft, but firm. "I want to be your other half, Kazimir. You're the moon that lights up my nights. Now, I want to be the sun that lights up your days."
Kazimir's expression softened, and for the first time in a long while, his smile was complete. "Honestly, Riah, I always liked you, but I didn't know how to tell you. I want to be your other half too. I love you."
Without another word, Kazimir leaned in, and their lips met, soft and warm, as the entire beach seemed to hold its breath.
The group erupted in shock, and Raijin's voice broke the silence. "No way. Riah secured the bag."
Tojo nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm happy for them."
Jessie raised an eyebrow, smirking. "At least it's not the end of the world for him."
Neve, unable to contain herself, shouted at the top of her lungs. "YESS! Kazimir, you make me so proud to be your teacher!"
Riah, flushed and beaming, pulled Kazimir into a tight hug. "I'm so happy…"
Gendai, still watching the couple, simply muttered, "Well, I was expecting this."
As the moon crossed in front of the sun, the sky became a canvas of brilliant color. The moon shone a bright, radiant blue, and the sun turned a deep red, the purple eclipse filling the sky. The energy around Kazimir and Riah seemed to pulse, their souls intertwining in a way that could not be described. Their eyes glowed, the deep purple and blue of their irises reflecting the power they had awakened.
Tojo, eyes wide in astonishment, stepped forward. "What the hell? They're glowing…"
Jessie's voice was full of awe. "I've never seen anything like this before. They're stronger than they were."
Raijin nodded, looking at the couple. "They've both just awakened their true abilities…"
Neve let out a content sigh. "This is what a power couple looks like."
Everyone chuckled, amazed by the transformation in front of them.
Neve grinned. "Now he's more than suited to be my bodyguard."
Raijin shot her a glare. "I can be your bodyguard."
Neve raised an eyebrow. "No thanks. I might have to protect you instead. You have no manners."
Raijin smirked. "But you don't need a bodyguard, anyways… stupid ice…"
Before he could finish, Neve froze him in ice with a snap of her fingers. "I have no idea how you get women. I'm starting to believe you beg them or pay them."
The group laughed as they descended toward the ground, landing softly. Kazimir and Riah, still glowing with the energy of their union, slowly de-transformed as they touched down.
Gendai smiled softly. "That was a cool performance."
Jessie stepped forward, her tone serious. "As you know, tomorrow is the final day. There will be a ceremony for our new Vandors."