Azure sat hunched over the wooden table, the dim flicker of candlelight casting long shadows on the pages of the old tome. His eyes were bloodshot, his mind struggling to grasp the words written on the parchment, but he couldn't tear himself away. Ryu manipulation—the technique that promised power, survival. He had to master it. There was no other choice.
Across the room, Arzatious lounged lazily on the windowsill, his golden eyes half-lidded as he gazed at the stars, looking more like an immortal who had all the time in the world than umm himself? Azure could feel the tension in his shoulders, the frustration gnawing at him as he flipped through the book again. This is it. I need this.
Arzatious' voice broke through his focus, soft and mocking, a playful purr that made Azure's grip tighten on the book. "Why so serious, dear~?" Arzatious's words flowed like silk. He tossed a small stone in the air, catching it effortlessly. "The stars are brighter than that dusty old thing you're holding."
Azure's jaw clenched, and for a moment, he considered throwing the book at him. He didn't want to be distracted. "This dusty old book contains the secrets to surviving this world," Azure snapped, the words coming out sharper than he intended. "I don't have the luxury of wasting time on idle games."
Arzatious' laugh was low and rich, a sound that made Azure's irritation flare. He could practically hear the amusement dripping from his every syllable. "Surviving?" Arzatious leaned in, his face casting a devilish grin as the candlelight caught his sharp features. "Where's the fun in just surviving, Azure? Survival is for mortals. Mastering Ryu? Now that's about flair. About bending the world to your will, making it dance to your tune. That's power."
Azure felt his chest tighten at the thought. Power was a distant dream, something he couldn't quite reach no matter how hard he tried. "Flair won't save me when I'm facing someone stronger," he muttered, his eyes bitter.
"Flair always saves you," Arzatious countered, the grin on his lips widening. The playful glint in his eyes was both taunting and something more. Suddenly, Arzatious appeared right beside him, leaning over his shoulder, his presence overwhelming. His voice dropped to a near-whisper. "Come now, what's holding you back, hmm?"
Azure pointed to the diagram in the book, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. It was as though Arzatious was always one step ahead, effortlessly navigating this world of power and energy that Azure was still stumbling through. "This technique channels Ryu into a shield, but it doesn't explain how to control the flow. It feels—" He paused, trying to find the right words, "—it feels like I'm missing something."
Arzatious clicked his tongue, snatching the book out of Azure's hands in a swift, almost playful motion. His golden eyes scanned the page with an ease that made Azure's frustration burn hotter. "Ah, classic mortal mistake. Always overcomplicating things." His voice was calm, almost too calm, like he knew something Azure didn't. "Feel it. Don't think. Ryu isn't a beast to tame; it's an ally. A dance partner. All you need to do is let it lead."
Azure's brow furrowed in confusion. "A dance?"
Arzatious chuckled, the sound warm and light, full of confidence that rubbed Azure the wrong way. "Watch closely, little one. I'll show you." With a flourish, Arzatious raised his hand. Golden wisps of energy began to swirl around him, forming a shield that surrounded his whole body from head to toe and shimmered with a pulse, almost alive. He spun in a fluid motion, and the shield rippled with the grace of a dancer on stage, then vanished into a cascade of brilliant light.
Azure stood frozen, watching in disbelief. "It's that easy for you," he murmured, a knot of frustration forming in his chest. The ease with which Arzatious manipulated Ryu, how effortlessly he seemed to bend the world around him—it made Azure feel small. Helpless.
Arzatious grinned, turning to pat him on the back with a light, almost mocking touch. "Of course, it's easy. But then again, you mortals have a lot more learning to do. Come on, give it a shot. You can't just think your way through this; you've got to feel it."
Azure closed his eyes, shutting out everything but the faint hum of Ryu inside him. It was like a distant heartbeat, a pulse he couldn't quite grasp. This is it. This is what I need. He extended his hands, imagining the shield taking form, feeling the energy flow through him, trying to guide it—but as soon as it began to gather, it scattered, splintering like fragile glass. He gasped, the energy slipping from his control, and frustration surged in his chest.
Arzatious burst into laughter, the sound so genuine that it stung. "Oh, Azure~!" His voice was teasing, yet there was something affectionate behind the mockery. "You're as graceful as a drunk horse at a ball."
Azure slumped back in his chair, feeling a wave of exhaustion crash over him. "Do you ever stop? Just… once?"
Arzatious's grin didn't falter, not even for a second. "Never," he said cheerfully, his eyes glinting. "But don't worry, little one. You'll get it. Eventually."
The night stretched on, and Azure felt his frustration mount with every failed attempt. He was still so far from understanding, so far from wielding Ryu as Arzatious did. But amid the teasing, the laughter, and the moments of mockery, there was something else—something subtle. It was in the way Arzatious never left his side, in the way he always lingered with that unspoken confidence, like maybe, just maybe, he believed Azure could get there, even if he didn't quite see it himself.
For the first time that night, the weight of his studies felt a little lighter.