❀══☀══❀
The day of Ryota's training had finally arrived.
Everyone gathered in the living room to have breakfast at the bar. Even Scarlet was present this morning.
But Ryota was nowhere to be seen, still locked away in his room.
— Is he still sleeping? He starts in a few hours! Evelynn asked, surprised not to see him.
The one who was always there early with the others… nowhere in sight today.
— … Go check on him if you're worried, Scarlet replied.
Yuta and Evelynn, happy to see Scarlet opening up a little more to them—even if she still spoke little—enjoyed her presence as they ate.
Yuta decided to check on Ryota. When he opened the door, he found him lying on his bed, his head buried under the pillow, refusing to get up.
— What's wrong with you today? Wake up and get ready! Yuta exclaimed, like a father taking care of his child.
— No… I'm not dying today! Ryota muttered, his head still buried under the pillow.
— I didn't understand a thing! Get out of there and move!
Yuta left the room and went back to the others.
— So? Is he coming?
— No idea, Evelynn said. I think he's throwing a baby tantrum.
On the other side of the bar, Scarlet couldn't help but laugh softly.
Suddenly, an idea crossed Evelynn's mind.
— We'll drag him out by the horn! she said, standing up proudly.
— No. We are not doing that.
— Ah… not fun.
***
Hours later, Evelynn and Yuta took their seats again to watch Ryota's training. Scarlet stayed a bit further back, but remained focused and attentive.
Raythem arrived at the edge of the arena. Everything had already been repaired.
The glass panels of the stands and the roof had been restored, and the debris from Yuta's fight had disappeared.
On the other side of the arena, Ryota finally made his entrance, his face gloomy.
He kept muttering under his breath:
— I'm going to die… he's going to kill me… I'm sure of it…
— Ryota, stay focused! Stay with me! Raythem ordered, holding back a laugh.
Under the others' gaze, Ryota lightly slapped both of his cheeks and looked up at his mentor.
— Like Yuta and Scarlet, don't lose sight of your objectives. Try to produce strong but precise impacts using the heat of your fists. Good luck, Ryota!
══ ✦ ══
The duel began. Five minutes.
But Raythem didn't summon his claymores.
He chose a close-combat style, using only his hands.
— Alright, here I come!
Ryota knew he had to stay close—his power was strongest at short range.
He approached gradually… until he reached Raythem.
But unexpectedly, Raythem parried all his attacks with a simple movement of his palm. Ryota's fists produced no effect. Not even the slightest trace of heat.
Raythem noticed that Ryota wasn't fully focused, as if something was distracting him.
He raised his hand and struck Ryota across the face, sending him crashing to the ground.
— Ouch… damn… I'm gonna die, it's obvious!
— Focus!
Ryota got back up. He had to stay focused—for the others… and for himself.
He tried to empty his mind, to feel the heat of his power… the sun.
But with his eyes closed, he felt nothing but emptiness inside. He couldn't find his power. A sense of failure overwhelmed him. He suddenly opened his eyes.
To his surprise, the ground around him had slightly melted. The glass too. An intense heat filled the arena.
Surprised by himself, he regained some confidence. But Raythem, smiling, decided to take the fight seriously.
A clenched fist shot toward Ryota—a powerful attack he barely managed to dodge.
But the space where Raythem struck cracked, and shards like broken mirrors scattered through the air.
What was that…? Ryota thought, shocked.
He understood, just like Yuta before him: he wasn't fighting to improve.
He was fighting to survive… and to win.
This training wasn't like the others. It was a real fight to the death.
If Raythem's attack had landed… what would have happened?
Ryota tried to counterattack. He managed to channel heat into his fists. Being close enough, he threw a clean, precise strike. But Raythem dodged effortlessly. The heat around him felt different… and dangerous.
He stepped back to the other end of the arena.
At that exact moment, a blinding light and intense heat burst from Ryota's fists.
Panicking, he locked eyes with Raythem and realized he wouldn't come to help.
In the stands, Evelynn, Yuta, and Scarlet were blinded by the light, unable to understand what was happening.
Ryota had to stay calm. He was the only one who could control this.
His training finally made sense.
He emptied his mind again. Despite the panic, he tried to center himself.
After a brief moment, he managed to feel the boiling heat in his hands, as if they were about to explode. The pain was overwhelming, almost unbearable. The fear of hurting the others also surfaced.
Then he remembered a sentence from previous training:
"The sun does not burn to bring death, but to give life."
He finally managed to channel his power through his entire body.
The light faded. The heat disappeared. The atmosphere returned to calm.
When Yuta, Evelynn, and Scarlet regained their vision, Raythem was standing in front of Ryota, his hand resting on his head.
— I knew you could do it, Ryota. Be proud of yourself…
Hearing those words, a sense of accomplishment washed over him.
He collapsed, exhausted, into Raythem's arms.
— Rest… you've earned it.