The next morning, Kazuo opened the small wooden drawer near his bed, then glanced across his desk — half-expecting another folded message from Setsuna.
But this time, there was none.
No note. Kazuo blinked, surprised. Maybe he's finally back.
So, he took a long shower, threw on his usual jacket, and headed toward the training yard — figuring if anyone would be up by now, it'd be them.
Sure enough, the yard wasn't empty.
Setsuna stood with one hand in his pocket, munching on a rice cracker. Beside him, Sora was stretching, her tail flicking in mild irritation.
Kazuo called out, "You're back! Where the hell have you been?"
Setsuna glanced over lazily, still chewing. "Had some business to handle. Y'know… being the strongest comes with responsibilities."
Sora looked around. "Where's Tetsu?"
Setsuna gave a slow grin. "He's already up. On the training field."
Kazuo blinked. "Wait… Tetsu's training?"
"Mhm. Asked me personally," Setsuna said, brushing crumbs off his coat. "Wanted extra help with combat."
Sora's ears twitched. "That's… really out of character."
Kazuo smiled faintly.
Setsuna followed his gaze. "Guessing that was your influence. Whatever happened, I'm kinda glad."
Kazuo turned back to Setsuna. "Hey. I need to talk to you. About that book. There's something that won't let me go."
"Not here."
Sora pouted, tail swaying. "What? I want to be included."
Setsuna gave a slight shrug. "Sorry, but he'll be too busy today. His match is coming soon. Besides…" He looked at her. "You've got your mission."
Sora groaned. "Don't call it a mission. I'm just doing your errands."
"It's just a small assignment," Setsuna replied, waving her off. "Nothing heavy."
"I better get that new bow you promised," she muttered and stomped off.
Once Sora was out of sight, Kazuo exhaled and turned back.
"So?" Setsuna asked, tossing the rice cracker wrapper aside.
Kazuo didn't hesitate. "That book — Whispers of Water. It's the same one Gramps used to keep. But it wasn't just the book that got me. What got me was what was inside it."
Setsuna crossed his arms, listening.
"There was a sketch. A giant white serpent… coiled around a broken temple," Kazuo continued. "But what scared me weren't the fangs or the size. It was its eyes. One was black. The other yellow. Mismatched — just like mine."
His voice lowered.
"Did you know about that? Did Gramps know? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Setsuna didn't answer right away. When he finally spoke, his tone was more serious than usual.
"You probably don't know this yet, Kazuo," he said. "But I hate liars. Always have. I understand the necessity of lies, but beyond that, I despise them."
He looked Kazuo in the eye.
"So let me be clear: I'll tell you everything I know. That way, you can focus on what matters."
Kazuo waited.
Setsuna's gaze drifted."That illustration… a serpent with mismatched eyes — like yours. That truly is strange."He fell silent. The edge of his rice cracker hovered near his mouth, forgotten."I've never seen it before. Not once."
"And Gramps?" Kazuo asked.
"I don't know what he knew. You'll have to ask him yourself — after the tournament."
Setsuna's tone remained even, but quieter now."It could be coincidence… but then again, it's almost too convenient to be one."
Kazuo's brow furrowed. "But do you think that serpent… could it be one of the Sacred Beasts? The ones you mentioned once? I know it's just folklore but — if there's a chance it could explain—"
Setsuna cut in quietly, but not unkindly."All I know is this: There were four Origins of Magic — Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind. They were the beginning. The source."
He tapped a finger against his temple."From them, magic flowed into the world. Over time, their power gave form to what we now call Spirit Creatures — beings without true flesh, only will and magic."
He paused, gaze steady.
"The difference between them and us? We have bodies. But what drives us is the same. The essence. The soul."
Kazuo's eyes narrowed slightly."My soul… my inner spirit is what drives my magic?"
Setsuna nodded once."Exactly. Every time you use magic, you feel it, don't you? That pull — that weight. It's not stamina. It's not some invisible energy pool. It's you. Your spirit. That's the cost of magic in this world."
He folded his arms, voice low."That's why I told you… you can't just train Esoteric Arts. You have to awaken something inside you. Esoteric Arts are different. And when you use one… it takes something from you. If your spirit isn't strong enough, it could kill you."
He let that hang for a beat.
"But we're getting off topic. So back to your question — it's said the Sacred Beasts were the ones who gifted magic to the world. But no one really knows what they were — or if they ever truly existed."
