Order of the Elements

The sun had begun to set over the Shaolin Temple, casting a holden hue across its ancient rooftops. In one of the temple's quiet rooms, Reito stood alone on the balcony, deep in thought.

His eyes were fixed on the distant statue that resembled Master Jiro – the First Monk. The silhouette stood tall against the fading sky, bathed in warm light, unmoving and timeless.

But Reito's heart was anything but still.

He thought back to what Hikaru had told him earlier:

That someone... is your mother, Reito.

That single sentence echoed in his mind like a temple bell. He hadn't stopped thinking about it since.

His hands tightened slightly against the railing. His expression unreadable. His heart unsure.

He whispered to himself, "Moth–"

Then–

Creak...

The soft sound of a door opening broke the silence.