Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

The night sky cast a silent veil over the Starting Town.

Faint light from crystal lamps hanging on stone pillars illuminated the training ground, creating scattered patches of brightness on the ground.

The chilly air crept through the gaps in Ren's clothes, carrying the dampness of the night mist.

Standing in the center of the training ground, Ren gripped the old spear tightly.

The rough wooden shaft scraped against his palms, stinging his skin, but he clenched it even harder, as if trying to hold onto the last sliver of fragile determination.

The sharp tip of the spear pointed forward, trembling under the dim light.

Its weight and unwieldiness made Ren's arms tense up, his muscles straining, yet he still struggled to maintain his balance.

"Haaa!"

Ren lunged forward, pouring all his strength into a thrust.

The spear cut through the air, striking forward with blistering speed.

A faint green glow flickered along the spearhead, like a firefly in the darkness.

"Snake Bite!"

He shouted the skill's name, trying to reinforce his own resolve.

The green light flared up at the spear's tip, the thrust slicing sharply through the air....but it missed its target.

The spearhead plunged into the ground instead, sending a spray of dirt into the air.

Ren stumbled to a halt, his small frame wobbling from the sudden imbalance.

His blue eyes widened, trembling, fixed on the spearhead quivering in the dirt.

"No… that's not… how it's supposed to be…" His voice came out hoarse, lips pressed together in frustration.

Panting heavily, sweat beaded on his forehead. His arms ached with each failed swing, his body drained of strength.

"I'm… useless…" He gritted his teeth, his eyes dark with disappointment.

He had seen Klein and the others wield weapons with such ease. They could take down an enemy with a single swing, while he struggled in vain.

But he refused to give up.

Ren forced himself to lift the spear again, shifting into a defensive stance this time, trying to steady himself so he wouldn't fall when blocking an attack.

But the spear was too long and too heavy. His footing wavered.

His hands trembled, each joint throbbing with pain, his shoulders aching from repeated failed swings.

"Why… why can't I do it?!" Ren shouted in frustration.

His voice echoed in the empty training ground before fading into the silent night.

A crushing sense of loneliness and despair swelled in his chest. Looking down at the heavy spear in his hands, he suddenly felt like it was foreign.....meaningless.

"That weapon is not for you, Ren."

A deep, warm voice broke through the stillness.

Ren flinched and turned around.

Under the dim glow of the crystal lamps, a rugged figure emerged from the shadows. The darkness seemed to retreat as he stepped closer.

Ruffled auburn hair swayed in the night breeze, and sharp eyes glinted with a mix of concern and reproach.

"Klein… What are you doing here?" Ren frowned, a wave of embarrassment rising within him.

"I didn't see you at the inn, so I came looking… Why didn't you tell anyone where you were?" Klein sighed, his gaze softening as he took in Ren's trembling hands.

"I… I didn't want to bother anyone," Ren murmured, lowering his head, his voice barely above a whisper.

He felt like a burden....someone who only dragged others down.

"You idiot."

Klein stepped closer and flicked Ren's forehead, as if snapping him out of his downward spiral.

"Do you really think isolating yourself like this is going to make things better?" Klein chuckled softly, his sharp gaze now filled with warmth.

Ren lifted his head, his wide eyes reflecting surprise.

"You've been trying so hard… But sometimes, effort alone isn't enough for instant success." Klein patted Ren's shoulder, his voice steady and encouraging.

"Don't push yourself too hard. If something is difficult, let us help you. That's what being in a team means."

Ren froze, a lump forming in his throat.

He had always believed he needed to be stronger, to overcome everything on his own… but hearing these words, he realized that relying on others wasn't weakness.

"Klein… thank you…"

A small, genuine smile appeared on Klein's face. He turned and started walking toward the training ground's exit, his voice carrying through the night.

"Come on, let's go back. The others are waiting for you."

Ren stood still in the training ground for a long moment.

The crystal lamps cast his shadow on the ground....but this time, there was no despair in his eyes.

He tightened his grip on the spear.

He still couldn't wield it properly… but he wouldn't give up.

At last, his small figure moved, vanishing into the quiet night of the Starting Town.

"…But why… did you say I'm not suited for the spear?"

Ren recalled Klein's first words.

Klein had said he wasn't meant for the spear.

Klein pointed at the weapon in Ren's hands.

"Every movement you make… is awkward and grows more chaotic."

"A spear isn't something just anyone can wield. It requires both talent and perseverance."

"As a long weapon, a spear demands a physique that matches it… and you don't have that."

Klein paused, watching Ren's expression closely.

Ren bit his lip, a mix of frustration and helplessness welling up inside him, but he remained silent.

