Order of the Elements-Chapter 82: Scavenger Hunt - Part 1

The Elements – Hikaru, Haruto, Moriya, Ikazuchi, Reito, Daichi, and Sora – stood outside the safehouse alongside Teshii.

Each of the Elements and Teshii had a GoPro strapped to their chest, the devices blinking softly in standby mode.

Moriya glanced down at the GoPro attached to his chest, a slight frown on his face.

"This... feels weird."

Teshii clapped him on the back with a grin.

"You'll get used to it, Timber."

"Y-Yeah..." Moriya muttered.

Ikazuchi crossed his arms, a smug smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You losers ready to get destroyed?"

Haruto scoffed. "Ever heard the phrase, Ikazuchi? All bark and no bite!"

Ikazuchi's eye twitched. "Are you calling me a dog?"

"Yes. In fact..." Haruto smirked. "I am calling you a dog, dog."

Ikazuchi narrowed his eyes, then stuck out a hand. "Let's make a bet. If I win, you act like a dog around me for a week. If you win, I'll act like a dog around you."

"Deal," Haruto said confidently, shaking his hand.

Hikaru blinked as he watched the two shake on it. frёewebnoѵēl.com

Are they seriously doing this right now?

Then–

"Guys!"

A voice rang out from the front of the safehouse.

Everyone turned.

It was Mei and Hikari, both approaching with stacks of paper in hand – eight sheets total.

They walked up and handed each participant a paper. Mei gave Hikaru two sheets, one meant for him and the other for Sora.

Everyone looked down at the pages now in their hands: the official scavenger hunt lists, prepared by Mei.

Sora scanned his sheet and raised an eyebrow.

Sora's List:

A leaf bigger than your head Capture a photo of the elusive white fox Make a stranger smile A feather from a bird An umbrella

Sora tilted his head, staring at the first item in confusion.

"A leaf... bigger than my head? Is that an actual thing?"

Daichi looked at his own list and raised an eyebrow.

"My list... is kind of weird too. Like... shoes someone is wearing? Am I supposed to steal them or something?

Mei giggled awkwardly.

"If I'm being honest... Hikari and I weren't that creative with the tasks."

"Well, never mind that..." Teshii said, waving it off without even glancing at his own list. "Guys! Make sure your GoPros are on and recording."

Everyone began checking their GoPros, tapping buttons and peering at the screens.

But Moriya and Reito looked a little lost.

"Um, Teshii?" Moriya asked, his tone uncertain. "How do I know if this is working?"

"Yeah," Reito chimed in. "I don't know how to work this thing either."

Teshii let out a dramatic sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Jeez! What are you guys gonna do without me?"

He walked over to them and inspected their devices, tapping a few buttons.

"There. It's recording now."

"T-Thanks, Teshii," Moriya said softly.

"Yeah, thanks," Reito nodded.

Teshii gave them a thumbs-up, then turned back to the rest of the group, flashing a grin.

"Well... you guys ready to go?"

"Yeah," Hikaru nodded, clearly pumped.

The others nodded as well, energy building, all eager to start the scavenger hunt.

Teshii turned to Mei.

"Alright, Rich Girl! You've got the whistle – give us the signal."

"Yes!" Mei said, determined. She raised the whistle to her lips, took a deep breath, and–

PHWEEEEEE!

The scavenger hunt had officially begun.

Moriya's POV

A few minutes had passed since the scavenger hunt began, and...

Moriya was running along the edge of the lake behind the safehouse, the list clutched in one hand and a GoPro strapped around his chest, its red light blinking steadily – recording everything.

Then – he suddenly stopped. He scanned his surroundings, eyes sharp and focused on the still water and swaying reeds.

"Okay. Okay," Moriya muttered, holding up the list. "What do I need to find first again?"

A Jewel Within the Lake

Moriya narrowed his eyes, reading the task again.

A jewel, huh?

He glanced back at the lake, instincts from his tribe life kicking in – urging him to dive in and search underwater. But a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

He looked down at the GoPro strapped to his chest.

Won't this thing break if it gets wet?

Moriya shrugged.

Teshii has a whole stash of these. If one breaks... it's not the end of the world.

He crouched at the lake's edge and – with full conviction–

SPLASH!!

