An Illusion of Will

Chapter 19: Phantom Rings

A young man, around 22 with dark hair and glasses, spoke up with a confident tone, capturing everyone's attention. "Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jin-Shen Takahashi, hailing from the esteemed Takahashi bloodline. I will run after the Cesar." His words hung in the air, leaving a sense of intrigue and curiosity.

Following Jin-Shen's bold assertion, a timid voice emerged from the crowd as a short, chubby girl stepped forward. "Um, hello, everyone. My name is Ellie Sochia Jung. If it's alright, I would like to run after Jin. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance and thank you for having me here." Her soft-spoken manner added an air of vulnerability and mystery.

Observing the unfolding scene, the red-haired girl named Louis swiftly intervened, asserting herself before anyone else could. "Very well, it appears we have our lineup. I shall run after Ellie, followed by Matthew, and finally, Al." The group nodded in agreement.

As Cesar and Jin began their warm-up exercises, Louis and Ellie positioned themselves cross-legged, delving into their respective breathing techniques. Meanwhile, Al surveyed the small gathering, his gaze shifting between his group and the now-dispersing groups in other fields. Only a few lingering groups mirrored their own.

Breaking the ensuing silence, Al initiated a conversation. "So, all of you with robes had someone in your family fight in the 300th Mortal Rings Tournament and go through something similar to what we're doing right now?" Uncertainty spread among them, with furtive glances exchanged between Louis, Jin-Shen, and Ellie, and Matthew except for Cesar, whose curiosity mirrored Al's.

Without waiting for a response, Al pressed on, his voice laden with curiosity. "There is more to be gained in sharing than not sharing your experience. If we are being trained to work as a group that information would be invaluable..." His words hung in the air, prompting the group to contemplate sharing what thy had learned so far.

As Al calmly sat down, patiently waiting for his turn, a collective contemplation seemed to envelop the group, excluding Cesar. In this contemplative atmosphere, Matthew's voice broke the silence, laced with skepticism. "Nice try, you would obviously benefit the most, so why would we give you information that can end up helping you in the tournament even if it is 36 years from now." Louis appeared to align with Matthew's viewpoint, nodding in agreement.

Al, undeterred, scoffed at their response. "Can't you see the bigger picture here? Why do you think we are training as a group?" 

Matthew shook his head, dismissing Al's leading questions. "What exactly are you trying to imply? This is just training?"

With a sigh, Al chose not to respond, but Jin took the opportunity to speak up. "I see what Al's saying and he's right. I think it's quite clear that those who have the most reliable team do the best in the tournament. Probably because of things being able to share valuable perspectives with each other."

Ellie nodded softly, offering her agreement. "Moreover, the likelihood of us facing each other in the tournament is exceedingly low. I've actually heard from my mother that they prefer matches between complete strangers, although, of course, that might not always be possible." 

A faint smile played beneath Al's helmet. Louis had been partially correct in her suspicion, as what Al truly desired was their voluntary sharing of personal knowledge to address his own questions.

The atmosphere within the group shifted, as a newfound understanding and a glimmer of trust began to take hold.

While Al's true intentions were not lost on Cesar, he couldn't help but share a curiosity about Al's inquiries. Louis, on the other hand, had started to resent Al, their previous interactions leaving a sour taste. She decided to interrupt the conversation, expressing her concerns. "Since it's clear only those with a robe have a teacher with prior experience. I can't help but feel like you're slightly taking advantage of us Alexander."