Elements: Age of Creation

A Detour from the Police Station

The city lights blurred past the car window as Hikaru leaned against the seat, still feeling the lingering effects of his encounter in the alleyway. His body ached, but more than that, his mind raced with questions.

Who was that masked figure? What was that power that had come from within him? And why did it feel so… familiar?

At least now, he wasn't alone. Satoshi and Reina seemed like good people. If nothing else, they had helped when he was at his weakest.

But then, something strange happened.

As they approached an intersection, Hikaru noticed something odd–the police station was on the right. But instead of turning, Satoshi kept driving straight.

Hikaru sat up, his instincts suddenly on high alert.

"Uh, hey… you just passed the police station," he pointed out.

Satoshi didn't respond.

Hikaru frowned. "Did you hear me? You missed the police station."

Still, no answer.

That's when it hit him.

I'm being kidnapped.

His muscles tensed. His mind quickly ran through his options. He was still weak from the fight, and Satoshi was a fully grown man. Could he fight him off? Probably not. Could he jump out of the moving car? That might be even worse.

Reina, sitting in the passenger seat, finally spoke. "We're not taking you to the police, Hikaru."

Hikaru's breath hitched. "What?"

Satoshi sighed, gripping the steering wheel. "Relax, kid. We're not your enemies. We just can't take you to the police. They wouldn't understand."

"Understand what?!" Hikaru snapped. "That I was attacked? Hikaru snapped. "That I was attacked? That someone tried to kill me? What the hell is going on?"

Neither of them answered. The silence stretched between them as the car continued down the darkened road. Hikaru clenched his fists, his heartbeat growing faster.

What have I gotten myself into?

The Safehouse

After what looked like an eternity, the car finally pulled into a secluded parking lot near an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The building looked run-down, with cracked concrete and rusted metal doors.

Hikaru was even more convinced–he was getting kidnapped.

"Alright, that's it," he said, his voice filled with rising panic. "Where the hell are we?"

Satoshi put the car in park and turned around. His expression was serious, but not unkind. "A safehouse."

Reina nodded. "You're not safe out there, Hikaru. Not anymore."

Before Hikaru could protest, Satoshi opened his door and stepped out. Reina did the same. Hikaru debated running, but where would he even go? He was still exhausted, and if these two were really dangerous, escaping wouldn't be easy.

With a heavy sigh, he reluctantly got out of the car.

The moment he stepped inside the warehouse, he realized it wasn't abandoned at all. The interior was completely renovated–modern equipment, computers, maps pinned to boards, and a large emblem engraved into the floor.

A symbol of ten interlocking elements.

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"What is this place?"

Satoshi turned to face him. "Welcome, Hikaru. This is the headquarters of the Order of the Elements."

The Order of the Elements

"The what?" Hikaru asked, crossing his arms.

"The Order of the Elements," Reina repeated. "We're an organization that exists to protect people like you–those who have inherited the power of the elements."

Hikaru frowned. "Power of the elements? You mean that… light thing that came out of me?"

Satoshi nodded. "Exactly. What you awakened back in that alley wasn't normal. It was the Element of Light, one of the Ten Primal Elements.

Hikaru's head spun. "This has to be a joke. I'm just a college student. I don't have… magic powers or whatever."

Satoshi chuckled. "Try telling that to the alleyway you lit up like a lighthouse."

Hikaru opened his mouth to argue, but the memory of the radiant glow in his hands stopped him.

"…So, what does this mean?"

Reina stepped forward. "It means that you've inherited a power that's been passed down for generations. And whether you like it or not, people will come after you for it."

Hikaru exhaled sharply. "Like the guy who attacked me?"

Satoshi and Reina didn't say anything–just silence.

The weight of it all pressed down on him. This wasn't just some random mugging–this was something much bigger.

"…How many of you are in this 'Order'?" Hikaru asked after a moment.

Satoshi smirked. "Including us? Three."

Hikaru blinked. "Three? That's it?"

Reina smiled. "It's a small operation, but we're effective."

"…Wait." Hikaru narrowed his eyes. "Who's the third person?"

The air suddenly grew heavy.

A shiver ran down Hikaru's spine as he felt a presence behind him.

A deep, familiar voice spoke.

"Well, well… took you long enough to ask."

Hikaru turned sharply–

And standing right behind him was the masked figure from the alley.

His breath caught in his throat as the figure slowly lifter his hood–

And smirked.