The next day, Takuma, Emi, and Sota sat together near a small campfire they built earlier in the woods. The sun was high, and you could hear the sound of birds. They were tired, but happy to have found each other.
Sota poked the fire with a stick. "So… what do we do now?"
Takuma looked at Sota. "We train. That man in the armor—he was strong. If more like him come, we have to be ready."
Emi nodded. "Yeah. And if there are other Starborne out there, maybe some of them need our help too."
Sota smiled a little. "Then we'll be heroes."
Takuma laughed. "Maybe. But let's start with the training first."
They all stood up and began to train again. Emi practiced jumping between trees, moving faster than she did before. Sota focused on his rods, trying to make the blue light move the way he wanted. Takuma swung his sword through some thick branches cutting cleanly through them with ease.
Every swing made him feel stronger. Every movement made him faster.
After hours of training, they sat again to rest.
Emi looked up at the sky. "Do you think the stars are watching us?"
Takuma looked up too. "Maybe. Or maybe they chose us for a reason."
Before Sota could answer, the ground shook. Leaves fell from the trees, and a strange sound echoed through the forest—a low, rumbling growl.
"What was that?" Sota asked, standing up quickly.
From between the trees came a figure—tall, shadowy, and covered in glowing cracks of red light. Its body looked like black stone, and its eyes burned bright like fire.
Emi gasped. "It's a monster!"
Takuma grabbed his sword and stepped forward. "Stay behind me!"
The creature roared and swung a heavy arm down toward them. Takuma jumped to the side and sliced upward, his sword cutting clean through the monster's arm. The piece fell to the ground and broke apart like glass.
But the creature didn't stop. It reached again with its other arm.
Sota's rods flashed blue as he shouted, "Get back!" A blast of lightning shot out, hitting the monster's chest and pushing it backward.
Emi leaped in, kicking right into the monster's head. The hit stunned the monster.
Takuma saw his chance. He ran forward and swung his sword with all his power. The wide, grey blade cut through the monster's body in one strike.
The creature froze, then broke apart into black dust that floated away into the air.
For a moment, the forest was quiet again.
Emi caught her breath. "That… was close."
Sota grinned. "We actually did it!"
Takuma lowered his sword and smiled too. "Yeah. We did." He looked at the others. "If monsters like that are appearing, then we can't stop here. There's more out there."
Sota nodded. "Then let's go find them."
Emi stood beside them, her hands balled in a fist. "Together."
The three of them looked out at the bright blue sky. Takuma tightened his grip on his sword. "We'll protect this world," he said quietly. "No matter what comes next."
And with that, the three Starborne walked forward, ready for whatever their new journey would bring.