(Theitus Kanmori’s POV)

A Xiao, I never thought I would meet one again, not after so long. What was once lost to the history of this world was now resurrected, how? And at what cost. The very question of it all lingered in my thoughts, but it was nothing compared to what I felt when I saw him, A ghost from the past, a memory I had long forgotten.

Even the void of darkness that settled within that Amber glare was all too familiar.

When Indrath brought him to me I felt a sense of pride, even hope to Mythral. Even if I knew myself, the past had already come and gone.

Regardless I was glad Indrath had brought him here, to Mythral, because of the incident that occurred on the mainland, a place for Kazu to master his newfound strength and abilities. More importantly a place he could find himself, a new beginning.

It was the least I could do for the one who defended Mythral before it's fall, as well as a promise I had made to myself, long ago.

I could feel his cold Aura as he stood opposite of me, unbothered by my own strength and aura that could obliterate most with ease. even with his core sealed, he didn’t hold any weakness in that regard.

I reveled in his cold gaze as my grin widened, even if he had no emotions at the moment. I was sure in the near future, he would learn to smile again.

[Mana Art: Rune of The Golden]

In a flash a surge of golden energy filled the courtyard, as my stance shifted toward Kazu. “This Barrier is mine, feel free to use as much strength as you need Kazu, don't hold back I am more than capable of handling anything you throw at me," I said with a grin.

"I understand," he remarked, with a hollow response and a small roll of his shoulder before I felt his aura shift toward me.

Without hesitation Kazu burst forward toward me, his movements were much faster than I thought they would be, even with the core sealed. Even if he lacked finesse, he knew how to quickly close the gap between us. Regardless I welcomed it as he jumped forward with a palm engulfed in flames, an attack way too predictable.

I dodged his flaming strike and readied myself to counter before he followed up with a dirty kick to my midsection. The sheer impact of the kick infused with wind caused me to slide back a few steps as a smirk crossed my features. "Haha!" I let out a laugh in amusement as Kazu landed on the ground moments later, "I didn't expect you to go for a kick and I’m glad to see you’re quite good at using the Esoteric Restrictions, to read your opponents movements and enhance your abilities. That’s good, Indrath didn’t give me a rundown on what you could do" I said with a hearty laugh before readying my stance once more.

Kazu's amber glare watched on, “... are you surprised? Heh, guess you weren't as informed as you thought," Kazu remarked with his usual demeanor but also made me laugh to myself for a moment at that typical response before he once again he flashed toward me.

The next strike of his was just as fast as the first, his fist enveloped in flame with an explosive impact that met my forearm, it was a good hit and a testament to how much strength he had.

Even with his strength and abilities he was still inexperienced in the use of the Esoteric Restrictions, there were many more things he could learn in Mythral. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this Kazu, but I’ve decided to show you what I'm capable of. It would be rude to show you nothing in return," I said with my grin growing as my Aura began to flare around me in a roar of Magical Energy.

I could tell that’s exactly what he was waiting for, there was no doubt as his Esoteric Restrictions instinctively read the incoming threat. but he still didn't dodge or react, instead he stood his ground.

“Try your best, Kazu” I said with full intent to show him a taste of the kind of strength he would need to be prepared to face.

The next thing I knew Kazu already closed in on me, but I had no intentions of going easy on him. In a split second, I appeared before him causing his eyes to widen slightly, as if astonished by the speed of my movements before I sent him flying back with a hard right hook, that left golden energy lingering in the air.

Kazu wouldn’t have expected that in his current state but the mere fact he actually saw it coming was impressive. I watched on as he quickly picked himself off the ground. Clearly injured with a few cracked ribs and a left forearm that was on the edge of shattering.

A brief moment of silence filled the air between us. "You're quite strong already, Kazu. I’m not surprised but you are still far from what you could be capable of,” I said a grin while Kazu picked himself up, the look on his face almost seemed to have changed, an expression that truly reminded me of someone I knew from long ago.

A gaze so cold, that it sent chills down my spine and almost made me want to advert my eyes in fear. The very sight of it, felt so familiar, too familiar.

I was still surprised he was able to shake off my blow so easily, even if he felt the impact. I couldn't help but to be a little impressed despite the unnerving chill that crept up my spine.

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"Heh, guess I should have expected you to hit that hard," he remarked with a slight annoyance and hollow words.

A smirk crossed my features at his response, it was a good sign, it meant he could at least feel the emotions I wanted him to feel, and he knew himself that he needed to grow stronger.

After our short exchange Kazu dashed forward once more with flames enveloping his arms, although this time I would wrap up our match in one swing, after all I seen what I wanted to.

He was quite strong, his ability to manipulate magical energy in such a way was impressive, and even his combat skills were admirable despite him being a novice.

A second after Kazu’s foot left the ground so did mine, with a trail of the Golden runes along my body erupting outward with Magical Energy. I lunged forward with the intent to end this fight with a single strike. When we reached each others positions the golden aura around me made the barrier of my Mana Art shudder before my fist came down on Kazu in an explosion of golden power.

Then the moment of impact came causing a bright flash that covered the courtyard with its glow.

