A Warm Breeze Rolled Across The Floating Platform, Carrying The Scent Of Ozone. The Air Felt Different Here, Lighter, Almost Hollow—Like It Was Never Meant To Be Breathed By Those From Below.
A Thin Trail Of Smoke Rose Into The Dusk.
Ren Took A Slow Drag, The Faint Glow Of The Cigarette Tip Flickering Against The Fading Light. A Habit He Rarely Indulged In. But Right Now, It Was Quiet. Peaceful.
The Sun, A Dying Ember In The Distance, Stretched Its Golden Arms Across The Sky, Painting The Clouds In Shades Of Crimson And Gold.
Ren Stood On The Edge Of Floating Platform, High Above The Clouds, His Silver Eyes Reflecting The Fiery Horizon.
For A Moment, He Said Nothing.
He Simply Watched.
Taro, Standing Beside Him, Shifted His Weight From One Foot To Another. His Red Eyes Flickered Between The Sunset And Ren.
"It's Strange, Isn't It?" He Said, His Voice Quiet But Not Uncertain.
Ren Didn't Look Away. "What Is?"
Taro Gestured Toward The Horizon. "A Sky Which Burn's. This… The Sky Changing. The Light Fading. We Don't Have This Back Home."
Ren Finally Blinked. His Lips Parted Slightly As If To Respond, But Then He Just Nodded.
Taro Smirked. "It's Beautiful, Though."
Ren Let Out A Short Breath—Not Quite A Laugh, But Something Close. "Yeah… It Is."
The Aetheris Had No Sunsets. Just A Constant, Gentle Glow That Never Shifted, Never Wavered. Time Moved, But The Sky Stayed The Same.
Yet Here, The Sun Was Dying. And Somehow, That Made Everything Feel More Alive.
A Small, Almost Unnoticeable Change In The Air Made Ren's Gaze Shift.
Taro Noticed It Too.
The Wind Picked Up. A Second Later, A Shadow Fell Over Them.
Ryuji Landed, Soundless.
His Black, Fitted Combat Suit Absorbed The Fading Light. Twin Blades Hung From His Sides, Their Edges Carrying A Faint, Molten Glow. A Blindfold-Like Device Covered His Eyes, But His Posture Was Relaxed.
And On His Face—That Soft, Ever-Present Smile.
Ren Turned His Head Slightly.
Ryuji Lifted A Hand "Everything's Packed At My Place, Ren."
Ren Without Looking. "Alright."
Then, Without Another Word, He Was Gone.
The Air Trembled As It Readjusted To His Sudden Absence.
Taro Rolled His Shoulders. "You Came At The Right Time." He Tapped The Hilt Of His Blade. "The Exams Are Coming Soon. I Still Have A Long Way To Go."
Ryuji's Smile Didn't Falter. "Then Show Me What You've Got."
Taro Drew His Sword. Its Blackened Steel Reflected The Faint Glow Of The City Below, Runes Carved Into The Blade Pulsing Softly.
Ryuji's Blades Reacted. Flames Stirred Along Their Edges, Flickering Like They Were Alive.
Taro Moved First.
A Sudden Burst Forward, His Blade Cutting Through The Space Between Them. Sparks Ignited As Their Weapons Met, The Impact Sending A Shockwave Across The Platform.
Ryuji Barely Shifted His Stance, Effortlessly Redirecting The Strike. But Taro Didn't Pause.
With A Sharp Step, He Rushed Forward Again. This Time, His Movements Were Unpredictable, His Sword Dancing Between Offense And Defense.
Ryuji Blocked. Dodged. Countered.
Their Blades Clashed Again And Again, A Rhythm Forming Between Them. Sparks Scattered With Each Collision, The Air Between Them Rippling With Heat.
Then—
They Shot Up.
Taro Kicked Off The Floating Platform, Ryuji Matching Him Instantly. The Battle Carried Into The Sky, Their Weapons Leaving Trails Of Fire As They Moved.
Metal Sang As Their Strikes Intertwined Midair, Aerial Maneuvers Keeping Them In Constant Motion. Taro Twisted Mid-Swing, Aiming For Ryuji's Side. Ryuji Tilted Just Enough To Dodge, Then Countered With A Downward Strike.
Taro Blocked, But The Force Sent Him Spiraling Back.
He Steadied Himself, Eyes Locking Onto Ryuji. The Older Fighter Was Unshaken, But—
There Was A Cut Across His Sleeve.
A Shallow Wound.
Ryuji Glanced At It, Then Back At Taro. "Not Bad."
