Chapitre 23: Chapter 23: The Storm Guardian
The forest was thick with mist as Reiji led Chuuya through the winding path, their footsteps muffled by the damp ground beneath them. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird. Chuuya, his hands shoved into his pockets, glanced around warily, still processing everything that had happened in the past few days.
Reiji, on the other hand, was deep in thought, his eyes focused on the path ahead but his mind elsewhere. He knew that bringing Chuuya to the Vongola mansion was the right move, but that didn't make the weight of the situation any lighter. The mansion held more than just answers—it held the legacy of an entire famiglia, a legacy that Reiji was still trying to understand.
After a few moments, Reiji finally broke the silence, his voice soft but firm. "I guess I should explain a bit more about all this."
Chuuya raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting toward Reiji. "About what? This creepy forest or the shady mansion in the middle of it?"
Reiji couldn't help but chuckle, though there was little humor in his voice. "Yeah, both of those. But mostly… about the Vongola."
"The Vongola?" Chuuya echoed, the name unfamiliar to him.
"Yeah. The Vongola was… no, is a famiglia—an organization built around people with powers, like us. It existed a long time ago, and they were… strong. But something happened. They disappeared, and for generations, no one heard from them again." Reiji's steps slowed as he recalled everything he had learned so far. "That is, until I stumbled upon it. I found their mansion, their legacy."
Chuuya scoffed lightly, but there was curiosity in his eyes. "And what? You're gonna rebuild it?"
Reiji hesitated before answering, his voice quieter. "That's the plan. I want to rebuild the Vongola. Not because I'm strong, or because I deserve to lead it… but because I don't want to be alone anymore."
Chuuya's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't interrupt.
Reiji took a breath before continuing, his voice filled with vulnerability. "I didn't grow up with a real family. No one I could rely on, no one who cared. I was weak… still am, honestly. But when I found out about the Vongola, I thought maybe… maybe I could have something like that. A family. People I could trust, who would have my back. People like you… and Shinya."
Chuuya glanced away, his expression unreadable as they walked deeper into the forest. The mist grew thicker around them, giving the place an eerie, otherworldly feel.
Reiji kept speaking, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and hesitation. "Shinya… he's different. He doesn't care about the Vongola like I do, but he's already helped me so much. We've been caught up in this fight against Shogo, and it's only going to get worse. That's why I need people like you, Chuuya. People who are strong, who understand what it means to fight for something."
Chuuya didn't respond right away, but Reiji could sense that he was listening. The gravity manipulator wasn't one to show his emotions easily, but there was something about the way he walked beside Reiji that made Reiji think Chuuya was starting to get it—starting to understand. Maybe not entirely, but the seeds were there.
Yet, even as Reiji spoke, he couldn't help but feel a pang of self-doubt. Was he really the right person to rebuild the Vongola? Could he lead people like Chuuya, or even Shinya? The weight of those questions hung over him, making the path to the mansion feel even longer.
The path twisted one last time before the dark silhouette of the Vongola mansion came into view. The ancient structure loomed ahead, shrouded in mist and shadows, as if the past itself clung to its walls. Reiji felt a chill run down his spine, but he pushed forward, leading Chuuya toward the entrance.
As they stepped inside, the air grew colder, the atmosphere thick with the weight of history. The mansion was eerily quiet, save for the distant creaking of the old building settling. Reiji glanced over at Chuuya, who seemed unfazed by the gloom, his sharp eyes scanning the dark corners of the mansion with mild curiosity.
They made their way to the room where the pedestal stood, the place where the Vongola Rings rested. As they approached, Reiji's eyes were immediately drawn to the soft glow emanating from one of the rings.
The Storm Ring.
Chuuya noticed it too, his gaze narrowing as he took in the sight of the glowing ring. "What's that?" he asked, his voice low.
Reiji stepped closer to the pedestal, his heart pounding in his chest. "That's… one of the Vongola Rings. The Storm Ring."
The soft red glow pulsed faintly as they neared, almost as if it were reacting to their presence. Reiji hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with the significance of what was happening. The Storm Ring had been dormant for so long, waiting for its rightful Guardian. But now, it seemed to be awakening—reacting to the power that Chuuya had displayed during the fight.
Without thinking, Reiji reached out and gently lifted the Storm Ring from the pedestal. As soon as his fingers wrapped around it, the glow dimmed, the once-vibrant light fading until the ring looked like any ordinary piece of jewelry.
Reiji turned to Chuuya, holding the ring in his palm. "This… is yours. I think it's been waiting for you."
Chuuya's eyes flicked to the ring, then back to Reiji. There was a flicker of uncertainty in his expression, but he didn't say anything at first. He simply stared at the ring, as if trying to decide whether or not he should accept it.
After a long pause, Chuuya finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual. "So… what now?"
Reiji smiled, though there was still a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Now, we rebuild. Together."
Chuuya's hand closed around the ring, and for the first time since the battle, there was a sense of resolution in his gaze. He slipped the ring onto his finger, and though the glow didn't return, there was a new weight to the moment. The Storm Guardian had been chosen.
As the cold metal of the ring settled on his skin, a strange sensation washed over Chuuya. At first, it was subtle, just a faint whisper at the back of his mind. But then it grew louder, clearer, like someone was speaking directly to him.
"Took you long enough."
Chuuya froze, his eyes widening slightly. The voice was unfamiliar, yet it carried a weight of authority, filled with the confidence and experience of someone who had seen countless battles before. He glanced around the room, half-expecting someone to appear, but there was no one there except Reiji, who remained silent beside him, unaware of what was happening.
The voice continued, steady and commanding. "Before, it was my turn to support Juudaime, the Sky who carried the weight of the Vongola. Now, it's your turn—to support your own leader, the Sky Ring."
Chuuya's breath hitched. His heart pounded in his chest as the words sank in, even though he didn't fully understand them. He didn't know who this voice belonged to, or why it was speaking to him, but something about the message resonated deep within him. The legacy of the Storm Guardian wasn't just a title—it was a responsibility, one that had been passed down through generations. And now, it was his.
The weight of the ring on his finger suddenly felt heavier, but not in a burdensome way. Instead, it felt like a reminder of what he was now a part of, what he had just agreed to. The anger, the rage, the sense of loss from the battle—it all began to shift into something else. Purpose. Direction.
He didn't know who had spoken to him, but the meaning was clear. Support the Sky. Support Reiji.
Chuuya's fingers tightened around his fist as he stared down at the ring, his expression hardening. He had been a lone wolf for so long, fighting his own battles, protecting only himself and those close to him. But now, he had a role to play, a purpose that extended beyond just survival or revenge.
His eyes flicked up to meet Reiji's, and though he didn't say anything, the look in his eyes conveyed everything. He understood now. He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore.
It was his turn.
Reiji, standing beside him, noticed the shift in Chuuya's expression, but he had no idea what had just transpired. There was a sense of gravity in Chuuya's gaze, a newfound purpose that Reiji couldn't quite place. His brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to piece together what had changed.
"Uh… you okay?" Reiji asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Chuuya didn't respond right away, his fingers still flexing slightly as he adjusted to the weight of the ring on his hand. "Yeah… just thinking."
Reiji nodded slowly, still looking puzzled, but decided not to press further. He had no idea what Chuuya was feeling, but something told him that whatever it was, it wasn't something he could fully understand. Not yet, at least.
As they both stood there, in front of the pedestal where the other Vongola Rings rested, the air seemed to grow heavier with unspoken words and the weight of the legacy they had just begun to embrace.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone