When the Sky Breaks

Ravukaru hovered above the chaos, his wings slicing through the storm of light and dark. Lightning crackled through the rain-heavy sky, reflecting in the sheen of his wings. His eyes locked on Akihiro, and a slow, cruel smile spread across his face. “Finally… I’ve been waiting for you.”

Below, Aihana weaved through the battlefield as the wind whipped violently around her, rain soaking through her light armor. She finally reached the girls, who were locked in a tense struggle with Ayame. Thunder boomed overhead as their powers sparked in hesitation, every move cautious yet desperate.

Aihana’s eyes caught Ayame’s—words unspoken hung heavy in the air: sadness, jealousy, heartbreak. A painful clarity struck her—Ayame was clearly in love with Akihiro as well.

Taking a deep breath, Aihana stepped forward, standing firmly between the girls and Ayame while gusts of wind rippled through her hair.

Ayame’s eyes flared with raw emotion. In an instant, a surge of energy shot toward Aihana, lightning flashing behind the blast. Aihana met it head-on, her aura flaring as she blocked the attack. Step by careful step, she advanced toward Ayame, unwavering even as the storm raged around them.

“Stop!” the girls shouted, voices nearly drowned by thunder. “Don’t go near her!”

Aihana ignored them, her focus locked on Ayame, ready to face whatever came next.

High above, Akihiro and Ravukaru clashed, their wings of light and dark cutting through the stormy sky. Rain and sparks collided in the air with every strike, illuminating the chaos below.

Ravukaru’s voice rang out, cruel and confident. “Once I’m done with you, Akihiro… Aihana will be mine. Nothing will stand in my way—this planet will fall, with her at my side. And then I will get other Guardians as well.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Akihiro shot back, his grip tightening on his glowing blade, energy flickering like lightning along its length.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Aihana faced Ayame. Her voice was calm but firm. “Ayame, I know how you feel… but this isn’t right.”

Ayame glared at her, defiant, a storm of shadow twisting behind her. “You don’t know what I feel. No one does.”

“I think I might understand you better than anyone,” Aihana interrupted, her gaze softening yet resolute as rain streamed down her face. “I know what it’s like when your heart shatters into pieces because the person you love doesn’t return your feelings.”

For a brief moment, Ayame flinched. Aihana felt it—a subtle shift, a crack in Ravukaru’s hold. The wind fell quiet for just a second, as though the storm itself was listening.

She stepped closer. “I know you love Akihiro… but do you really want anything to happen to him? I know you don’t.”

Ayame’s eyes flickered with doubt. Slowly, she lowered her sword.

Aihana seized the moment, rushing forward to embrace her. A wave of energy radiated outward—rain and light swirling together in the storm—as she enveloped Ayame in a gentle, protective glow.

“Don’t worry,” Aihana whispered. “We’re here for you. I know it hurts.”

The warmth of Aihana’s aura snapped Ravukaru’s hold like glass. Ayame closed her eyes and sank to her knees, trembling under the weight of what she’d done. When she opened them again, she saw the damage and the chaos around her through tears and rainfall.

“What have I done?”

Above, Ravukaru taunted Akihiro, distracting him with venomous words while thunder roared close. A sudden, forceful strike from his sword made Akihiro lose his grip—the glowing blade plummeted through the storm, piercing the earth below with a deafening impact.

Rei’s eyes widened, lightning reflecting in them. Akihiro hovered, wounded but unyielding, channeling the last of his strength into keeping a protective shield around himself. Ravukaru sensed his advantage and pressed harder, wings creating violent gusts in the rain-soaked air.

Rei started toward Akihiro, but demonic forces swarmed and blocked the path, hissing through the downpour.

Aihana’s heart froze as she spotted the sword embedded in the ground. Wind howled around her, rain soaking through her armor. Her gaze shot skyward—Akihiro was in danger.

Around her, Ayame and the others fought off demons—flashes of elemental power lighting up the storm. With resolve burning through her veins, Aihana grasped Akihiro’s sword and lifted it, rainwater dripping from its glowing edge.

She looked upward once more: I have to help him. We can’t lose him.

Then, with a burst of blinding light, angelic wings unfurled from Aihana’s back—radiant, powerful, rain cascading off their feathers. The girls, Rei, even Ayame froze in awed silence. Aihana’s eyes widened, but her heart knew what to do.

Aihana took flight, slicing upward through sheets of rain and lightning trails. With Akihiro’s sword in hand, she rocketed toward the battlefield in the sky.

Only one thought pulsed through her: I cannot lose Akihiro.

She tore through the storm, pushing her wings to their limits, until finally she arrived—directly between Ravukaru and Akihiro.

Ravukaru’s lips curled into a smirk when he saw her. Rain came down in torrents, but his voice cut through it. “You never cease to surprise me.”

Aihana’s eyes immediately darted to Akihiro. Blood mixed with rainwater down his chest. Her heart clenched painfully.

“Akihiro…” she breathed.

Before she could reach him, Ravukaru unleashed another blast of dark energy. Aihana raised the glowing sword, intercepting it with a burst of light. Storm clouds flashed with their clash.

Ravukaru’s smirk deepened. “So, the real battle begins.”

Aihana tightened her grip. Lightning struck behind her. She unleashed a torrent of energy, but Ravukaru still deflected her—until Akihiro’s voice, weak but unwavering, broke through the rain:

“Aihana… I know you can do this. You can win.”

His strength was fading. She felt his desperation — his trust.

Akihiro poured the last of his energy into his sword, letting his light merge seamlessly with hers.

The blade thrummed with the fusion of their powers, radiating a brilliance. With a determined cry, Aihana swung the sword forward, unleashing a concentrated beam of combined energy. It cut through the chaos, striking Ravukaru directly.

Ravukaru couldn’t escape.

The blast consumed him. His form disintegrated in the rain, his scream echoing faintly until it was gone. Only shadows remained, then nothing.

Behind her, Akihiro’s voice, calm yet tinged with relief, reached her: “I knew you could do it.”

The remaining demons, sensing the absence of their prince, scattered in fear, dissolving into the shadows from which they came. Aihana barely had time to react before the sword in her hands vanished—its disappearance sending a chill down her spine.

She spun around toward Akihiro. He was clutching his wound, forcing a smile despite the pain. But then, his wings faltered. The energy sustaining them faltered, and with a quiet gasp, he began plummeting toward the ground unconscious.

“Akihiro!” she screamed.

Driven by love and instinct alone, Aihana dove. Rain battered her wings, pain flared through every limb, but she forced herself faster — she refused to let him fall alone. She reached him just in time, arms locking around his shoulders as she tried to slow their descent. It wasn’t enough. With a torn breath, she summoned a shield, dim and flickering, just strong enough to keep them alive as they crashed toward the drenched earth.

They hit hard — not enough to kill, but enough to break.

The others rushed in. Rei carried Akihiro to safety. Kaito lifted Aihana’s limp form in his arms. The rain eased at last, storm fading as the shield was restored around the Academy.

The battle was over.

The storm… slowly passed.