Ren's words hung in the air, punctuating the moment with a sense of accomplishment and possibility. Kaito, however, couldn't shake the lingering doubt that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. Despite the impressive statistics provided by the lead scientist, he couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that lingered within him.
"But, I don't feel powerful..." Kaito's voice was tinged with a hint of uncertainty, his brow furrowed in contemplation. Ren's response was swift, his tone matter-of-fact as he addressed Kaito's concerns head-on. "Obviously. You're still on a 'low' level, but you can at least withstand more blows and attacks now."
Kaito nodded, though the reassurance offered little solace in the face of his lingering doubts. "I guess I can... But I cannot land blows that'll damage an opponent," he admitted, his tone tinged with frustration. Ren offered a patient smile, his expression one of understanding as he sought to ease Kaito's concerns.
"Eventually, you will be able to damage your opponents," Ren assured him, his voice carrying a note of confidence. "It's just a matter of time and continued dedication to your training." Kaito nodded, though the weight of uncertainty still bore heavily upon him.
"How long will it take...?" Kaito's voice trailed off, his gaze drifting towards the floor as he grappled with the uncertainty that plagued his mind. Ren's response was measured, his words chosen with care as he sought to provide reassurance to his protege.
"You hold immense talent, but you also progress faster when fighting," Ren explained, his tone gentle yet firm. "This probably has to do with you being the vessel of Altharion." Kaito's eyes widened at the mention of his enigmatic companion, his mind buzzing with questions and possibilities.
"Well, that's a good thing," Kaito remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of optimism. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement at the prospect of unlocking his full potential. With Ren's guidance and the support of his allies, he knew that anything was possible.
As they continued their conversation, the weight of uncertainty began to lift from Kaito's shoulders, replaced by a renewed sense of determination and purpose. With each passing moment, he felt himself drawing closer to the day when he would truly come into his own as a formidable guardian of the Enes.
Aria's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, her words laced with a hint of optimism as she sought to offer reassurance to her companions. "Well, with consistent training, you could easily grow powerful, if I'm not misunderstanding the situation," she remarked, her tone hopeful as she looked towards Kaito.
Kaito's response was tinged with uncertainty, his gaze flickering between Ren and Aria as he grappled with the weight of their conversation. "I hope so..." he murmured, his voice trailing off as he contemplated the path that lay ahead.
Ren interjected, his tone shifting abruptly as he sought to divert the conversation away from the topic at hand. "Well, unrelated to what we were just talking about, I've got some news... But, never mind. It's not worth talking about it right now," he explained, his words cryptic as he hinted at a matter of greater concern.
Kaito's curiosity was piqued, his brow furrowing in confusion as he pressed Ren for more information. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone tinged with urgency as he sought to uncover the truth behind Ren's enigmatic statement.
Aria's intuition proved to be correct as she voiced her concerns, her eyes narrowing slightly as she addressed Ren. "It's bad news, isn't it?" she inquired, her voice tinged with apprehension as she awaited Ren's response.
Ren hesitated, his expression unreadable as he weighed his words carefully. "Sort of," he admitted reluctantly, his tone betraying a sense of unease as he grappled with the gravity of the situation.
Despite Ren's reluctance to divulge further information, Kaito remained steadfast in his determination to uncover the truth. "Well, go ahead," he urged, his voice firm as he sought to unravel the mystery that surrounded Ren's cryptic announcement.
But Ren remained steadfast in his decision to keep the information confidential, his gaze unwavering as he addressed his companions. "No. It's not related to you, or Aria. It's mainly something that the higher ups are concerned about," he explained, his words tinged with a note of finality as he closed the door on any further discussion of the matter.
Ren's suggestion hung in the air, casting a curious light on Kaito's future training prospects. "Hm... Kaito, I've thought of something. It'll be beneficial for you to train with Raiden (雷電)," Ren proposed, his voice tinged with a hint of intrigue.
Kaito's brow furrowed in confusion as he processed Ren's suggestion. "Raiden...?" he echoed, his tone laced with uncertainty as he tried to recall any mention of the enigmatic figure.
Ren's response was laced with amusement as he elaborated on Raiden's identity. "I'm not surprised you don't know him, well... He's a very talented and experienced practitioner," Ren explained, his words tinged with a note of admiration for the mysterious individual. "He will brag about his title, though," he added, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Kaito's curiosity was piqued as he pressed Ren for more information about Raiden's supposed title. "What title?" he inquired, his voice tinged with anticipation as he awaited Ren's response.
Ren's response was cryptic, leaving Kaito to ponder the true extent of Raiden's abilities. "You'll understand when you talk with him... He likes to brag about it a lot. He's an expert at Nature Enes; he considers himself the most powerful Nature Enes practitioner to have ever lived," Ren revealed, his words carrying a sense of awe for Raiden's formidable reputation.
Kaito's expression darkened slightly as he contemplated the prospect of training under Raiden's tutelage. "I don't think I'm going to like this...," he admitted, his voice tinged with apprehension as he considered the challenges that lay ahead.
Aria's response offered a blend of excitement and skepticism, her words reflecting the complex emotions that swirled within her. "That sounds both exciting and irksome," she remarked, her tone betraying a mixture of anticipation and caution as she contemplated the prospect of Kaito's training with Raiden.