Ren Von Seraphis(1)

...Back to the present.

After an arduous hour of relentless combat, Ais found herself gasping for breath, her sword bearing cracks despite the "Durandal" effect.

It was a disheartening sight, considering that her opponent's single finger had inflicted no apparent damage.

The discrepancy in their power was vast, leaving Ais questioning the true nature of the man before her. Was he even mortal?

"Now, shall we raise the stakes a bit?" he spoke, his words laced with a subtle tenderness that sent a chilling sensation down Ais' spine.

The weight of his words felt akin to a sword held at her throat. Most would quiver under such immense pressure, but instead, her gaze burned with an even fiercer determination.

Instead of immediately engaging, though, the man held back, seemingly allowing Ais a moment to gather herself.

"...What... is... your name?" she managed to utter, a pause in the battle as she sought to understand the identity of her opponent.

"Oh... my name," his gaze momentarily averted, a fleeting action that would spell doom for anyone else but him.

"I was once Ren Amamiya. Now, I am known as Ren Von Seraphis" he introduced himself with formal courtesy, a gesture that puzzled Ais, as the customs of nobility remained foreign to her. Riveria and Finn, however, perceived it differently, their experiences as a princess and aspiring leader instilling familiarity with such etiquette.

"Ren... Amamiya... let's... fight," Ais declared, her grip on the sword tightening reflexively as his gaze returned to meet hers.

"No need to be so tense, Ais. I did mention raising the difficulty, but I won't resort to simply beating you up," Ren chuckled, his words only fueling Ais' determination. Yes, if he so desired, he could easily overpower her, rendering her sword and her level useless.

Unleashing a fresh onslaught of attacks, Ais sought to vary her approach, knowing that Ren possessed an uncanny ability to anticipate her every move.

She anticipated his usual finger parry, but this time, her sword managed to breach his elusive absolute range after which anything would be blocked, landing a strike on his shoulder.

It should have been satisfying, a triumphant moment for Ais, but the sensation was peculiar. It was as if her sword had struck unyielding metal, despite the absence of any armor.

The force of the blow tore through his shirt, revealing a chiseled physique that threatened to distract her from the battle at hand.

Almost.

Yet, any sense of victory was swiftly crushed as she felt the gentle tap of his finger against her waist. It was a deceptively light touch, but its effect was devastating. Ais was sent hurtling through the air, her body propelled several meters away with frightening speed.

Gasping for air, she struggled to regain her composure and find her footing.

The air carried the haunting melody of an amused voice that whispered sinisterly from behind her. Its undertone resonated with a malevolence that made her believe a devil was eagerly awaiting the slightest hint of a reaction.

"If you can employ such tactics, who's to say I can't do the same?"

---

"...How shameless"

I muttered, unable to contain my words. Though prolonged sparring sessions tended to bore me, there was an undeniable allure to the man now known as Ren Von Seraphis. I found myself unable to tear my gaze away.

'If only I possessed a fraction of his strength...'

The yearning to attain even a modicum of his power consumed me, yet when I pondered the depths of his true capabilities, my thoughts faltered, as if caught in a circuitous loop.

Let's think. This man effortlessly surpasses Ais Wallenstein, me, and Riveria, dismissing us like insignificant flies. Could his level possibly reach the height of level 8?

I... didn't know. Such astronomical levels existed solely within ancient legends. Perhaps, the Zeus Familia at the zenith of their power could push him to fight more earnestly?

It felt as though an impenetrable abyss loomed behind him. We were naught but children playing at acting strong while someone like him existed in this World.

The mere contemplation left me disheartened.

---

"...Now, rest. Stop trying to get up."

What was I witnessing?

These were the words I longed to express. Why were they suddenly acting so lovey-dovey!?

My gaze, filled with a mix of confusion and frustration, turned towards Riveria. But the elf simply shrugged, indifferent to my unspoken questions.

Her reasoning was painfully straightforward: Ren was too powerful for them to say anything, and he was taking care of Ais. So, for now, she would only observe.

The fact that I could discern so much from just a glance from Riveria only added to my vexation.

Two more hours dragged on since Ren Von Seraphis "raised the stakes". He allowed Ais to strike him freely, although, with each hit, she found herself vulnerable to his "counterattacks"...

The situation appeared comical, with Ren barely moving his finger to lightly tap her, yet the reality was far from amusing.

I struggled to believe that his physical strength alone was responsible for this display. There seemed to be no trace of magic being employed, at least not that I could detect...

The expressions that crossed Riveria's face throughout this "training" were enough to confirm my suspicions.

But what truly bothered me was that even after enduring such grueling sessions, Ais stubbornly refused to give up, even when her body couldn't keep up anymore.

Each time she tried to rise again, Ren Von Seraphis effortlessly thwarted her attempts, gently guiding her head to rest on his lap. He sat on the floor, using what remained of his shirt to shield her from the dirt-covered ground.

He was blatantly forcing her to rest, and though their combat had ceased, it was evident that Ais felt flustered. Or perhaps, it was my own misinterpretation...

"Don't try to raise anymore, and I'll stop keeping you in this state. Deal?"

It was striking how his unwavering gaze remained fixated on her, never straying for even a moment. He couldn't have forgotten we were also present, right?

...Right?

I watched as Ais averted her gaze from him and nodded, her expression hidden from my line of sight...

Wait.

How was he able to understand her so clearly?

I mean, it was painfully obvious now, but he hadn't engaged in many conversations with her throughout the training. Even for someone like me who has watched Ais grow from a young child, her actions often remained unclear. Yet, Ren Von Seraphis seemed unperturbed by the ambiguity, never showing a moment of confusion.

No, their communication had been so rich throughout this training session that I had momentarily forgotten how most people struggled to comprehend what Ais wished to convey most of the time...

He had matched her pace perfectly as if he had known her for centuries...

My mind tumbled into a whirlpool of confusion once again. I wanted to ask Riveria, who undoubtedly had the most experience in dealing with Ais, but her expression mirrored my own thoughts, indicating that she too was pondering this mystery...

Why were our thoughts so in sync at this moment...?

I turned my gaze back to the scene unfolding before me.

The man's vibrant cyan eyes mirrored her expression with a radiant glow as he chuckled at her evident embarrassment.

Unbeknownst to me, Ais attempted to subtly shift her gaze away from him, clearly uncomfortable under his intense gaze. Though he made no effort to stop her, he used his mana to gently brush away any specks of dust that dared to mar her presence.

A weary sigh escaped my lips. It was painfully obvious that this man harbored deep feelings for her, his actions speaking volumes.

"Bell Cranel, I'm sorry. It seems your chances have vanished forever..."

The amusement of the implications almost made me chuckle. All I yearned for was a bed to rest on. I had seen far too much today...

Yet, rest eluded me. Despite this man not being an enemy, maybe, too many questions remained unanswered.

---

Author's note:

Tomorrow I got an exam, so I won't be able to post anything for almost the entire day. I will write a little now to stockpile some chaps, but I will probably barely be able to write one more.

Anyways, I am literally Finn. Peace.