The next day, Enel left his room. He did not go to the battle room. There was no reason. He had to find Miria.
He walked through the corridors. Reached the small market. Saw a worker carrying wooden boxes. Stopped before him.
"Where is Miria?"
The worker looked at him. Recognized him. The lightning man.
"I haven't seen her today."
Enel walked on. Reached the café. The place was quiet. A few people sat. Miria was not there.
He asked the vendor. "Miria? She hasn't come today."
Enel left. He was thinking. Where did she usually sit? The garden. He went to the garden. The blue plants swayed. No one there.
He stood in the middle of the garden. Looked around. He was alone.
"What am I doing here?" he whispered to himself.
He had become a prisoner in this city. How foolish he was. How blind. He had seen only himself his whole life. Had not seen the world. He thought he was the strongest. Thought he was a god. And now, he saw people stronger than him. He never imagined this scene. To become like the people of Skypiea. Those who feared him. Those who worshipped him.
He shook his head. Continued searching.
He asked another worker. A woman selling blue fruit.
"Miria? In the Star Garden."
"Where is that?"
She pointed. "There. Follow the main corridor. You will reach it."
Enel walked on.
He reached the Star Garden. The place was high. The transparent dome separated him from the sky. The stars were close. Large. Glittering with cold light. Enel had never seen stars so clearly. The dome glowed quietly, like a thin barrier between them and the void. The blue plants were here too, but denser. Greener. They swayed as if breathing.
Miria sat on a stone bench. Looking at the stars.
He approached her. Stood before her.
"The girls. Those who came with me. Are they alright?"
She looked at him. "They are alright. They are adapting."
"Good."
He was silent for a moment. Then sat beside her on the bench.
"Kain will not fight me. He said he is busy. He will not call for me until he wishes."
"I know."
"Am I free or a prisoner?"
She looked at him. "You are a guest."
"A guest is not locked in a room without windows."
"A strange guest is locked until the host trusts him."
Enel was silent. Thinking.
"Why is Kain hiding from me? Is it because I told him I want to participate in the tournament?"
"Kain does not hide from anyone. He is busy."
"Kain should not refuse my request if he wants me to remain peaceful. Without causing trouble. Without trying to do anything."
Miria looked at him for a long time. Then she said:
"And what can you do? Nothing."
Enel froze for a moment. Her words were sharp. But true.
"Kain is in his laboratory," Miria continued. "No one can enter. Even Selene does not go to him when he is there. He is busy. He is not avoiding you. When he comes out and finishes his work, we will speak with him. Not now. In a few days."
"In a few days."
"Yes."
Enel stood. Looked at the stars through the transparent dome. They were cold. Distant. Beautiful.
"I will wait," he said. Then turned and walked away.
On his way back to his room, he passed by an area he had not seen before. Not far. But different. The walls here were gray. The floor rough. People wore simple clothes. Some were barefoot.
Enel stopped. Looked around.
Then he saw him.
A man walking on the opposite side. Tall. His long black hair reaching his shoulders. He walked slowly, but each step was confident. As if he owned the place.
He carried a sword. Enel had never seen its like. The sword looked legendary. Ancient. Old. But it was shiny, as if its owner took good care of it. Strange engravings were carved on the blade. He did not understand their meaning.
The man looked at Enel. Did not smile. Did not frown. Just looked at him. Looked into his eyes.
And Enel felt something.
The man's eyes were cold. Colder than anyone he had ever seen. Colder than Kain's. Colder than Selene's.
And from the sword... Enel felt something emanating. Not sound. Not light. It was something else. It made him shiver. Though his Observation Haki was nearly gone, he felt a part of that sword's power. A small part. But enough to know this weapon was not ordinary.
"This seems to be one of the participants," Enel thought. "I will learn about his power. Is he truly strong?"
Nothing happened. The man continued walking. Passed by Enel. Did not stop. Did not turn. Continued as if Enel did not exist.
Enel stood in place. His heart beat fast. He did not show it on his face. His face was cold as usual. But inside, he was burning.
"Who is that?" he whispered to himself.
No one answered. The man had disappeared into one of the narrow corridors.
Enel walked away. But he was thinking. Thinking about that man's eyes. His legendary sword. The power he felt.
"I will know who he is," he told himself. "I will know his name."
The next day, Enel found Miria at the café. She was drinking blue tea.
"Have you spoken with Kain?" he asked.
"I haven't met him yet."
"When?"
She looked at him. "We will speak in a few days. Not now."
Enel was silent. Sat across from her. Ordered a cup of tea.
"I saw a man yesterday," he said.
"Who?"
"I don't know his name. Tall. Black hair. Carries an old sword."
Miria stopped drinking. Looked at Enel.
"Where did you see him?"
"In the gray area."
She was silent. Then said, "Do not go there again."
"Why?"
"Because you are not ready."
Enel felt something rising in his chest. Not anger. Curiosity.
"Who is he?"
"One of the participants in the battles. That is all you need to know for now."
"Is he strong?"
Miria looked at him. In her golden eyes, Enel saw something. Not fear. A warning.
"Stronger than you."
Enel was silent. Said nothing. Drank his tea.
"I will know who he is," he said finally. "I will know his name."
Miria looked at him for a long time. Then she said:
"Perhaps. But not today."
Enel stood.
"I will wait," he said. "In a few days. As you said."
Then he left. On his way back to his room, he was thinking about the man with the legendary sword. His cold eyes. The power he felt. He knew now that this man would participate in the battles. And he knew he would meet him again.
"I will know who he is," he whispered. "I will know his name. And I will know his power."
And in the silence of the corridor, he felt a heartbeat. Not his own heartbeat. The same heartbeat he had heard before. Faint. Distant. But closer this time.
Enel stopped. Looked around. No one.
Then the heartbeat disappeared.
Leaving Enel wondering: was it that man? Or something else?
"I will know," he told himself. "I will know everything."
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