A year had passed, and Taekhyu was no longer within the realm of the living.
The family, all dressed in white, stood within a white tomb Raine had personally made for Taekhyu, her body lying within a glass casket. A table with a picture set of all of them beside her.
Ai Mei and Elaine cried uncontrollably, Audrey holding them both as tears came down her face, moving them outside. Raine, however, stayed behind, gazing at the body of a powerful, yet gentle woman, who had given him so much advice in life. Understanding. Enlightenment. It didn't feel real.
Raine closed his eyes, biting his lip, a single tear slipping from his eye as the realization truly hit him.
Taekhyu is gone, and she would not return.
Raine pressed a fist against his opened palm, deeply bowing, "the respect I have for you is boundless, Taekhyu. Your wisdom has guided us for so long. But…I am relieved that you were able to manifest Tenko now. And I hope the person you're waiting for will come, in due time." Raine stood, his face stern, "in three years, when Mei Mei turns fourteen, I will explain everything about her mother. Thank you, for everything…" Raine rested his hand on the glass coffin, lowering his head.
***
Three years went by after the passing of their grandmother. Ai Mei and Elaine continued with their training in the art of Shang Fu, sharpening their discipline. In their spare time, Elaine was quick to learn under their mother Audrey, preparing to contribute to the guild. Ai Mei fed the deep hunger in her mind, going to libraries, reading any book related to the intricate history of the Omiverse in general. Powerful rulers. The Ringbearer, who first discovered the seven rings. Judgement Day, a war that happened eons ago. The Omnivault, a mysterious, cosmic library, sealed from the mortal eye that is said to hover between realms.
Right now, the family were currently making their way back to Planet Vallorey after making a business trip. The giant lucanaship, size of a massive suite, gently vibrated from the hum of the intricate engine.
Ai Mei and Elaine, in their training uniforms, stood within a dojo with their father. Something Raine had added for trips like these, to continue training even when not home.
The girls were hot, sweaty, their chests heaving in fatigue. They've been sparring against their father for nearly two whole hours now.
Raine, arms crossed behind his back, paced back and forth, "you two have done a great job, I'm proud of you. Your understanding and execution are nearly at mastery. But…" Raine raised a finger, "there's more."
The girls both made confused expressions. "More?" Ai Mei asked.
"Like what?" Elaine added.
"This technique is used to make your aura explode. Unleash your power tenfold. The true meaning of turning your body into a living weapon. It takes a lot of concentration from the mind."
As the girls silently watched, Raine lowered his elbows on his side. His translucent aura building, dancing around his body, "hidden form: Tensions Rise."
A bright light had released, Elaine and Ai Mei were completely baffled by the outrageous power Raine has unleashed.
His uniform flowing, wisps of light danced from his body. Raine looked as if he was almost expelling his own source of light. He flexed his fingers, "Tensions Rise is similar to Mass Effect, in a way. While it doesn't necessarily boost your chaotic art, it does enhance your aura and physical capabilities. But you must be careful, if you're pushed too far past your limits already, this technique itself can make the user deplete energy faster."
Ai Mei's eyes lit like stars, "I wanna try!"
Elaine rose her hand, "me too dad!"
Raine chuckled, canceling out the form, returning to his normal state, "we'll try it tomorrow. You two are already tired. Being low on energy when enhancing your chaos can be dangerous."
"C'mon dad!" Ai Mei crossed her arms, "that's so unfair…"
Raine laughed, ruffling their heads, "relax you two. There's tomorrow. Now hit the showers."
"Fine!"
Raine called out, "Mei Mei, me and your mother need to speak with you as well, afterwards, okay?"
Ai Mei raised a brow, "uh, okay…everything alright?"
"Yeah, it's nothing bad at all."
"Okay…"
Elaine took this as a chance to finally tease her sister, a mocking smile forming, "looks like someone's in trouble, hm?"
Ai Mei pushed Elaine's face.
"Uwgh—Hey!!"
Ai Mei laughed, quickly running out of the dojo, Elaine following behind.
Raine gave a sigh, shaking his head watching them leave, "those two…"
*
Later, as Elaine soundly slept in her room, Ai Mei was in the living area with Audrey and Raine. A very comfy place, having sofas, a table to dine at, windows revealing the beauty of space before their eyes. Despite the calmness, the atmosphere itself was suffocating, and Ai Mei herself, anxious in her pajamas.
Raine, now in track pants and hoodie, stood near the window, merely gazing at the stars in the distance. Audrey, dressed in sleepwear herself, had an elbow lying on the table, sitting on the chair.
"Is…" Ai Mei mumbled, "is something wrong?"
Audrey smiled, patting the seat next to her, "of course not, honey. But there is something we need to discuss. Or…rather tell you."
Ai Mei nodded, taking a seat. The reassurance Audrey gave her, however, didn't diminish much, "what is it mama?"
