Reito led the Elements and Teshii through the main entrance hall of the Shaolin Temple.
Hikaru glanced around as he walked, his eyes wide with awe.
Tall wooden columns – ancient and darkened with age – rose like solemn guardians from the polished stone floor. Their surfaces were etched with faded inscriptions and claw marks from past training, some centuries old. The air was thick with the scent of aged sandalwood, mingling with delicate incense that drifted lazily from brass burners positioned along the walls.
Golden lanterns hung from the high ceiling beams, casting a warm, flickering light across the space. Their gentle glow bathed the towering statue of the Bodhisattva at the far end of the hall – a serene figure with eyes closed, palms open in eternal offering, watching over the temple in peaceful majesty.
On either side of the hall, rows of prayer mats were neatly aligned. Each one was untouched yet prepared – a quiet testament to the discipline and order that reigned here. Shaolin monks moved gracefully through the space, their footsteps soft and fluid, robes whispering with every motion.
Every stone beneath their feet, every scroll-lined alcove, and every hanging banner stitched with ancient calligraphy seemed to hum – not with noise, but with weight. A ground energy. A silent strength forged from centuries of tradition, sweat, spirit, and unwavering purpose.
Hikaru's eyes gleamed as he absorbed the atmosphere.
"Woah… this place is amazing," he murmured under his breath, his voice nearly drowned out by the serenity around them.
Then–
"Oi, Snowman!" Ikazuchi suddenly called out, snapping the quiet.
Reito turned slightly but didn't stop walking. "What is it?"
"How…" Ikazuchi paused, shivering as he pulled Teshii's fleece tighter around himself. "How the hell do you monks handle this cold?! I'm still freezing!"
Reito kept walking, his voice calm as the temple air.
"We've trained in these mountains for many years. Eventually, we adapt to the environment. The cold no longer bothers us."
Teshii turned to Ikazuchi with a smug grin. "In other words, Zeus… they're just built differently. Unlike you, who needs my fleece to survive."
"EH?! YOUR FLEECE ISN'T EVEN KEEPING ME WARM!" Ikazuchi shouted, teeth chattering.
Teshii smirked and turned away. "Hmph. That's your problem."
Ikazuchi growled, both from irritation and the chill still crawling over his skin.
"So… Reito!"
Reito glanced to the side – it was Haruto.
"Any chance you could tell us the history of the Shaolin Temple?" Haruto asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Then–
Reito smiled, quietly nodding his agreement. He was glad someone had asked.
"This Shaolin Temple has been around for centuries," he began, his voice calm and measured, like the wind that swept through the mountain. "It was founded by a man named Jiro. Long before these temple walls rose against the snow-draped cliffs, before chants echoed across the peaks, and before the world even called them monks – there was only Jiro."
"Jiro?" Moriya raised an eyebrow.
Reito nodded.
"Yes. Jiro. He was once a warrior – known through the land not for brutality or aggression, but for his strength and discipline. He was feared by many enemies. Not because of his power… but because of his calmness."
"Then… what happened to him?" Hikaru asked, intrigued.
"He vanished," Reito replied, his steps slow and deliberate as he continued leading them through the temple. "He disappeared from the battlefield without a word."
"What do you mean 'vanished'?" Haruto asked.
Reito's voice softened.
"Some say he wandered the land for years. Others claim he meditated beneath a frozen waterfall for ninety-nine days. But the truth is…" Reito paused. "He hated war."
Silence settled in for a moment, carried on the quiet creak of ancient wood underfoot.
"Jiro climbed the highest mountains he could find – where no war drums echoed. Only the wind. That place… became the beginning of this temple."
A lantern flickered slightly as a breeze slipped in from the corridor, casting dancing shadows across the walls.
Reito continued:
"He built this temple not as a fortress, but as a sanctuary – a home for lost warriors, wandering healers, and seeks of peace. His teachings blended martial discipline, inner stillness, and spiritual enlightenment. In time, others followed. They became a brotherhood – a family. They trained not to conquer, but to protect. To master themselves before ever mastering others."
Reito stopped walking, turning to face the others.
"Jiro never called himself 'Master.' He remained, simply… the First Monk."
The group was silent, the story hanging in the air like mist.
"A legacy born from a man who chose peace over war," Reito said quietly. "Who taught the world that true strength begins within.
Haruto's eyes lit up, admiration plain on his face.
"Wow… that story is amazing. Is there anything else you know about Master Jiro?"
Reito raised a hand to his chin, thoughtful.
"Master Jiro did have a broher. But… not much is known about him. His name is lost to time."
The flickering lantern cast a brief glow across their faces.
Something about those words lingered – quiet, unresolved – as they continued deeper into the temple.
Then – Teshii spoke up.
"So… what about you, Sub-Zero? Why did you join the temple?"
