The sun was setting over the rusted rooftops of Kuzari, painting the sky in orange and purple. Kaen and Tobias had taken refuge in a vacant lot at the edge of the district, an abandoned space where tall grass grew between chunks of broken concrete. It was their training ground, far from prying eyes.
— "So, are you really going to tell me you didn't feel anything?" Kaen challenged, drawing a twisted iron bar he used as a practice weapon.
Tobias gave a cold smile. His black hair fell over his forehead, half-hiding his piercing gaze.
— "What I saw yesterday… wasn't normal, Kaen. You brought out that thing… like it was natural. But you still don't understand what you're carrying."
Kaen clenched his jaw.
— "And you think you understand it better than me?"
Without warning, he charged Tobias, the bar whistling through the air. Tobias sidestepped smoothly—almost too fast—and snatched up a piece of wood from the ground to block the strike. The clash rang out, harsh and raw.
An improvised duel began, marked by the clash of metal against wood. Kaen poured all his fire and fury into his assaults, while Tobias remained calm, precise, every move controlled.
Suddenly, Tobias twisted sharply, disarming Kaen in one swift motion. The bar clattered to the dust.
He leveled his improvised weapon at him, eyes gleaming with an icy intensity.
— "You've got power, Kaen. But without discipline, it means nothing."
Kaen panted, sweat dripping down his brow. He straightened, eyes blazing.
— "Maybe. But at least… I'm not hiding behind secrets."
A tense silence fell. Tobias turned his eyes slightly away, as if stung by the words.
Then, unexpectedly, he let out a bitter laugh.
— "… Hah. You haven't changed. Always rushing forward, even when you don't know where you're going."
Kaen grinned back, despite the ache in his arms.
— "And you, always acting mysterious. But that's why we make a good pair, right?"
Tobias lifted his gaze to the darkening sky. For a moment, his expression grew solemn, almost melancholic.
— "Listen, Kaen. If the Haseidan is starting to move, everything is going to change. You… you have no idea what you've stepped into."
Kaen frowned, but Tobias was already turning away, laying the stick on the ground.
— "When the time comes, you'll understand."
Without another word, he left the vacant lot, leaving Kaen alone with his questions—and with the strange sensation that his friend carried an invisible weight, a burden that reached far beyond their ordinary world.
Tobias proves his superior control and strength.
Tobias remains mysterious, a shadow lingering over his past and secret.
Kaen keeps his impulsiveness and fire, hinting at the future complementarity between them.