"OWWWWW!" Moriya cried out in pain, now kneeling in the shallow water, his upper body soaked.

He had tried to belly-flop into the lake, assuming it was deep.

It wasn't.

The lake barely reached his knees.

Moriya sat up with a groan, hair plastered to his face, water dripping from every strand. A lazy frog hopped off his lap and into the reeds beside him.

"Ow..." he muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "I did not expect the lake to be that shallow."

Then his eyes widened in panic. He grabbed the GoPro.

Still intact – just wet.

Moriya let out a relieved sigh. "Phew... At least the GoPro's fine."

He slowly stood up, water streaming off his clothes, and looked out over the lake again.

"Now that I know it's not deep... it'll actually be easier to search."

He slapped both cheeks lightly, focusing his energy. Then he crouched again and began combing through the water with careful fingers.

Minutes passed.

Still nothing.

"Damn it... Where is this jewel? I'm wasting so much time."

Suddenly, something shimmered beneath the surface – not just a glint of sunlight or ripple of water.

It was colour.

Moriya's eyes squinted, sharpening.

Wait a minute...

It wasn't just one colour – it was a swirl of deep green, cerulean blue, and subtle hints of plink, dancing beneath the clear water in the shallows.

He crouched again, hands brushing slowly and gently through the water. His fingers closed around something smooth and solid.

He lifted his wet, clenched fist to his face – and slowly opened it.

A green jewel rested in his palm, glistening in the sunlight.

A tourmaline.

Moriya smiled softly. "I guess this works."

He tucked the jewel safely into his pocket and sloshed his way back to the edge of the lake.

Pulling out the list – it was damp but still readable – he held it up to his face.

Okay. The jewel is done. What's next?

He read the next line:

Go to a Zoo and take a picture of a Red Panda

Moriya raised an eyebrow.

"A red panda? I wonder what that looks like..."

He paused.

"...And..."

He blinked in confusion.

"...What's a zoo?"

Sora's POV

In the middle of an open field, Sora Arashii lay sprawled out across the grassy terrain. The list was loosely held in one hand, and the GoPro strapped to his chest continued recording, its lens pointed lazily up at the bright, cloud-dotted sky.

FWOOOSH!

A gentle breeze swept across the field, rustling the tall grass around him. Sora let out a long, drawn-out yawn.

"Huuuuaaaahhhh..." he exhaled, voice thick with drowsiness as he remained lying flat on his back. "I'm so bored..."

He slowly raised the list to his face, squinting at it under the sunlight.

A leaf bigger than your head Capture a photo of the elusive white fox Make a stranger smile A feather from a bird An umbrella

He blinked at the list in mild disbelief, then let his arm fall back against his chest, completely covering the GoPro in the process.

A leaf bigger than my head?

How am I supposed to find that? Is that even a real thing?

Sora sighed and scratched his cheek lazily with his free hand.

"Huuuuuaaaahhh..." Another yawn escaped his lips, this one even more tired than the last. "I'm... so tired..."

Then–

Grrrrggglll...

A loud rumble echoed from his stomach. Hunger had joined the party.

Sora slowly sat up, groaning, one hand now clutching his belly.

"Maybe..." he muttered, eyes half-lidded. "Maybe I should skip this whole scavenger hunt and go find food instead..."

He stared off toward the horizon, completely unmotivated, the wind gently tousling his hair as the GoPro blinked quietly on his chest – still recording his very unproductive adventure.

Teshii's POV

Teshii was walking alone through the middle of a forest, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his fleece. Sunlight filetred down through the canopy, catching on the edges of his crimson shades and making them glint with each step.

But...

His GoPro wasn't on.

Letting out a long, disappointed sigh, Teshii muttered to himself, "I really wish Hikari was here with me..."

A squirrel scrambled up a nearby tree as he pulled the scavenger hunt list from his pocket and scanned it.

Get a baguette in Paris

Teshii stopped dead in his tracks. He stared at the paper like it had just slapped him in the face.

"...Get a baguette in Paris?" he muttered, tilting his head in disbelief. "How am I supposed to get a baguette in Paris... while I'm in Japan?"

His brows furrowed as he glanced back down at the list, reading through the rest.

