The room hummed with an air of anticipation as Kael, Liora, and Azephon discussed the details of the strange signal that had been detected from the far reaches of space. Kael's mind raced, preparing for what would come, and Azephon had just begun to explain the secrets of the ancient Ilyria technique that Kael had learned about years ago. This technique, which had been passed down through Kael's people, was said to hold the key to mastering Will in ways never before imagined.
"I learned about it from your people, Kael," Azephon said, his voice steady and filled with the weight of centuries of wisdom. "The Ilyria technique—powerful, yet intricate. It harnesses the flow of space and time in ways that allow Wielders to touch the very fabric of reality. The key to accessing it lies within the heart, not just the mind."
Kael nodded, trying to absorb all the information. He had heard of this technique, but the full scope of its power was still foreign to him. It seemed that, just like the threat from space, there was much more to learn. They were entering an age of unknowns.
As the trio prepared to delve deeper into the training, the doors to Nova Tower suddenly opened with a loud creak. Kael turned, surprised. The last person he had expected to walk through those doors stood before him—Kaito, his older brother.
"Kaito?" Kael's voice softened with shock, his heart skipping a beat. It had been years since he last saw his brother, the one who had always been distant, moving from place to place, never staying too long. "What are you doing here?"
Kaito, tall and imposing, stood in the doorway with a grin, though there was a knowing glint in his eyes. His short-cropped dark hair contrasted against the silver armor that adorned his body, remnants of his travels and battles over the years.
"Surprised to see me?" Kaito asked, walking into the room with an air of casual confidence. "I've been around. Just needed to check in."
Kael furrowed his brows, his guard going up. "Check in? How did you know we'd be here?"
Kaito chuckled softly, his voice almost a whisper. "I know more than you think, Kael. We're family, after all. I've been keeping an eye on things, tracking the patterns… and when that strange disturbance appeared, I knew you'd be involved. You're always at the center of things."
Liora and Azephon exchanged a glance, sensing that Kaito's presence wasn't just coincidental. Azephon's voice rang out, his eyes narrowing with interest. "You have been tracking the anomaly?"
Kaito nodded, his gaze turning serious for a moment. "Yes, and from what I've seen… it's much bigger than any of us realized. The forces at play are ancient—far older than the Fracture or anything we've faced before."
Kael took a deep breath, processing the revelation. "And what do you want with us, Kaito?"
"Simple," Kaito replied, stepping forward. "I want to help. I'm not here to just watch. I know you're training the next generation—Renzo, Jinsei, Maiya. They're strong, but they won't be enough on their own. Whatever's coming... it's beyond us. Beyond Shinzai."
Kael's eyes narrowed as his instincts kicked in. "And you think you can do better?"
Kaito's expression softened, and for the first time in a long while, Kael saw the brotherly affection in his eyes. "I'm not here to outshine you, Kael. I'm here to make sure we're ready. All of us. I've trained alone for years, but this time, I'm asking to stand by you. Together."
Liora smiled, stepping toward Kaito. "Then welcome back, Kaito. I'm sure Kael can use all the help he can get."
Kael hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, a mixture of relief and hesitation in his chest. "Alright. We train together. But don't think I'm going easy on you just because you're my brother."
Kaito smirked, his trademark cocky grin appearing. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
As the conversation shifted toward the next phase of training, Kael couldn't help but feel that the arrival of Kaito, once a lone figure in Kael's life, might be the missing piece they needed. The challenge ahead was unknown, and with the new force lurking in space, Kael knew one thing for certain—they would need all the strength they could muster.
But just as Kael was about to focus on the next task at hand, he noticed something—Renzo, Jinsei, and Maiya were missing.
"Where are they?" Kael asked, suddenly aware of the absence.
"They've gone for their own training session," Liora explained, her eyes flickering with understanding. "They wanted to get in some extra practice before the real work begins."
Kael nodded. "Then we start tomorrow. The sooner we prepare, the better."
As the weight of the situation settled in, Kael knew one thing: with Kaito's return, the road ahead would be filled with new challenges, but the strength of his family—both blood and chosen—was what would carry them through.
The first phase of their training had begun.