After Emilia's departure, Rei immerses himself in fire manipulation. The days became weeks, and weeks into months, as Rei experimented tirelessly, drawing inspiration from concepts like the fire piston and utilizing oxygen as a medium to tame the unpredictable element. Rei, Kaiser, and Luster dedicate countless hours to their respective pursuits near the familiar riverbank, forming an unspoken camaraderie.
Luster after practices also started cooking, ensuring Rei and Kaiser are well-fed and cared for during their training sessions. His culinary skills and the warmth of his comforting cloak during chilly evenings become a cherished part of their routine. Kaiser, on the other hand, dives deep into his sword training, guided by Thomas, who teaches him the intricate movements of the Central Sword Style: Earth Form.
In this world, there are 5 sword styles. The North Sword Style relies on sharp cuts at the body like the Northern plain's winds. South Sword Style relies on gentle swings like the water waves from the Southern ocean. West Sword Style that relies on short movements like the Western sands, Eastern Sword style that relies on covering quick continous swings at the head like the Eastern mountains, and Central Sword style that relies on attacks from unexpected locations like the dangerous Central Forest. Each Sword Style has 5 forms: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Woods, and each form has 9 verses.
Kaiser's relentless determination allows him to surpass even Rei in swordsmanship, a fact he relays with pride. He eagerly shares the knowledge of the first verse, "Sword Meets Sword," with Rei, encouraging him to master the foundational techniques. The sound of clashing steel filled the air as Rei worked diligently to refine his skills, determined to close the gap between his progress and Kaiser's newfound expertise.
Meanwhile, Thomas, inspired by Rei's innovations, dedicates himself to learning the hand signs Rei had developed for elemental manipulation. The chaos of his younger years seems to transform into focused energy as he begins to wield the elements with increasing precision and confidence.
Back at home, the atmosphere shifts with the arrival of Maria, Rei's newborn sister. Lily and Thomas pour their energy into caring for the infant, navigating sleepless nights and the challenges of raising a child after years of relative calm. Despite the bustling household, Rei's journey remains steadfast.
Rei channels their energy into perfecting both spirit arts and combat, finding balance amidst the changes. Each day brings them closer to mastering fire manipulation, a symbol of their unwavering determination and the path they've chosen to walk.
While it was still a long time before Kaiser and Luster would have their first naming ceremony, Rei had already begun preparing gifts for the occasion. It was a way to show gratitude for the bond they shared. Over time, Rei had completely opened up to Lily, their mother, and the hatred they once held for girls had finally vanished.
One day, while practicing sword techniques with Kaiser and Thomas in the open yard, a villager ran toward them, his face etched with worry and fear. The man's voice was trembling as he exclaimed, "Mr. Thomas! I saw some bandits heading near the village. They seem to possess magic—we need to do something!"
Thomas immediately sprang into action, his commanding presence filling the space. "Alright, listen up!" he barked. "We have a situation. Spread the word, door to door, and warn everyone. Gather any weapons you can find and transfer all the women and children to the safe house. Tell the women who can fight or heal to meet us at the village gate—we'll need everyone's help!"
Lily, her expression a mix of fear and determination, hurried over to Rei. She pressed little Maria into Rei's arms. The baby's small form was warm and soft against Rei's chest. "Rei, take Maria to the west side of the village. Protect her, no matter what," she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly. Without waiting for a response, Lily and Thomas rushed toward the village gate to coordinate the defense.
Rei quickly secured Maria to his back with a sturdy cloth, freeing his hands for combat. Kaiser joined him, and together, they sprinted toward the west side. Along the way, they encountered a group of students from the village school. Armed with simple weapons, the students stood resolute. Rei recognized them instantly as former classmates. The girls carried expressions of anger and determination, while the boys seemed stoic and focused.
"Come, let's go!" Rei called out to them. "Where are the women?"
Kaiser replied without hesitation, "They're headed north. Don't worry about them."
Rei asked, "Should not the women stay with us?"
Kaiser replied, "No, if both the women and children got caught, no one would survive, so that's why we are separated so that if one group gets caught, they could send a signal to the skies for the other group to flee."