Reito turned to Teshii, his expression shifting. He looked down at the floor.
"Um… actually… I didn't join."
Everyone stopped.
"What do you mean?" Haruto asked, puzzled.
"The monks found me… abandoned. Right outside the temple gates."
Their eyes widened at Reito's confession.
"You were… abandoned?"
Reito nodded slowly. "Yeah. I was only two years old when the monks told me they found me."
There was a beat of stunned silence.
Teshii blinked. "Wait, wait – how old are you now?"
"Eighteen," Reito said simply.
Teshii froze mid-step, as if that number physically stunned him. "YOU'RE 18?!"
"Y-Yes, I'm 18. Why?" Reito tilted his head, genuinely confused.
"You're eighteen years old and already act this mature?" Teshii said in disbelief.
Hikaru scoffed and chuckled. "Unlike a certain someone."
Teshii glared, knowing that Hikaru's comment was towards him.
Then–
Hikaru's smile faded. A thought hit him like a cold breeze.
"Wait… Reito is eighteen now. And he was found when he was two. That means he's been here for sixteen years."
He remembered Mei's words clearly–
"Yuki lost her son sixteen years ago… and her son was two when he disappeared."
His chest tightened.
"…Is that just a coincidence?"
"Hikaru?"
Hikaru snapped out of his thoughts and turned.
It was Moriya, his green eyes quietly studying him.
"Are you okay?"
Hikaru hesitated, then nodded. "Uh… y-yeah. I'm okay."
Moriya didn't press further but narrowed his eyes slightly.
"If you say so."
With the cold wind brushing against their fleeces, the Elements and Teshii continued following Reito deeper into the Shaolin Temple.
But Hikaru's mind was elsewhere–
Haunted by a strange possibility he wasn't yet ready to say aloud.
10 Minutes Later…
They had finally arrived at the heart of the Shaolin Temple.
Everyone's eyes widened in awe.
Because what they saw was…
Absolutely breathtaking.
Rows of monks moved in perfect unison across the training courtyard, their movements a seamless blend of strength and serenity. Each step, each breath, echoed with generations of discipline, honour, and tradition passed down through the ages.
Teshii let out a low whistle.
"Wow… Sub-Zero wasn't kidding. This isn't just a temple – it's a sanctuary."
Reito stepped ahead of the group, arms spread with pride. "Everyone… welcome to the Shaolin Temple."
Then–
"Reito!"
A voice echoed powerfully through the vast temple grounds.
Reito turned. "Huh?"
A bald man in the same robes Reito wore approached them – tall, composed, with an air of authority and calm wisdom.
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Master Takeshi
Age: 44
Hair Colour: N/A
Eye Colour: Brown Eyes
Height: 6'0
Weight: 160lbs
Occupation: Shaolin Monk
"Master Takeshi!" Reito exclaimed and bowed deeply with the grace of a seasoned monk.
Takeshi returned the bow. "Reito… and who are these visitors you've brought with you?"
Reito straightened his posture and turned to the group.
"These are my guests – Hikaru, Haruto, Moriya, Ikazuchi, and Teshii. They've come from far away."
He turned back to his master.
"And everyone, this is Master Takeshi – the one who found me and raised me like his own."
Hikaru stepped forward first. "It's an honour to meet you, Master Takeshi."
He bowed respectfully, and the others followed suit – Haruto, Moriya, and even Teshii.
Ikazuchi, however, scoffed.
"Huh? Why should I bow to yo–"
Before he could finish, Teshii casually reached behind him and yanked Ikazuchi's neck down into a full bow.
"Show some respect!" he whispered through gritted teeth.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Ikazuchi snapped, trying to wriggle out of Teshii's grip.
Master Takeshi chuckled softly and bowed in return.
"Welcome, all of you. It's a rare thing to see new faces walk through these halls."
Everyone straightened their postures.
Then–
"Well," Teshii clapped his hands lightly. "If we're just going to stand around…"
He turned to Master Takeshi.
"Would you mind if I had a word with you? Just the two of us."
Master Takeshi raised a brow, intrigued. "Just the two of us?"
Teshii nodded. "Yes, sir. Just a private talk, if you don' mind."
Master Takeshi looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well. We can speak in the meditation hall."
He gestured to a nearby building tucked beneath the shadow of a sacred tree.
Teshii grinned.
"Lead the way, sir."
The two of them walked off, leaving the others with Reito in the courtyard.
"So now what?" Ikazuchi asked, arms crossed.
Then–
"HAH!"
Everyone turned. It was the same group of Shaolin monks they had seen earlier, now moving in perfect unison, punching the air with sharp precision.
"HAH! HAH! HAH!"
Their voices echoed across the training courtyard like rolling thunder.
"…Do they have to shout like that?" Moriya asked, head tilted.
"Yeah. It's called a kiai," Reito replied without even looking.
