Chapter 20: Bonds of Shrek
The sun hung lazily over Soto City, casting long, golden rays across the courtyard of the Shrek Academy's temporary inn. After their fierce battle at the Soto Grand Soul Arena the previous night, Grandmaster had given the Shrek Seven Devils the day off — a rare reprieve from their brutal training regimen.
I stood in the shade of a tall tree, leaning against its rough bark, watching the others with quiet detachment.
They weren't like me.
But somehow, I was a part of them now.
---
Morning Laughter
"Wake up! You're wasting daylight!"
Dai Mubai's voice boomed across the courtyard as he banged on Oscar's door.
The door creaked open, and Oscar's bleary-eyed face appeared, hair sticking up in every direction.
"Why… must you yell… so early…" Oscar mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
Dai Mubai grinned. "We're in Soto City. You think you can sleep through the day while everyone else is training?"
Oscar groaned, stumbling out of his room. "I thought this was a day off…"
"It is," Zhu Zhuqing said coolly from the courtyard, already stretching, her feline grace on full display. "But that doesn't mean you get to be lazy."
Oscar shot me a pleading look as he passed. I offered him nothing but a neutral gaze.
Even I knew better than to sleep in around Dai Mubai.
---
A Quiet Morning
Xiao Wu was the last to appear, bounding down the stairs with her usual energy, her long braid swaying behind her.
"Good morning!" she chirped, flashing a bright smile. "What's the plan for today?"
Tang San, ever composed, stepped out beside her, his Blue Silver Grass bracelet gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
"We don't have to train, but that doesn't mean we can't practice," he said with a small smile.
His gaze flicked toward me. "Ayanokoji, what about you?"
I considered my answer for a moment.
"Observing is practice."
It was a vague response, but Tang San seemed to understand.
---
A Breakfast Debate
Breakfast was a loud affair.
Oscar, energized by food, had regained his usual flirtatious bravado.
"Ning Rongrong, you should marry me. I'll make you delicious sausages every morning," he said with a dramatic wink, holding out a freshly made spirit sausage.
Ning Rongrong gave him a withering look.
"I'd rather starve."
The table erupted in laughter, Dai Mubai nearly choking on his porridge.
Even Zhu Zhuqing allowed the faintest smile to ghost across her lips.
I watched quietly, eating without hurry, as their playful banter continued.
It was… oddly warm.
---
Sparring Matches
After breakfast, the courtyard became a makeshift training ground.
"We should spar," Dai Mubai suggested, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation.
He was always eager for a fight — not out of malice, but because combat was his language.
"Two-on-two?" Xiao Wu suggested, already bouncing on her toes.
"Let's make it interesting," Tang San added. "Random pairs."
A quick draw of sticks set the teams:
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar.
…And me, alone.
The others exchanged glances.
"Unfair," Zhu Zhuqing noted, frowning slightly. "Ayanokoji doesn't have a partner."
I shrugged.
"It doesn't matter."
---
The Sparring Begins
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing took the offensive first, their White Tiger and Hell Civet spirits creating a lethal combination of strength and speed.
Tang San and Xiao Wu, meanwhile, fought with perfect synchronization, his Blue Silver Grass controlling the field while Xiao Wu darted in and out of range with her unpredictable agility.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar… well, they stayed back, offering long-range support, knowing full well they weren't front-line fighters.
As for me…
I simply waited.
And watched.
---
Calculating the Field
I saw the patterns immediately.
Dai Mubai's aggression left him open to quick counters.
Zhu Zhuqing's speed was impressive, but predictable once you understood her rhythm.
Tang San's control was formidable, but his protective instincts for Xiao Wu created exploitable gaps.
Oscar and Ning Rongrong's defensive positioning was solid — but static.
I could end this… if I wanted to.
But instead…
I chose to move with them, not against them.
---
A Lesson in Control
When Dai Mubai charged me, his White Tiger spirit roaring, I sidestepped smoothly, letting his momentum carry him past.
Zhu Zhuqing came next, a blur of black and silver, claws aimed for my back.
I turned just enough to deflect her strike, my Dark Phoenix spirit flickering to life for a brief second, its oppressive aura forcing her back.
"You're holding back," she noted, breathing hard, her amber eyes narrowing.
"I am," I admitted.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass came for my ankles — fast, but predictable.
A sharp pulse of spirit energy shattered the vines before they could touch me.
"You shouldn't let me see your strategy so clearly," I said softly, my gaze meeting his.
He smiled, despite himself.
"You're not easy to trap."
---
The Aftermath
The sparring ended in a stalemate, though we all knew I hadn't fought seriously.
But no one called me out on it.
Instead, we lay in the grass, sweat cooling in the afternoon breeze, the adrenaline slowly fading.
"That was fun," Xiao Wu said, stretching her arms above her head, her expression peaceful.
"Speak for yourself," Oscar grumbled, wiping dirt from his face.
Ning Rongrong smirked. "You're just out of shape."
The playful bickering resumed, and for a moment, it was easy to forget the weight of our training… and the battles ahead.
---
A Private Moment
As the sun began to set, Tang San found me alone again, sitting on the rooftop, watching the horizon.
"You're always distant after sparring," he observed quietly, sitting beside me.
I didn't respond immediately.
"It's… habit," I said finally.
"From before Shrek?"
A question without pressure, but heavy with curiosity.
"Yes."
That was all I gave him, and as always, he didn't press.
But his presence was… grounding.
And though I didn't say it, I was beginning to understand why.
---
The Calm Before the Storm
Night fell, casting Soto City in soft shadows and distant lantern light.
The Shrek Seven Devils — a chaotic, mismatched group — had become something more than teammates.
They were becoming… a family.
And though I stood on the edges of that warmth, I knew, deep down…
This was something I could never afford to lose.
Not in this world.
Not again.