The Youngest Sin

New allies and a fallen comrade

[Later that day]

Just as they agreed, Harris' group met up with Rai on the inn, they wore clothes that looked normal.

They saw Rai sitting at the back of the corner, so they came to him without raising any suspicion. And sat beside and front of him.

"So you guys really came" Rai spoke in a low voice.

"Of course, we swore."

"Yeah"

"Clara was hesitant at first" Taro pointed as he reported Clara

"Why me, you told me that you were in doubt as well" She defended.

"But Rica fixed it in the end" Harris said.

They whispered at each other so that the people around them wouldn't hear their conversation.

"I called you here, because there is something weird that is happening in the academy"

They felt the seriousness in Rai's words, so they focused their attention at Rai without losing awareness in their surrounding.

"You probably heard of students transferring out of the blue" Rai continued.

"Yeah, I heard a friend of mine got transferred out without any notice." Clara recalled the last day she met her friend.

"Turns out they were abducted or killed. That’s why I decided to train and make everyone in the academy stronger than all of you are now." Rai declared with a straight face.

The news shocked the group like lightning.

"T-train us?" Harris stuttered as he could not believe what he heard.

"Yes" Rai replied immediately.

The group couldn't believe their ears as they looked at Rai who was sitting in the middle.

"I chose you guys because your team has great composition not to mention that you guys almost have all the classes that make a great team."Rai stole a glance at each and everyone of them.

He gave them a stern look as his eyes glisten in the dark.

"But where are we gonna train?"

Ask Leroy who was scratching his head.

"Training without anyone noticing besides us is very hard." Harris explained.

After all of their complaints are told, Rai gave a sigh and took a little sip from his cup.

"What are you talking about? You guys are gonna train here" He said after taking a little sip from his cup.

"What??"

Everyone of them muttered the same word as a response to Rai.

"How can we train here?" Clara immediately out of curiosity.

Rai pointed out in the window. Outside was a dense forest which people rarely come. It is a property owned by the inn keeper that she inherited from her parents.

"I can get permission to use that place" Rai informed the group.

"Will it be okay?" Taro asked.

The worried look in their faces showed how doubtful most of them are.

"You afraid of death right? I trust that you realized why I want to train you all"

"Yes, but is it okay?" Rica asked while the others were thinking about it.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt telling you about this"

The moment Rai spoke those words, two persons sitting on a table shivered and took at glance at the group. Those two wore hoods covering their faces.

The group looked at Rai with concerned look in their faces.

"Three years ago, a new species of monsters showed up. They are more agile, stronger, larger and most importantly they have unique spells."

The group was confused and Rai knew exactly what to say.

"It was not made in public to maintain order." he finished.

"How strong were they?" Harris ask immediately after Rai told them a confidential information.

It peaked Harris’ curiosity just as the others beside him.

"How strong you ask? Remember the time when we fought?" Rai ask in return.

Their eyes widened, Rai haven’t even finished but they already know whats coming out of his mouth next.

"D-don’t tell me, those things as strong as when we fought you aren’t they?" Harris’ hand started to shake a little as he points at Rai.

Harris was breathing heavily, not just him. The whole group is feeling the terror as well.

"Yes, not to mention each of their race have unique abilities as well" with a stern look and a cold voice he answered Harris’ question.

The truth struck fear in the minds of the group. They were breathing heavily, Harris lift his cup of tea, he is shaking really bad that he even use his other hand to hold the cup properly. Rica wipes the sweat dripping in her face. Clara was holding her shaking hands. Leroy was massaging his eyebrows and Taro just sat there remembering how he went to hell several times and how overwhelming Rai was during their fight.

"Fighting a monster as strong as Rai is impossible" Taro mumbled.

His cheek twitch involuntarily as sweat started to appear in his face. The others looked at him when he said those words nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, its impossible" Harris’ said while holding his cup carefully like a man jump of a cliff in a winter season and decided to warm himself up with a nice and delicious cup of coffee.

"Impossible indeed." Rica nodded in agreement. "How can we fight monsters like that"

The group looked like they lost their will to fight before they even see those monsters that Rai is talking about..

"There’s no need to worry, if I polish your skills and teamwork, those monsters will be easy to deal with." Rai said to give them relief and ease.

Erasing the feeling when they fought Rai in the arena was difficult, the moment they remembered the feeling, they instantly embraced themselves. The other costumers started to feel uneasy with the atmosphere that the group has created. Rai noticed the stared of the costumers directed to him.

[Do I look like I am bullying them?] he thought to himself as his left cheek twitch.

"Your kidding right?" Taro asked.

"How will we be able to defeat every single one of them?"

Is the question that each of their faces is asking, Rai could read their faces clearly.

He pointed his finger in his head and answered the questions of their faces.

