I couldn’t say time meant much to me anymore, as days had become a mere blur. However, my past life did linger in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder about the events that brought me to the world, I now live in.

I spent most of my free time with those thoughts, to which I wouldn’t find an answer to, but that wasn't important to me anymore, what was important was my time with those in Mythral.

Another day had begun as I made my way to the courtyard to begin my usual training session with Theitus, Altear and now Isabelle who demanded we all train together, not because she had reached my level, but because of one of Altear’s ideas to get her to interact with me in some way, and it wasn't like I minded.

Regardless, I made my way to the courtyard where our training took place in the chill air of the season.

As usual, Theitus and Altear stood waiting for me and Isabelle who seemed to arrive exactly when I did, to which Theitus and Altear found some humor in, as if the two of us were always late for training. That didn’t stop Isabelle and her redden cheeks and crossed arms from greeting me with a glare, one I came to expect from her.

"Morning," I greeted the three of them with a simple wave.

"… look at you two, arriving at the same time now~.” Altear cooed, while Isabelle’s cheeks only grew redder.

"We just happened to arrive at the same time," I remarked to Altear’s obvious teasing and yet, her and Theitus seemed to enjoy it a bit too much.

"Hah, come on now Altear, it’s just as Kazu said, right Isabelle?" Theitus asked which brought more redness to Isabelle's cheeks, but she couldn’t seem to argue.

"R-Right, yeah," she muttered which only seemed to get Altear to giggle before she turned her attention to Theitus who cleared his throat.

"That’s enough Altear, come on you two, I was just about to explain the plans for today," he said as he moved on and me and Isabelle took our places at their sides, while Theitus continued. "Kazu and Altear are going to be sparring for the better part of today…” Theitus said before Altear butted in.

"Hmm~. The courtyard is getting a bit small for our dances, wouldn’t you say Kazu-kun?” She cooed with a lick of her lips, but despite her teasing she wasn’t exactly wrong.

"I guess," I mused as my amber eyes glanced to the surrounding area. “We still make it work," I remarked causing Altear to giggle at my reply.

"… I wonder who’s going to come out on top, this time around.” She added with a playful smile. Ultimately referring to our personal competition.

Which consisted of how many times Altear won against me and how many times I won against Altear. At times we’d even end in a draw. It wasn't like we didn't know how to hold back, but our sparring sessions had become increasingly more intense over the course of time, seeing as I had become much stronger than before.

Isabelle gave a huff in annoyance, clearly feeling the need to be part of the conversation, all while Theitus laughed at it all.

"Alright, Alright, that's enough everyone. Altear and Kazu have their plans. Me and Isabelle will be continuing on with her cultivation, she’s already progressed this much in such a short time, I expect her forth stage breakthrough to happen any day now," Theitus said with a proud tone as he put his hand on her head, causing Isabelle's face to flush red, like she didn’t want me to see Theitus treating her like a child.

“T-Theitus…” she muttered but he only patted her head more as she looked away in embarrassment. It wasn’t long before we all had begun our separate sessions of training. Altear and I readied ourselves for our spar, she stretched while I simply loosened up, clearly noticing Isabelle from her position trying her best to watch me, without me noticing her.

I didn't really mind, as my attention was soon on Altear before me, “Kazu-kun, what’s it going to be today~?" she asked as she approached me in the usual way that made her hips sway back and forth while her lips curved with a smirk. “I’m thinking this will be my day~" she teased referring to our little competition between the two of us.

“Huh…? Last time I check you were only ahead of me by a hundred or so wins,” I said with a flat expression.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"A hundred? Oh~, if I need to remind you our scores are one thousand seven hundred thirty four to one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven," Altear said which only left me to sigh in annoyance at her constant teasing, while she giggled.

"You really are taking that game of ours seriously aren't you, Altear?" I said as my amber gaze fell onto her and grabbed one of the wooden poles, ready to start our spar, which caused her to smirk.

"Don’t act like you don't enjoy it," she teased before she followed suit and twirled the wooden pole around her womanly curves, before taking her stance in front of me.

"Maybe you're right," I remarked before this wooden pole I held shrunk in size becoming as shorter, like a dagger, which this transfiguration was rather simple with this unique type of material, considering it had to be since, Zenki Ryu was a battle art that had a mastery over every form of weapon and object. Regardless, Altear seemed impressed by my weapon of choice and readied herself for our dance.

