Thalia ripped open the lid of the wooden box. The inside was lined with beautiful red velvet.
"Do you like my home?" a triumphant voice exclaimed.
"So, you're a fan?" Thalia said, struggling to hide her confusion.
"How can a simple fan talk?" she asked, lifting the black folding fan out of the box.
"I am not just a simple fan; I am what is called a Che-San, or more accurately, I exist inside this Chinese folding fan," the childlike voice replied.
Thalia opened the fan, revealing a black leather surface adorned with purple and gold clouds. She began shaking the fan excitedly.
"Please stop shaking me wildly!" the voice yelped, sounding rattled.
Intrigued, Thalia examined the fan more closely. "So, how did a kid get stuck in a fan?" she asked, holding the Che-San up to the light.
"First of all, I'm not a kid; I'm probably a couple of hundred years older than you. My name is Arashi Sensi, but you can call me Sensi for short," the voice explained.
Thalia closed the fan. "Okay, Sensi, am I safe to assume that you're the ego living within this relic?" she asked in a serious tone.
"Oh, so you actually know about us! Great! You're not as stupid as I first thought!" Sensi giggled.
Thalia shook the fan in anger until Sensi began to wail, begging her to stop.
"I was just kidding, I promise," Sensi said, her laughter fading.
"Would you mind telling me your history and origin? We learned at the institute that all relics were formed and bound to objects for a reason."
Thalia opened the fan and traced her fingers along the purple and gold clouds.
"I'm glad you asked. As you know, my name is Arashi Sensi, and I am the ego within this Chinese folding fan. Before I was trapped here, I was a proud wind goddess. Humans of the time referred to me as Venti or one of the Anemoi. I spent most of my time being worshipped and prayed to by sailors. If I was in the right mood, I would help ships along their way. But if I was feeling a bit irritated, I could easily sink a dozen of them. There was one young man I adored—a human. What was his name again? Um, Odemus, or was it Odetrix?" Sensi continued, trying to recall the man's name.
"Was it Odysseus?" Thalia guessed, knowing that the names mentioned by Sensi were likely Roman. Odysseus was the renowned hero from the poem *The Odyssey*. Thalia had actually paid attention in her history classes because she understood their significance in relation to the power of all relics.
"Odysseus, yes, that was that dashing fellow's name," Sensi replied. "He sure was a looker! He had such strong shoulders, and his abs looked as if they were sculpted from stone. Ugh! Just the thought of his sun-kissed bare chest is almost enough to make this goddess melt..." Sensi's breathing grew heavier.
"Okay, this is starting to get weird. And a tad bit creepy, considering you sound like a kid," Thalia said, closing the fan.
"I'm sorry; sometimes I get caught up in thoughts of him," Sensi said, her voice filled with pride. "But the moral of the story is that I am no simple fan. I was known as the bringer of storm winds. In my prime, I could easily destroy twenty-five iron ships with just a wave of my hand. My power may have diminished over the years, but I am still full of youthful energy."
Thalia could feel a strong surge of energy radiating from the small fan. The Chinese folding fan hummed with power, wrapping its faint blue aura around her arm before encasing her entire body. Suddenly, Thalia envisioned a beautiful young woman dressed in a glittering gold and purple gown. Her dark skin glowed in the light, and Thalia watched as the woman effortlessly summoned strong currents of wind with a flick of her slender wrist. The wind sliced through a large ship, easily cutting it in half and causing it to sink.
In an instant, Thalia found herself back in the vault, still holding the folding fan but feeling slightly dazed. She was honestly shocked that she remained in the vault; the images she had seen felt incredibly real, and she could still taste the bitter salt of the seawater beneath her feet.
"I told you I am powerful!" Sensi said, giggling. "Now that I have shown you my awesome power, you want to worship me, right?"
Thalia regained some of her composure and sighed, "Not a chance. I don't worship anyone. Although, I will admit your power gives me goosebumps."
"Tehehe, thank you! So, will you please take me out of this awful basement? This is no place for a goddess like myself to be left inside," Sensi pleaded, trying to hide the desperation in her voice.
Thalia paused to think. She was in the biggest vault in the world, filled with all kinds of luxurious treasures in the form of powerful relics. It tempted her to deny Sensi's request. However, something told Thalia that there was no better fit for Sensi's powers and personality than that of the storm goddess. Thalia felt a bit connected to Sensi, considering how closely related their powers were and their given nicknames.
"Fine," Thalia said, opening Sensi to reveal her complete form and length. "I will take you out of here."
The fan began to hum and shake. It vibrated so rapidly that Thalia almost dropped it. The fan started to feel warm in her hand, and then a bright blue flash blinded her. Thalia covered her eyes to shield them from the light.
"I am so glad. I have been waiting for you for such a long time. My master. My friend. My companion. I, Arashi Sensi, proud storm goddess and master of wind, hereby gift you the authority to use my powers. If you accept, we will be forever bonded, our fates intertwined. We will be bonded till death do us part. Do you accept my gift and my bond?"
As Thalia lowered her hands from her eyes, she saw Sensi's true form. She was wearing the same stunning dress that Thalia had seen in the vision shown to her earlier. For a moment, Thalia was at a loss for words. A literal goddess was floating before her, offering her power and friendship. Suddenly, a phrase popped into her mind, and she knew exactly what to say.
"I, Thalia Diez, do solemnly vow to hold and cherish the bond and commitment we share as master and servant. I will never harm my bond and will protect it with my life. I accept your gift and embrace your bond."
The room began to shake, causing the wooden cases around her to tremble, and the glass doors to open and close. Thalia thought it sounded like applause if she listened closely enough. With a bright blue flash, Sensi was gone. Thalia could sense something felt different. She felt stronger than usual, as if someone had injected her with an energy boost. Her heart raced faster and more powerfully than ever before. The pressure that once weighed her down had all but dissipated.
Thalia opened her newly acquired fan and admired its intricate design. She decided to refer to it as Sensi the Storm Fan.
As Thalia opened the storm fan, her mind was suddenly flooded with information about its abilities. She already knew how to communicate with the wind, but now she could also channel it, transforming it into a deadly weapon with the power of the storm fan.
"Thank you, Sensi! Now that we are bonded and our memories are one, I understand what you meant when you said you have been waiting far too long. However, we are together now, and I will take you out to feel the wind once more," Thalia whispered as she walked back toward her brother and the Vice Captain.
Although Sensi did not respond this time, Thalia felt a tinge of sadness knowing she could no longer communicate with Sensi directly. Still, she sensed Sensi's feelings of gratitude, and for now, that was enough.
As Thalia approached Theo, she noticed a new silver necklace hanging around his neck. The closer she got, the more she could see three charms dangling from the chain. One charm resembled an axe, the second looked like a shield, and the last was shaped like a hammer. Just as she was about to ask her brother about his choice, the Vice Captain interrupted by clapping his hands together.
"Okay, kiddos, it's time to leave. We have places to be and people to see. The day is far from over. Let's go meet your new unit."