He crossed his arms, gaze drifting."If the stories are true, they'd be the oldest beings tied to the elements themselves. But even then… myths change. Details get lost. And no record I've seen ever mentioned one."
He looked back at Kazuo.
"If that serpent really is one of them, then it raises more questions than answers."
"And if those mismatched eyes are tied to Water Magic… that still doesn't make sense. If it were connected, someone would've noticed — past users, scholars, someone."
Kazuo exhaled — not sure whether to feel reassured… or more afraid.
Setsuna clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, I get it. I'd like answers too — same as you. Hell, even King Cedric would want to know what you are."Setsuna's tone grew more grounded."But right now, none of that matters."
He met Kazuo's gaze directly.
"There's no point chasing answers if you don't survive to ask the next question. Focus on the tournament. The rest can wait."
"So… any new spells you wanna train? That book useful or just old paper and bad poetry?"
Kazuo gave a small shrug. "I've got one or two. I just need to practice a bit, but I should master them before the match."
Setsuna's grin twitched.So… my instincts were right. Pure-element users pick up faster than hybrids.
He crossed his arms. "I hope you mean standard spells. No Arcane stuff, remember?"
Kazuo grinned. "Yeah, I know. I won't use it in the next match — it's my trump card and needs to be hidden."
"Good," Setsuna said, tossing the last of the cracker into his mouth. "Now let's train like hell."
They moved toward the center of the training field, the morning light glinting off the wet stone.
And while Kazuo trained elsewhere in the capital — sharpening spells beneath Setsuna's watchful eye — Kaya was preparing too.On a separate training ground reserved for her squad, she moved with discipline and fire, already deep into her routine.
The sound of fists meeting air broke through the silence in sharp, rhythmic bursts.
Kaya moved with precision, her body honed and focused — a dancer forged from discipline. Each motion carried weight, every breath was measured. Her short black hair was tied back with a white cloth, sweat gleaming on her arms, legs firmly planted as she flowed from stance to strike.
Across from her, Captain Jin stood calmly, hands behind his back. His white and gold uniform remained uncreased despite the heat, and his sharp eyes followed her movements with surgical detachment.
She dropped low into a crouched guard, fists raised. Her knuckles were wrapped tightly — not for protection, but restraint.
Jin spoke at last, his tone quiet but precise.
"You're more aggressive than usual today."
Kaya didn't falter. She adjusted her stance, voice cool and even.
"I can't afford hesitation."
Jin tilted his head slightly. "And why is that?"
A brief silence.
Then she straightened, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her wrist. Her expression remained neutral — but her eyes, those focused golden eyes, didn't waver.
"I need to restore the honor of my family name."
Jin nodded slowly, watching her.
"And if you lose?"
Kaya's gaze didn't shift.
"I won't."
"That's not what I asked."
A beat passed. Then she answered — not defiantly, but with an icy steadiness that revealed the weight she carried.
"If I lose… I shame them again."
Jin took a few steps forward, voice still composed.
"The nobles mock you for nearly being ringed out during the preliminaries. I've heard them whisper. And since I know your background… I know that burden all too well."
He stopped just a few feet from her.
"And the boy — Setsuna's new fighter — he doesn't even know what type of magic you use. That gives you the advantage. But then again… even if we know his magic, I have to admit, I can't train you against that. I've never seen or heard of anyone in the capital using Water Magic."
Kaya's voice was quiet now, but clear.
"It doesn't matter," she said, tightening the wraps around her wrists. Her tone was steady — but the edge was unmistakable. "I'm not scared. I'm going to defeat him."
She paused — just long enough for the truth to slip through.
"That black eye. That one noble eye. He walks like it means something — like just having it gives him the right to stand beside us."Her jaw clenched."He plays noble, acts humble — but deep down, I know he believes he belongs here. Like the system should bend for him, and effort doesn't matter as long as you've got a rare eye and a sword."
Then, softer — almost to herself:"But there's strength behind him. Real strength. That's what I can't stand the most."
She looked away.
Jin let the silence sit a moment longer, then nodded toward her stance.
"Then remember this: your power comes from your legs. From your balance. Your breathing. That's what makes you dangerous — not just your technique, but your calm."
Kaya inhaled deeply through her nose, then exhaled slow.
Jin's voice lowered.
"And don't forget… your worth is not measured by a single match."
She nodded once. Her voice didn't crack — it never did. But the silence after held the truth.