The next couple of weeks continued with my cultivation and sparring with Altear, a routine I was growing into rather quickly. I was beginning to understand Zenki Ryu in its entirety, I could even see the Art of Zenki Ryu within my mind, a technique of martial arts and magical energy that I improved at with each session, and yet I wasn't close on mastering anything.

Although, my body had become accustomed to the physical aspect of Zenki Ryu, My quick healing being the biggest help for recovery. Everyday my body grew stronger and the more I came to understand absolute control over the magical energy around me, even my Esoteric Restrictions began to react to it.

However, I did enjoy their company during and after training even if that girl Isabelle avoided me or made a comment every once in awhile. Theitus and Altear had shown nothing but respect for me, and they never treated me like a foreigner or stranger. It was as if I was becoming a part of their family, and truthfully, I felt myself wanting that.

Isabelle may have been the only person who had a problem with me, but she was clearly someone Theitus cared for, and as his words told me. I didn't need to worry about it. She was a girl with her own opinions and problems, even if she was a bit childish about it.

After my sessions with Altear we usually sat together before we went our separate ways to wash up before dinner. Today was no different, we had finished sparring and the sun had begun to set on the horizon.

"… wow. You sure are an interesting guy, Kazu-kun~" Altear said with a soft smile seated near me in the courtyard. She looked to be in deep thought as her red hair swayed in the gentle wind, "watching your Esoteric Restrictions in action. The way you learn from them, and the way they grow as you do is quite something," she said while her soft eyes glanced towards my amber glare. "… You really are like a child in a way. Even with all the experiences you had and your incredible intellect, your still far from mature," Altear added with a soft giggle.

"Huh…? What’s that supposed to mean?” I mused with some annoyance.

Altear couldn't help but to laugh at my response, "oh? Nothing bad~. it just reminds me of a Xiao I once met, and you remind me of him, that hollow gaze of yours holds a deep wisdom beyond your years" Altear remarked seemingly to reminisce.

"I didn’t expect, Altear to be some old lady, dwelling on the past like the two geezers I know" I said attempting to be funny, and to my surprise she did snort at my joke finding some humor in it.

"My my~. Someone's getting a bit bold now," she remarked with a smirk, "you really are right though. I'm sure you’re tired of hearing about some past that no longer exists, and I don't blame you for feeling the way you do about it" Altear admitted with a smile. "So, here’s a deal, ask me anything, it’s quite obvious you’ve got some questions you want answered" she said as she smirked seemingly waiting for my question.

I didn’t expect her to be so open and quick to offer that, but it was just a question. “... why do My Esoteric Restrictions, recall things I’ve never known? Like this place for example, and this battle art, Zenki Ryu, why?" I asked simply, leaving Altear to give a bit of thought to her response.

"Hmm, giving me a hard question, I see, Kazu-kun," she mused with a giggle as if she was toying with me. "… well, I’m not as wise as Theitus or Indrath but I suppose I can tell you what I know… Your Esoteric Restrictions were cultivated by a Xiao, developed through the source of their power, but it also became they’re very being, in a way those memories and experiences are connected to your Esoteric Restrictions, but I'm afraid I don't know much more than that, regardless it is all yours to take,” she explained a bit hastily as if to brush it off.

I wasn't surprised to hear that, in fact, it was quite easy to piece together, perhaps hearing it from someone made it all the clearer. "... thanks, I guess, I doubt you can piece together another answer,” I remarked which only made her giggle at my response.

“Nothing gets past you, huh… well my answer was more than you expected, I think" Altear said with a smirk before rising to her feet and waiting for me to follow her into the palace. "It's getting late… I still need to get dinner ready,” she added with a stretch while I rose from my seat on the ground “… Kazu-kun~," she said, suddenly stopping and looking at me with her sly smirk, "do you mind going into the city for me, we have a few supplies we need to get, me and Isabelle usually do it, but you now live here too… and maybe seeing more than this palace will give you some answers in your own way" she said with a soft giggle as if she knew something I didn't, but it definitely seemed like she was handing off her tasks to me. There was no doubt she was trying to get Isabelle to talk to me.