Taro Didn't Respond. He Was Already Moving Again.
They Collided Once More, Weapons Burning Bright Against The Night.
Ryuji's Blades Flared Brighter, Heat Distorting The Air Around Them. He Had Been Using Chrono Enhancing, A Technique That Pushed His Weapons Beyond Their Limits By Infusing Them With Temporal Energy.
Taro Noticed The Change. The Heat Was More Intense Now, The Strikes Heavier.
But He Didn't Back Down.
A Quick Spin—Aimed Strike.
Ryuji Twisted Just In Time, But The Blade Still Grazed His Side.
Another Wound.
Taro Exhaled Sharply. He Was Keeping Up.
But Then—
A Sudden, Violent Surge Of Energy.
Ryuji's Blades Burned Too Brightly. The Time-Enhanced Metal Reached Its Limit.
One Of Ryuji's Blades Exploded, The Force Sending Them Both Backward.
Taro Managed To Regain Control, Landing On The Edge Of The Floating Platform. His Breathing Was Heavy, His Arms Numb From The Clashes.
Ryuji Landed A Few Feet Away, Rolling His Shoulder. His Side Was Still Bleeding, But His Smile Remained.
Taro Wiped His Forehead. "You Overdid It."
Ryuji Let Out A Small Laugh. "Maybe."
He Reached Into His Coat, Pulling Out A Small Box. He Tossed It Toward Taro.
"Give This To Her. Tell Her… It's From Someone She's Forgotten."
Taro Caught It, Inspecting The Messy Wrapping. "She'll Know It's You Just From This Terrible Wrapping ."
He Shoved It Into His Pocket.
Ryuji Turned. A Mechanical Whir Sounded As His Combat Suit Activated. Thrusters Along His Back Flared To Life, Lifting Him Off The Ground.
He Gave Taro A Small Wave. "We'll Do This Again."
Then, He Shot Into The Sky, Disappearing Into The Night.
Taro Watched Him Go, Then Let Out A Long Breath. His Eyes Drifted Upward.
The Stars Had Fully Appeared Now, Scattered Like Tiny Sparks Across The Dark Canvas Of The Sky.
Below, The City Was Alive, Lights Flickering Like A Second Galaxy Beneath Them.
A Hum Of Energy Signaled Ren's Return.
He Stood Beside Taro, Taking A Slow Drag From His Cigarette Before Flicking It Away. "Done?"
Taro Nodded. "Yeah."
Ren Opened A Portal, The Air Around Them Shifting.
They Stepped Through And Vanished
The Night Sky Shifted—
And In The Blink Of An Eye, They Were Elsewhere.
Gone Were The Towering Cities And The Artificial Glow Of Neon Lights. Instead, They Stood On A Narrow Footpath, The Ground Beneath Them Soft With Overgrown Grass. The Air Was Crisp, Carrying The Faint Scent Of Wildflowers.
Above, The Sun Hung Steady, Bathing The World In Its Golden Glow. Unlike The Skies Of The Chronaia, There Was No Gradual Shift Between Light And Dark—Only The Sudden Decision Of The World Itself.
The Village Came Into View, A Cluster Of Sturdy Homes With Tiled Roofs And Walls Crafted From Smooth, Earth-Toned Stone. Vines Crept Along Some Of The Buildings, Weaving Through Wooden Balconies Where Cloths Were Hung To Dry. The Streets Were Lively Yet Calm, A Harmony Of Everyday Life.
People Moved About, Some Carrying Baskets Of Freshly Harvested Fruits, Others Guiding Floating Crates That Hovered Steadily Beside Them, Wrapped In A Soft Magical Glow. A Merchant Stood By A Stall, Adjusting The Position Of Jars Without Touching Them, The Objects Shifting Gently At His Command.
A Warm, Familiar Energy Surrounded This Place—A World Unchanged, Where Magic Wove Into Life As Seamlessly As The Wind.
Taro Exhaled, Rolling His Shoulders. "Feels Nice After A Fight."
Ren Didn't Respond. He Took A Cigarette From His Coat And Lit It With A Flick Of His Fingers. The Faint Glow Of The Ember Flickered As He Took A Slow Drag.
They Walked Without A Word, The Sounds Of Village Life Growing Closer. Children Ran Across The Open Fields, Their Laughter Carrying Through The Air. A Group Of Elderly Men Sat Outside A Tea Shop, Speaking In Low Tones, While A Woman Adjusted The Herbs Drying On A Wooden Rack Outside Her Home.
Then—
"TAROOOOOOO!"
