Chapter 66: Stormborne's Return
Outside the quietude of the study room, Ling Mei turned sharply toward Eira, who had just exited. Her hands were buried in the pockets of her jacket, her expression unreadable.
"Call Doctor Ryan. Ask if Brother Feng stopped by the hospital," Ling Mei said, her voice calm but edged with urgency.
Eira nodded. "Alright."
---
Ring. Ring.
The chime of the telephone echoed like silver bells in the sun-drenched office of ApexHealth Hospital. Behind a mahogany desk sat a middle-aged man with a black-and-white hair, silver-rimmed glasses slipping low over his nose as he pored over a thick patient file.
He sighed—annoyed at the interruption.
Tap.
Lifting the receiver, he spoke wearily, "Hello, Doctor Ryan speaking. How may I—"
"Seriously? You didn't save my number?"
The voice was frosty. Unmistakable.
"L-Lady Eira!" Doctor Ryan stammered, a bead of sweat instantly forming at his temple. "I—I apologize! I didn't recognize the number!"
"Hmph." Eira snorted. "Have you seen Lei Feng? He should've arrived by now."
"Lei Feng…? Oh! You mean Young Master Ling Chen—ah! I mean, yes, I'm still getting used to his new name!" Doctor Ryan corrected quickly.
"Enough chatter. Is he there or not?" Eira asked coldly.
"No, I haven't seen him since he was discharged."
A sharp breath was heard.
Even without the phone on loudspeaker, Ling Mei caught every word—her heightened Awakener senses let nothing slip past. Her brows furrowed.
"What did he say?" she asked tightly, already fearing the answer.
Eira hesitated, then gave a tight smile. "You're overreacting."
"Give me that." Ling Mei snatched the phone from her hand.
---
Back in the hospital office, Doctor Ryan frowned. "Hello? Hello—"
"Doctor Ryan," Ling Mei's voice cut through crisply, "what exactly did you just say about my brother?"
"I—I said I haven't seen—"
Before he could finish, the phone was yanked back.
"Don't worry about it," Eira's voice returned, casual and composed. "He's probably just late. If he shows up, tell him to meet us at Spellbound Restaurant. A hospital's no place for reunions."
"Yes, Lady Solstice!" Doctor Ryan replied quickly.
"Good." Click.
The line went dead.
Doctor Ryan slumped in his seat, staring at the receiver as if it had personally insulted him.
"Dealing with people from the Big Five is exhausting…" he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Though he was considered one of the finest doctors in Volaris City, even he bent like a reed before their pressure.
---
On the other side, Ling Mei glared at Eira. "Why did you hang up? I wasn't done!"
"It's fine," Eira said with a shrug. "We'll just wait at the Spellbound Restaurant. Better that than letting your father change his mind."
Ling Mei frowned, but relented with a slow nod.
Together, they left the manor behind—two silhouettes bathed in amber light, disappearing into the awakening city.
---
Meanwhile, on the fringes of the Whispering Hollow, Lei Feng stood atop a gently sloping hill blanketed in silvery grass. Crimson mice darted between the blades like flickers of memory.
It was oddly nostalgic. He brushed the feeling aside.
Behind him, the Elemental Vanguard emerged, eyes wide in awe as they beheld the brilliant skyline of Volaris. In the near distance stood the Transit Nexus—Nova Gate: Hallow Branch, tall and regal.
"We're heading into the city," Lei Feng said, turning toward them. "I need you all to return to your home planes. I'd rather not cause unnecessary trouble."
"What? But Master, I want to see the city!" Granite groaned, disappointed.
"Me too!" Aeolus chimed in, pouting.
"If you're worried about being seen, we can turn invisible in our non-combat forms," Aquari offered, hopeful.
"Yeah!" Ignis nodded. "Only you will be able to see us."
Lei Feng raised a brow. "That's possible?"
"Yes, Master," Glacia confirmed. "It's a passive feature we can toggle outside of battle."
Lei Feng exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I appreciate the idea... but not this time."
"Hmph." Glacia pouted.
The others wore similar expressions—disappointment, reluctance, and unspoken hope.
Lei Feng's tone softened. "Don't worry, you'll get to explore the city. Just not now."
"Really?" Aeolus beamed, already picturing himself flying around and causing mischief.
"Yes," Lei Feng said, watching Aeolus' grin grow—only to crush it a moment later. "As long as you stay close to me at all times."
Aeolus' expression collapsed. "Ugh…"
Lei Feng laughed lightly. "Alright, dismissed. I'll summon you once we're in."
The Elementals nodded.
In an elegant cascade, each of them began to vanish:
Ignis burst into embers and drifting flame, bowing as he faded. "Until next time, Master."
Glacia shimmered into crystalline snowflakes. "Looking forward to seeing Volaris," she said with a soft smile—one that caught Lei Feng off guard.
Aquari's body dissolved into floating droplets, her voice calm. "See you later."
Granite crumbled into golden dust, grinning. "I'm coming, Volaris City."
Aeolus grinned mischievously one last time. "Safe journey, Boss." Then poof—he vanished instantly without any flourish, as if he never existed.
Lei Feng chuckled. "Show off."
---
Now alone, Lei Feng stepped forward.
The wind greeted him like an old friend. His black hair rippled behind him, the Storm Robes swaying gently. The Luckweaver's Echo jingled faintly in his ears. His gear—ring, bracelet, and Stormsurge Boots—gleamed beneath the morning sun, lightning arcs dancing over his ankles with every step.
At the gates stood two armored sentinels.
Lei Feng's eyes narrowed.
Same ones as before. The very ones he'd tricked to get in without an ID.
And judging by their sharper posture and sharper eyes, they weren't in the mood for games.
This is exactly why I didn't bring the Elementals, he sighed inwardly.
The taller of the two guards, broad-shouldered with a jagged scar across his jaw, shifted, his expression grumpy.
But as his gaze landed on Lei Feng's gear, his eyes widened. His stance changed completely.
"Young Master! I—I didn't recognize you!" the man barked, snapping into a salute. "Forgive me!"
The leaner guard beside him, Taro, stared hard at Lei Feng, brow furrowing.
He doesn't recognize me? Lei Feng thought. No way. Awakeners are never quick to forget someone especially someone who duped them.
"Quit gawking, Taro!" the scarred guard barked. "Open the gate!"
"S-Sorry, Young Master!" Taro stammered and rushed to the mechanism.
GRRRRAAAAAAANNNNNGGGGK!
The massive steel gate groaned open.
"There you go, sir," the scarred guard said, bowing low.
Lei Feng hesitated. What's happening? Did they really forget me? Or… did I change that much?
The scarred guard leaned in, whispering, "Forgive us, sir. We didn't realize your status. One look at that robe and I knew… You must be from a hidden powerhouse. Forgive our ignorance."
Lei Feng blinked. Then gave a small nod. "It's fine."
He stepped through as the gate shut behind him—his form vanishing into the Transit Nexus station.
Behind him, Taro turned. "That kid… he seems familiar."
"Impossible," the scarred guard scoffed. "I'd remember someone like that. Did you see that gear? Platinum-tier Storm Robe. Not even the Big Five hand that out casually."
He watched the gate as it clanged shut.
"He's got backing. Probably raised on treasures. Best not to offend someone like that."
Taro gulped. "Thank the heavens he didn't mind me staring…"