Raine turned around, holding a small white box, sitting it on the table, gently pushing it before Ai Mei. He took a seat as well, across from her, "I'm sure you already figured this out long ago… but you are half fellen."
Ai Mei's hazel eye had dragged across the table, "yeah…I mean…when I was still a little kid. I just…didn't know how to ask."
Raine shook his head, "Taekhyu advised us to tell you. But I was stubborn. And that wasn't on you. It was us…no. ME. As your father, it was not fair, nor right to hold that from you. And I take full responsibility if you feel conflicted, even mad."
Ai Mei made a nervous smile, gesturing her hands for her father to stop, "what?? Dad, I'm not mad…at you or mama. Well, at first, I was confused…but I came to understand it was for a good reason."
Audrey took Ai Mei's hand into her own, "do you want to know who your mother is, Mei Mei?"
Ai Mei's mouth opened, pausing, "…" She was stuck. This was her chance; she could finally know who her mother was! But something sat in the back of her head. Ai Mei looked at Audrey. Really gazed at her.
nd a question popped into her head.
What would this change?
Sure, she'd learn more of her lineage, maybe understand why her mother disappeared so many years ago. But as things stood now, Ai Mei was fine. Was it ignorance?
Yes?
No?
Maybe?
However, the young girl knew one thing…
"Nope," Ai Mei shook her head, using a hand to flip her hair back.
Raine and Audrey themselves were taken aback by this. After all, this woman was a landmark in their lives. The true mother of Mei. Wouldn't most children want to know who their actual parent was?
"Mei Mei, are you serious??" Raine asked, sitting forward, "isn't this something you always wanted to know??"
"Right?" Audrey added, "I know I'm not you're real mother…and I'm sure that it bothered you at some point, sweetie…"
"It did…" Ai Mei bluntly replied, "but…whenever I think back…to the past, I remember what Grandma told me those years ago. Blood does not always make family. It comes from the heart. Love." Ai Mei smiled, looking to Audrey, "Love is what makes family. And I know that you raised me, loved me as your own blood. You will always be the woman I consider to be my REAL mother. And I don't want another. I'm happy I can call you mama."
Audrey had no words, her big eyes had squinted, tears building up in less than a second, "Mei Mei…"
Audrey and Ai Mei shared a tight hug, holding each other close.
Raine smiled, merely watching them, "well…are you sure?"
"Yep!"
Raine chuckled, shaking his head, "alright then. Still, keep the box, okay? For when you decide to open, whenever that time comes."
Ai Mei picked up the box, eyeing it closely, and stuffed it into her pocket.
The lucanaship drifted on through the stars, quiet in comfort. The three sat within the living area, watching a show on the televisor.
Audrey brushed a strand of hair from Mei's face, "is your sister still sleep?"
"Y'know how she is ma, she's literally a log."
Raine scoffed, "if there was a tournament for who could sleep the soundest, that kids winning, guaranteed."
Ai Mei giggled, "I'll go get her!" She stood, walking down the hall.
Audrey cuddled closer to Raine, "I'm…happy. I didn't know what to expect from this."
"Me too…" Raine pulled her closer, "I was preparing for a catastrophe, knowing how Mei is when she's mad. But…I'm not disappointed at all."
"Me neither…Still…" Audrey frowned, "I think Mei should at least know of her who gave birth to her, at some point."
"She will. When she really wants to know."
Mei walked down the long hall thinking about how she should wake Elaine. Jump on her? Shake her? Maybe make Elaine float off the bed? Well, all of those would probably scare the mouse of a girl.
That was the plan, until the ship had violently shaken.
"What the—" Ai Mei caught herself, hitting the wall.
Alarms blared, lights flickered, metal screamed.
Raine quickly acted, standing to his feet, "somethings wrong."
"Are we under attack??" Audrey asked, following behind.
Raine nodded, quietly, "this was intentional. This ship has sensors to notice anything coming our way. Someone is using jammers."
"The kids…Raine, we have to get them…!"
"I know, I know…" Raine raised a calm hand, "Mei Mei and Elaine should be together. We get to them first before anything. Then make way to the escape pods, fast, got it?"
Audrey nodded.
"Good thing you've been polishing your skills with me. Let's go…"
Raine and Audrey quickly made way down the hall.
Elaine shook awake from the quaking ship, groggy, "what's going on…?" She asked, hearing the alarms come to life. That's when she realized whatever this was, it wasn't good. Elaine sweated, anxious, scared, crouching to the door, 'oh no-no-no-no-no… are we being attacked??? Mom…dad…Mei Mei??!'
Elaine could hear distant footsteps, running through the ship. Too many to count. All heavy. That wasn't her family. She eyed the doorknob. Elaine knew she couldn't stay cooped in her room forever, especially when her family is still out there…
The door opened slowly, quietly.
Elaine stared at some man in a coat and gas mask, standing tall over her.
Elaine's eyes had widened, fear washed over her face like an animal being hunted down.
