RENA : Shadows Awaken

Lucas felt as though his heart was going to explode. He knew he had to confess everything—that he had made a monumental mistake. All this time, he had been watching Maddison, thinking she was Rena. Worse still, he had assumed Rena was a scout of the Shadows. He knew Shela would be furious, but she wasn't the one he feared most. No, the one who truly terrified him was Merick.

The silence in the car was heavy. Lucas stared at his hands, avoiding Shela's piercing gaze. But she could sense his nervousness.

"Lucas, what are you hiding? You're practically dripping with guilt," Shela said, keeping her eyes on the road.

He tried to take a deep breath, but it did nothing to calm the panic rising within him.

"Listen, I need to tell you something, but… it's going to make you mad," he began.

Shela turned her head slightly toward him, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, really? And I'm supposed to be surprised? Go on, spit it out."

Lucas took a shaky breath. "I made a mistake… about Maddison and Rena. This whole time, I thought Maddison was Rena. And… I believed Rena was a scout of the Shadows."

An icy silence filled the car. Then suddenly, Shela burst out laughing.

"Wait, wait… What? Are you serious? What a huge mistake!" She shook her head, incredulous. "Honestly, Lucas, you're a complete idiot. You really messed up that badly? Merick is going to destroy you for this, mark my words."

She laughed harder, but her tone grew increasingly sharp. "No, but seriously, Lucas. What were you thinking? That you could just bumble along and no one would notice your incompetence?"

Lucas clenched his fists, but he didn't dare respond. He knew she was right.

While they argued, Rena began to notice something strange. The road they were taking wasn't one she recognized. She frowned, a hint of panic creeping into her chest.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way to my house," she said abruptly, cutting into their argument.

Lucas turned to her, trying to keep his tone soothing. "Calm down, Rena. We're just taking a little detour."

But Rena shook her head, her voice rising. "No, I want to know where you're taking me!"

The panic in her voice was quickly replaced by pure, visceral anger. An energy she didn't understand began to rise within her. Her blue-tinted eyes turned white, streaked with flashes of bright sky blue. The transformation she had experienced before now returned, but this time with even greater intensity.

Shela suddenly let go of the steering wheel with one hand, crying out in pain. Her wrist burned as if it had been seared by a hot iron.

"What… what's happening?!" she screamed.

On the other side, Lucas slumped against his seat, clutching his chest. An unbearable pain radiated through his torso, forcing him to writhe in agony.

In the midst of the chaos, Rena watched them both, her glowing eyes darting between them. She noticed their tattoos, which now shone with an otherworldly light. Guided by a force she didn't understand, she spoke words in an ancient language:

"Vythren d'al Seran Suze." (Pledge allegiance to Suze.)

Despite their unbearable pain, Shela and Lucas immediately understood what she was saying. They exchanged a glance, realizing that this moment was inevitable.

"Do it, Lucas," Shela murmured through gritted teeth. "We don't have a choice."

They spoke in unison, their voices resonating in the car:

"Seran an Suze." (We pledge allegiance to Suze.)

The moment they uttered the words, Rena touched them both on the shoulders. They let out a muffled cry, but instantly, the pain vanished as though it had never existed.

Rena staggered back, gasping for air. She pressed a hand to her head, trying to regain her composure. Her vision cleared, and her eyes returned to their usual bluish hue.

"What… what just happened?" she murmured.

Shela looked down at her wrist, her eyes wide. Where there had once been a crescent moon with three stars, a new symbol had appeared. The name "Suze" was now etched in shimmering silver beneath it.

"Lucas, check your tattoo!" she exclaimed.

Lucas lifted his shirt to reveal his chest. His tattoo had changed as well. The crescent moon, which had previously borne a single star, now also carried the name Suze.

Rena, still in shock, stared at their tattoos. "Why do you have the same tattoos as me?" she asked, noticing that hers had seven stars.

Lucas took a deep breath. "The stars represent the Guardians. There are seven of us. I have one star because I'm the first. Shela has three because she's the third. And you…"

He paused before continuing. "You're the key, Rena."

Rena furrowed her brow. "And why is Suze's name written beneath them?"

Shela, trying to lighten the mood, smirked. "Because the goddess just introduced herself. Her name is Suze, and we pledged allegiance to her. She accepted us."

"Accepted? Accepted for what?" Rena pressed.

Shela burst into laughter. "So we don't have to feel that excruciating pain every time you lose your temper, for starters. You have no idea how unbearable it was!"

Lucas raised a hand to silence Shela. "It's more than that. We're now connected. Suze has freed us, but it also means our destiny is sealed. To defeat the Shadow Darkness, all seven Guardians must be united… with the Goddess of Shadows."

**"So, where are the other five Guardians?"** Rena asked, a skeptical and concerned look on her face. Her blue eyes, usually calm, were now filled with growing curiosity and impatience. She needed answers, to understand what was happening, and most importantly, to know how all of this was going to unfold.

A silence fell over the car. Shela avoided her gaze, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. Lucas, on the other hand, seemed hesitant before answering.

**"We're just three,"** Shela replied gravely. **"The other four … they haven't been found yet. And we have no idea who they are at the moment."**

Rena, stunned, rolled her eyes and slumped back in her seat, a sarcastic smile forming on her lips.

**"Great. Wonderful. What a fantastic update. Three Guardians out of seven, powers awakening out of nowhere, and more mysteries to deal with. I feel *so* reassured."** She exhaled loudly, leaning against the window, arms crossed. **"And this is supposed to be the start of the adventure?"**

Lucas looked at her with a slight apologetic smile before reaching a hand toward her. **"Rena, listen. Now that you're here, and your powers are fully awakened, we have a chance to find them. We know you're part of this prophecy, you're essential to all of this."**

Rena looked up at him, her sarcasm still present, but her tone softer. **"Yeah, or this could just be another huge joke. A prophecy, Guardians, gods and goddesses… And you really think I'm going to manage to find people you haven't even been able to identify?"**

Lucas held her gaze for a moment, the determination in his eyes unwavering. **"I know it sounds unbelievable, but you're not alone. We have a bond now, thanks to Suze. That's going to help us. And we'll figure out who these other Guardians are. No matter how long it takes."**

Shela spoke up again, calmer but still with a hint of challenge in her voice. **"You might be right to be skeptical, but trust me, Rena. We all have a part to play in this story. And even if things seem unclear, it all makes sense. We'll find the other Guardians, we'll find them together."**

Rena sighed, but this time, it wasn't out of frustration, but rather contemplation. She knew things weren't as simple as they made it seem, but maybe they were right. Maybe, as Lucas said, the awakening of her powers was a sign. Maybe fate had brought them together for a reason. But a part of her, the fearless and pragmatic side, remained on edge. She couldn't just accept all of this so easily.

**"I'll try to get used to the idea of being 'the key' and saving the world, if you want,"** she said finally, with a cynical smile. **"But I warn you, I want answers, and I want facts."**

Lucas responded with a reassuring smile. **"And you'll get them, Rena. I promise you."**

Rena's expression softened, though her skepticism didn't fully disappear. The road ahead was still long, and many questions remained unanswered. But at least she knew they were all in the same boat. And that was a start.