Ren arrived without a word of warning, no grand entrance, no particularly noticeable sound. Yet somehow, his presence brought Kirito a sense of ease.
He wasn't the kind of person who easily acknowledged emotions, much less let others into his world.
But Ren didn't need to break that barrier. He simply stepped into place, asked no questions, and never intruded on anyone's private space. And by doing just that, Kirito felt a little less alone.
The girl in the reddish-brown cloak still stood beside him, silent like a shadow. They had only formed a party less than ten minutes ago, and every second of that time had been filled with hesitation and awkward exchanges.
Kirito still knew nothing about her, and he wasn't sure if she even wanted to be known.
But when Ren stepped in, the tense air between the three of them seemed to loosen, as if a long-held breath had been released between two cold slabs of stone.
The awkwardness faded slightly, not entirely… but just enough.
Kirito glanced at Ren for a moment, as if checking that the boy wasn't an illusion. Then, breaking the silence, he spoke, for the first time voluntarily since they'd met again.
"…How far have you gotten?"
Ren raised an eyebrow...not exactly surprised, but also not rushing to answer. "You mean… progress-wise? Level? Skills?"
Kirito nodded, his eyes still fixed on the system interface as if checking something. "Yeah, something like that."
His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp and focused, as if silently evaluating the one who would be fighting by his side in the upcoming battle.
Ren smiled faintly, then lightly tapped the hilt of the sword at his side. "I switched to one-handed swords. My Weapon Mastery just reached level two."
Kirito gave a small nod. "Not bad," his gaze not leaving Ren's sword.
It wasn't on the same level as his Anneal Blade, but there was something special about it. Kirito wouldn't claim to know everything about the first floor, but he was confident in his knowledge.
There were no rare quests or hidden missions with a reward like that. Only one way to make it, a forge… a skilled blacksmith… skilled enough to craft that kind of weapon on the first floor…
Kirito really didn't know. Maybe it was a newly added NPC... His hand unconsciously touched the Anneal Blade strapped to his back. It was still the better weapon, but it wasn't as unique as Ren's.
He was willing to bet that many players had aimed for the Anneal Blade from the earliest days...completing the quest to obtain it, not just him… and he'd nearly died because he trusted too easily…
A brief silence passed. Then, as if remembering something, Kirito asked again, this time with a very specific and personal question.
"Do you know how Klein's been doing lately?"
Ren hesitated. Not because the question made him uncomfortable, but because he was slowly piecing together memories.
"Not really sure… After leaving the Town of Beginnings, he led his group out pretty early. I've only heard bits and pieces."
Then he paused for a moment, his eyes gazing into the distance, as if looking past the chaotic crowd in the plaza.
"But I think he's doing fine. Klein's not the type to go down easily. His group adapts fast, coordinates well, and…"
He turned back to Kirito, voice low and firm.
"…they won't be left behind."
Kirito said nothing more. But his gaze softened, like a quiet breeze passing through the heart of a mountain.
Ren finished his sentence and quietly sat down on the nearby stone steps. He didn't seem like he was trying to be strong, nor was he trying to sound heroic.
It was just a simple belief, plain, but solid enough to make Kirito blink slowly.
He glanced at Ren again, as if reassessing this person. Kirito's usually sharp and cold eyes, in that fleeting moment… softened slightly.
"…Yeah," Kirito replied calmly. "He's stubborn like a rock. Also… he tends to get pulled into trouble."
Ren let out a soft chuckle...it didn't last long, but it was enough to ease the atmosphere a little. "Then that suits him. It's that exact trait that makes him refuse to stay still… not when there are still people left behind."
Between the two of them, something began to form, not quite friendship, not trust either, but a fragile thread of understanding. Just enough to make them feel not entirely alone in the newly-formed party.
The girl in the reddish-brown cloak still stood beside them, silent from beginning to end. But now, the way she stood had changed.
Her shoulders no longer tensed like when the party was first formed, and the hand gripping the weapon at her side had relaxed significantly.
Though her hood still hid most of her face, Ren could clearly feel her gaze was now directed at them.
She didn't speak, just tilted her head slightly, as if listening carefully to something.
Kirito glanced at her briefly, then unexpectedly spoke, "This is…"
He hesitated. It seemed like he was about to say a name, but then realized… he didn't know the girl's name at all.
"…She'll be going with us. Just for now."
Ren didn't press further. He just nodded gently.
"I'm Ren."
The girl hesitated for a few seconds, then replied in a soft, husky voice, like wind brushing lightly against the edge of the night:
"…Asuna."
