[ The scene changed to when Shin was born.
Shin was born delicate, his body a fragile thing, wrapped in warmth yet shadowed by weakness. There was a quiet loveliness to him—so much so, they mistook him for a girl. At five, he lived beneath a roof gilded with wealth, but no riches could change the truth of his frailty. His parents, ever gentle, never let him strain himself. Even laughter,even play, seemed like luxuries his body could not afford.
Illness clung to him like morning mist, and so, he was kept indoors, apart. He would press his hands to the windows, longing for the world beyond the glass. But when he tried to join the others in the kindergarten, they turned from him—sometimes cruelly, sometimes carelessly. They mocked his tears, the way he looked. 'Like a girl,' they'd say, with voices sharp and small hearts. And he, too tender to defy them, cried in silence, letting their words fall like stones into the stillness of his chest.
But in the midst of his loneliness and torment, there was always one girl who stood between him and the cruelty of others. They were of the same age, and though she would face the bullies alone, never once did she falter. She was strong—so much stronger than him—and remarkably beautiful in a way that had nothing to do with softness. Her features were sharp, striking, the kind of beauty that could belong to a model.
It was in those moments that Shin realized he had fallen for her. His gaze would linger on her, filled with a silent admiration and an unspoken hope, a flicker of something Shin had never felt before. Even as he sat there, his hands marked with the aftermath of their cruelty, he found himself smiling simply because she was there.
That girl , she was kei. Kei shinohara.
"Hey you! Don't you guys have any shame? You! All of you are gathering here to beat only one boy? How shameless! " kei shouted with her sharp and deep voice.
"*𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦* Look at them kei. They are still sitting there after getting beaten up by a single girl. Why? Are you guys not satisfied yet? You want some more beatings from us as well? " Enji was heading towards them while mocking them.
"Hey are you okay? Let's go to the nurse office. " Satoru raised his hand towards Shin.
And that was the moment everything shifted. Kei's father, a man well-connected, was none other than the best friend of Shin's parents. It was through this connection that Shin came to know Kei. But it didn't stop there—Kei's father had also been a close friend of both Satoru and Enji's fathers. In the end, it was through Kei that Shin forged friendships with Satoru and Enji.]
When I come my senses after thinking about the story Celestina told me, I realized Sergio was already calling me . He set the table for us to eat lunch.
"Hey Sergio.. "
"Mm.. "
"How should I address you? Aren't you older than me? "
"You should just call me what you're calling right now. "
"I don't even know what the task! "
"A precious stone, once entrusted to our mansion, has been taken in a most audacious manner. Our course is now set—to reclaim what was wrongfully seized and to bring to justice those who dared to commit such an offense."
"What's the stone about? "
"That's a magic stone. That magic stone is basically protect us from the evil magics . "
"Then how was it even stolen in the first place? "
"Indeed, I'd like to know that myself. Last night, when I inspected the mansion, it was not in its rightful place. I searched the entire estate—every hall, every chamber—and it was nowhere to be found. So, I made a simple deduction… Who else -"
"What's the plan? "
"There will be a occasion from three days now...."
"Are you sure it's gonna work?
"We should try whether it does or not"
"Okay. Then what should we do now????? I mean why are we here. We have still 2 days left! "
"Are you truly sulking because no one will train you? Pathetic. Even if you were within the mansion's walls, you'd be nothing but dead weight. This place suits you far better—at least here, your inadequacy is expected."
It's not like I didn't understand his words. I am upset because his words are just clearer than ever. The truth.. It hurts after all.
" Very well then, I shall take it upon myself to personally oversee your training. "
"You aren't joking? Are you? "
"Does it seem to you that I am? "
Without a doubt, he was not. One need only glance at him to see it. Since the moment we arrived, his lips had not once curled into the faintest hint of a smile. His face remained as cold and distant as ever. His every word—precise, deliberate—was laced with a seriousness that seemed to cast a shadow over his very presence.
"Celestina said you are really good at it. I mean since you are a ranked up person. "
"We shall begin our training once this repast has concluded, in precisely three days' time."
"What are we learning? "Excitement flickered in my eyes, barely contained in the stillness of my form.
"It all rests upon the knowledge you have acquired. Now, enlighten me—how well-versed are you in the art of combat?"
"I don't know.. " I whispered my self.
"Perdon? "
"I have never been involved in fighting nor have I ever learned it tried to do it myself." I looked down as I spoke slowly.
"You can't be serious-... Wait you are? "
I didn't say anything. But when glanced at him a bit , I saw him
smiling for the first time.
I started to explain my childhood stories slowly.
[ The scene changed to when Shin was born.