“Are you ready, Kazu-kun~?" Altear said her final words before we both took a step to close the distance between us in a mere instant, our wooden weapons clashed together, while our bodies pressed against one another briefly before our next series of quick, precise attacks and parries that caused our weapons to dance in a flurry of movements.

"Kazu-kun~" Altear moaned as she seemed to be enjoying this as much as I was.

I only responded with a flat expression, and my usual amber gaze seemed to thrill her more, which in turn only made our dance more intense, our weapons continued to clash against one another while our spar grew faster with each passing moment, the sound of these wooden weapons clashed together echoing throughout the courtyard.

Our movements were a symphony of calculated strikes and fluid dodges. each reverberating through the courtyard, blending with the hum of magical energies Zenki Ryu created while it took form in this battle art.

Each blow had the potential to shatter bone and tear flesh, but neither one of us had that intent and we knew our own strength. The atmosphere crackled with energy as we entered a momentary stalemate, locked in a fierce gaze. Sweat glistened on our brows, and our breaths synchronized in the charged air.

“You’re really making me work for this one, Kazu-kun~" Altear moaned while the heat seemed to radiate off her as her palm slammed into my chest with a blast of magical energy bending wind to her will.

Of course, I tumbled back with grace before catching myself, “I’m barely breaking a sweat," I remarked with a single step and immediately followed up with a series of precise kicks burning with flames.

Each strike caused magical energy to display across her skin while her movements evaded and countered. Suddenly, with a swift maneuver, Altear changed up her style as her weapon transformed into a fan, capable of both ranged and melee attacks with a flick of her wrist.

Her movements became more graceful and more fluid, and her weapon cut through air with a sharp whistle. My amber eyes followed her every movement, as I stood on par with her flurry of strikes.

Our dance was truly a spectacle due to the countless hours spent honing my skills together, one that left me to smirk a bit more than usual as my footwork made me soar across the ground in a single step.

“Tell me Altear? Have I become too much for you?" I mused as my weapon morphed into a longer blade.

The twirling of Altear's fan sent magical energy across her weapon but I had predicted every single move as my body bent and twisted.

“Hmph~. You truly are a handful, Kazu-kun~" Altear moaned as her eyes seemed to sparkle in the heat of our spar, like she was looking at something beyond this battle.

But it was over the second the final breaths of Altear’s dance had ended, we found ourselves in another standoff, Altear panted softly noticing I had completely disarmed her and the only thing she felt was the wooden blade pressing against her slender neck.

"… I win," I said as my gaze pierced into hers. She seemed to have enjoyed herself, but it was always like that. A smile tugged on her lips before she stepped back wiping off any blood from the small cut on her neck from the lethality of the Magical Energy, that infused the wooden weapons.

“Hmm, it seems you did, Kazu-kun, you are becoming so much stronger~" Altear said with a giggle. “You know, it won’t be long before you surpass me, that still leaves Theitus, but I believe it won't be too long before you can stand on even ground with him," she added with a soft hum before waving me to take a momentary rest.

My gaze remained on Altear as she turned her attention to Isabelle and Theitus, as they continued with her cultivation.

“I know, Altear," I said completely sure of that fact, but Altear found some humor in my statement.

“Remember when I told you were basically a child?” she said with a giggle as her eyes turned to me. “Because you will continue to grow. Just like how a child matures, I know that’s a rather absurd thought, but I can only be certain of that Kazu-kun," she said with a smile. “… when you reach your full potential, when you’ve matured and understand all you can about yourself. I hope you’ll remain as the man you are now… Kazu, this time don’t forget so much, don’t forget we’re always here for you, okay?" Altear said quieter and softer. An unusual change from her teasing but one I felt deep within myself. In a sense I knew what she meant, but it wasn't like I could actually understand a memory far from my reach. It didn’t matter really because I was the person, I was now.

"…Don’t worry, Altear, I won't forget that," I said with a faint smile seeming to comfort her before a silent moment of peace lingered between us, as our attention turned to Theitus with Isabelle continuing on with her next breakthrough.

How could anyone forget these past few months? What happened here, what I look forward to, and not to mention these few I’ve come to care for? it was all irreplaceable.

Were the words that seemed to linger on my mind in this moment of bliss that overcame me.