Ren froze for a moment. Asuna?
A familiar name. A name that easily brought to mind...
When he looked up carefully, beneath the hood and thick cloak was a face not yet fully revealed, just light brown hair falling gently by the neck and a pair of deep, unreadable eyes.
He glanced toward Mito's group, who were standing almost directly opposite where Ren was sitting. He blinked slowly, as if lost in thought.
Asuna followed the direction of Ren's gaze. Her eyes paused briefly, then moved away...
Ren let out a soft breath. He didn't intend to ask anything further. Perhaps, this wasn't the time.
And so, a party of three quietly came into being. No one reached out to hold onto anyone else, no promises were made, no long-term plans discussed.
Just three people, each carrying a hollow space within, a wound not yet healed, sitting together for now—like a makeshift stitch on the torn armor of the battlefield ahead.
Eventually, after everyone had more or less settled into their positions and roles, Diavel stepped forward, his voice resonant, carrying the decisiveness of a true leader:
"Alright, now that our teams are formed, I officially declare today's meeting concluded. Tomorrow morning, at exactly 10 o'clock, we depart.
Be well-prepared, stay focused, and don't let any enemy stand in our way."
Diavel's words made the atmosphere both tense and exhilarating.
Everyone began tidying up, rearranging their gear, preparing for the arduous journey ahead.
Ren sat in silence, his gaze sweeping across each face around him, clearly sensing the coordinated teamwork and steadfast resolve in every movement.
The mix of lively energy and determination brought him a faint sense of warmth, though his heart remained somewhat unsettled.
Then he sighed and slowly stood up, drawing surprised looks from Kirito and Asuna, his temporary teammates.
The other players hadn't yet left the square. The mood had grown more relaxed, as if a small gathering was about to take place to bring everyone closer before the big challenge. But Ren had no interest in any of that.
He opened his notifications and saw a message from Argo. She was still tangled up in a mess of information and couldn't make it, but thankfully, she was alright. That news brought Ren a measure of relief.
Though he knew Kirito and Asuna, they didn't have many stories to share. Their short conversations were just enough to maintain a respectful distance, like shadows walking the same path, each carrying untold secrets and unspoken emotions.
Ren looked at Kirito and Asuna. Both of their eyes reflected weariness, yet also unwavering determination.
Perhaps each member of the group was shouldering their own private burdens, and that made the air between them neither too intimate, nor truly distant.
Ren murmured quietly to himself, "Maybe… things will get much harder. But at least for now, I guess things are fine."
He knew he'd have to try harder, not just for himself, but for these companions, no matter how deeply they buried their pain.
He turned to look back at the square, where the dim lights were slowly beginning to glow beneath the sunset sky. The distant sound of laughter and conversation echoed back to him, a gentle reminder that in this world, no matter how dangerous, there were still fleeting moments of hope and connection.
Ren tightened his grip on his sword.
He gently nodded to Kirito and Asuna, his voice quiet but clear enough for both of them to hear:
"Goodbye. Tomorrow will be a long day...take care."
Kirito replied with a simple nod, his eyes still tinged with contemplation. Asuna also bowed slightly, though she remained silent.
Ren turned and walked away, leaving behind a quiet space between the three of them. He stepped lightly out of the square, his footsteps barely echoing against the cold stone floor.
The sky had begun to darken. The street lamps flickered to life, casting a scene that was both warm and dreamlike.
After a short walk, Ren arrived at the Resting Willow inn.
As he stepped through the worn wooden door, the scent of timber, damp earth, and a faint trace of flowers wrapped around him, offering a rare moment of peace after a turbulent day.
Ren sighed and thought to himself, "Tomorrow… I wonder if everything will be alright?"
He gently closed the door behind him, preparing for a brief night's rest to regain strength for the journey ahead.
A warm dinner, like always, slowly passed. The soft golden light from the hanging lantern in the Resting Willow inn spread a gentle, familiar glow across the room.
Ren always treasured moments like these, mealtime was when he truly felt safe and at ease.
The wooden spoon in his hand stirred the steaming bowl of soup gently. The small swirling motions seemed to dissolve the tangled thoughts and lingering worries still trapped in Ren's mind.
He looked up at the window. The street lights reflected through the foggy glass, with shadowy figures passing by...like fleeting illusions in another world.
No matter the chaos outside, Ren knew there was still a place he could return to, even if only for a moment of quiet amid the flow of life.
In silence, he continued sipping his dinner, letting the warmth of each spoonful spread through him, soothing both body and soul.