“…What…? You can’t be serious,” I said, but it was clear by Altear’s smirk and the glint in her eyes, she was serious. “Alright, I'll be back with whatever supplies you need. Let Isabelle know, I’ll be waiting by the main gates after I wash off," I said, somewhat annoyed but Altear was quick to jump on my words,

"... good boy, I'll make sure she's out there waiting for you," she said with a giggle before we separated in different directions.

It didn't take long before I made my way into the palace and toward the bath area, I was familiar with, and proceeded to get myself cleaned off, the steam of the baths filled my nose with a pleasant scent and gave the room a more comfortable atmosphere.

Before I knew it, I was dressed and ready to deal with Altear’s task that awaited me in the city below, which honestly, I was a bit interested to see the heart of Mythral.

My walk to the main gate wasn't too long and once I arrived there was no Isabelle in sight. I sighed in frustration, wondering if Theitus had her train later than usual.

A breath escaped my lips while I stood at the gate waiting for her. "... or maybe she just flat out ignored Altear’s orders, knowing I was going with her tonight,” I grumbled to myself in annoyance while I sat at the gate and waited.

It was an easy enough task, I could have done myself, if I knew where I was supposed to go but I assumed that’s not what she had in mind.

My waiting lasted until Isabelle managed to arrive with not a single word of acknowledgment toward me as she passed me and headed out of the gate.

I only scoffed in response and followed her lead, unbothered by her attitude toward me, regardless we continued our walk in silence and down the countless stairs leading into the heart of Mythral.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Each step closer I became engulfed in a tapestry of color and culture, even as the evening began to settle around us. The hue of paper lanterns seemed to brighten the many streets and stalls that lined every pathway.

The red headed crowds around me, made way for one another as they moved from stall to stall, occasionally glancing in my direction and whispering to one another as I followed Isabelle to our destination.

It was no surprise I was getting many curious glances, here in Mythral, my specific features stood out like a sore thumb.

I ignored their gazes and their whispers, for the most part, but I was quick to notice the one who stood out the most wasn't me. Isabelle looked to be out of place, even with my gaze lingering on her, she seemed to be glaring back at the onlookers while she walked ahead of me.

I wondered why, and what was bothering her, but I doubted she would tell me, so it was better left unsaid.

Isabelle soon stopped at an open stall where a tall red-headed man stood across from her at the table. "Ah, Isabelle. I take it you’re here to pick up the palace's order," the man said with a slight bow.

And yet the Isabelle’s reply was just as quick as his, "Yeah, that’s right," she huffed, but she only received a soft smile in return.

“How’s the training going? Have you had your breakthrough yet?" he asked clearly making small talk as he filled a bag with various goods Altear had requested.

I didn’t pay them much mind as I took in the city’s many sights, and in the middle of it all, I could only see one thing. It was the most noticeable structure in Mythral, even from the palace, but that didn’t do it justice, this was a statue that stood, carved from the very stone that made up the city's foundation. Many of the residents here offered incenses and prayers at the base of the grand statue.

However, this statue caused me to linger in awe, it was unlike anything I had ever seen before, almost as if I were standing before a god. The imposing image of the statue depicted a man sitting on a throne with a massive stone polearm resting over his lap and shoulder with his right hand firmly holding the weapon, robes of marble adorned him and waved in the wind, but this revered figure had no features carved upon its face, only a hooded gaze.

but I couldn’t deny the sense of wisdom and authority that the statue exuded. The only words that hung in my mouth were “…Did I know him…”

“… hey, are you going to stand there staring all night or are you going to help me carry these?" Isabelle grumbled causing me to glance toward her from my trance. "...What's your problem? Are you deaf?" Isabelle huffed with annoyance clearly agitated with my presence.

“I’m surprised you actually said something,” I remarked with a slight scoff as I grabbed one of the bags from the table and placed it on my shoulder.

Isabelle quickly brushed off my remark with a roll of her eyes and a huff before heading back up to the palace, leaving me to follow without the silence lingering between us.

"That statue back there… who is it?" I asked only to see Isabelle glare back at me, with nothing but her silent glare to respond.

I really didn’t expect anything more than that, but after a moment of thought she spoke up, "it’s The Tian Sovereign. The god of the people,” she answered, as if it was obvious.

“Huh…” I mused over a title I heard used by Theitus when he spoke of Mythral's history, but all I knew he was the one who ruled Mythral in the past, or something along those lines. "So, what happened to him?" I asked.

