The New Elemental God

Surprised, the Earth God didn't say anything and simply followed her. Near the wall, she slid her hand along a crack and opened a hidden door. They stepped into a dark, narrow corridor that felt like a secret entrance.

Afraid of speaking and risking getting caught—as if he were committing some sort of crime—Adam followed his leader without question.

They made two turns before reaching the end of the corridor. In the darkness, she pushed a door open, casting a blinding white light on his face that first made his eyes hurt.

Once the discomfort of the sudden clarity passed they emerged outside. The moon hung large and bright, directly above the volcano, painting the landscape in stark black and white.

Looking around, Adam was blown away. A patio made of large square stones stretched before them, adorned with various pillars crafted from the same type of rock as the floor but in smaller sizes. Atop each pillar were vases holding tall plants that reached upward, while others cascaded down the sides.

Curious about the peculiar architecture, Adam approached one of the many pillars. Each of the eight stacked stones was decorated with four different symbols that repeated themselves—one for each Element, carved into the rock centuries ago.

The Fire was represented by a simple single flame, the Water was depicted as falling drops, the Air was translated into three wavy lines like the wind blowing and finally the Earth, as the soil of a plantation.

Adam ran his finger on the handmade symbol that scared the rock. They were heavy with meaning and gratitude, the Earth God could feel the intention of each carving.

Noticing he had taken too long observing a lifeless object under the gaze of the Fire Goddess, he moved along.

The moonlight cast lines of shadow on the ground, creating a mystical atmosphere.

"You can test your gift now. I know you're eager to do so."

From behind a gray stone pillar, the Fire Goddess revealed herself. Her crimson eyes glowed in the twilight.

"I thought… you left," Adam stammered, his earlier snarky remarks fading as he grew sheepish.

"I don't like crowds," she replied.

With her hands carefully positioned in front of her, the Fire Goddess walked gracefully between the pillars. Unsure how to act in her presence, Adam stood still, watching her move.

"Should I leave so you can feel more comfortable?" The pillars were arranged side by side in rows. She stopped in the middle of an aisle, facing the Earth God.

"No. I just don't know how to use it."

Adam set the box down and opened it. The moonlight reflected off the blade, making it appear as though it emanated light. It was undeniably a work of art, and Adam felt reluctant to believe he deserved it.

Out of nowhere, the Goddess knelt, startling the Earth God.

"I can show you."

Without waiting for confirmation, Hikari lifted the katana from the box with practiced ease. With a swift, circular swing, the loud swoosh of the blade impressed Adam.

A few meters ahead, she held the katana in front of her body, her right hand atop her left. Focused, she faced the same direction as the blade. After a deep breath, she raised it above her head.

From a distance, Adam noticed her breathing slow until she opened her eyes and swung the sword, producing the most satisfying swoosh. She began to dance between the pillars, using them as imaginary opponents. She glided from one side to the other, cutting through the air so quickly that a common human wouldn't have been able to follow her movements.

Her swings were powerful yet agile, seamlessly flowing from one to the next. As the Goddess warmed up, her movements grew faster. At one point, she leaped from one pillar to another, performing her strikes and diverting the blade from each column at the last possible moment.

To an observer, she made it look effortless.

In one corner, she took a running start with the katana raised above her head. When she reached a pillar, she planted her feet on the stone and ran upward until she reached the top. With a powerful leap, she spiraled dozens of meters into the air. Without using her powers, it seemed as though she had stopped time. Then, with a crushing force, she swung the sword downward in midair, completing a full circle.

The shockwave from her movement blew air into Adam's face, leaving him gaping.

Moments later, she landed heavily on the ground, not using her powers to soften the impact.

Shocked, the Earth God clapped and cheered as the woman walked back to him.

"You're a beast! You have to teach me that!"

His excitement led him to mimic her swings as he spoke. Quietly, Hikari passed by him and meticulously placed the katana back in its case.

"It is a majestic weapon," she said, adjusting her kimono. She turned to Adam with her usual blank expression. "You are very lucky to have it."

Faced with the Goddess's unimpressed demeanor, Adam withered, still pretending to hold the sword above his head as she had done. Slowly, he lowered his arms and frowned.

"Why are you like this?"

Finally voicing his thoughts made the young God feel lighter. He was tired of ignoring her indifferent attitude toward everything.

"Did I offend you?" she asked, her expression unchanged. She placed her hands in front of her body and studied Adam's face.

"No! It's not that…"

Looking deep into her eyes, trying to understand her unique behavior, Adam saw nothing malicious. On the contrary, while her crimson cat-like eyes might seem intimidating at first, they appeared gentle upon closer inspection.

"Never mind," Adam said, shaking his head, unable to come up with a better question.

Disconcerted, the God ran a hand through his hair and turned to gaze at the moon instead. He heard footsteps but didn't look.

"I don't know if Calder told you…" she began, her tone slightly softer than usual.