The blade moved.
Step.
Turn—
It broke.
Cain stopped.
His arm lowered slowly.
Silence settled around the stone circle.
For a moment—
His thoughts weren't in the garden.
White.
Endless.
The man.
Still—
No.
Not still.
"…He moved."
Cain's grip tightened slightly.
"…It wasn't the same anymore."
---
A faint ripple spread beneath his feet.
His shadow shifted.
Something moved within it.
Then—
A small black figure slipped out.
A cat.
Dark. Quiet.
Its form looked almost unreal, edges blending slightly with the shadow it came from.
It sat beside Cain without a sound.
Watching.
---
"…You have a familiar?!"
Elina's voice broke the silence.
She ran closer, eyes wide.
"When did you—why don't you ever bring it out?!"
Cain didn't answer.
The cat's gaze shifted toward her.
Uninterested.
Elina crouched slightly.
"Can I touch it?"
She reached out—
The cat vanished.
A flicker—
And reappeared on Cain's shoulder.
Avoiding her completely.
Elina blinked.
"…Hey."
Rei let out a short laugh.
"…Even your cat has attitude."
Cain adjusted his stance slightly.
"It doesn't like strangers."
Elina frowned.
"I'm not a stranger."
The cat didn't react.
---
Rei stepped forward.
Picked up a wooden sword.
Spun it once.
"Alright."
His tone shifted.
Less playful.
"Do that thing again."
Cain didn't move.
"I can't."
Rei smirked.
"Then try."
---
He stepped in.
Fast.
The wooden blade cut forward.
Cain moved.
Block.
Turn.
Step.
Rei pressed.
Another strike.
Cain deflected.
Clean.
Sharp.
Then—
He tried.
---
For a fraction—
He disappeared.
---
Rei's eyes widened.
Then—
Cain reappeared.
Off balance.
His foot slipped.
He caught himself before falling.
---
"…What the hell was that?"
Rei lowered his blade slightly.
His tone had changed.
---
On Cain's shoulder—
The cat reacted.
Its body stilled.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
Its tail flicked once.
---
Aera stepped forward.
"You shouldn't do that."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
"That's dangerous."
Cain steadied his breathing.
"I know."
She didn't like that answer.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
But she didn't say more.
---
Footsteps approached.
Measured.
Liora.
She stopped at the edge of the training area.
Her gaze moved once—
And locked.
She had seen it.
---
"…Do it again."
Rei's voice was lower now.
More serious.
Cain shook his head.
"I can't."
---
Liora stepped closer.
Not rushed.
Not slow.
"You're forcing something unstable."
Her voice was calm.
But sharp.
Cain didn't look at her.
"I need to understand it."
Rei glanced between them.
"Understand what?"
No answer.
---
Cain stepped forward again.
Grip tightening.
Focus narrowing.
---
The garden fell silent.
Even the air felt still.
---
Step.
---
For a moment—
Perfect.
---
He vanished.
Clean.
No hesitation.
No delay.
---
Rei's eyes widened.
He turned—
Too late.
---
Cain stood behind him.
---
Then—
It broke.
---
The movement collapsed.
Cain staggered.
His breath caught.
His footing slipped—
He forced himself steady.
---
Silence.
---
Rei didn't move.
"…Do that again."
Cain exhaled slowly.
"I can't."
---
Aera's gaze dropped slightly.
Worried.
More than before.
---
Liora said nothing.
Her eyes remained on Cain.
Sharp.
Focused.
Understanding something—
But not fully yet.
---
Rei clicked his tongue.
"…You're hiding something."
Cain didn't respond.
---
The moment faded.
Rei turned away.
"Whatever. I'm done."
He walked off.
Less energy than before.
---
Aera lingered.
Just for a second.
"…Please don't push yourself too much."
She left.
---
Liora stayed a moment longer.
Then turned.
Without a word.
---
Silence returned.
---
Cain stood alone.
The cat still on his shoulder.
Quiet.
Watching.
---
Cain looked at his hand.
Opened it slowly.
Closed it again.
---
"…That movement…"
A faint breath left him.
"…It wasn't mine."
---
His eyes lowered slightly.
"…But I saw it."
---
The cat's tail flicked once.
As if it understood.
---
End.