The warm air settled over the training grounds. Kaizen shook the dust from his cloak and hung his wooden sword on his back, looking at Renji with the same impassive expression he always wore, cold, as if nothing could ever touch his heart.
— "Enough for today," he said, his voice sharp, without a trace of fatigue. "I have other matters to attend to. I don't like wasting time more than necessary."
Renji wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to lighten the mood with a tired smile:
— "Then… I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night with you and the imperials. Let's see if you can raise a glass as well as you raise a sword."
Kaizen's gaze did not waver, remaining as cold as ever, as if the joke hadn't even touched the surface.
— "Tomorrow is tomorrow. If you're still here to drink."
Renji shrugged, trying to stay relaxed.
— "I have to go now too. If I don't go home to eat with my sister, as I promised, I won't make it to the tavern tomorrow. She'll finish me off faster than any of the demons you told me about."
For the first time, Kaizen's stone-like face cracked. A short, dry, sharp laugh slipped from his lips. It wasn't a warm laugh, but rather a strange sound, seemingly forced by the irony of the situation.
— "Ha… that means your sister is more dangerous than many warriors. Perhaps you should fight her first."
The cold tone returned immediately. Kaizen turned his back without further explanation, taking a few steps down the main street of the town.
— "See you tomorrow. You and your friends be at your house when evening falls, someone will escort you to the tavern."
Without looking back, he walked away with his confident stride, leaving behind only a feeling of emptiness and a shadow of unease hovering over Renji.
Renji remained for a few moments watching the road where Kaizen had disappeared, then gathered his things and headed toward the building where his sensei usually spent his time.
Renji pushed the door open and entered.
— "Sensei…" he said, tired. "I think I'll leave. I'm exhausted. I can't even lift a sword anymore."
The sensei looked at him over the rim of his cup, with that gentle calm that Renji always found comforting.
— "Alright, go and rest. You've worked enough today."
Renji nodded and headed for the exit but paused in the doorway, as if remembering something.
— "By the way, don't make plans for tomorrow night. Kaizen said he's inviting us all to a tavern on the outskirts of town. You're invited too."
The sensei raised an eyebrow in surprise but set his cup down with a faint smile.
— "A tavern, you say? Well… I haven't been to one in a while. I accept the invitation. But you know..Renji, I won't spend the entire night there. Age no longer allows me to keep up with your pace."
Renji let out a small laugh and shook his head.
— "That's fine, sensei. The important thing is that you come."
The sensei looked at him for a few moments, his eyes reflecting both mild amusement and quiet concern. Then he made a reassuring gesture with his hand.
— "Now go. Your sister is waiting for you."
Instead of heading straight home, his steps took him to the shop where Airi worked. "Better tell her now than have her find out at the last moment," he thought, hurrying through the houses bathed in strong noon sunlight.
Upon arriving at the shop, Renji burst inside, finding no sign of Airi. He started knocking on the countertop, and Airi emerged from the back, surprised.
— "Renji? At noon? What are you doing here?" she asked, frowning slightly, though her smile betrayed her curiosity.
— "Yeah… I just wanted to let you know," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Tomorrow night we're going to a tavern on the outskirts of town. Kaizen invited us all. I thought you shouldn't miss it."
Airi looked at him closely, as if searching for something in his expression.
— "Hmm… interesting. So? How was your training with him? Did you survive?"
Renji shrugged with a tired smile:
— "Barely standing. But I think it was worth it. He's ice cold… as if he has no heart. Still… I think I learned something."
Airi sighed and chuckled softly:
— "As long as you don't come home with broken bones, I'd say that's progress. Anyway, you're too stubborn to admit you have limits."
Renji raised an eyebrow, looking at her:
— "Are you planning to scold me all the time, even when I come to invite you somewhere?"
— "Maybe," said Airi, stepping closer. "If I didn't scold you, who would take care of you?"
Renji felt his cheeks warm slightly and rolled his eyes, pretending to be irritated:
— "See? That's exactly what I was saying… You're unbearable."
— "And yet you came to me first," she replied with a playful smile, making his heart beat faster.
Renji remained silent for a moment, then sighed and turned his gaze away:
— "I need to go see Kaede and tell him before I get home. If I don't eat with my sister as promised… tomorrow I won't even get a chance to have a drink at the tavern."
Airi laughed quietly, covering her lips with her hand:
— "Then go. Your sister sounds more dangerous than Kaizen."
— "Yeah… and believe me, she really is," said Renji, giving a short smile before turning to leave.