Teshii's Bucket List

Get a baguette in Paris Go to the Great Wall of China Witness a goal at Camp Nou in Barcelona Take a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa Get a tarantula from the Amazon Rainforest (if they allow it)

"...What is this?" he muttered. "What were Rich Girl and Hikari trying to cook here?"

He stared at the list a moment longer, his expression flat. "Well... I guess we all know who's not winning this scavenger hunt."

Then–

"Bonjour!"

Teshii snapped out of his thoughts and looked down.

Standing before him was a sharply dressed boy, no older than ten. He wore a navy-and-white striped shirt beneath a dark blazer, the sleeves casually rolled. Slim, tailored trousers were tucked neatly into polished leather loafers. And atop his head...

...a perfectly tilted beret.

"Est-ce que ça va, monsieur?" the boy asked in French.

Teshii just blinked, completely thrown off.

I think that kid just asked me if I'm okay...

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Teshii offered a stiff nod. "...Oui."

The boy smiled and nodded politely before walking.

Teshii gave a little wave after him, still baffled.

"...Why is a kid – a French kid, more specifically – just casually strolling through a forest?"

Then his eyes widened.

Because directly ahead of him...

...stood the Eiffel Tower.

It rose against the sky like a giant iron sentinel, its intricate lattice glowing gold beneath the late afternoon sun. Tourists bustled around the base, taking pictures and eating pastries.

Teshii's mouth dropped.

"I-Is that... the f*cking Eiffel Tower?!"

Wait...

That means I'm in France.

But how the hell did I even get here?

Then realization dawned.

"Ooooooohhh..." Teshii said, nodding slowly. "I see now. The writer's definitely cooking something here."

With a grin, he clapped his hands together – loudly. Several tourists turned to look.

"Well then..." he said, smirking with determination. "Let's win this scavenger hunt."

Meanwhile...

In the Village of Blacksmith, the air rang with the symphony of hammers striking iron – like the heartbeat of an ancient tribe. From sunrise to dusk, anvils echoed with rhythmic clanging, and sparks danced through the air like fire spirits born from flame and will.

Then–

A young voice pierced through the industrial hum.

"Brother!"

A black-haired boy sprinted through the village streets, heading toward a house nestled among the forge-lined roads – his home.

The house stood two storeys tall, built of dark timber and weathered grey stone, crowned with a slanted charcoal roof. But it wasn't the structure itself that set it apart – it was the garage door, flung wide open to reveal a blazing forge inside.

Along the back wall roared a broad stone furnace, its flames casting a molten orange glow. Chains hung from the ceiling like iron vines, while cluttered workbenches bore tools worn by years of relentless labour – tongs, chisels, carving blades, hammerheads, and a rainbow of glowing stones and half-forged ingots.

Above it all, a ventilation shaft crafted from salvaged train parts exhaled smoke through the ceiling, expertly disguised to keep unwanted eyes away. The heat in the room was suffocating – but for the man within, it was home. A second skin.

He stood bare-armed, streaks of sweat cutting through soot on his face. His gloves were cracked, his apron scarred. His gaze was fixed on a blade cooling slowly in a trough of water.

But what stood out most about the man...

...was the cloth tied over the top of his head, revealing just hints of black hair underneath.

Then–

"Brother!"

The man's ear twitched. He turned from the trough. "Huh?"

The black-haired kid came to a stop in front of him, panting.

"Brother... can I stay over at my friend's house today?"

The man studied his little brother for a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah. Sure."

The boy's face lit up with a grin.

"Yay! Thank you, brother!"

He dashed away toward the front of the house, flinging the door open.

SLAM!

The man chuckled softly and turned back to his forge, ready to work – until...

"You!"

He stopped mid-motion and turned once more.

Standing just beyond the forge's threshold was a figure.

White-haired. Pale skin. Jet-black, soulless eyes.

It was him – the mutant who had slaughtered the majority of SHINRA agents at Tanaka's Barn. The same one who murdered an entire family with eerie calm.

The blacksmith's expression shifted. He raised an eyebrow, steady and unshaken.

"...Can I help you with something?"

At first, the mutant said nothing. Silence hung between them like an unsheathed blade.

Then–

His mouth opened.

"Are you... the Element of Steel?"

TO BE CONTINUED!!!