Chapter 21 - Gaze

They say it takes ten thousand hours to master a skill. An exaggeration, maybe—but it makes one thing clear: effort is essential.
Renji didn’t have the luxury of ten thousand hours. But with his genius-level intellect and the conditioning drilled into him during his time with the JSDF Special Forces Group, he didn’t need anywhere near that much to master what he was learning now.

“Come at me!” Sorien’s voice boomed across the training ground. The bearded elf stood ready, grey hair tied back in a topknot, wooden training blade levelled at Renji. “Use what you learned this morning!”

Sorien was a rare breed, even among elves: a spellblade, a warrior versed in both swordplay and non-elemental Essence magic. That was why Elith had chosen him to train Renji. While Sorien’s magic wasn’t exactly the same as Renji’s, it was close enough for him to grasp the fundamentals.

Renji bent his knees, leaned forward, and willed Essence through his limbs. His breathing slowed. The world sharpened. As in the battle against the wyverns, time seemed to stretch—every shift in Sorien’s stance magnified.

He burst forward, training blade primed for a horizontal slash. At the last moment, he flicked his wrist, changing the strike to an upward vertical cut. Sorien had to switch his parry, but his footing lagged by a fraction. Renji’s blade clipped through his guard, throwing him off balance.

Got him.

Renji seized the opening, reversed his grip, and brought the blade down on the elf’s shoulder.

Sorien winced and dropped to a crouch. “Good hit. You’re improving at an alarming rate. To gain this much control over magic enhancement in two weeks is nothing short of impressive.”

Renji straightened, forcing his breath calm. Not perfect. Too obvious on the first swing. If he hadn’t over-committed, I’d never have landed that hit.

“Your instruction made it easy to follow, Sorien.”

“Modest as always.” Sorien chuckled, rubbing his shoulder. “Again. This time I’ll use physical enhancement magic as well.”

Renji nodded, tightening his grip. So this time it’s the real thing. Both warriors took a ready stance.

They shot forward, blades flashing, clashing again and again, almost too fast for the eye to follow. Renji tracked every twitch of Sorien’s shoulders, every shift of his feet, adjusting in the space of a heartbeat.

But the elf’s blade found its mark. With a deft twist, Sorien knocked Renji’s weapon skyward, the wooden blade spinning before planting itself several metres behind him.

“That was very good, Renji.”

Renji exhaled, jaw tight. “Still not good enough.”

“Don’t despair, my friend. I didn’t hold back that time.” Sorien’s tone softened as he rested a hand on Renji’s shoulder. “Next, we’ll practise long-range spells.”

Renji nodded, eyes already narrowing on the lost blade behind him. Not good enough yet. But I’ll get there.

***

Meanwhile, from a distance, a pair of eyes lingered on Renji.

Alina had finished her morning drills with Elith, who had ended the session early to attend to other matters. With time to spare, she’d sought Renji out—just to see how his training was going.

“You’re staring really hard,” Neria whispered into her ear, making Alina almost jump out of her skin.

“Neria!” Alina hissed. Somehow, in only two weeks, they’d slipped into the kind of banter most friends took months to build.

The warden giggled. “If you stare any harder, you’ll burn holes in his back, you know.”

“I wasn’t staring!” Alina insisted, ears turning red. “I-I was just curious about how his training was going.”

Neria arched a brow. “Curious? You’ve been standing here for five whole minutes without blinking. That’s not curiosity—that’s definitely something else.”

Alina crossed her arms, looking away. “That’s ridiculous. I’m only checking his progress. That’s all.”

“Oh, really now…” Neria said wryly. “—and you even fist-pumped with a silly smile when he landed that hit.”

“I was not smiling,” Alina shot back, her tone firm.

“Right…” Neria’s tone was dry.

Alina puffed her cheeks, desperate to change the subject. “What are you doing here anyway, Neria? Aren’t you supposed to be on patrol?”

“Just got back.” Neria smirked. “Thought we could have lunch, but it seems you’ve got… other things on your mind.”

