Although, the past months had passed quickly, the seasons of Mythral were beginning to shift, the air carried a crisp chill as the city embraced the winds blowing down off the distant mountains, which left my breath to become visible in the air, while I sat upon the stone stairs of the palace. That overlooked the city and its residents below me.

The sky above was painted in the usual oranges and yellows fleshing out the colors of the city under my gaze. I didn't mind the cold, or the crispness in the air. After all this place called, Mythral was becoming more of a home to me.

Before I came here, I couldn't care less about these things, but now it seemed I could spend hours staring out at this city, learning it’s history, and experiencing its culture, which seemed to be the case.

However, it wasn't without its difficulties. In a way, I couldn't deny the fact that my existence here in Mythral was somewhat of a relapse, or perhaps a new beginning to me.

Regardless, I didn’t mind this place.

A half smirk tugged at the edge of my lips as I thought about it. I wasn't exactly the best person to be around, but the bonds I had formed with Theitus and Altear made me feel better about it, and I guess in some way, I felt the same way with Isabelle even if she didn’t talk to me much.

In any case, I started to get more free time to myself, since my training with Theitus had become more refined, I spent a lot of my time doing much of nothing but thinking about countless things on my mind, or simply watching the city below me, even at times exploring that very city.

“Kazu-kun~" the voice of Altear called from the doors of the palace, and her footsteps could be heard behind me. "I was looking for you," she said, which caused me to turn my head slightly in her direction.

"Hm, What for?" I remarked as she took a seat next to me and gave a soft giggle in response.

"Nothing in particular, I just thought maybe you’d help Isabelle, she’s in the market gathering some supplies I had asked her to get. We've had this same task before, Kazu-kun~" she said with a soft giggle, as I turned my head forward to look out at the city before us.

"I know, I noticed she was gone," I remarked which only caused Altear to giggle even more.

“Oh my? You noticed she was gone and waited here for her to come back?" Altear said with another giggle causing me to roll my eyes which definitely wasn’t the case.

"… are you asking me to go help her or not, Altear?” I said as I glanced at her with my unamused expression, which seemed to cause her to smile in return.

"Oh Kazu-kun~" she giggled, which caused me to turn my head forward again, waiting for her to respond. “Well, I do have some things to do… So yes, if you want to that is~" she said with a playful smile.

I could only sigh at her usual teasing before getting to my feet, "if you say so," I remarked before getting up with a stretch and being quickly waved off by Altear.

I could hear her giggle behind me as I walked down the stairs to Mythral’s plaza, which took the usual amount of time to reach the market square from the countless stairs that stood between the palace and the plaza. But I wasn't in much of a hurry as my amber eyes took in the sights.

The red haired people of Mythral adapted to the change of seasons. Markets that bustled within the vibrant energy of summer now exuded a quieter charm. The people here still talked lively and the colors of the city up close still looked vibrant to my eyes.

I, however, kept my pace, finding it relaxing as I walked along the plaza and my gaze wandering to the many faces and their conversations.

Trade within Mythral has always been a focal point of the economy, which was completed based around the golden city and its surrounding villages and communities. Trade between these communities allowed for a sustainable exchange of resources, goods, for the entirety of this continent. In the past, Mythral was actually a major trading hub. However, this was before a war that separated Mythral from the Mainland.

Regardless, Mythral was doing just fine without trade with the mainland, a commerce of their own was well developed and supported, Theitus insisted it was because another title for the Tian Sovereign was the god of commerce, but I had come to learn, he had many other titles, maybe too many to be exact, such as the god of history, the archon of creation and even the warrior god.

Still, I had yet to see Isabelle in this city square, but that didn’t mean her presence was unnoticed, one that increased as she trained harder, it stood out from the rest, but it was mostly due to how I knew it was her.

I walked along and even began to wonder myself why she was quite a ways from the market itself. As I did, I got closer to her location not seeming to be alone.

“… hah, what do you mean you managed to get to the third stage?" I heard her an irrelevant voice say. “Took you long enough, Theitus’s prodigy is a joke,” they scoffed with annoyance and an obvious desire to get under her skin.

I stopped in my tracks hearing this person insult her, but I didn't exactly intervene just yet, I was a bit curious about her situation and listened in, beyond a corner, just a short distance away from Isabelle and her so called adversaries.

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"… I bet she’s getting secret lessons from that Xiao, that showed up out of nowhere," another voice remarked. "How else could, the talentless prodigy get that far?" The same voice added.

And yet, Isabelle of all people just took it, while her fist clenched tightly, her gaze was firm as ever and I couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her. "… shut up! you know nothing, why do you all insist on insulting me about the same things over and over? You're pathetic," she muttered.

A scoff escaped their lips before they spoke up again. "You really need to learn how to talk to people, or do you want us to tell Theitus you were just insulting us in public again?" they remarked.

But in that moment, A singular step of mine close the distance between them and me.

“Huh? I guess there’s people like you everywhere,” I remarked right behind them, their faces went pale when they both looked to me, with fear in their eyes seeming to take me for a monster, even if I thought my approach was quite easy to notice.

