Part 5
Since that day, Shinre's life had changed dramatically. His demeanor had shifted 180 degrees in an instant, and his mischief had vanished. He woke up early every morning and worked in the workshop until evening. He was so absorbed in his task of building the NX-2 with Albatross. He would go to the hill near the waterfall every night to train his swordsmanship and magic skills. Even though he didn't know who Cail was, as a member of the clan, he felt a sense of responsibility to become a great magic swordsman. On his days off from the workshop, he would sneak into the towers and, from the shadows, observe the magic swordsmen training to try and practice their combat techniques himself.
It was in this context that Shinre noticed the increasing tension. Duels were happening more frequently, and the training sessions in the towers had become more rigorous. They were clearly ambitious about forming an elite force, Shinre thought. But where was that annoying Magic Guru? Secretly from Alba, Shinre continued to search for Maestra Nova, eager to make her pay for her dreadful lies.
On this occasion, for the umpteenth time, Shinre visited and observed the magic swordsmen training from the rooftop of a lower building near the East Tower. He crouched there, hidden from view, with no premonitions or sense of unease—it felt like just another day. Yet, it was anything but ordinary. As he remained focused on the scene below, a sudden tap on his shoulder. He turned around, unsuspecting.
Two pairs of red eyes stared at him. "Gotcha."
The twins?! Panic surged through Shinre as he recognized them. Before they could say a word, he bolted, leaping off the roof. His heart raced as he realized the grave danger he was in.
"STOP!" the boy shouted, chasing Shinre at full speed. "I SAID STOP!"
Terrified, Shinre realized he had been spotted in the East Tower, this time by the last people he wanted to see. He hurried behind a wall surrounding a garden, ripped off the cover of an underground water tunnel, and jumped in. As he ran through the wet tunnel, he discarded his Runes clothing.
"How could they recognize me?!"
"STOP!" The child's voice echoed through the tunnel. Shinre dared not look back. As soon as he saw the exit, he was immensely relieved. On the surface, he grabbed the flying hover hidden by a secluded house and sped away like lightning.
That experience had left him traumatized. For days up until today, Shinre had not dared to step outside the workshop. But once more, his unlucky day arrived. One day, Gannet approached him and said he had visitors.
"Visitors?" Shinre was wondering. He wasn't an important person. If there were any visitors, they must be for Alba. But Gannet insisted that the visitors were for him. Shinre asked what the persons were like, but Gannet replied that they were wearing sunglasses. "Huh?" Shinre couldn't guess who they could be. He entered the workshop's lounge again without suspicion.
"GOTCHA!" someone suddenly exclaimed, startling Shinre into a scream.
"What are you doing here?!" Shinre immediately tried to flee.
"Serena, stop him!" ordered the boy.
"I won't let you escape, spy!" shouted the girl. "You're not going anywhere." Serena blocked the doorway.
"I won't let your crimes go unpunished!" the boy declared.
He dared not act against those two who were members of the Nair family. He resigned himself to being taken away. They walked towards a familiar hill, but instead of reaching the hill, they sought a secluded spot and stopped under a large tree. Senna and Serena cornered him.
"What do you want from me?!"
"Your name is Shinre, right?" asked the boy, who Shinre remembered as Senna.
"Yes. Why?"
"We're apprehending you for spying on the magic swordsmen."
"I'm not a spy." Shinre tried to defend himself. "I was just watching them train."
"Just watching? Tell us the truth, or we'll report you to our father. He despises spies. Do you know, recently, he executed all spies?" Senna threatened.
"Do I look like I'm lying? I was just watching them train!" Shinre insisted.
"Just watching?" Senna asked incredulously, laughing.
"Senna, stop it..." Serena said. "He doesn't seem to be lying."
"Don't be too kind to him. I'm not finished yet." Senna turned back to Shinre. "Then, why are you disguised? I've seen you at the East Tower multiple times. I didn't believe it at first, but it's really you!"
Multiple times? Damn... "Of course I'm disguised. People from Autozam aren't allowed in the Runes towers. Do you think I want to get caught?" But, no matter what, he was clearly caught now.
"So, what's an Autozam boy doing in the Runes tower?"
"I... I..." He had no good reason to offer.
"Answer me!" Senna raised his hand, fire appearing in it.
"Senna, don't!" Serena urged, but her brother didn't listen.
Shinre managed to anticipate just in time. Swiftly, he blocked the fire with a mental shield! The boy was thrown back, and Shinre was determined to counterattack. He raised his hand, ready to unleash his own fire...
