A long time had passed since Ayoi began following the old man.
Kanezawa was long gone, dissolved into the mist behind them. With every step, Master spoke, explaining the foundations of the task he was offering and trying to simplify his words as much as possible. It was as if he wanted to lighten the burden by dividing its weight into syllables.
Deep down, Ayoi questioned whether she had made the right decision.
But the thought did not last long. She shook her head as though trying to banish the doubt taking shape in her mind. She had already accepted Master's offer and followed him. From this point on, there was no turning back.
The stone path beneath Ayoi's feet had long since vanished, replaced by damp earth split by ancient roots. The trees grew so close together that the sky appeared only in fragmented patches. Light filtered through the leaves and fell upon the ground, changing shape with every step, as though the forest itself were breathing.
Master walked a few steps ahead.
He neither hurried nor hesitated. He seemed to know the way by heart.
Ayoi, without realizing it, had grown silent. Her white silk dress forced her into narrow, measured movements to keep it from catching on branches. The puffed fabric around her shoulders swelled slightly with the wind before settling again.
After a while, the forest began to thin.
The trees receded, and a clearing appeared before them. At its center stood an old temple.
It looked neither like a village shrine nor a magnificent place of worship. It was made of stone, simple and angular, yet defiant of time. There were no hanging bells or colorful ornaments. It was as though the temple had been hidden within nature itself.
Behind it lay the true grounds, a wide clearing surrounded by forest.
The ground was flat and deliberately cleared. There were no stone pavements or drawn boundaries. A few traditional cushions placed at different points were the only orderly elements in the space. The trees encircled the area, keeping the wind and sound tucked within it.
This was not a square.
It was a stage.
Ayoi slowed her steps. Even the air felt different here. Not heavy, but dense. As though every breath wanted to be noticed.
Master stopped, and the shadow of the temple fell over them both.
At that moment, Ayoi felt they were not alone.
There was no one in sight, yet the space was not empty. Each cushion seemed as though it belonged to someone.
An invisible order.
Invisible eyes.
Master spoke without turning around.
What had begun in the village did not end here.
It began here.
With a single touch from Master, the heavy wooden door of the temple slid open without a sound.
The interior was cooler than the outside. The stone floor swallowed the sound of their footsteps, while the high ceiling left even their breaths without an echo. There were no decorations on the walls. No sacred figures. No inscriptions.
It was as though the place had been consciously stripped of everything that might distract the mind.
Master stepped aside and gave Ayoi a slight nod, inviting her inside.
The moment she crossed the threshold, she realized they were not alone.
In the center of the room, several traditional cushions were arranged across the floor. Around them stood young people positioned in different corners. Their stances varied. Some were relaxed, while others appeared more guarded.
But the moment Ayoi entered, they all stood.
This was not a greeting.
It was more like a learned rule.
Ayoi stopped.
For a brief moment, she hesitated. Should she bow, or simply remain where she was?
Her eyes instinctively darted toward Master.
He remained calm. He wasn't directing the moment. He was merely observing it.
The first to break the silence was a young woman standing near the wall. Her arms were crossed, and a faint smile played upon her lips. Her amber-orange eyes traveled over Ayoi from head to toe, studying her with scrutiny rather than curiosity.
Sakura:
"Is this the apprentice you found during your long time search, Master?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but the words hung in the air.
Ayoi's brows furrowed slightly. She didn't fully understand what had been said, but she sensed the tone behind it. She didn't back down. Her posture simply stiffened.
She turned her gaze back toward Master.
He still said nothing.
A tall, muscular young man standing opposite Sakura stepped forward slightly. His dark brown hair fell loosely around his face, and his hazel eyes remained calm.
"It isn't right to use that tone toward someone we haven't even met yet, Sakura."
Sakura shrugged.
Her smile remained, but its meaning changed.
The air in the room did not grow heavier, but time seemed to slow.
Ayoi felt it.
She was no longer merely a guest, she was someone being noticed and weighed.
The silence didn't squeeze her.
It was trying to determine whether she belonged.
Master struck his staff against the floor once.
The sound was short and sharp.
Everyone fell silent.
At that moment, Ayoi realized this wasn't a guest room.
This was a border.
And she had already crossed it.
From the very back of the room, a young man who had been silently watching the entire exchange finally left his place and approached Ayoi.
His steps were relaxed, neither cautious nor hurried. When he reached her, he extended his hand without hesitation.
