Takashiro Ryuji (高城 龍司)

Anna's lips curled into a subtle smile as she observed the scene. The only individuals present were the heir of the family, preparing for the forthcoming quest. Leonardo, however, abruptly interrupted her thoughts, his gaze fixated on Tadashi and another boy, who appeared to be a fellow heir.

"Why do his eyes look like that?" he inquired, confusion clearly etched on his face as he pointed towards Tadashi. His eyes were strikingly different from the norm, long and slanted in an almost exotic manner.

Anna, suppressing a sigh, replied with a hint of exasperation, "He has monolids." She spoke as though the term was self-explanatory, though Leonardo seemed to struggle with the concept, as if she were teaching the obvious to the oblivious. His curiosity remained unsatisfied as he probed further.

"What are monolids?"

Anna's frustration became palpable as she rubbed her forehead, a gesture of irritation at the persistent questioning.

"It's a feature from a different city," she elaborated, her patience wearing thin. "People from that city often have eyes like his, and their names tend to be similar to Watanabe."

Leonardo's eyes lit up with intrigue. "I want to go there," he declared, his enthusiasm untempered by Anna's discontent.

Elara, who had been silently enduring the ride, now joined the conversation. Her voice was tinged with weariness, a stark contrast to her usual tone. 

"No more rasvian-based machines," she said, her bitterness unmistakable.

Anna nodded in agreement. "Yeah, unlike other cities, Ghent's reliance on these machines is primarily due to the sage residing here," she added, her voice carrying a note of resignation.

In this world, technology as we know it doesn't exist; instead, what people perceive as "technology" is essentially an illusion, an artful manipulation of rasvian energy. This energy is intrinsic to everything, a fundamental force that permeates all aspects of life and matter.

The concept of technology here revolves around the infusion of rasvian energy into objects, with varying degrees of success.

Essentially, objects are imbued with this energy, and their functionality relies on the hope that the infusion will produce the desired result.

The process is a blend of art and science, where practitioners harness rasvian energy and channel it into objects, creating devices and tools that appear technological. However, the effectiveness of these creations often falls short of true technological advancement.

The outcome is unpredictable, as the success of an object depends heavily on the skill of the user and the quality of the rasvian energy employed.

For high-tier users, those with advanced mastery over rasvian energy, the possibilities are much broader.

They can create formidable constructs and effects. These individuals are capable of manipulating rasvian energy with precision, creating objects and phenomena that might seem magical to the untrained eye.

In this world, everything is fundamentally composed of rasvian energy, and nothing exists or is created without it.

The energy forms the core of all matter and processes, and the apparent "technology" is merely a sophisticated manipulation of this ubiquitous force.

Thus, while it might appear as technology, it's essentially an advanced form of energy control, deeply rooted in the realm of rasvian dynamics rather than conventional technology.

"Wata's coming," Elara announced as Tadashi and another boy approached. "Takashiro Ryuji (高城 龍司)," the boy said as he drew nearer, his eyes shining with an inviting green light.

He wore a dark, flowing kimono that swayed with each step, the fabric whispering against itself.

The kimono, primarily black, was adorned with subtle patterns that caught the light, giving it a faint shimmer. Over his kimono, he donned a matching haori, the wide sleeves and open front adding to his imposing presence.

A wide, intricately woven obi belt was tied around his waist, securing the ensemble and adding a touch of ceremonial dignity.

The obi's detailed knot was both functional and decorative, its white cords contrasting starkly with the dark fabric of his clothing.

From the obi, a sheathed katana hung at his side, its polished scabbard gleaming ominously. The sword was a silent testament to his readiness for battle, a hint of lethal precision beneath the traditional garb.

Ryuji's hair though long was tied back in a simple yet neat manner, strands escaping to frame his face, which bore the marks of many past confrontations.

His eyes, sharp and alert, scanned his surroundings with an intensity that belied his calm exterior.

The combination of his attire and his bearing spoke volumes—this was a man who commanded respect, his appearance a blend of ancient tradition and formidable strength.

He's probably the strongest heir at the moment. "Takashiro Ryuji," Anna replied with a precise accent.

"I don't think we have met before?" Takashiro said, confusion evident. "The tower is a huge place, and your family is always off on vacation to the other cities," Anna replied. "Ah, you're right," he said, scratching his chin slightly.

They continued conversing, Takashiro acting as if Elara and Leonardo were nonexistent in the current discussion. Unlike Wata, Leonardo didn't think he had the right to ask for a shorter nickname, and he could only hope he would pronounce it correctly.

Suddenly, Takashiro turned towards Leonardo.

"You're her guide?" he said flatly, eyeing him with a steely gaze. Leonardo couldn't help but feel inferior to the boy.

"You can call me Takashiro," he said, watching Leonardo's every fidget and motion. Drawing his blade in a swift motion with calculated precision, Takashiro's blade hovered at the tip of Leonardo's neck.

"He really didn't dodge that?" Takashiro asked, genuinely perplexed. "You chose such a weakling as your guide?" he mocked. "You picked someone beneath you in overall prowess as your guide, too?" Anna retorted, annoyance growing on her face as she forced a smile and sighed a little. "Let's greet formally at the tower," he finally said, stepping aside.

"That's the master—such dedication. No one in the family managed to master three styles at the age of seventeen," Wata said, practically praising him as they departed.

"Yes, yes, Wata," Takashiro replied dismissively.

He employs two styles with his blade: Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu (天真正伝香取神道流) with a hint of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu (柳生新陰流), somewhat visible. Unlike many others, he also mastered another style, Itto-ryu (一刀流), which he attempted to use on Leonardo.

"We have a long way to go," Anna sighed.

"Get ready, everyone. We are about to reach the final floor," Hector announced cheerily.