Isabelle scoffed at my question before turning her gaze forward. "How would I know? if you want to talk about history go ask Theitus.” She remarked with annoyance.

Yet I sighed at her answer wondering why she acted so childish all the time. "What’s your deal anyways?" I asked with annoyance of my own and a roll of my eyes.

Isabelle glared back at me once again, as if I had just asked the stupidest question she could possibly think of. "My deal?" she huffed. "My deal is, I don’t like you,” she said bluntly as she stopped in place a stair ahead of me, which left me to scoff once more at her.

"Why is that? I mean it's not like you don't get along with anyone here. They all think a prodigy since you been trained by Theitus and you hate that… because you haven’t managed to cultivate to the second stage of Zenki Ryu," I remarked about summing up what I had gathered about her. In short, she hated being treated as a prodigy, because she couldn’t live up to it, despite her skill and potential.

Isabelle however, glared back at me and her grip clenched onto the bag over her shoulder, "Shut up! You don't know me, you don't know anything about me or my training!" She growled before storming up the stairs, while the chatter of a nearby crowd of people silenced at her outburst.

I couldn't help but to find some humor in the situation and her clear frustration. "Theitus and Altear certainly know your capable of that breakthrough, but you don't want to admit you can do it," I remarked causing her to twitch, ahead of me.

"…don’t you know how to shut up… the problem is you, some Xiao who just showed up here, and now everyone talks about you like you're some kind of hero," Isabelle muttered under her breath as we reached the top of the staircase.

"… maybe it’s jealousy?” I mused, not caring if she heard it or not, "… well anyways, you should be grateful, the mainland certainly didn’t treat me with any kindness. But if you didn’t know, I’m not one to care what people think of me, regardless if they like or dislike me," I said with a shrug and began walking ahead of her.

Isabelle only gave a slight scoff before muttering under her breath, “…don’t act so full of yourself. When you have an ability that does everything for you, and you don't even have to try. You have no idea how hard it is to become strong…" she said with clear frustration and dropping the sack of goods from her grasp before storming off into the palace.

A sigh escaped my lips at her remark. "...it is jealousy, huh" I muttered to myself with the only thing left to do was grab her sack of goods and store them in the kitchen for Altear.

She wasn't wrong but was that any reason for her to be jealous? my Esoteric Restrictions were simply always there.

I scoffed at the thought, shaking my head, and placing her bag next to the others in the kitchen where Altear finished making dinner.

"Ah, you finished my little errand," Altear said before she glanced around looking for Isabelle. "… And where is she?" Altear asked with a smirk, more than likely knowing what happened.

"… turns out I made her angry" I admitted with a slight sigh. "I wasn't even trying, but I think she’s jealous of me, because I’ve been advancing quicker than her" I said putting it all into words.

Altear couldn't help but to giggle, “Is that so, I thought so too," she remarked with a sly smile. "But Kazu-kun~. Maybe you should help her out, whose to say your Esoteric Restrictions can’t share its skills with her too," she suggested with a soft giggle, which left me to scoff in return.

"Heh, did you really just send me to go with her so you could tell me that? You could have told me that at any time" I remarked while wondering myself if the Esoteric Restrictions could do such a thing and yet Altear only giggled once more at my response.

"You have to learn to understand people, Kazu-kun," Altear said with a soft giggle before heading into the dining room waving me to follow, "...you can’t spend every day here training, I think Indrath would want you to make new friends here,” she added clearly giving me a lesson of my own. One that had definitely crossed my mind.

“… it’s not like I didn't consider that,” I said with a scoff but left me to wonder if I could actually do that.

Dinner passed by, and even Isabelle came down for the meal, not saying anything but sitting across from me, with Altear and Theitus on each side of us.

The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward between me and her, but Theitus filled any silence with some lively chatter, whether it had to do with our training or as simple as those reports him and Altear discussed.

Not long after dinner, we went our separate ways for the evening and retired to our respective rooms. However, I couldn’t get Altear’s words out of my head, both about making some sort of bond with Isabelle like I had with them, and not to mention having the Esoteric Restrictions share its skills with Isabelle.

I was so focused on my thoughts that a consuming state of sleepiness had taken over, leaving me to drift off with these thoughts and new ideas in my head.