Ayoi looked at it in surprise.
Ryuji
"Hi. I'm Ryuji. And you?"
She slowly lifted her gaze.
The boy was so tall that she had to tilt her head back considerably to meet his eyes. She barely reached his chest.
She hesitated for a second before gently placing her hand in his palm.
Ayoi:
"Ah... I'm... Ayoi. My name is Ayoi."
Ryuji's face brightened instantly.
He nodded with a wide, sincere smile. When he released her hand, he looked genuinely pleased by the introduction.
The other young man approached next.
He was leaner than Ryuji, with pale skin, silver-gray hair, and a pair of glasses resting neatly on his face. His posture was composed, and his lavender eyes studied Ayoi with quiet curiosity.
Daichi:
"I'm Daichi. Welcome to our team, Ayoi."
Ayoi smiled faintly.
She bowed her head shyly, clasping her hands together in front of her. She hadn't expected to be met with such direct acceptance.
At that moment, Sakura's eyebrow rose slightly.
Her amber-orange eyes returned to Ayoi, and a subtle glint appeared in them. Her intentions were difficult to read.
"She doesn't look like a villager at all," Sakura said. "She looks like someone from high society. Even beyond that... she looks like a noble."
Ayoi's eyes instinctively found Sakura's.
Nervously, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
She said nothing.
She simply stood there.
Master's expression grew serious. He turned toward Sakura, his gaze lingering long enough to silence her.
Master:
"You haven't been properly introduced yet, Sakura. Instead of making rude assumptions, you should try to build a connection through polite conversation."
His voice remained calm.
"That is the rule of being a team. Conflict between you is forbidden."
The atmosphere shifted once more.
Ayoi felt that those words were not meant for Sakura alone, but for everyone in the room.
And in that moment, she understood.
Here, they weren't merely being taught how to wield power.
They were being taught balance.
Master gripped his staff with both hands and glanced briefly at the cushions in the center of the room. Then his gaze traveled across each of his students.
It was neither harsh nor gentle.
It was certain.
Master:
"Meditation will begin in one hour."
Everyone unconsciously straightened.
"Ayoi is a stranger to this order."
His gaze moved from one student to another.
"You will tell her what we do here. How to prepare. How we work."
He paused.
"Pass on everything you know."
His gaze finally settled on Ayoi, and a warm smile touched his face.
He was entrusting her not to words, but to the people standing around her.
As Master turned to leave, Daichi stepped forward.
There was no rush in his voice, but there was eagerness.
Daichi:
"If you'd like, I can help. Before the meditation—"
Before he could finish, Sakura stepped forward sharply.
Her feet struck the tatami with a firm sound. Her eyes flicked briefly toward Daichi, then returned to Ayoi.
Her voice held no challenge.
Only decisiveness.
Sakura:
"No need."
She looked at Ayoi.
"As two girls, we'll support each other."
Then she gave Ayoi a brief once-over.
"I will prepare her."
The air in the room tensed for a moment.
Daichi paused, looking as though he might say something, but ultimately decided against it.
Ryuji watched the scene in silence, a faint, unreadable expression crossing his face.
Master didn't interfere.
He simply picked up his staff.
Master:
"Very well. Good luck."
His voice held neither approval nor doubt.
It wasn't a judgment.
It was simply a decision left to the flow of things.
Ayoi looked at Sakura.
She still didn't know whether this was an offer or a challenge.
But she was certain of one thing.
This one hour was going to pass much more slowly than she had expected.
Sakura grabbed Ayoi gently by the arm and pulled her through the sliding door.
The movement was firm but not painful. There was a decisiveness to it that seemed to say, Let's not waste time.
---
As they walked through the side corridors of the temple, Sakura began explaining the daily routine, training hours, meditation times, and everything else Ayoi needed to know.
Her tone was warm, but she maintained an invisible distance between them.
It wasn't that she didn't want to get close.
She was simply cautious.
Ayoi nodded along, scanning her surroundings.
But her mind struggled to keep up.
The weight of the decision she had made almost impulsively was beginning to settle upon her shoulders.
Still, she tried to listen. She didn't want to run away. After a while, her steps slowed.
Sakura's gaze drifted toward the dress Ayoi was wearing.
Sakura:
"That silk dress is quite comfortable for meditation," she said, "but I don't think it'll be very practical for training."
Ayoi looked down at her dress. She squeezed the fabric gently between her fingertips before turning toward Sakura with a thoughtful expression.