Renji left Airi's shop, wondering where he might find Kaede. He was surprised that Kaede hadn't been at training, and a slight unease gripped him. "Where could he be?" he wondered, trying to imagine where his friend could be hiding or relaxing. The first thought was to go to Kaede's house, but he immediately stopped: he was sure the chance of him being home was almost zero.
So heading toward his friend's house seemed pointless. Renji went toward the city center, hoping he might find him where Kaede usually spent time. But there was no sign of him. The shops, the streets full of vendors and passersby revealed no trace of Kaede's presence.
After several tens of minutes searching, Renji sighed and gave up. Turning homeward, he felt a mix of frustration and worry. "I hope I find him tomorrow… I need to invite him to the tavern too," he thought, clenching his fist lightly, unsatisfied with not finding him.
On the way home, Renji stopped at the blacksmith's to ask an unusual question.
— "Hello, sir. I was just passing by."
— "Hello, boy. What brings you here?" the blacksmith asked, smiling and curious.
Renji carefully looked at all the swords on display and asked in a serious tone:
— "How much would a sword the length of my body cost, not too thick and not too wide? I'm thinking of… a version of Kaizen's sword."
The blacksmith examined the request, touching the blade of a thinner sword and weighing the proportions with his eyes:
— "Hmm… something like this? It should be solid but maneuverable. Cost depends on materials and finish… but I can make one suitable if you want."
Renji nodded, already thinking of future training. "If I use it properly, it'll help me improve speed and technique," he told himself, then left the blacksmith with his mind full of plans.
Renji was almost home when he looked up and saw a flock of slender winged, silver white birds, glinting faintly in the noon sunlight. They were the Veylors, migratory birds that lived only in his kingdom and, with the approach of autumn, left the territory, flying to the hot southern deserts. People said they carried not only the call of the seasons but also the lesson of those who leave behind what they love… their dreams and desires, to survive or achieve something greater.
Renji watched them rise into the sky, feeling a strange shiver. Their flight seemed like a living metaphor: sometimes, to rise higher, you must leave the place you felt at home, the warmth that nurtured you, and the dreams that gave you wings.
His thoughts inevitably flew to Kaede. His friend seemed untouchable, like these birds, always gone in recent months, always seeking something beyond their understanding. Renji didn't fully understand what had happened to Kaede, but he knew his friend had changed, becoming more distant, colder, and harder to read than before, as if a part of the fire that once fueled him had vanished.
"Perhaps he, like the Veylors, left behind something dear… to fly higher," Renji whispered, his heart tight, watching the flock disappear over the horizon.
With these heavy thoughts, Renji continued home, trying to push away unease and focus on the meal promised with his sister, hoping he could find Kaede tomorrow and invite him to the tavern.
Renji finally reached home, and the door opened immediately as he pushed it. Miyu looked at him, surprised and delighted.
— "Renji! You got home earlier than I thought!" she exclaimed, smiling widely and rushing to the kitchen to set the plates on the table.
— "Yeah… training finished early," he replied, leaving his sword and armor in a corner.
They sat down together at the table, and the smell of hot food calmed Renji after the long day. As he ate, he began telling Miyu about his training with Kaizen: the rounds, the techniques, and the lessons he had learned. He also told her about the discussion with Kaizen regarding the demons threatening their world, and how they used naive people to build an army.
Miyu listened carefully, her eyes wide with fear, but her voice remained determined:
— "Renji… I promise I'll give my best in the training we'll have, that I'll learn everything I can, and I won't be an obstacle. I want to be useful, not just a burden to you."
Renji smiled faintly, feeling a mix of gratitude and brotherly care. He finished the meal quickly, wiped his hands, and praised Miyu:
— "Well done, Miyu. Seriously, I'm glad you're determined."
— "Thank you, Renji!" she replied, her eyes sparkling.
Renji stood, feeling the fatigue still weighing on him after the intense training and long day.
— "I need to take a shower. I'll be back after," he said, heading to the bathroom.
Once inside, the warm water enveloped him, and his tired muscles began to relax. Before he knew it, his eyes closed, and his body surrendered to sleep. Fatigue engulfed every thought, and the last image that remained in his mind was Miyu's smile, reminding him that, no matter how dangerous the world outside might be, at home there was a corner of peace and safety.
And so, exhausted and defenseless against sleep, Renji fell asleep in the bathroom, while the warm noon light filtered through the steamed-up window, ending a day full of training, reflection, and strong emotions.