"Its right here, all the information we needed is right here. Don’t underestimate the intelligence of human beings." his eyes glimmer its peculiar purple color as he declared in front of them.

"I believe you, please train me" Rica bowed as she pleaded to Rai.

"Train me as well"

"Make me stronger, I want to be strong"

Rica started a chain reaction that lead the others to act. The fear in their eyes vanished and is replaced by the burning passion to get stronger.

Rai felt their resolve and sighed deeply.

"Haaaaah, tomorrow after class meet me again here. I will teach you how strong you guys can be. Go home for today and get a lot of rest." he reminded.

The group agreed and left the inn one after another.

"That’s how it is going to be."

The two persons who were sitting in the next table looked at Rai, the light revealed their faces. They were Verette and Charles. After a brief moment when Harris’ group left, they went to Rai's table casually.

"I will join you guys, and train the other students without the instructors' knowledge." Rai informed them about his plans.

"That makes the students a less of a prey and produce capable students."Charles said as he held his cup of coffee.

Verette on the other hand kept looking down.

"Verette, what are you doing?" Charles ask out of curiosity.

"N-nothing, its just that-" Verette started to stutter the moment she opens her mouth.

"She find me eyes alluring"Rai cut in before Verette could finish.

Charles is just as shocked as Verette when Rai did not hold back a little.

"Pfffft!"Charles' coffee came out of his mouth like a fountain and sprayed it on the vacant table next to theirs.

"Cough- cough, what was that?" he asked.

Charles wipe the sprayed coffee from his lips and hands.

"She find my eyes alluring, that’s what she told me"Rai repeated

This time Charles did not take a sip from his coffee. Verette is getting red and embarrassed.

"I asked him about it the other day." Verette defended.

Though her attempts to leave the battlefield without a scratch failed.

Charles was giggling as he look at Verette who was embarrassed of looking at Rai.

"This is fascinating, I've never seen Verette blush, hahaha"

"Stop it Charles"

Verette told Charles off as she cover her face with her hands.

"And Rai really said it with a straight face, it was hilarious"

It took some time before Charles calmed down.

"Hoo, looks like I have calmed down now. " Charles said as he tidied his clothes.

"Good for you" Verette said as she took a sip from her cup.

"That's what's going to happen, you experienced fighting with that species of monster. I am sure you'd want the others to be able to protect themselves." he quoted.

"Remembering that nightmare is not even an option for me" Charles’ hairs on his body stood up.

"I believe we should get stronger as well" Verette suggested.

"I plan to do just that as well" Rai confirmed.

"You plan to train all 7 of us at once?"Asked Charles who was sipping coffee in his cup.

"Yes, I can focus on training you guys. Besides I have someone I can trust with regards to gathering the information we needed." he informed.

"I can tell you some things you can work on for strengthening your classes at home"

"Figures, we should keep this a secret from everybody" Charles said while figuring out the ways to hide his training even from his own family.

"Just until we solve the problem with the academy" Rai reminded.

The three decided and agreed.

"So what will we practice at home?" Verette started to ask about the method.

"Remember the incident the other day? The technique that Mr. Guru discussed "Minimalization" is not a good way of conserving our concentration"

"How can you say so Rai?" Charles inquired.

"Because it requires a lot of concentration to minimalize concentration consumption. But if you use you concentration in just a sudden burst is more convenient" he explained as he introduce a new method.

"Like how you did in the arena?"Charles pointed out when Rai used his lightning spear.

"No, I haven't showed you the burst method yet" Rai corrected.

Verette and Charles had the confused look in their faces.

"Do you want to see it?" Rai asked.

"Where will you demonstrate it?"Verette ask Rai as she look at him more normally now.

"Outside, there is a forest beside this inn right? I can just ask the innkeeper" Rai pointed at the same direction he pointed earlier.

“Its better to see it first-hand"

Rai went to the inn keeper and ask for permission.

"I don’t particularly mind you know, we have a house there and its still usable, you can use it when you want to train." the innkeeper

"Thanks, Ms. Eli" Rai thanked the inn keeper.

"No problem Rai"

Eli winked at Rai which is a normal thing for him now. Its her way of saying good luck that can be misunderstood sometimes.

Rai bowed and left to fetch Charles and Verette.

"So how was it?" Charles asked.

"She gave me permission to use the place, she even let me use the house they have there." Rai returned victoriously.

"Sounds like she favored you so much"Said Verette while looking down.

Charles who was beside her was holding his mouth not to let a single laugh out.

"Why not ask Rai out already?"He said while holding back his laughter

Verette just looked at him while blushing while Rai had the usual expression.

"Say Verette, has anyone told you that you are cute when you get embarrassed?" Rai asked Verette which gave her a shock that made her stop walking. Charles took a glance at Verette as he pass her by.