"W-We were just kidding! We didn't mean it, it's not what it sounds like, we just-," one red headed girl stuttered, practically hiding behind the man next to her, who had a little more confidence. "W-what are you even doing here?" he stuttered as I folded my arms in thought.

"Honestly, I was looking for my friend, but it seems I came across two people who have nothing better to do than to pick on her," I remarked, and watched their faces contort with fear as if I would hurt them, which left me to roll my eyes.

Isabelle clearly didn’t expect me to say that either, as she looked a bit confused, “What?”

“… I don’t think friends greet each other like that,” I remarked causing her eyes to shoot to the floor in what seemed to be embarrassment.

"H-hey, we were just talking, I can do whatever I want. everyone knows she is nothing special…” this man continued to mutter while his confidence seemed to be failing him with every passing second, and I had to admit the sound of his voice began to irritate me.

"… Why are you still here,” were the only words I told this irrelevant person and caused him to shudder beneath my amber gaze before he gulped the remaining words of his sentence down his throat and bolted off without the girl, who was quick to follow after him.

I still didn’t think I portrayed a menacing image or anything, but they ran away in fear and left, me and Isabelle alone in an awkward silence.

“Are you alright, Isabelle?” I asked, as she remained quiet, her face still downcast and red from her situation

"I didn’t need your help," she muttered which actually caused me to sigh as if I was somehow disappointed in her reaction.

"But I decided to help you, whether you needed it or not," I said as I stared at her refusing to meet my gaze, but I could see her cheeks flushing in response to my words. "Besides, it seems those two will be leaving you alone for a while now, I’m going back to the palace… Are you coming with me?” I asked as I began to walk ahead, as if to dismiss her out of my sight and for a moment Isabelle gave a glance in my direction, before she scurried to catch up to my side, clearly embarrassed.

"What about Altear’s stuff?" she muttered under her breath which caused me to shake my head.

"I’m sure she’ll be fine… I’ll get it later.” I remarked with a shrug before the two of us continued our way back to the palace, for the most part in silence, although it wasn't long before she finally spoke up.

"Thanks, for everything,” she muttered as if that’s what she thought I wanted to hear, but it was unnecessary, she didn't owe me anything.

"Hm," was all I could muster in response.

She however, felt the need to explain herself. “You no doubt noticed how everyone looks at me, as Theitus’s talentless prodigy,” she muttered in frustration, as if this was a huge issue to her.

My gaze shifted to her while my face remained forward. "It seems like the world is filled with people like that," I remarked not exactly seeing the reasoning for such a wrong label.

"People like that? You think it's nothing? They constantly harass me, say things about me, and it's all because Theitus has trained me since I was a child. Not only that, but I also only hit the third stage of cultivation because of you! Everyone expects more from me and I don't live up to that,” she ranted as her face began to grow hot in frustration. “…and then there’s you, some Xiao who came out of nowhere and is clearly stronger than me and every single person in this stupid city. I look like a fool to everyone for not being at a higher stage, with not only Theitus and Altear training me, but they also think you are teaching me in secret," she ranted as I stared at her with a flat expression.

"And?” was all I could muster in response, which only seemed to cause Isabelle to grow red in the cheeks with frustration. “People will always talk, and most of those people are irrelevant. Both Theitus and Altear know you’ll get stronger, they know it. So, stop worrying about those idiots, they're just jealous of you, just like you are of me," I said which caused Isabelle to glare at me.

"I am not jealous of you!" she exclaimed as if she wasn’t an easy person to read. I only found some humor welling at my throat before she turned her head away. “… Do you think I can get to your level? The fifth stage? of Zenki Ryu?" Isabelle asked rather timidly in her lapse of temper.

I thought for a moment, and I only felt one answer crossed my mind. "... you'll never reach my level, Isabelle, but you will reach a height you alone can. You have more talent and determination than most of those in Mythral. The only person that you'll need to surpass is yourself, and I’ll be there to fully support it.” I said without hesitation as my amber gaze fell onto Isabelle's flustered face before we finally made it to the palace.

Isabelle didn't respond or say anything in our moment, but her face seemed to remain flushed, and I was certain she was embarrassed and perhaps grateful. “Then admit, I’ll get stronger than you,” she finally said after a brief moment of silence.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement that came from deep inside me, “…Is that so? Then I guess, I’ll be waiting for you,” I said flatly before a twitch of annoyance could be seen on Isabelle's face, but with her redden cheeks and shyness this looked more amusing than anything.

“… That’s not Fair… that’s not even close to what I said!" she exclaimed but clearly, she didn't seem to mind the remark. "... dummy” she muttered to herself before taking a few steps to the entrance of the palace. "… thanks for walking with me… and the talk, I’ll see you later" she added in her timid manner.

"Yeah, see you later," was all I said as we parted ways, with her retreating inside, while I remained outside a bit longer feeling quite entertained by our conversation or was it, that I just enjoyed having a chance to speak with her without her usual rudeness?

Whatever the case, I headed off to finish the task Altear asked of Isabelle. I didn’t mind after all. Isabelle needed some time to herself, I didn’t know why, I, of all people knew that but it felt right in a sense.