Unruly Wind

Ayame hovered above the misty slopes of Mount Fuji, eyes scanning the forest below. Rei had already found the first Guardian. Now it was her turn—to prove herself, to ensure Akihiro would have no reason to doubt her. Every detail mattered. The winds, the shadows, the faintest ripple of energy—she sensed it all. Somewhere down there, the next Guardian waited, unaware of the approaching danger.

The forest lay quiet, deceptively calm. But Ayame’s instincts were sharp, honed through countless battles. She knew the shadows wouldn’t wait. Demons were always quicker than expected—and mistakes were deadly.

Sora walked along a narrow path, book in hand, trying to calm herself. Morning air was crisp, pine-scented, carrying dew from the forest. Her short blond hair fluttered with each gust, gray eyes following drifting clouds. For a moment, she imagined a life untouched by rules or fear—a life where she could just… exist. Years at the orphanage flickered through her mind, but she pushed them aside. Here, maybe things could be different.

A ripple in the air shifted everything. Shadows slithered between trees, curling like smoke. Her pulse spiked.

“What… what are you?” she whispered.

A flash of light tore through the gloom. Ayame descended, wings unfurling in dark violet-black, elegant and dangerous. Two angels, Kiel and Ryou, flanked her, blades of radiant energy tracing arcs through the mist.

“I—I’m just imagining things! Just—holy—ARE THOSE WINGS?”

Ayame didn’t glance at her. “We’re angels. Yes.”

“ANGELS?!”

“Later,” Ayame said firmly. “Breathe. Stay calm.”

Sora froze as a shadow lunged, jagged claws scraping the ground. Instinctively, her hands flung outward—and the wind responded. Gusts twisted violently, spinning leaves and debris into chaotic spirals.

Ayame’s eyes narrowed. Powerful… but uncontrolled. She signaled Kiel and Ryou. “Form a perimeter. Protect her.”

The shadows surged. Sora screamed; the forest answered with whirling winds, slamming the nearest demon against a tree. Another shadow lunged—her panic erupted into another surge, hurling it back with violent force. She staggered, knees buckling, breath ragged.

“You’re doing it!” Ayame shouted. “Even if you don’t believe it, you’re protecting yourself and us! Focus!”

Another gust scattered smaller demons—but a large Corruptor slithered too close. Its tar-like essence hissed as it struck a tree. Sora’s eyes widened—she had almost let it through.

“Step back!” Ayame commanded, wings flaring, creating a protective barrier while Kiel and Ryou struck with precision.

Sora fell to her knees, a massive gust whipping outward—nearly capsizing her on the forest floor. Trees bent, leaves and dust spiraled, and mist twisted around her like living fingers.

“I—I can’t… I’ll destroy everything!” she cried.

“You won’t!” Ayame said, diving to her side. “Control your breathing. Let the wind follow your heartbeat. Fear feeds it. Calm guides it.”

Sora focused, trembling. The wind calmed slightly, spiraling in gentler arcs. Memories of the orphanage flooded back—always small, always overlooked. But now, harnessing this power, she realized she wasn’t small anymore. Not invisible. Not helpless.

Ayame’s voice softened, though her wings remained ready. “Your power is raw—but it’s yours. You’re a Guardian. Step by step, you’ll learn control.”

Eventually, the last shadows fled. Sora sank to the forest floor, panting.

“You protected everyone,” Ayame said gently. “Your heart guided your power, even if your mind couldn’t yet.”

“I… a Guardian?” Sora whispered.

“Yes,” Ayame confirmed. “Step by step. You’ll grow stronger. You’re not alone.”

Her breathing shallow, eyes fluttering, Sora’s energy still pulsed—a lingering echo of the storm she’d unleashed.

“You’re pushing too hard,” Kiel muttered. “If we linger, demons could sense the leftover energy.”

Ayame shot him a sharp look. He went quiet instantly. Ryou nodded, glancing nervously at the pulsing aura. “Once we’re at the Academy, she’ll be safe.”

Ayame lifted her gaze to the sky, clouds slicing through treetops. One last glance at Sora, and she allowed herself a fleeting thought she would never voice: If Rei has already found his Guardian… I will not lose mine. I will not disappoint Akihiro.

With resolve, she cradled Sora, wings cutting through the crisp morning air. The forest exhaled, quiet returning, broken only by the distant whisper of wind.

Later, at A-Academy

Sora awoke in a sunlit room, head aching, chest racing. Ayame and Rei stood nearby.

Mizuki leaned against a wall, curiosity in gray-blue eyes. “Finally, someone else,” she said cheerfully.

Sora blinked at the wings, sunlight, misty gardens below. “Where… am I? Who… are you?”

“I’m Ayame,” the first figure said softly. “This is Rei. And this is Mizuki—she’s a Guardian too.”

“A Guardian?” Sora echoed weakly. “And… angels? Really?”

“Exactly,” Ayame replied. “Your wind almost consumed everything. We’re here to help you control it.”

Sora looked down at her hands, recalling the forest—the whipping winds, swirling leaves, flying shadows. And yet… for the first time in a long while, she imagined herself here, in this new place. Maybe she could belong somewhere.

“So… no pressure, then,” she muttered.

Mizuki grinned. “At least you’re not alone. I freaked out too when I first tried my powers.”

Ayame folded her wings, expression softening. “If we’re lucky, there will be five of you. Five Guardians to protect Earth.”

“Then we just need three more,” Rei said.

Sora thought of the orphanage. She had felt invisible there, misunderstood. Here, she could start over. Maybe she could finally matter.

“I… I can do this,” she whispered.

Ayame nodded. “Yes. Step by step.”

Sora’s gaze drifted to Mizuki, then Ayame and Rei. Their calmness, their confidence—felt like a place she could belong.

Later, Mizuki practiced her water control, sending small streams spiraling across the room. Sora ducked and laughed; Ayame pinched her nose. “Focus. Not a sprinkler system.”

Rei tried to stifle laughter. Sora grinned. “At least wind was messy—water is hilarious.”

By the end, Mizuki had soaked half the room, Sora’s sleeve was damp, and everyone was laughing—a rare, precious reprieve.

High above Tokyo, Akihiro perched atop a skyscraper, wings wide, radiant in pure gold-white. Below, the city pulsed. Two Guardians found; the others remained hidden among millions.

Demons moved unseen, orchestrator unknown. Every misstep could tip the balance toward chaos. Akihiro clenched his fists, wind whipping around him. We must reach them before darkness does. Every Guardian matters. Every choice matters. Time is slipping…

Above the city, shadows stirred, twisting through sunlight, whispering promises of chaos yet to come.