Miyu remained silent for a few moments, still breathing heavily, then slowly lowered her hand. Her eyes softened, and in place of fury, guilt slipped in.
— "I'm sorry, Renji… I shouldn't have thrown the pot. I just… I was scared. I thought you wouldn't come back."
Renji sighed and ran a hand through his hair, still massaging his bruised forehead. He answered in a calm voice, but this time far more serious:
— "I know, Miyu. But listen closely… this world is bigger and more dangerous than you think. I realized that myself today. I can't always be by your side. So you'll have to learn how to defend yourself."
Miyu looked at him in shock, unable to utter a word.
Renji crossed his arms and continued:
— "After the imperials leave the city, I'll start training you to wield the sword. This isn't a game, and I don't want to hear protests. If you want to stay safe, you must be prepared."
For the first time, Miyu lowered her gaze, then slowly nodded, clenching her fists with determination.
— "I understand…" she murmured.
Renji gave her a brief smile, touching her shoulder lightly.
— "Good. But for now, I think it's time to sleep. I need rest."
He retreated to his room, leaving his sister still troubled by what she had heard. As he lay down, his gaze drifted toward the ceiling, but his thoughts pressed heavily upon him.
Why… why does the voice in the necklace sound more hideous each time? It wasn't just deeper, but laden with a disturbing vibration, as if every syllable carried a hidden threat.
— "Kaizen…" Renji recalled, the name surfacing in his mind like an enigma that refused to grant him peace. He would have never imagined an imperial raising his sword against his own kingdom. Until then, he had seen them as the most respected men of the world, paragons of honor and strength.
And yet, the image of the attack wouldn't leave his mind. Part of him wanted to believe it had been just an illusion, a deception born of the necklace. But another, colder and more calculating part forced him to recall every detail of that mental conversation, every warning, every shadow of hidden truth.
Then he remembered that fateful moment, the arrow piercing his chest, the cold embrace of death closing in. And yet, the necklace had pulled him back, restoring his life. If it wanted only to manipulate him with lies, why save him at all? What could an illusion gain from the fact that he still breathed?
Torn between mistrust and harsh clarity, Renji exhaled deeply and finally closed his eyes, surrendering to sleep.
Renji awoke before the alarm rang. Still slightly dazed, he smelled the familiar scent of food drifting from the kitchen. Miyu greeted him with a timid smile, holding a few plates in her hands.
— "Renji… I made breakfast for you," she said.
Renji smiled faintly and nodded:
— "Thank you, Miyu… but I need to go train. I'll eat after I return."
Miyu sighed and nodded, a little disappointed, but understanding that her brother needed focus.
— "Alright… just don't hurt yourself too much," she murmured, gripping the plates carefully.
Renji put on his training armor and took his sword, feeling a mix of anticipation and tension. His steps carried him toward the training grounds, his heart beating faster, not only from the thought of drills, but because he wasn't sure how serious that invitation had truly been.
Once there, Renji froze in surprise: his master was already waiting with crossed arms, and beside him, standing straight as a statue, was Kaizen.
— "You… and this early?" Renji muttered, surprised not only by Kaizen's punctuality but also by his sensei presence.
He stepped closer, mostly to suppress his curiosity, and asked with slight hesitation:
— "Sensei… are you going to watch our training today?"
The sensei smiled subtly, his eyes gleaming with memory and nostalgia as he looked at Renji.
— "Of course. I wish to relive, if only for a moment, my youth. Kaizen's father was my dearest friend, and a remarkable warrior. Seeing his son train… it makes those times come alive again, and I remember the man he once was."
A strange chill ran through Renji. He wasn't surprised that his sensei respected Kaizen, he knew who his father had been, but the air of anticipation, combined with Kaizen's impassive, watchful gaze, made his heart beat faster. He knew this would not be an ordinary training session.
Renji and Kaizen faced each other. Renji inhaled deeply, focused and ready to commit himself to the training, knowing this moment was about him and his preparation. Kaizen stood calmly, attentive, ready to guide and correct without testing his own limits. The air was thick with anticipation; Renji felt that every move would matter, that this was no ordinary practice.
— "Are you ready?" Kaizen asked, his voice calm yet firm.
— "Yes… as ready as I can be," Renji answered, gripping the wooden sword with determination.
Kaizen stepped forward, observing him closely.
— "Before we begin, use a longer wooden sword, something closer to what will aid you in the future. The one you hold now won't suit the battles to come. You need to get used to distance and speed."
Renji nodded, switching swords and immediately feeling the difference in weight and balance. Kaizen let an almost invisible smile cross his lips and added:
— "Fights between men… they'll end quickly enough when the true threats appear. You must be ready for what's coming."
A cold shiver coursed through Renji, but he suppressed his fear and steadied himself, ready to face Kaizen's precise and calculated style.
Kaizen crossed his arms and studied Renji intently.
— "I have a proposal for you," he said calmly. "We'll fight three rounds, two minutes each. If you manage to touch me even once in any of them, I'll reveal more secrets about this world and show you the mystery behind my sword and armor. But if not… then you'll learn the hard way, as always."
Renji felt the surge of adrenaline. He accepted the challenge, tightening his grip on the wooden blade.
— "Alright… I accept!"
Kaizen made the first move, attacking swiftly, calculated, testing Renji's reflexes. The wooden blade barely managed to block the precise strikes, and Renji kept moving, blocking, pivoting, retreating, searching desperately for an opening.
