No Longer Human | Arlecchino

Chapter 6: Interlude

Often, he was stretched to the breaking point, to have his body and brain pushed in ways he never thought possible. All this time, Ren's voice rang in his skull, instructing him with icy rationality, and from time to time taunting him sarcastically.

On one chilly morning, they were standing against each other on a training field far away from any settlement. Both had their swords at ready. Rin felt Ren rush within him, sharpening all reflexes, making his head clear.

Ren's voice hissed, "Concentrate. Anticipate my next move."

He tightened his grip on his blade, never taking his eyes off of his opponent's. They charged at each other, a dance of steel and strategy. Rin blocked, deflected, and counterattacked with increasing precision after each strike.

Hours of ceaseless sparring finally broke as they paused. Their breaths showed visible in the frosty air. Bruised and beaten, his body screamed, but he could not help the strange satisfaction that welled within him.

"Well," Ren said with a hint of approval in his voice. "Not bad."

Soon, days turned into weeks, and it was an adjustment to a new life of honing their craft in icy training grounds with the Fatui. The cold made every blow, every swing of his katana more labored. Snow has a tendency to sap both energy and precision, but Rin was managing.

One evening, after hours of drills, as he was sheathing his katana, there appeared a silhouette at the training ground, casual yet ready. Childe, the Eleventh Harbinger, smiled to himself; that light of a warrior eager for a good fight sparkled within his eye.


"So, they've at last sent someone with potential," Childe said, his tone teasingly relaxed. "Care to test your edge against mine?"

The interest and appreciation stirred Ren within him. "You down, Rin?" Ren's voice echoed in his mind, tinted with a tinge of mischief.

Rin cracked his neck and nodded, for the thrill of facing one of the best Fatui was already rising within him. "Ready when you are."


Childe burst into laughter as he drew his own twin blades in fluid graciousness. "Let's see what you're made of, Harlequin."

The two met in the center of the snow-covered field, their shrill clanging of steel tore through the frozen air. Predictably, Rin cut through the space between them with his katana, each strike meeting Childe's blades with a shower of sparks. On the other hand, Childe was tireless in his attacks, quick and agile, almost as if he were enjoying each clash that hit.


Rin shifted, moving into the rhythm of Childe's motions, striking faster, controlled; his katana sliced in tight arcs that kept Childe on the back foot. Suddenly, he feinted, stepping in with a low slash angled at his legs. With effort, Childe dodged in time; his expression changed from amusement to focus.

"That was close," Childe wheezed with a grin as his breath curled in the chill of the air. "Looks like there's more to you than I thought."




Rin caught his breath and shot him a glare. "I'm just getting started."

With restored energy, they flung themselves at each other again, their strikes a blur in the faint light. Rin's determination propelled every strike, and Ren's strength honed his senses. 

For that one bright moment, it seemed the tide of battle had turned in Rin's favour, until Childe unleashed his Hydro vision and sent a wave crashing across the field. Rin barely managed to square his feet so that he wasn't thrown off balance.




The battle became even more fierce, none of them yielding, Rin putting his all into it. Until, after what felt like an eternity of relentless, merciless combat, they retreated, huffing, the weapons raised but still.

Childe dropped his blades, grinning. "I didn't actually think you'd be able to keep up this far, Harlequin."