BOOM

The loud blast echoed through the air and into the courtyard, but in that moment, it felt like I hit the side of a mountain as the shockwave blasted outward.

After the dust settled, I stood while my hand was still outstretched, where Kazu stood with his now shattered forearm halting my attempt completely, yet he stood completely unbothered with only a dull ache of pain that spread from his broken forearm.

"... How... interesting," he said in the silence between us, and the shiver that ran up my spine turned into a chill as if it felt like death itself was staring me down, the Amber glare and a sclera of darkness pierced through my very being. This wasn’t just Kazu, that Amber glare that stared back at me burned with hate and malice that made it hard to breathe. An overwhelming presence that threatened to tear through the barrier of my Mana Art itself, the same presence that once sought vengeance for Mythral, a desire to annihilate every deity that took away his life.

In the moment I took a deep breath to regain my composure. It was clear both his core and Esoteric Restrictions briefly awakened a shred of their strength. I knew in that moment he was capable of far more than this, it was about time I ended our spar before something unpredictable occurred and I endangered myself. That aura itself was always simply terrifying.

[Mana Art: Barrier Break]

The runes on my body flared once again as golden energy exploded outward from me. A technique from my Mana Art that repelled any and all within the barrier, and the sheer amount of energy it released would be enough to throw back most things, and Kazu was no different, although, I had no intentions of harming him.

The courtyard within the barrier erupted in a burst of energy that flung Kazu back several feet and rippled outward from the barrier as the mana art dispelled. It took a few moments for Kazu to get up from the shockwave of Magical Energy that was sent his way.

He stood up to notice everything within the courtyard was as it always was, even his arm was perfectly healed from his fight. He clearly wondered what had happened, as he stared at his arm before looking toward me and giving me the same look of indifference.

I could only laugh at the sight of his demeanour, and the fact he didn't hold back at all made him impressive in more ways than one. “If you’re wondering why you took no damage Kazu, that was the technique of my Mana Art, anything within my barrier is completely under my control, the chains of the Kanmori Clan allow me to do this, it is the most powerful defense only known by Myself and Altear.” I explained before a small smile formed on my face as I watched him. “… it was hard to read your movements even with the technique active, but I also focused on keeping you and the courtyard intact, I have to say you did well, Kazu, a perfect way to end our spar.” A hearty laugh escaped my lips while I approached him with a large grin.

Yet Kazu dusted himself off with the same hollow gaze and aloof response, "... interesting, I did expect it to be a challenge, after all your Aura is enough to be weary of," he remarked with indifference, although it certainly looked like he was thinking about the spar, and what he could have done differently.

I couldn't help but grin at the thought of it, and his reactions amused me to no end, the nostalgia of it all. I couldn’t help but laugh as my towering frame reached his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"No matter how much you think about the spar, there was nothing you could have done better. I'm glad you are already this adept in reading your opponents movements, you certainly don't seem to hold back, even with your core sealed, I thought it would be easy to sweep you off your feet, but your Esoteric Restrictions are as remarkable as ever.” I stated with laughter as I patted Kazu on the shoulder, “I’ll help you reach a height where no one will be able to touch you. Then I hope you can find yourself and what exactly you want in this life.” I said with my usual hearty laugh, the same kind that had caused the golden city to rejoice in the past.

Kazu remained unamused by my words, but his expression seemed to soften a bit, “I guess... I should be thanking you or something. I’m not used to all this praise and stuff." He admitted with a shrug, "Indrath said something along those lines before. It was like he was expecting me to do well here. I intend to hold up to that expectation." Kazu said with a sense of loyalty that was embedded in his very being, but I was gladder that his words felt genuine and filled with some sort of hope for his own self. It was a sight I hadn't seen since the days before the fall of Mythral, still the thought of him caused me to grin.

“… You must be hungry! come on, I’ll take you to the dining hall! Altear usually has dinner ready by now,” I said with a hearty laugh, while Kazu seemed to regain his focus.

"Hmm?... alright," Kazu answered in the usual aloof manner as he followed after me into the palace, all while my mind began to think over everything, he was capable of and how much I hoped he would grow.

Mythral was destined to bloom once again, with the arrival of him, perhaps something shifted in me, a certain kind of nostalgia that I thought I had long forgotten.

I was thrilled, even if I knew the hardships that lie ahead of him, this place was the perfect place for him to reach his full potential, then Kazu will create a path for himself, one that he chooses to walk.

All the same, I would support him and protect him from any and all, he would come to call enemies. After all, Kazu wasn't just another Xiao to me. He was the same overwhelming presence that once brought deities to their knees. A protector of Mythral that lost everything he held dear.

I felt a connection, an indescribable one that I couldn't explain but I felt it, and it gave me a certain amount of joy, that perhaps in the end, the golden city's legacy of the Xios could never be erased. Kazu had the potential to shift the balance of the world once again.

My towering figure looked over to the young Xiao with an expression of pride, the following words that escaped my lips filled me with so much joy and hope for his future. "Welcome to Mythral, Kazu, I look forward to seeing the man you'll grow to be."