Shinkai - The Eyes That Shouldn't Exist

Sora leaned in, ears twitching. "You mean… you seriously didn't know Water Magic is rare?"

Kazuo crossed his arms. "I grew up in hiding, not in a noble library."

Tetsu closed his notebook with a sigh. "Explains the ignorance."

Kazuo scowled. "Then enlighten me."

Setsuna stepped forward, his tone shifting slightly — serious, but still casual. "Alright. Listen up."

He raised four fingers. "A long time ago, there were only four kinds of elemental magic — Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water."

He let the words hang for a second.

"They were considered pure. Untouched. Said to be tied to the Sacred Beasts, if you believe in that kind of thing."

Kazuo raised an eyebrow. "Sacred Beasts?"

Setsuna shrugged. "Just old stories. But the point is — those four were the starting point."

Sora picked up the thread. "But people… well, people fall in love. A Wind mage and a Water magic user have a kid, and boom — their child doesn't get one or the other. They might end up with ice."

Tetsu added without looking up, "Or Snow, if Water and Wind mix. Or Crystal. Or Smoke. Even Gravity, in some rare cases."

"Over generations," Setsuna said, "those mixes became more common. So common that now, the original four are almost gone."

Kazuo blinked. "So Water Magic…"

"Is rare," Sora finished for him. "Crazy rare."

Setsuna nodded. "It's not about one magic being better than another — fusion magic can be just as strong or even stronger. But most people carry magic that's been mixed over and over. Pure types like yours? Barely exist anymore."

Kazuo looked down at his gloved hand. "So… I'm a relic."

"More like an anomaly," Tetsu said. "The good kind."

Sora grinned. "A mysterious splash in a very muddy pond."

"…Thanks," Kazuo muttered.

Setsuna stepped back, cracking his neck. "Anyway. That's enough of a history lesson."

He smirked. "Now we see what Kazu can actually do."

Kazuo narrowed his eyes. "It's Kazuo."

Setsuna raised both hands, amused. "Right, right. My bad."

He turned toward the center of the courtyard. "Let's see what Kazuo can do, then."

Tetsu sighed and tucked away his notebook. "I didn't stretch."

Sora twirled a dagger between her fingers. "I did."

Something told him this wasn't going to be a normal spar.

But before Kazuo could reply, Setsuna raised a hand.

"Nope."

Sora pouted. "What? Why not?"

Setsuna's voice was light, but final. "I need to assess him properly first. He spars with me."

Kazuo frowned. "We already did in the Hollow Veins remember?"

"That?" Setsuna grinned. "That was warm-up. Now we get serious."

Tetsu had settled cross-legged nearby, notebook open, glasses slightly askew. "Proceed. This is more interesting than I expected."

Sora sighed and stepped back. "Fine. But if he breaks, I'm next."

Kazuo gave her a glance. "Appreciate the confidence."

Setsuna drew his blade with a practiced ease. "Don't worry. You'll definitely break."

The spar began.

The courtyard held its breath.

Kazuo exhaled slowly, sword already in hand. Water curled around the blade's edge — not just magic, but intent.

Across from him, Setsuna yawned. "Try to hit me. For real this time."

Sora perched on the edge of a low wall, tail swaying with anticipation. "This is gonna be good."

Tetsu adjusted his glasses, setting his notebook aside. A rare move.

Kazuo narrowed his eyes.

"Water Magic: Torrent."

He slashed horizontally — a tight, compressed wave surged forward. Controlled. Not wild.

Setsuna hopped back, letting the water crash harmlessly against the pillar behind him.

"Sharp," he said. "But predictable."

Kazuo didn't wait.

"Water Magic: Shuriken."

Three spinning blades of water burst forth — but this time, Kazuo charged with them.

As the first shuriken zipped forward, Setsuna deflected it with a lazy flick. The second grazed his arm — and in that moment, Kazuo closed the gap.

Steel met steel in a flurry of movement.

Kazuo lunged low, then twisted with a rising slash. Water followed his blade like a ribbon, dancing with each motion. Setsuna caught the strike with the flat of his sword, boots skidding slightly on the now-wet marble.

"Not bad," he muttered. "You're syncing your movement with your element."

Kazuo stepped in again, feinting right — then spinning left with a wide arc.

Setsuna parried.

Kazuo went for the leg — a swift sweep, then a downward swing meant to pin.

But Setsuna vanished.

Kazuo's eyes widened — too late.

A flash of movement.

In the next breath, Kazuo was flat on the ground, sword gone, arm pinned by Setsuna's knee. A cold blade tapped his neck.

Kazuo hissed. "Tch…"

Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "And that's game."

He stood and offered Kazuo a hand, which he grudgingly took.

As he helped him up, Setsuna tilted his head slightly, voice casual.

"…Did you notice?"

Kazuo blinked, rubbing his shoulder. "Notice what?"

"You didn't use magic at all after your opener."

A pause.

Kazuo froze.

"You fought the rest of it like a swordsman."

Sora blinked. "Wait… you're right. That Torrent at the start, and the shuriken… but after that?"

Setsuna nodded. "Your spells were strong. But then… nothing."

Kazuo looked down at his hand, slightly trembling. Wet. Empty.

"I didn't mean to stop—"

"Exactly," Setsuna said. "That's what worries me. They will eat you up in the torunament if you don't improve, but we can fix that. Besides there is something I noticed"

Kazuo blinked. "What is it?."

Setsuna gave a lazy shrug. "A Secret for now. I will tell you next session."

Tetsu didn't look up from his notebook. "Probably nothing serious. He alwys makes a big fuss over nthe smallest things."

Sora leaned in, eyes wide and tail flicking. "Yepp"

Kazuo's mouth twisted. "Great."

Setsuna smirked.

Tetsu wiped a wet ink blot off his notes and muttered, "But Captain Setsuna is right. they'll eat you alive in tha—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

His head turned slowly, as if a thought had just clicked into place.

"…Wait."

He looked at Setsuna. "Did you say 'tournament' earlier?"

Sora's ears perked sharply. "Hold on. Tournament? As in… the tournament?"

She narrowed her eyes. "You don't mean the Tournament of Nobles, right? Right?"

Setsuna rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean exactly that."

Kazuo blinked.

Tetsu's pen dropped.

Sora stared. "Wait, wait, wait—are you saying he's going to enter it?"

Setsuna casually gestured toward Kazuo with his thumb. "Yup. Our little water relic is stepping into the lion's den."

Kazuo nodded

Tetsu actually choked on air. "You're joking—right? That thing is rigged with assassins, nobles, and half the kingdom's elite!"

"And eyes," Sora added. "Like, scary eyes!"

Kazuo didn't have to say anything. He already knew.

Then —

Footsteps.

Graceful. Purposeful. Echoing against the marble floor.

All three turned.

Through the stone archway walked a figure wrapped in flowing pale blue. Silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her presence seemed to quiet the courtyard with a single glance.

Lady Elyria.