The bell rang again.
DING...
Its voice rolled through the mountains.
Not loud.
Not violent.
Yet every tree seemed to listen.
For a moment...
Even the wind refused to move.
---
Kaito was already walking.
"We're wasting time."
Hana stretched as she followed.
"Or maybe whoever's ringing it is just impatient."
Ren hurried after them.
"...Do you even know where it is?"
Kaito nodded.
"The old Guardian paths."
"The bell was built to be heard."
---
The three descended through the forest.
The deeper they went...
The quieter everything became.
No birds.
No insects.
Only...
DING...
---
Ren tightened the strap holding the wooden practice sword on his back.
"...Kaito."
"What exactly is a Realmborn?"
Before Kaito could answer—
"Oh!"
Hana raised her hand dramatically.
"I know this one."
Kaito sighed.
"...Do you?"
"Probably."
"...That's not reassuring."
She grinned.
"So..."
"They're ugly."
Ren stared.
"...That's your explanation?"
"I'm getting there."
She pointed a finger at him.
"They're born inside the Seven Realms after the Calamities were sealed."
"They're not human."
"They're not gods."
"They're..."
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
She scratched her cheek.
"...Really annoying."
Ren frowned.
"So..."
"They're monsters?"
Hana shrugged.
"...Depends."
"Some look like monsters."
"Some look prettier than you."
"...That's not exactly difficult."
Ren rolled his eyes.
"So what are they really?"
Hana opened her mouth—
Then stopped.
Kaito suddenly raised a hand.
"...We've arrived."
---
A clearing opened before them.
At its center...
Hung an enormous bronze bell.
Older than memory.
Its surface was covered with ancient carvings.
Roots had wrapped around its base centuries ago.
Yet...
It still stood.
Perfectly still.
---
Someone stood beneath it.
One hand rested lightly against the bell.
As if he had been the one ringing it.
He faced away from them.
Quiet.
Patient.
Waiting.
---
Without turning around...
He spoke.
"...You answered."
His voice was gentle.
Almost welcoming.
"...Good."
Slowly...
He turned.
---
Ren forgot to breathe.
The man looked...
Human.
Tall.
Barefoot.
Long dark hair reached his waist.
His robes were white—
Yet green vines slowly crept across the fabric like living embroidery.
His eyes...
Emerald.
Not the green of forests.
The green of something far older.
Around his feet...
Tiny flowers bloomed from bare stone.
Only to wither moments later.
Again.
And again.
Life...
And death...
Repeated with every step he took.
---
"...Interesting."
His gaze moved across the three of them.
"Hm."
He smiled.
"So the Guardians truly left successors."
His eyes settled on Hana.
"...Flame."
Hana pointed both thumbs at herself.
"Damn right."
The stranger nodded politely.
"The records described your predecessor as loud."
Hana gasped dramatically.
"I am deeply offended."
A beat.
"...Mostly because it's true."
---
His gaze shifted.
"...Wind."
Kaito met his eyes.
Neither spoke.
The silence between them lasted several seconds.
Finally—
"You hide your strength well."
Kaito answered simply.
"So do you."
The stranger smiled wider.
"...Good."
---
Then...
He looked at Ren.
The smile disappeared.
Silence.
Longer than before.
"...Curious."
Ren instinctively reached for the wooden sword on his back.
Hana looked over.
Then immediately burst out laughing.
"Pfft—"
"No way."
Ren frowned.
"...What?"
"You're actually bringing that?"
She walked over before he could answer.
"Move."
"What are you—"
She yanked the wooden sword free.
"...Hey!"
"You planning to knock him unconscious with a stick?"
"It was all I had."
"Yeah."
"...Not anymore."
She walked toward an old weapons rack beneath the bell.
Most of the blades had rusted into useless scraps.
She searched for a moment.
"...Hm."
Then pulled out a worn katana.
The scabbard was cracked.
The handle was faded with age.
But...
The blade still sang softly as she drew it.