Moriya turned to him, curiosity sparked. "A kial?"
Reito nodded. "It's a sharp shout used when delivering an attack. It channels your energy and intimidates the opponent.
"I see…" Moriya nodded slowly, then turned to the others. "So… it's kind of like when we shout out our attack names."
Reito nodded to him with a small smile.
Hikaru turned to reply–
But paused.
"…Um, guys? Where's Haruto?"
Everyone blinked and looked around.
Haruto was missing.
Silence.
"HAH!"
They all whipped back around toward the training monks – And there he was.
Haruto, fully immersed, now punching the air alongside them. His stance strong. His face focused.
"HAH! HAH! HAH!"
Hikaru, Moriya, and Ikazuchi stared at him in disbelief.
"…Well, I guess that's what Haruto will be doing while Teshii talks to Master Takeshi," Hikaru said with a sigh.
He turned to the others. "So, what about you two? What are you going to do?"
"I think…" Moriya said thoughtfully, "…I'm going to head back to the entrance hall."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"We passed some scrolls on the wall earlier. They looked old – like they had history written on them. I just want to read them."
"Oh. Alright then."
With a polite nod, Moriya turned and made his way back toward the entrance hall.
Hikaru turned to Ikazuchi. "What about you?"
Ikazuchi just stared at him blankly, unsure of how to answer.
"…FINE. I guess I'll walk around the temple of something."
With his hands shoved into his pockets, Ikazuchi wandered off, leaving both Hikaru and Reito standing in the courtyard.
Reito turned to Hikaru, arching a brow. "So… what do you want to do, Hikaru?"
"Um…"
Grrrrgle!
Hikaru froze.
His stomach growled.
Loudly.
He clutched his stomach awkwardly and smiled. "Uh… perhaps I should eat first."
Reito chuckled softly. "If that's the case, follow me. I'll take you somewhere to eat in the temple."
Hikaru nodded quickly. "Please do."
As Reito led Hikaru through a quieter corridor of the temple toward the dining area, Hikaru caught up beside him.
"So… Reito," Hikaru said, curious. "How long have you had the Element of Ice?"
Reito looked up at the sky, his breath misting in the cold air.
"It was just last year that I awakened it."
"Last year?" Hikaru blinked.
Reito nodded. "Yeah. I was training like usual… then suddenly, I felt this intense pain surge through my body. Everything around me just… froze. It happened all at once."
Hikaru chuckled. "That's… almost exactly what happened to me."
Reito offered a small smile. "I couldn't control it at first. But with Master Takeshi and the other monks helping me, I eventually learned how to harness it."
He turned slightly to look at Hikaru. "What about you? Who helped you master your Element?"
Hikaru looked ahead as they continued walking. "When I first awakened the Element of Light, I had no idea how to use it. Nothing worked. I couldn't even summon a spark. But then Teshii showed up out of nowhere and trained me. If it weren't for him... I'd probably still be useless."
Reito's expression was unreadable as he glanced at him. "So… is Teshii like your master or something?"
Hikaru laughed. "No, no, no! I can't imagine Teshii being anyone's master. But when it comes to the serious stuff – when it really counts – he's the guy you want by your side."
Reito was quiet for a moment before nodding. "I see."
Hikaru sighed and added, "Though if I'm being honest… I still don't know why my sister likes Teshii."
Reito raised a brow. "Sister?"
"Yeah," Hikaru nodded. "I've got a younger twin sister. Her name's Hikari. And… she likes Teshii."
Reito tilted his head. "What's wrong with that?"
"I hate it," Hikaru grumbled.
Reito blinked. "Why?"
Hikaru groaned. "Because… Teshii is Teshii. He's reckless. He's annoying. He's chaotic. He's literally the last guy I'd want my sister to fall for."
Reito crossed his arms. "Yet he's still the guy you trust with your life."
Hikaru winced. "Yeah, that's the problem."
Reito stared at him for a moment, then said bluntly, "You're just being overprotective."
Hikaru scoffed. "Yeah, and? She's my dear sister. Of course I'm overprotective."
Reito exhaled softly. "I wouldn't know what that's like."
Hikaru blinked. "…Right. You were abandoned."
Reito nodded, his voice calm. "Yeah. The Shaolin monks found me at the gates when I was just two years old. Raised me ever since."
That made Hikaru stop.
His breath caught in his throat.
Sixteen years ago…
"Yuki lost her son sixteen years ago," Hikaru though. "He was two years old… and disappeared."
Hikaru slowly turned to look at Reito.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
Just like Yuki.
Reito stopped walking and looked back. "Hikaru?"
Hikaru didn't answer. He just stared at him.
His heart raced.
The pieces in his mind were starting to align – clicking together faster than he could process them.
Could it be…?
Could Reito… be Yuki's long-lost son?
TO BE CONTINUED!!!