Shin was born delicate, his body a fragile thing, wrapped in warmth yet shadowed by weakness. There was a quiet loveliness to him—so much so, they mistook him for a girl. At five, he lived beneath a roof gilded with wealth, but no riches could change the truth of his frailty. His parents, ever gentle, never let him strain himself. Even laughter,even play, seemed like luxuries his body could not afford.
Illness clung to him like morning mist, and so, he was kept indoors, apart. He would press his hands to the windows, longing for the world beyond the glass. But when he tried to join the others in the kindergarten, they turned from him—sometimes cruelly, sometimes carelessly. They mocked his tears, the way he looked. 'Like a girl,' they'd say, with voices sharp and small hearts. And he, too tender to defy them, cried in silence, letting their words fall like stones into the stillness of his chest.
But in the midst of his loneliness and torment, there was always one girl who stood between him and the cruelty of others. They were of the same age, and though she would face the bullies alone, never once did she falter. She was strong—so much stronger than him—and remarkably beautiful in a way that had nothing to do with softness. Her features were sharp, striking, the kind of beauty that could belong to a model.
It was in those moments that Shin realized he had fallen for her. His gaze would linger on her, filled with a silent admiration and an unspoken hope, a flicker of something Shin had never felt before. Even as he sat there, his hands marked with the aftermath of their cruelty, he found himself smiling simply because she was there.
That girl , she was kei. Kei shinohara.
"Hey you! Don't you guys have any shame? You! All of you are gathering here to beat only one boy? How shameless! " kei shouted with her sharp and deep voice.
"*𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦* Look at them kei. They are still sitting there after getting beaten up by a single girl. Why? Are you guys not satisfied yet? You want some more beatings from us as well? " Enji was heading towards them while mocking them.
"Hey are you okay? Let's go to the nurse office. " Satoru raised his hand towards Shin.
And that was the moment everything shifted. Kei's father, a man well-connected, was none other than the best friend of Shin's parents. It was through this connection that Shin came to know Kei. But it didn't stop there—Kei's father had also been a close friend of both Satoru and Enji's fathers. In the end, it was through Kei that Shin forged friendships with Satoru and Enji.]
In the end, the three of them became inseparable, their bond forged in the simple days of kindergarten. Though the bullies no longer dared to target Shin, he remained the same at his core—still weak, still unable to defend himself. His strength was never in his fists; it lay in the way he spoke, his words the only weapon he had. He could never learned to fight
The only thing that had truly changed about Shin was his appearance. The softness that once drew teasing whispers had faded with time, giving way to sharper lines and quiet strength. No one mistook him for a girl anymore—he had grown into a fine young man, his presence steady, his features no longer delicate, but defined. ]
"Are we going to use sword?? I am so excited! "
"Let the sword rest for now—for in your condition, even a wooden blade would strain your limbs. I'll teach you first how to stand, how to guard yourself when danger draws near. Given the shortness of time, this is all I can teach you for now. "
After we wrapped up, we started my training in the afternoon. The afternoon sun beat down on the training grounds, casting long shadows on the earth. The air was warm, but the trees nearby offered a bit of relief, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze.
Sergio stood firm, watching me with a sharp but patient gaze. His posture was straight, giving off the presence of someone used to commanding respect.
"First, hold your stance," Sergio instructed, his voice steady.
"Feet shoulder-width apart, weight balanced. If your foundation is weak, everything else will crumble." Sergio instructed again.
I shifted my feet, trying to adjust, but my stance still looked unsteady. Sergio gave me a small nod of approval, but his eyes remained focused.
"That's better. Now, the first thing you need to learn is distance." Sergio took a step forward, his movements fluid.
"When your opponent strikes, you don't just block. You move. Create space between you and the attack." he instructed me again.
Sergio demonstrated with a quick sidestep, stepping out of the way of an imaginary strike, then turning to my face again.
"Try it." His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp, watching closely.
"Remember, it's not about being strong—it's about using your opponent's force against them. Position yourself properly, and you'll be able to defend yourself."
I took a step, attempting the movement and I stumbled a little, but Sergio didn't comment anything. He just waited for me to try again.
"Don't think too much about it. Let your body move naturally," he advised, watching as I adjusted my stance. This time, I moved a little more smoothly, though my steps were still uncertain.
"Better. Again,"Sergio urged, stepping forward himself.
"Now, when you've evaded the attack, you need to block and counter."
Sergio raised his arm, showing them to proper technique for blocking, then swiftly guided my arms into place, helping them make a proper counterstrike.
"Good. You're improving. Remember, defense isn't just about blocking. It's about preparing for the next move. Your defense will lead you to your survival "
After three days, The occasion from a noble family have started.