Rei could not argue the practicality of this tactic. North was a particularly eye-catching area, a place where if bandits breached, they would go to. However, if the bandits somehow went west first, the children would be left vulnerable, but at least he knew that the women were in the North.
With that reassurance, Rei led the group forward. But on the other side of the village, chaos erupted. A group of frightened villagers arrived, shouting pleas for help.
"Please, help us!" a woman cried, her voice breaking.
"What's happening? Aren't they bandits?" another villager asked in confusion, their face pale with fear.
One of the frightened newcomers gasped out an explanation. "The bandits threatened us to come to the village so they could attack from the west! They're using us as bait!"
A murmur of panic spread through the crowd, and one villager, an older man with a weathered face, shouted, "Our children are headed to the west side!"
Thomas, who had been coordinating the defense, froze for a split second before his commanding voice rang out. "We have to save them! Let's move out, now!"
Rei felt his grip on the sword tighten, his heart pounding in his chest. Maria's small weight on his back grounded him, reminding him of his responsibility. With every fiber of their being, He was determined to protect her and the others. Innocent lives hung in the balance, and Rei would not falter.
Suddenly an explosion happened in the wall. It was an intermediate fire magic flame blast, which destroyed the wall, and a group of bandits barged in.
The bandits, a motley crew of rugged, battle-hardened warriors, charged toward your group with reckless abandon. Their commander used another fire blast. Their eyes widened in surprise as Rei quickly conjured 3 makeshift earth walls using the Chaos sceptre, the ground trembling and rising to form a barrier between the group and the oncoming threat. The Fire blast collided with the 3 walls and destroyed them, but Rei created another earth wall. For a moment, the thought of retreat crossed Rei's mind, but he dismissed it immediately. The bandits were adults, stronger and more experienced than their group. One lesson from swordsmanship rang clear in Rei's mind: showing your back to an opponent was equivalent to death. The only way out was to fight.
Rei gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "Damn it, what's happening..."
Panic spread among the classmates like wildfire.
"What's going to happen to us?" one shouted.
"Are we going to die?" another whimpered, trembling.
Some students broke ranks, turning to flee. "Stop!" Rei yelled, his voice firm and commanding. The runners froze in place, turning to see Rei's determined face staring down at their frightened expressions.
"Everyone, form a group with your friends!" Rei barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Girls, use your ranged weapons and magic to attack from a distance! Boys, ready your melee weapons and prepare for close combat!"
The children hesitated, their fear etched in their faces. One boy shouted, "Why should we listen to you? How can we trust you're not just using us to escape?"
Rei thought, "If this was a year ago, I would have abandoned them and run for my life. However, things are different now." Rei glanced at Maria, who was sleeping, and made a determined face.
Rei's gaze hardened as he responded, "If we wanted to retreat, those bandits couldn't stop me, Kaiser, or Luster. But this isn't just about us. If we run, you'll all be left defenseless. If you want to survive, follow my lead."
Rei said, "Within this ragtag group of children, only I, Kaiser, and Luster have the most experience. If you want to survive alongside me."
A girl and a boy from the group said, "We won't follow you." "Like hell you can do anything". Soon, everyone started cursing Rei. Kaiser and Luster wanted to retort, but Rei stopped them. He made a disgusted face and pointed the Chaos sceptre towards the kids. Rei then said in an angry tone, "Fine, have it your way, anyone who doesn't follows me would die." The children looked at Rei with horror and fearful face a girl said "You won't do it, even you-" However before she could say anymore Rei used wind slice which left a cut on her cheeks. Blood trickled down from her cheeks. She put her hands in the cheeks and then checked her hand and saw blood. She got on her knees and screamed in horror.
The children now took a huge gulp, and Rei said in a menacing tone, "Either you die, or you fight. I don't want to hear any more excuses."
One by one, all the children began to step forward, nodding in agreement with pure fear and horror.
Rei turned to them, his expression fierce and unyielding. "Listen up, you fools! If you want to live, you need to follow my orders. Now move, and stay close together!"