Four days passed like a flash. The Karada ships slowly came into view of the evening Le'Lau ports, ready to receive the package of soldiers that was promised to them.
Training had been rigorous. The second day the soldiers had all gotten the hang of fortifying their bodies, and the third and fourth days were used for sparring.
Obai had already mastered the basics in that time thanks to his previous knowledge of energy manipulation. This unfortunately attracted some of Juno's attention, but the cold captain didn't comment on it. Obai's companions certainly did, though.
Anytime there was a break—or even just mid-sparring—Bolin, Teddy, Marcus, and Alistaire would all ask him questions non-stop about how he was so skilled at energy manipulation and if he could show them.
Their words annoyed him so much that he ended up yelling tremendously more than what he was used to. However, they eventually wore Obai down. A little.
The group continued to train after receiving some extra instruction, slowly outmatching the rest of the soldiers, especially Bolin and Alistaire. The giant man became much more deadly with his increased strength, while the blond, sly guy reached shocking levels of mastery over energy manipulation, using it to slightly decrease his weight to outmaneuver his opponents effortlessly.
His skills ended up going to his head, and Alistaire wound up joining Obai in the "everyone keeps away from me" gang, as the rest of the soldiers found his bragging obnoxious.
The men were currently lined up on the main deck, prepared to disembark the ship and await their new orders.
Obai gazed off at the beautiful island, the bright buildings of the capital evoked a strong emotion in those who glanced its way.
It'd been five long years since his eyes welcomed the sight of his homeland. Its beauty never left, yet even though nothing physically gleamed differently, he could still feel a major change.
The cold darkness of the sea breeze brushed against him and cut under his skin as he squinted and tightened his muscles.
The image of that day had burned itself on the front of his memory. Even after all the horror and anger he felt. After his unwanted adventure through the Arm and the consequences of the journey. After all the pain.
That day was still fresh in his mind.
His biggest regret... Nova's death.
Obai's eyes gleamed as he looked out beyond Le'Lau.
Behind the ports and out past the flat and wet fields that surrounded the city, bright orange light flickered. Fires had spread amongst the houses of a faraway village, determined to fulfill the attack set out by the one who'd caused them.
The rogue commander of the Seishin had made his way extremely far inland and was now threatening the capital. The fresh batch of the Karada shivered at the sight, following the smoke up into the atmosphere.
They were here to stop him.
The ships docked, and Juno marched his men off the ship and across the port, meeting up with the other captains and soldiers outside the entrance.
The large crowd halted. Their menacing dark uniforms blended them into the evening sky with only torchlight bouncing off them from the walls behind.
Everyone waited quietly, unsure of what to expect. Marcus glanced around while Bolin and Teddy tried to inspect the other captains.
Minutes passed with absolute silence. Until finally... a large bird plummeted from the sky, swooshing up at the last second to land its talons on the cobbled street in front of them.
Everyone's eyes widened as they witnessed a majestic golden eagle fold its wings and suddenly morph into a tall woman wearing a matching colored uniform and hair.
The captains curtly bowed as Juno welcomed the lady.
"Commander Leida."
She glanced at the captains and rested her eyes, briefly relieving the dark circles that had hidden themselves behind the rest of her beauty. She slightly shook her disheveled hair as she responded heavily.
"At ease." She opened her deep blue eyes and studied the crowd before her. "I'm glad you made a safe journey. I'll need all the strength available."
The captains straightened back up as one with short, wavy dark hair and bulky arms—the one that Obai had hit back in his initiation battle—asked a question everyone there longed to know the answer to.
"What's the situation here?"
Leida slowly paced in front of the crowd while she calmly answered.
"Things have taken a turn for the worst here. That rogue is an unpredictable threat. While I traveled back to Vwieya, he'd made quick work of the western reaches of the island."
She sighed.
"Just this morning the Draven guard joined me in battle not far from the capital, forcing him to retreat. Unfortunately... he didn't leave without leaving a mark."
Leida turned to face Juno and the rest as she stared into their eyes sternly.
"Fey is losing her power. A death in her squad results in a chunk of energy being lost to the enemy, but now that reinforcements have arrived, you will replace that void."
She turned once again, facing the crowd in a stone cold pose.
"Your orders are to provide defense to the capital," Leida announced. "The Seishin rogue will attempt an attack at some point. Your job is not to fight him. You will die. You are the distraction for his minions. I'll provide details once you're all settled."
She turned back to Juno.
"I need to report with Fey. Lead them to the barracks just beyond the wall," she ordered quietly.
Just a second later, her body transformed back into an eagle as she leapt into the air and soared off over the walls and toward the distant palace.
The men quietly buzzed with hidden questions. Leida's orders had been brief, not giving room for specifications.
When would they be expected to fight? Who was the rogue commander? Who were his minions? How strong was he?
The captains continued their march forward, leading the crowd towards the barracks they'd be housed in.
No one spoke as everyone slowly fortified themselves for the looming threat of a supposed battle.
However, Obai focused his thoughts elsewhere. He didn't care for the orders he was given, he was prepared to leave at any time. The question was how much strength should he gain in Kokoronashi?
'When do I leave? Will I even gain the chance to target Ilka while she's back in Vweiya?'
However, he couldn't answer his own questions as they made their way through the eastern gate to the inner city. His eyes brightened as Obai looked around in surprise.
It'd been just over eight years since he first experienced the unique energy of Le'Lau. The happiness that connected the population to their ruler had been overwhelming. Now, Obai felt a strong sense of wrath.