Chapter 21: The Missing Perspective
Ren slowly removed his glasses. The impact from Adam's punch had spider-webbed the lenses, and they were coated in a fine layer of training ground dust. As he began to wipe them with the hem of his black coat, the entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence.
Kimo froze mid-exhale, and the three students stared, their eyes wide with shock.
In place of a left eye, there was a jagged, hollow scar. It wasn't just a wound; it was a void that spoke of a brutal past. Ren looked up at them with his one remaining eye, his expression calm.
"What's wrong?" Ren asked, his voice steady.
Kimo took the cigar out of his mouth. "Ren... your eye. It's gone."
Ren gave a small, weary smile. "Yeah. It was taken from me in a fight. I've been living like this for a while."
Adam stepped forward, a look of realization crossing his face. "So that's why! Every time I attacked from your left flank, you reacted a split-second too late. I thought your technique was flawed, but you literally couldn't see me coming."
Mika leaned over and whispered to Lira, "Did you see that? Even without an eye, he looks so cold and composed. He's actually kind of cool."
Ren slid the cleaned glasses back onto his face, hiding the scar once more. "It doesn't change anything. I'm still here to train."
"Right," Kimo said, regaining his composure. "If you're going to be a team, you need to know who you're working with. Introduce yourselves properly."
Adam stood tall, his purple hair catching the light. "I'm Adam. 18 years old. I'm a Rank 6 Striker."
Striker? Rank 6? Ren thought. I have no idea what those terms mean.
Mika popped a bubble with her gum and waved. "Hi! I'm Mika, 17. I'm a Rank 7 Supporter."
Lira gave a short, sharp nod. "Lira. 17. Rank 6 Rusher."
Ren turned to Kimo, his brow furrowing. "Sansei... what are these roles? Rusher, Striker, Supporter... and what do the Ranks signify?"
Kimo chuckled, shaking his head. "I keep forgetting you're a complete amateur. Mika, Lira, Adam—you're dismissed for the day. Go train on your own or head home. Ren, walk with me. It's time for your first real lesson."
The Elite Sector: The House of Mirto
In a massive, sun-drenched bedroom within the Elite District, a young girl named Mina sat on the edge of her bed. Her older brother was sat beside her, a notebook open on his lap as he patiently explained a complex mathematical equation.
"And so, the final answer is 5.7," he said, tapping the paper with his pen. "Do you understand it now, Mina?"
Mina nodded slowly. "Yeah... I get it now, brother."
As her brother stood up to leave, Mina grabbed the sleeve of his expensive silk shirt. "Wait... Brother, why doesn't Dad like me?"
Her brother froze. He slowly turned back and sat on the bed beside her, his expression softening into one of deep pity.
"Listen, Mina," he said softly, lifting her chin to look her in the eyes. "We are Elites. Dad is a famous Sansei at the Academy; his Vane level is incredibly high. That power... it manifested in me, but it didn't show up in you. You were born without the Vane."
Mina's eyes welled with tears.
"Dad lives in a world where power is everything," her brother continued. "His behavior is cold because he's disappointed, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about you in his own way. He just... doesn't know how to show it to someone like you."
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "Don't be sad. I'm here, aren't I? Whatever you need, whatever you want to learn, just tell me. I've got your back."