"Now that you mentioned it, Verette you look really cute" Charles told her.

Verette covered her face with both of her hands but Charles is a persistent person.

"Stop it, Charles. Rai wouldn’t date anyone in the first place"Verette said while still embarrassed.

Rai turned to her and at the same time Verette took a glimpse at Rai. Their eyes met and Verette look away immediately after seeing Rai looking at her.

"That’s too bad then. You both look good together, what a waste" Charles shake his head in disappointment.

"What are you saying you i***t, who do you think you are? A freaking matchmaker?" Rai scolded Charles as he pinch his ears.

"Ouch dude, you don't like girls so you go for guys like me?"

Charles joked ad he tried to cover his body with his slender arms.

"Oh please, don’t go that path Charles, I already have my hands full with someone who has the worst personality than you."

Verette chuckled as she saw them bond together.

"Really?! Can I meet him? I think we'd get along well." Charles said in a delightful voice.

His eyes glimmered in anticipation for when he meets the guy that Rai referred to.

"Oh please don’t"

Rai told him off as Charles put his elbow at Rai's shoulder.

"Hahaha, you guys get along pretty well huh?"

Both of them looked at Verette who was smiling at them.

Rai was taken aback by Verette's smile.

"You look really beautiful right now you know?"Rai said as he look at Verette.

"I gotta agree with this dude beside me, you better work on that Verette. Maybe someday Rai would change his mind" Charles suggested.

Verette only looked down

"If it will take a long time-"

Rai and Charles were listening to her when she said those words.

"Then I will no longer be here when that opportunity comes"She whispered in a way that only her can hear while looking sad.

"What was it?"

Charles asked as he walked towards Verette but Verette started to walk again so they disregarded the rest of her thoughts.

They entered the forest and the house was visible even in the dark of the night.

The surroundings of the house was spacious. It looked like the place was maintained regularly. The trees around it were large and old.

They stopped at the spot in front of the house.

"This spot should be enough" Rai suggested.

"Should we step away a bit?"

Verette took the initiative to ask.

"You can but, I want you guys to see it up close. Don’t worry I can control my concentration perfectly."

"O-okay"

Charles and Verette walks slowly near him. Rai saw that Charles is carrying his sword strapped in his hips.

"Charles can I barrow your sword for a minute" Rai asked.

"Sure why not" Charles gave him permission.

He handed his sword that is still sheathe to Rai.

"Nice, it must be very expensive"

Rai praised Charles’ sword as he saw the engravings on the hilt.

"Its handed out in our household" Charles explained.

Rai unsheathe it and swung it at the nearby tree at an amazing speed. The tree fell down, it was cut clean in half like butter. Charles and Verette were shocked at the sight of the fallen tree.

"H-hey Rai, where was the burst method part?" Charles asked as he scratch his head.

"Eh? You didn’t see?" Rai just realized that he did it in a speed that he is used to.

Verette and Charles looked at each other.

"I guess you did it faster than our eyes can follow" Said Verette while she rub her eyes.

"Oh, ok. I'll do it again then-"

When Rai raise the sword , Charles and Verette's eyes widened especially Charles. The blade was missing and Rai was only holding the hilt. Rai was unaware of the situation that the sword currently has is confused about their expressions so he quickly glance at the sword he was holding.

"......"

Silence engulf the atmosphere.

Rai was shocked as well and he immediately turned to Charles who was fairly shocked.

"Oh, no. Charles I'm so sorry"

Rai saw a silvery color glittering on the ground, it is the blade it became dust unable to resist the concentration Rai released.

Charles recovered from the shock and shouted in surprise.

"My sword!" he exclaimed.

Charles went to Rai to take a look at his fallen comrade.

"I'm so sorry Charles, I didn't mean to destroy your partner" he pleaded.

While both of them were emotional Verette broke the ice in the most savage way possible.

"What are you guys making a fuss about? Its just a sword"

Rai and Charles turned immediately to Verette that surprised her by their reaction in complete unison.

"W-was it not the case?" her nervous voice stutter as she look at them.

Charles embraced his fallen comrade and Rai kept apologizing to Charles.

"Is a sword one of men's romance?" she ask them.

"Please Verette, this sword has been with me half of my life."Charles said with a sad voice

"A sword is a man's treasure! A part of our soul” Charles said with a burning passion.

"Where did that sadness earlier go?"she asked.

"I didn’t expect the sword to end up that way, I'll get you a sword" Rai said in a sorry voice.

"Its fine Rai, I'll just ask our head blacksmith to make me a better sword" Charles said.

"Maybe you shouldn't use anything if you want to demonstrate that burst, Rai" he continued.

"Maybe that’s a great idea" Rai agreed.