After a brief pause, Alina admitted quietly, fidgeting, “I do miss him a little. We travelled together for quite a while… but now he’s living with Sorien, and I’m with you. I hardly see him anymore.”

“Ah, I see…” Neria teased, her eyes glinting. “Then just tell him you miss him.”

She strolled off toward Elith’s mansion. With a flustered huff, Alina hurried to match her pace.

“Come on, Neria, it’s not like that between us. We grew close as comrades—our survival depended on it. We’ve built a relationship where we trust each other with our lives, nothing more.”

“Do you want it to be? Something more?”

Alina froze mid-step. “I-I don’t know. He has a family back home.”

The pair resumed their stroll.

“Are you certain?” Neria pressed. “I’ve seen how you look at him. And the way he protects you? Don’t forget, I watched you both all through Floor Thirty-Nine. Also, I’ve never heard him mention a wife… or a lover.”

“He said he has a family,” Alina admitted quietly, eyes on the ground. “And he’s searching for a way back.” She drew a slow breath. “He’s not going to stay. So what I want doesn’t matter.”

Alina recalled an earlier conversation with Renji. He’d said he had family… but she had simply assumed he meant a wife and children.

Should I ask him? No… She shook her head a few times, driving away the thought.

“Have you told him you want him to stay?” Neria continued walking, hands clasped behind her head.

“No way! I couldn’t do that. It’s selfish,” Alina countered. No way I can ask him to stay… to abandon his home. No way…

“That’s assuming he even can go back,” Neria muttered under her breath.

“Huh? You said something, Neria?”

“Nope. Just random thoughts out loud.” Neria waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing important.”

***

In another part of the city, the elven elders gathered. Four elves sat at a round wooden table, their high-backed chairs carved with ornate detail. Two were male, two female.

“Do we have a measure of her power, Elith?” asked Aenura, dressed in blue robes, her long blond hair braided over one shoulder.

“Not definitively, Aenura,” Elith replied. “But after two weeks of training with her, I can attest—she has the potential to surpass any one of us at this table.”

Drevan, one of the men with long blond hair in a loose tail, leaned forward. “Has she awakened to her power yet?”

Elith gently shook her head. “No. She’s not even aware of her origins—or the potential within her.”

Rolune, the other elder with short brown hair, narrowed his eyes. “Then is she a danger? Should we be concerned?”

“I don’t believe so. She is a pure, kind-hearted soul. I sense no malice within her. Even when faced with betrayal,” Elith said.

Rolune’s frown deepened. “Even purity can fracture once true power awakens.”

Before anyone could reply, a glowing figure took shape beside the table. The Spirit of the Labyrinth had joined their council unbidden.

“Great Spirit,” the elders murmured, bowing their heads.

The Spirit’s voice resonated like a chorus, calm yet weighty. “Guide her. Let her journey continue at the side of the otherworldly one. In their steps lies a chance this world has long awaited.”

“Renji has no intention of involving himself in our affairs,” Aenura pointed out. “He seeks only a way home.”

“He only wishes to return,” Drevan agreed.

Rolune scoffed. “Then why aid them at all? Better to send them on their way and close our gates.”

“Celia vouched for them,” Elith countered. “They may yet prove valuable allies.”

Rolune waved a hand, though his eyes narrowed. “Celia abandoned this table for an apothecary. I question whether her judgement still carries weight.”

“She served faithfully for decades,” Aenura snapped. “You would do well to show respect.”

The Spirit’s voice cut through the tension. “Do not dwell on divisions. The Verdant Orb remains in Vaerina’s grasp. If she claims its heart, the World Tree will fall. Yet the same Orb may hold the key Renji seeks. Their paths entwine, whether either wills it or not.”

Elith inclined her head. “Then we are agreed. We must teach her, and watch him.”

The Spirit’s form shimmered, fading. “Only beware the blood she carries. Should it stir beyond her control… even allies may become calamity.”