Late at night, the training field felt vastly different from how it had been the day before. The lights on the walls still cast a soft glow, but this time it felt warmer than oppressive. The tension that had previously filled the field seemed to melt, replaced by a rare, relaxed atmosphere.
Elric was the first to break the silence. He leaned against the wall casually, picking up his half-eaten sandwich. "Okay, okay. So, basically, we're all 'special kids.' I've suspected this for a long time because we're all so strong. Not everyone strong comes from another world like us, but I'm confident that we'll become the strongest in this world, even though there may still be many stronger people out there."
Those words brought a brief silence. Damian lowered his head, remembering the duels he'd witnessed at the academy, especially the one between Rygar and Alzein. "You're right… compared to them, we're still much weaker," he said quietly.
Lucien nodded slightly. "Yes. Our strength may not be at 100% yet, but that ancient painting proves we're no ordinary students."
Kaien looked at Damian with slight worry. "But… if there are stronger people out there, can we survive?"
Damian turned to him, then smiled faintly. "As long as we're together, we can. That's enough for now."
Elric patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry! With my intelligence, we can defeat anyone."
Damian gave him a flat look. "Intelligence? The one with the full package of troublemakers."
Lucien sighed heavily, then closed his eyes briefly. "Honestly, I don't know what's scarier: the ancient painting, or Elric's mouth."
A small laugh broke out. Even the usually relaxed but cool Kaien chuckled, this time without any hesitation. His smile was genuine, as if a secret he'd been holding in for so long had finally been revealed. "I remember," he said, glancing at Elric. "Back in school, Elric was just as noisy. I was confused as to how he managed to pass the exams."
"HEY!" Elric pointed at Kaien dramatically, nearly dropping his sandwich from his hand. "Precisely because I'm a genius! You're just jealous that I can sleep in class and still get promoted."
Kaien held back a laugh and replied casually, "I guess I'm at the bottom."
Damian smiled slightly. His heart felt lighter. For the first time since they arrived in this world, they were truly sitting together, not as strangers, but as friends trying to survive together in this new world.
The atmosphere on the Zephyrus training field that night slowly changed. After the laughter and jokes that broke the tension, conversation flowed more calmly. The lights on the arena walls glowed softly, reflecting the shadows of the five students sitting in a circle in the center of the now-deserted field.
Damian, Elric, Lucien, Nero, and Kaien.
A moment of silence hung before Damian finally spoke softly. "You guys…" He looked down for a moment, his fingers touching the hilt of the sword in his lap. "Do you still often remember the old world?"
The question brought a moment of silence to the small circle. The image of his home in the old world appeared clearly in Damian's mind, followed by the faces of his parents. A feeling of warmth mixed with pain tightened his chest. "I… still often remember my family," he said softly. "My parents, my older brother… even small things like the smell of toast in the morning."
Kaien nodded slowly, staring at the empty arena floor. "Me too. I miss the sound of motorbikes passing by every morning near my house. It's strange, isn't it? Such a trivial thing… but it's the one that pops into my head most often."
Elric, of course, couldn't keep quiet. He grinned broadly. "I miss the school cafeteria! Remember those chicken burgers that always sold out whenever I was late?"
Lucien opened his eyes and stared at him coldly. "That's not nostalgia. That's stomach obsession."
"HEY! Don't underestimate my stomach!" Elric immediately protested, making Damian chuckle.
Nero didn't join in the joke. He simply sat a little away, shadows covering part of his face. But the look in his eyes told the others: he was listening too, even if he preferred to keep it to himself.
That night felt different. Even though the old world was gone from their grasp, the simple laughter and memories shared in this empty arena made their hearts feel a little lighter.
Since the beginning of the conversation, Nero had stood in the corner of the arena. The blue crystal light on the wall cast a shadow that partially obscured his face, leaving a cold, unreadable look in his eyes. Tonight, however, that gaze wasn't as sharp as usual. He listened to all the stories —about the school cafeteria, his family, even Elric's stupid jokes —without uttering a word.
Damian glanced over briefly, trying to read his thoughts. As usual, it was futile. Nero remained a mystery, even to those who had known him for a long time.
Kaien finally looked away from the small circle. His gaze was fixed firmly on Nero. His voice was calm, but clear. "You haven't spoken for a while. Do you... have nothing to say?"
The atmosphere fell silent. Even Elric, who usually always had something to say, remained silent this time. All eyes followed Kaien's gaze, waiting for an answer.
Nero lowered his head slightly, his black hair falling over his face. When he looked up again, his dark eyes met Kaien's. "I don't care," he said flatly, his voice low but firm. "As long as you don't get in my way... I accept your presence."
Damian held his breath. To him, that wasn't just a short answer. From someone like Nero, who rarely acknowledged anyone, it was more than enough.
Lucien raised an eyebrow, surprised by the honesty hidden behind those cold words. Elric stared blankly, but didn't comment, perhaps for the first time.
Kaien smiled faintly. There was no sarcasm, no laughter. "Fair enough," he replied simply, accepting the words from Nero.