Primordial Chaos Sect
"So you're Valley Masters now? That's amazing!" A young woman with bright, excited eyes said, her gaze flickering between Jack and Janice with admiration.
"Yeah, but Jack, what's the deal? You're looking a bit like a monkey these days. What happened?" teased a young man, the same age as the woman, his tone lighthearted.
Janice immediately picked up on the subtle shift in Jack's expression, his smile faltering as a frown creased his brow. She stepped in, her voice firm, "Hey, that's enough. Jack's sensitive about the whole 'monkey' thing, so maybe drop it."
The atmosphere grew tense for a moment before another woman, standing nearby, smoothly intervened with a playful grin. "Sensitive? No need for that. I think the new look suits you. Quite charming, actually," she said, flashing a wink at Jack, her voice laced with flirtation.
Jack, still frowning slightly, turned his head just enough to give her a sideways glance, his expression unreadable but his mood subtly lightened.
"Enough of this. You should go and get yourself sorted out in the Sect. We have things to take care of," Jack said, brushing past his childhood friends without so much as a glance.
He didn't have the patience for their attempts at flattery. He knew them too well, and their sudden change in tone irked him. If he stayed any longer, they would degrade themselves, trying to impress him, and Jack had no interest in watching that happen. Besides, with the Divine Plane in chaos, now was not the time for idle chatter.
His steps were brisk, each footfall a clear signal that his mind was already elsewhere. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on his shoulders, and he couldn't afford to be distracted. There were far more pressing matters to attend to.
Janice turned, her expression calm but determined as she called out to her friends. "Kara, Damien, Serah, Alex—once you're officially registered as disciples of the Chaos Sect, come to my valley. We have a lot to discuss."
Damien folded his arms, a chuckle escaping his lips. "That cloud trick never gets old. Jack's always been a bit of a show-off. But, to be fair, he's earned it."
Alex nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "You can just feel the power rolling off of them. It's like they're on another level completely. Makes you wonder what it's like in the Primordial Chaos Sect... living among legends."
Serah smiled wistfully, her gaze softening. "Yeah... but she's still Janice. No matter how powerful they get, she's still the same girl we grew up with."
As Jack and Janice disappeared into the horizon, their friends exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. Though their paths had diverged, the bond they shared with the siblings remained strong.
Janice flew alongside her brother, her brows furrowed with concern as she glanced over at Jack. His usual playful energy seemed distant, almost buried beneath a layer of frustration.
"Jack, what was that back there?" she asked, her voice softer this time. "You never act like that. What's going on?"
Jack's eyes remained fixed ahead, the wind brushing through his hair as they cut through the sky. He sighed heavily, his shoulders tense. "I don't want to talk about it right now, Janice," he muttered, still not looking at her. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, like something was gnawing at him.
Janice studied his face, the way his jaw tightened. She wanted to push, but she knew better. Instead, she gave a small nod and let the silence stretch between them as they flew, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air.
The twins halted abruptly as the air seemed to shift, their eyes locking onto the rift that tore open before them.
"Well, about time,"