"Found one…" The man's raspy voice behind the mask spoke up, pulling out a weapon, some kind of pistol. The gun aimed right at Elaine's forehead.
Just before his finger pulled the trigger, a foot came crashing across his head, kicking him down the hall, smashing through a wall.
A pair of hands grasped Elaine's cheeks, reeling her back into reality, "Elaine…! Snap out of it…!"
Elaine's eyes focused, staring at Ai Mei's face. "Mei Mei…" Elaine shook her head, "have you seen mom?? Dad?? Where are they?"
Ai Mei quickly took Elaine's hand, pulling her, running down the opposite direction of the hall, "they were in the living room when I last seen them. I was coming to get you…but this happened."
They came to hold at the corner. Ai Mei peeked past it, searching for any enemies. Nothing. They were clear, for now. She faced Elaine, "we need to find them."
"…okay…" Elaine replied, yet her body was shaking like some jittery toy. It wouldn't stop. Just the thought of getting killed, losing her family…it was too much.
"Hey…" Ai Mei squeezed Elaine's hand, setting her palm on Elaine's cheek, "we're gonna be okay, 'Laine. We'll get through this, together…"
Elaine nodded, "right…"
They quickly scurried down the hall, trying to be as discreet as possible. The alarms never stopped, and lights continued to flash. If anything, it just enhanced the grave atmosphere. Extra footsteps grew louder, Ai Mei and Elaine came to another stop, silent, waiting. A group of few men came around, eyeing the pair of girls.
"There they are!!" One yelled.
"Take em down!!"
Ai Mei and Elaine nodded to each other.
The men raised their palms and fired a barrage of elements!
Ai Mei and Elaine quickly used their telekinesis, holding the attack, and pushing them back. The girls released the array of power, returning it to the senders.
As the men blocked it off, Ai Mei and Elaine shot forward in a flash, dashing to the men with haste. Ai Mei leapt onto the wall and flipped off, kicking the first onto the face, making him spiral to the ground.
"Little bitch!" The other growled, raising his axe.
Elaine hastily palmed his sternum, making him hit the wall.
The last grunted, preparing to lodge his blade into Elaine's head!
But a blur had blasted through, a man elbowing the enemy into the air. A woman came forward, sending multiple fast strikes onto his chest, taking him out.
"Mom, Dad!!" The girls hugged onto their parents, pulling them in.
Audrey inspected their faces, "are you two okay??"
"Yeah!" Ai Mei nodded, "luckily we got to each other in time."
"What's going on? Who's attacking us?" Elaine asked.
"I dunno," Raine replied, eyeing the area, "we need to get to the emergency hatch. It's downstairs, under the dojo. That's where the escape pods are." Raine faced his family, "stick close. No leaving on your own, alright?"
They all nodded.
More men came from the opposite end of the hall. Before they could even get a word out, Raine was a gust of wind, taking them down under split second! Their bodies flung into the air and hit the ground hard, knocked out.
'So fast…' Ai Mei and Elaine were shocked.
They knew their father was a powerful man, training with him for years. They could never beat him in a spar, any kind of practice. But this was the first time they'd ever seen him in battle.
Raine gestured his head towards the hall, "lets get moving."
The family quickly moved through the large lucanaship, making their way through the halls. Raine himself was a one-man army, taking down each enemy without a problem. He was swift, fast, precise, a true master in the art of Shang Fu.
"The bunker is on the left side of the dojo, we get there and head downstairs," Raine explained.
Just as they entered, someone wearing a hooded robe stood in the middle, silent.
They all came to a full stop, gazing at the man. 'Who is that…?' Raine asked himself. Although he had no idea who this person was, the power they had was strong, deadly.
The woman spoke from behind her mask, "you may let the girls leave."
Raine looked to the girls, then Audrey, and nodded, "go."
"Wa-Wait dad!! We can't just leave you behind!!" Ai Mei argued.
"Please, let us stay! We can help!" Elaine added, moving closer to her father, pleading.
Audrey bit her lip, and applied her aura, setting her hand onto Elaine's shoulder. It was like a shockwave had erupted inside Elaine, making her discombobulated, like a robot having a short circuit. The girl grew weak and fell back. Audrey caught her, lifting Elaine onto her small shoulder, looking to Ai Mei, "Mei, let's go. Now."
Ai Mei gazed at her father again.
Raine made a reassuring smile, "it's okay, Mei. Go."
The girl closed her eyes, and went with her mother to the door, making their way downstairs.
Raine, now focused on the woman, "mind telling me who you are now?"
The woman softly spoke, "I cannot say… But know that this was fate for the future."
Raine grew a bit confused, 'future?' He thought to himself. 'Could she be one of those Seraphim Zealot's…? No, they should all be on the northern side of the Vinteel Galaxy.'—Raine eyed her closely—'Still, I got a bad feeling about this woman…'
Raine went into posture for battle as the mystery woman stood still. The air was still, even the slightest noise could be perceived. Aura danced around Raine like flames. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and shot forward.