"Aaaa!" Serena jumped, screaming. "A snake!"
"What's happening?!" Shinre's attention was diverted to the girl, and he felt something strike his face. Senna had punched him with his bare hand. Shinre stumbled to the ground.
"Good trick, Serena!" Senna cheered.
"It wasn't a trick. There was a snake!" Serena shuddered, looking at the trees and pointing. "Look! Do something!"
"What did you do?!" Shinre struggled to get up, wiping the pain from his cheek. There was blood at the corner of his mouth. "What if she's really bitten by the snake?!" Shinre picked up a stone and threw it at the snake hanging above them. It hit the target, and the snake slithered away. Shinre glared at the girl. "And you!" Serena's eyes widened, never having been yelled at like that before. "A magic swordsman shouldn't be afraid of snakes! How are you going to fight if you're scared of something so simple? Coward!"
"Hei! Don't yell at my sister!" Senna shouted.
"And you! You ignored her and used her for your benefit!" Shinre retorted. Both stared at each other intensely. Shinre was a few centimeters taller.
"Stop fighting!" Serena pulled Senna away by his long hair.
"What are you doing?!" Senna winced in pain. "Stop!"
"I'm your sister! I can't believe you care more about fighting than me. I'm going to report you."
"Alright. I'm sorry." Senna reluctantly said it, but it was better than spending the whole day with Serena, who was sulking and threatening to report everything to their father.
Shinre laughed at them.
"Why are you laughing?!"
He just found the twins amusing. "You two are hilarious." He held his sore cheek from the punch.
Holding his aching head, Senna kept staring at Shinre with curiosity, prompting Shinre to ask, "What are you looking at?"
"I didn't expect you to have magical powers. Since when can an Autozam use magic?"
Shinre ignored the question.
"And you can use fire?! And, your fire is really hot! Much hotter than mine!" Senna exclaimed in awe. "Wow…"
"Close your mouth, Sen," Serena reminded him, and he stopped gaping. "What are you doing in East Tower?" Serena asked Shinre in calmer manner. "People from Autozam aren't allowed in the towers. Are you really not spying us?"
"Should I repeat it again?" Shinre annoyed by the accusation. "That's how I train. I'm not spying on you."
"Alright... Alright…"
"Don't tell me... You're a magic swordsman?!" Senna's eyes widened. Shinre turned away. "No way! You really are a magic swordsman! So, what are you doing in Autozam?"
"Ask my parents. They're the ones who made me live among the people of Autozam."
"Who are your parents?" Senna asked. "Neglecting a child is a serious crime in Runes. They should be punished!"
Shinre didn't answer immediately. He looked at the flowing river in front of him. "They're already gone."
"Eh?" Senna fell silent. He looked down, regretting asking that question. "I'm sorry…"
"Well, now that our misunderstanding has been cleared up, I'd like to go home."
"Wait!" Senna stopped him. "Actually, I have a request." Nervously, he glanced at Serena, who shot him a disapproving look. He didn't care. "Give me that sentinel. I want to burn it again."
"You want to use it for a test of skill?" Senna nodded eagerly, confirming it. Shinre chuckled softly. Not only did Nova's plan work on him, but it also managed to draw two of Nair's children to him. But he no longer needed them. "Unfortunately, I've already destroyed it."
"Impossible! Thing that strong—you yourself said it couldn't be destroyed."
"Of course, it can! Do you think I'm stupid, making a robot whose abilities exceed my own as its creator?"
"You made it? You destroyed it? Wow, you're amazing! You're really much stronger than me!" Senna immediately stood up and then knelt. "Please teach me your skills. Master."
"What are you doing?! Master? Since when did I become your master?"
"Brother, then." Senna changed his address to Shinre with a broader grin. Hearing that, Shinre burst into laughter. "Come on… I'll do whatever you want. Teach me your skills."
"Senna…" Serena urged him, embarrassed. "Get up!"
"I know what I'm doing." Senna shrugged off Serena's hand and continued speaking to Shinre. "Why are you reluctant to teach me? I can pay you!"
"Listen. First, I don't need money. Second, I don't want to deal with you. Third, you must already have great teachers. So why should I teach you?" Shinre began to walk away.
"They're all useless! They treat me like a child! They don't teach me any good techniques…"
"Leave me alone…" Shinre left the two siblings behind. He disappeared into the thick underbrush and trees.
"Don't go," Senna pleaded. He got up, wanting to chase after him, but Shinre was already out of sight. "Don't go!"