A Tiny Force Of Energy Came Barreling Down The Path, Kicking Up A Small Cloud Of Dust In Its Wake. Before Taro Could React, Ren Casually Stepped Back—And Disappeared.
The Next Thing Taro Knew, A Small Body Slammed Into Him With Full Force.
Naksu.
She Pulled Back, her fiery red eyes locked onto his injuries. "WHY ARE YOU HURT AGAIN?!" She Glanced Around Sharply, Then Narrowed Her Eyes. "Wait… Where Did Ren Go? Don't Tell Me—Did He Do This?!"
Taro Let Out A Soft Laugh, Resting A Hand On Her Head. He Knelt Slightly, Bringing Himself To Her Level, And Ruffled Her Hair In A Gentle, Almost Protective Way. "It Was Ryuji."
Naksu Huffed, Crossing Her Arms. "Him Again? Next Time I See That Guy, I'll Kill Him"
A Firm Smack Landed On The Back Of Her Head.
Naksu Let Out A Small Yelp, Hands Immediately Flying Up To Cradle Her Head. She Turned, Teary-Eyed, To See Ayame Standing Behind Her With An Exasperated Sigh.
"We Heal People, Not Make Empty Threats Like That, Naksu."
Naksu Sniffled Dramatically, Rubbing Her Head As If She'd Just Suffered The Worst Pain Imaginable.
From Behind Ayame, A Small Figure Peeked Out—Kiri, She Stepped Forward. With Quiet Steps, She Reached Up And Patted Naksu's Head Gently.
"Did It Hurt, Naksu…?" She Asked In A Soft Voice, Her Big Eyes Full Of Concern.
Naksu Instantly Threw Her Arms Around Kiri, Burying Her Face Into Her. "Kiriii…!" She Wailed, Still Holding Onto Her Head.
Kiri Let Out A Small Giggle And Continued Patting Her.
Ayame Sighed, Before Her Gaze Landed On Taro's Injuries. A Small, Knowing Smile Played On Her Lips. "Well, Since You're Already Hurt, You'll Make A Great Test Subject For Naksu's Healing Magic."
Taro Blinked. "Wait—"
Before Taro Could Protest, Ren Reappeared Nearby, Hands In His Pockets. "Oh, You're Here Already?" He Looked At Ayame. "I Dropped Everything Off At Your Place Earlier."
Ayame's Gaze Immediately Narrowed. "If You Had Come Earlier, You Could Have Taken Me Along Too. I Had To Walk All The Way Here."
Ren Blinked. "…I Didn't Think Of That."
Ayame Sighed Deeply. "Of Course, You Didn't."
Without Arguing Further, They All Began Making Their Way Toward Ren's Home. Naksu, Still Buzzing With Energy, Rushed Ahead, Pushing The Door Open.
"Mother! Mother! Look! Taro's Hurt Again!"
Ren's Mother, Who Had Been Setting The Table, Turned And Immediately Took In The Sight Of Her Sons. Her Warm Eyes Landed On Taro First, Then Ren, And For A Brief Moment, Silence Filled The Room.
Ren, Attempting To Act Innocent. "I Just Went To See The Sunset… Taro Picked A Fight On His Own."
The Next Thing They Knew—
Ren Winced, A Slight Bump Forming On His Head.
Beside Him, Taro Sighed, Rubbing The Lump On His Own Head.
Ayame, Watching The Whole Thing, Simply Smiled Softly.
Kiri, On The Other Hand, Giggled Sweetly, Covering Her Mouth With Her Hands As She Watched.
They All Sat Down To Eat, The Warmth Of The Home Wrapping Around Them Like A Familiar Embrace.
Naksu Eagerly Attempted To Heal Taro, Her Tiny Hands Glowing Faintly With Magic.
Kiri Sat Beside Ren, Reaching Out To Place Her Hands Gently Over His Head. "I'll Heal This Little Bump." She Smiled.
Ayame Watched Closely As Naksu Worked On Taro. The Moment Naksu's Magic Wavered, A Light Flick Landed On Her Head.
"Make The Core Energy Flow With The Blood, Not Against It."
Naksu Huffed, Rubbing Her Head Again. "I Was Trying!"
Kiri Patted Naksu Softly, Her Voice Gentle. "Try... More Carefully, Naksu"
Ayame Crossed Her Arms But Said Nothing More, Letting Kiri Guide Naksu Instead.
Ren's Mother Watched Them All, A Soft Smile On Her Face.
And With That, The Day Carried On—Filled With Warmth, Laughter, And The Kind Of Peace Only Home Could Bring.