"Change your weapon, Ren. Before it's too late. The spear… is not something you can master, no matter how hard you try. You always lose control when attacking, don't you?"

"I've fought spear users before… in the real world. They were sharper, more decisive than you, Ren."

Ren stood frozen, his eyes wide, as if doused in ice-cold water.

Those words weren't just harsh, they were a blade cutting into his fragile pride.

Because it was true. He always lost control with each attack, always staggered and struggled to maintain balance.

But he had worked so hard, forcing himself to be stronger, to master this weapon…

"Why…" Ren's voice trembled, his eyes lowering, long lashes quivering as he tried to hide his disappointment. "Why are you saying this…?"

Klein didn't answer immediately. He stepped closer to Ren, his sharp eyes never leaving him.

"Because I don't want you to get killed just for stubbornly clinging to something that isn't meant for you."

Ren froze, a sharp pain piercing his chest. Those words were cold and brutally terrifying.

"You think you can survive in this world by holding onto something you can't master?" Klein looked straight into Ren's eyes, his gaze unwavering. "You'll only become prey for the monsters if you keep going like this."

"I... I just..." Ren bit his lip, a surge of helplessness and shame washing over him. "I don't want to be left behind... I don't want to be useless..."

His eyes welled up, his voice breaking with emotion. "I want to be stronger... to protect myself... to survive..."

Klein remained silent for a long moment, watching Ren's small shoulders tremble. The boy's hands were still gripping the spear tightly, as if clinging to his last shred of belief.

"Ren..." Klein sighed, his voice softening. "I understand how you feel... More than anyone else..."

He reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on Ren's shoulder. His once-sharp eyes now carried a trace of warmth.

"But holding onto this spear will only bring you more pain."

Ren looked up at Klein, his tear-filled eyes reflecting his own sense of weakness and failure.

"You're not weak..." Klein said with a small smile. "You're just forcing yourself to fight with something that doesn't belong to you."

"Sometimes, letting go isn't failure... It's about finding the right path."

Ren stood still, warmth spreading from Klein's hand on his shoulder.

"Don't force yourself to be strong with something that doesn't suit you." Klein patted Ren's shoulder, his voice encouraging. "Find the weapon that truly belongs to you. Once you do... you'll be stronger than anyone else."

Ren stared at Klein, feeling as if he had just awakened from a nightmare.

He had been too stubborn... too afraid of being left behind... to realize that this spear had never belonged to him.

Maybe... it was time to let go.

To let go... and find his own path.

"Then... what do you think... I'm suited for?" Ren asked, his voice slightly trembling—not knowing whether it was from the cold or something else.

"A sword! A real sword!"

Klein turned away, rummaging through the wooden weapon racks before tossing a sword to Ren.

It was too long to be a short sword, too short to be a longsword.

A flexible weapon, usable with both one and two hands.

Ren fumbled to catch it.

The cool hilt pressed against his palm, feeling completely different from the rough, heavy spear he was used to.

He gripped the sword tightly, sensing an odd balance and compatibility with it.

Not too heavy, not too light, the perfect length to maintain distance while still being easy to maneuver.

It radiated an air of fluidity, as if waiting to be wielded and danced through the air.

Ren looked up at Klein, still bewildered. "Why... a sword?"

Klein smiled, his eyes glimmering with understanding.

"The way you move... your reflexes and speed all align better with a sword than a spear."

He stepped closer, observing Ren's grip carefully.

"You don't have the strength to control a long, heavy spear... but you have the agility and finesse to master a sword."

Ren stood frozen, as if a realization had just dawned on him.

All the times he lost his balance while using a spear... all the thrusts that missed their mark... They all stemmed from his lack of strength to wield it properly.

But this sword... it was lighter, more flexible. It felt like an extension of his own body, naturally syncing with his movements.

Klein smiled in satisfaction as he saw the spark in Ren's eyes.

"That's right, that feeling... This sword is waiting for you to discover it."

"But... I've never used a sword before..." Ren hesitated, his hands still trembling as he gripped the hilt.

"Don't worry. Just let your body feel it. Let your instincts guide the blade."

Klein stepped back, crossing his arms.

"Now, try a swing."

Ren took a deep breath, steadying himself. He planted his feet, adjusting his stance, similar to how he held a spear before, but this time... it felt lighter. More natural.

His wrist moved effortlessly, the sword rising smoothly before slicing downward.

Whoosh!

The blade cut through the air, forming a clean, precise arc, swift and powerful.

Ren froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Klein smiled approvingly. "See? You've already done it."

Ren stared at the sword in his hands, his heart pounding wildly.

This... was what he needed.

This sword...

This feeling...

It was as if... it had always been meant for him.