P.S= #38: Ichika Has Arrived

In the heart of the village, urgency gripped Naima as she voiced her concern. "We need to hurry up and find the others, and fast," she exclaimed. The group swiftly exited the house, stepping into the open air, where the village's muted sounds surrounded them. Among the shadows, they caught sight of Ava.

"Ava," Kiyomizu called out, relief evident in her voice.

"Thank God you're here," Naima said, her worry momentarily eased.

Ava, still catching her breath, recounted an unusual encounter with an Ayakashi. "Something weird happened when I was fighting an Ayakashi," she explained.

Kiyomizu inquired, "What happened?"

"Out of nowhere, something cut the Ayakashi," Ava revealed, her eyes reflecting the mystery of the encounter.

Yamato, holding out his hand, noticed a peculiar absence. "Now that you mention it, snow isn't falling."

"Wait, what?" Kiyomizu exclaimed. Their collective gaze turned upward, revealing the absence of the protective territory that had once shielded the village.

"Maybe Cory stopped the Ayakashi," Yamato speculated.

"Or maybe that Elder did something that destroyed the territory and the Ayakashi at once," Naima suggested, her mind grappling with the possibilities.

"Do you think he could?" Kiyomizu questioned, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

"Yes, he's an Elder after all," Yamato affirmed, his expression reflecting the weight of their predicament.

"An Elder? What Elder?" Ava inquired, confusion etched across her face.

"We don't have time to explain. We need to find Elliott and Cory now before he arrives," Naima urged, her voice tinged with urgency.

"It's just a matter of time before he reaches here," Yamato added, the shadows in the village seeming to lengthen with the impending threat.

As the group echoed their concerns, Naima couldn't shake the worry that gripped her. "Cory, Elliott, where the hell are you?" she pondered silently, her gaze fixed on the ominous sky that hinted at an approaching storm – a storm far more ominous than the absence of falling snow.

 [Cory and Gwenyth] 

 Cory and Gwenyth sprinted across the island. Cory's eyes scanned the sky, his breath visible in the crisp air. Something felt amiss – the absence of falling snow, a detail not lost on him.

"Did you stop the snow?" Cory questioned, his gaze turning toward Gwenyth as they continued their swift traverse.

She halted, the moonlight casting shadows across her features as she replied, "No, I didn't. I think someone destroyed my territory. Perhaps it's one of your friends."

Cory's expression tightened with concern. "No, I don't think any of them is strong enough to destroy your territory, and the only way to dismantle one is by using another territory," he reasoned, his voice carried away by the island breeze.

Gwenyth mulled over his words as the island's mystical ambiance enveloped them. "So, I was right; someone did destroy and then entered my territory," she contemplated silently, her thoughts a mere whisper in the moonlit night. The island's secrets unfolded with each step, leaving them to navigate through shadows and uncertainties.

[Village]

In the heart of the village, Naima's urgent voice cut through the tense air. "We need to hurry up and find Cory and Elliott now," she declared, her words echoing in the narrow alleyways.

As the group pressed on, a sudden, rhythmic sound disrupted the uneasy calm. TEP! TEP! TEP! The ominous beats resonated, and a voice emerged from the shadows. "So, I see Coryeil Silva and Elliott AoiHi isn't here. Too bad. I was hoping I would get to finish you all together. Hello, Phoenix Slayers. My name is Ichika Natsu. I'm one of The Elders, and I'm the last person you all will be seeing before you die."

The village, once a haven, now echoed with a foreboding threat as Ichika Natsu's words hung in the air. The ambient sounds of the village seemed to dim, replaced by an unsettling stillness, amplifying the impending danger that loomed over the Phoenix Slayers.