— "Faster! More force in your swing!" Kaizen barked, pressing him relentlessly, altering rhythm and direction with each strike.
Renji felt every step, every clash, adjusting his stance and coordination between arms and legs. In a moment of confusion, Kaizen drove him near the edge of the training grounds, forcing him to rely more on agility than brute strength.
The first round ended with Renji failing to land a single blow. He panted heavily, but did not give up.
The second round began, and Kaizen shifted style: circular strikes, feints, sudden retreats, testing Renji's anticipation. Slowly, Renji began to notice patterns, using smarter blocks, but his attacks still couldn't touch Kaizen.
— "Speed alone is nothing… you must feel your opponent's rhythm, anticipate his intentions," Kaizen advised between strikes, giving away no hint of his next move.
The third round. Renji knew he had to try something unorthodox. When Kaizen lunged with a rapid combination, Renji pretended to stumble and fall, quickly plunging his hand into a pile of sand at the edge of the arena. Believing he had the advantage, Kaizen moved in fast to finish him.
In a flash, Renji hurled sand into Kaizen's eyes, blinding him briefly. Seizing the chance, he struck with his wooden blade, landing a clean hit.
Kaizen blinked, surprised for the first time during their match, then let a subtle smile slip.
— "Interesting… a dirty trick, but effective," he murmured, regaining composure. "Very well, you managed to touch me. Now… let's move on to the real lessons."
Renji breathed deeply, feeling the satisfaction of his first success, but also the weight of how much more he had to learn. He understood that Kaizen's secret and that of his armor was about far more than strength alone.
The sensei remained on the sidelines for a few moments, watching Renji and Kaizen withdraw after the final round. His eyes shone with awe and respect.
— "I must thank you, Kaizen," he said with a sincere smile. "To witness such training… it is a rare privilege. You've inherited far more than your father's strength."
Kaizen gave a subtle nod, showing no further smile, pulling his sword close as he returned to his usual calm.
The sensei exhaled softly and began walking toward the nearby pavilion, ready to relax for a moment.
— "It is time for tea," he murmured to himself. "Renji is with Kaizen, so I can retreat for a while."
With a light step, he disappeared toward the building, leaving Renji with Kaizen. The air still carried the tension of their sparring, but now there was also a sense of progress and learning—a beginning of something far greater to come.
Kaizen rested his wooden sword near Renji, watching calmly as the sensei departed.
— "Now that we're alone… there's something you must understand about the demons threatening this world," he began. "Recently, I faced a demon general. I barely won, but I lost people dear to me. The details… I'll tell you another time. This is not the right moment. But you must know: fighting true demons is far crueler than anything else."
Kaizen's gaze locked onto Renji's.
— "Do you remember the battle in that cave?"
Renji nodded, recalling how he had watched Kaizen's every move, breathless.
— "That demon had only just transformed," Kaizen continued. "Weak, compared to a pure demon… strong enough to kill anyone untrained. You must understand, decapitating them or severing their limbs means nothing. If you don't destroy the stone within their bodies, they will regenerate."
He drew a deep breath and spoke with grave intensity:
— "Pure demons cannot remain long in the human world without passing through a portal. To linger, they give humans demon blood, allowing them to teleport directly to those who carry it. Their goal is to turn as many desperate men as possible into demons, preparing the battlefield for a war where the human world is nothing but a stage for slaughter. That's why you must stay vigilant: any man who bears demon blood becomes like a beast, and a gateway for demons."
Kaizen's eyes grew sharper.
— "I told you I fought a demon general. Stronger than common demons, and often stronger even than me. Yet there is a trick that can give you an advantage against them."
He turned toward Renji, his piercing gaze searching for honesty.
— "Do you believe in sorcerers?"
Renji hesitated, then replied:
— "Not really… I thought they were just stories."
Kaizen allowed himself a faint smile.
— "They exist. I once traveled with one. What you must know is this: with demon blood and the aid of a sorcerer, your armor and sword can be used differently. You gain more endurance, more stamina, and more, adapted entirely to you, to your will. You begin to feel that your weapon and armor are not just objects, but extensions of your power."
A mix of fear and fascination swelled inside Renji. Everything Kaizen said seemed impossible, yet every explanation made him more aware of the dangerous reality awaiting him.
Kaizen looked at him for another moment, then added in a quiet undertone:
— "And if you think battles between men are the hardest… you're mistaken. When demons muster a large enough army and strike, everything will change."
Renji felt a cold shiver and a growing determination. Kaizen's words weren't just theory; each one opened a window into a world far deadlier than he had ever imagined.
— "This is only the beginning, Renji. You must be ready, because the world won't wait for anyone," Kaizen finished, returning to his usual calm, yet leaving the weight of truth pressing on Renji.
Then, with a more relaxed tone and a gaze that still carried gravity, he added:
— "In two days, the imperials and I will leave this city. But before that… if you and your friends wish to unwind, I invite you tomorrow night to a tavern on the edge of town. Eat, laugh… let's meet again in good spirits, if fate allows it."
Renji nodded, feeling both gratitude and anticipation. Yet his mind couldn't ignore the suspicion Kaizen had once cast on him after the forest fire, nor the warning from the necklace to avoid the imperials and Kaizen. He knew Kaizen had killed men and attacked poor towns without hesitation.
But... Renji felt hesitation give way to an impulse he couldn't resist. Almost instinctively, he chose to accept the invitation, to let himself be carried by the moment, to savor one last fragment of normality and joy before the road ahead drew him into the unknown.