Steel.
Real steel.
She tossed it toward Ren.
He barely caught it.
"...It's old."
"...It's ugly."
"...And if you break it..."
She pointed toward Kaito.
"...You're explaining it to him."
Kaito sighed.
"...Why me?"
"Because you'll sound wiser."
Ren looked at the katana.
For the first time...
He held a real sword. Not to move. But to fight.
Its weight felt...
Right.
---
The stranger watched the exchange quietly.
"...Interesting."
Ren looked up.
"...Who are you?"
The man placed one hand over his chest.
Then bowed.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Like an old noble greeting honored guests.
"...Among humans..."
"...I suppose I would be called..."
He straightened.
"Kaien."
The flowers around his feet bloomed once more.
"I am a child of the Verdant Realm."
"A Realmborn."
He looked toward the mountains.
"Long ago..."
"Your ancestors sealed the Seven Calamities within their own realms."
"They believed the story ended there."
He chuckled softly.
"It didn't."
His fingers brushed a flower.
It instantly grew...
Bloomed...
And crumbled into dust.
"Life continued."
"Even prisons give birth."
"We..."
"...Are that life."
Ren listened without moving.
Kaien continued.
"You call us Realmborn."
"We never objected."
"It is not an inaccurate name."
"We are children born beneath forgotten skies."
"Descendants..."
"...Of the worlds your heroes abandoned."
Silence settled over the clearing.
Even Hana...
Didn't interrupt.
Kaien's gaze drifted toward the bronze bell.
"I rang this bell for a reason."
"Not to summon enemies."
He looked back at them.
"...To see."
"If the blood of the Guardians still carries purpose."
His eyes lingered on Ren once more.
"...And to confirm a rumor."
Ren frowned.
"...What rumor?"
Kaien smiled.
"...You'll understand someday."
Hana groaned loudly.
"Oh come on."
"I hate mysterious people."
She rested her spear across her shoulders.
"If you're gonna say something creepy..."
"...At least finish the sentence."
Kaien laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"...You remind me of her."
Hana blinked.
"...Who?"
"I've already said too much."
She clicked her tongue.
"...Now you're just annoying."
She twirled the spear once.
Flames began to crawl along its shaft.
Not violently.
Almost playfully.
The air around the weapon shimmered.
Ren felt the temperature rise.
Hana grinned.
"Alright..."
"...tree boy."
I actually prefer your version.
Hana rested her spear across her shoulder and smirked.
"...Do you even know how to fight?"
Kaien tilted his head.
"I believe I do."
She grinned.
"'Believe' doesn't sound very convincing."
She lowered the tip of her spear toward him.
"'Cause if you don't..."
"...hope you've got pretty good health insurance."
Kaien looked genuinely puzzled.
"...I don't know what tha—"
CRACK.
Before the sentence could leave his mouth—
Hana vanished.
The butt of her spear slammed brutally across Kaien's face.
A sharp crack echoed through the clearing.
His head snapped violently to the side.
A long gash split across his cheek.
For the first time...
His composure broke.
Only for an instant.
He stumbled half a step before catching himself.
Silence.
Ren's eyes widened.
"...She didn't even let him finish."
Kaien slowly raised a hand to his face.
Blood stained his fingertips.
He studied it quietly.
Then...
The torn flesh began knitting itself back together.
Skin.
Muscle.
Even the scar disappeared as if it had never existed.
Within moments...
Nothing remained.
Kaien lowered his hand.
His calm smile returned.
"...That was rather rude."
Hana twirled her spear onto her shoulder with a grin.
"Yeah."
"I get that a lot."
Flames slowly ignited along the length of her spear.
Across from her...
Emerald light gathered around Kaien's feet as vines silently crept across the stone.
Kaito calmly drew his blade.
The mountain wind stirred once more.
Ren tightened his grip around the old katana.
No one spoke.
The battle...
Is about to begin.
---
End of Chapter 10
---