Ayoi:
"Training... Ah... does it require much movement?"
Sakura gave a short, mocking laugh.
She gathered her dark red hair from its ponytail and swept it over one shoulder. This time, there was genuine amusement in her eyes.
Sakura:
"Okay. Now I'm absolutely sure you're not a noble."
A faint look of surprise crossed Ayoi's face.
Sakura continued.
"I'm talking about warrior training. Think of it like infantry training."
She shrugged.
"We're guardians. Or warriors."
She paused.
"Or adventurers."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Whatever you want to call it."
Ayoi let out a deep sigh.
She looked around before sitting on a fallen log in the corner. Her shoulders slumped for a moment.
Ayoi:
"I never had the chance to do things like that... or many things, actually."
She lowered her gaze.
"Now... everything is so new. I think it'll take time to get used to it."
Sakura sat beside her.
This time, there was no distance between them.
She turned toward Ayoi, her gaze sharp but no longer judgmental.
Sakura:
"None of us were born as warriors capable of wielding the Elementals. Don't worry. We'll learn together."
She paused briefly.
"You only joined us two or three weeks late."
Ayoi looked at Sakura in surprise.
She considered the amount of time for a moment before remembering when they had first met.
It was strange.
The girl who had mocked her moments ago was now speaking so calmly, almost supportively.
Sakura must have noticed Ayoi's expression, because a slight smile appeared on her lips.
Sakura:
"All right. I have the perfect adventurer outfit for you."
She stood.
"We're going to change your style."
She looked Ayoi up and down.
"Looking at you... I immediately thought of water. How about something simple?"
Ayoi hesitated for a moment.
Then, after taking her time to think, she slowly nodded.
Seeing this, Sakura turned around.
Together, they began walking back toward the temple.
---
In the room at the back of the temple, the atmosphere was more relaxed.
The sliding doors were closed, and the sound of the wind outside reached them only as a faint whisper. Futons spread across the floor defined the layout of the room.
This was not a formal space.
It was the only place where they stayed together, where they could let their guards down a little.
Ryuji was sprawled across his futon, legs crossed and arms folded behind his head. He stared at the ceiling, looking as though his thoughts had drifted somewhere above him.
Daichi sat opposite him, cross-legged on his own futon.
He was trying to gather a small amount of energy between his palms. The faint vibration between his hands would dissipate after a few moments.
His expression was serious.
Ryuji broke the silence.
Ryuji:
"So, Daichi? What do you think about the new girl?"
He turned his head slightly, glancing at Daichi from the corner of his eye.
"Seems like another person as pure as you has arrived. I guess our team is balanced now."
Daichi's gaze sharpened instantly.
The energy between his palms dissipated.
He stared at Ryuji.
Daichi:
"Not pure."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Reserved."
His tone was clear.
It wasn't an opinion, it was an observation.
"And despite that, she's far more noble than Sakura."
Ryuji chuckled softly.
In many ways, he was similar to Sakura. He was leadership-oriented, outspoken, and sharp-tongued.
The only difference was that he delivered it all with a laugh.
Daichi had been forced to deal with that personality alone for weeks.
Ayoi's arrival had been a quiet relief.
"She seems like a good person," Ryuji admitted. "That's true."
He fell silent for a moment, his eyes settling on a fixed point on the ceiling.
"But Sakura is partially right."
His expression became more thoughtful.
"The girl... doesn't look like the type who would adapt easily to our life here."
Daichi frowned.
Ryuji continued.
"If you ask me, she'll get bored."
He paused.
"And she'll fail us."
Daichi slowly shook his head.
Daichi:
"I don't think so at all."
He looked toward the closed sliding door through which Sakura and Ayoi had disappeared.
"In fact, I think..."
He paused briefly.
"She might even bring some joy to our team."
Ryuji turned his head toward him.
Daichi's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"At the very least, she might suppress the passive-aggressive energy of Sakura, who never seems to calm down despite all that meditation."
Ryuji remained silent for a moment.
Then he burst out laughing.
For a short while, the room truly warmed.
Ryuji:
"I'd like to see that."
As his laughter faded, his voice grew more serious.
"But Sakura taking her under her wing like this..."
His gaze drifted back toward the ceiling.
"This will either be a very good thing..."
He paused.
"...or a total disaster."
Daichi didn't answer.
But the expression on his face made it clear that he was thinking of the same possibility.