Senko's body felt like it had been shattered into pieces, each fracture throbbing with the dull ache of pain. His feet, swollen and bruised, seemed far more fragile than he could ever have imagined. He lay in the infirmary bed, staring at the ceiling, the sterile smell of healing herbs filling the air. His mind drifted, pulled between the agony in his body and the relentless thoughts of what had happened.
His Hora had spiraled out of control. The surge of power, the red-hot fury coursing through his veins, had cracked his bones like brittle twigs. If it hadn't been for Leon, who'd somehow managed to carry him to safety, he might still be lying in the training yard. But even now, as he lay there, a new fear crept into his chest.
The demon sealed inside him had been awakened. He had felt its presence, a cold hunger that had licked at the edges of his mind like a flame threatening to consume him. Yet, in that moment, when he had lost control—when everything had gone dark and he could feel the beast clawing for freedom—something inside him had shifted.
He couldn't explain it. The demon's power was intoxicating, but it was also dangerous, wild, a force he couldn't contain. And that terrified him.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and Leon stepped inside. His face was grim, his usual optimism replaced by the worry that had been eating at him since they left the training yard.
"How are you feeling?" Leon asked, sitting at the edge of the bed.
Senko gave a small, painful smile. "Like I've been run over by a herd of demons."
Leon chuckled weakly, but the concern didn't leave his eyes. "You're lucky you didn't break more than your feet. That Hora… it was something else, Senko. You didn't look like yourself."
Senko shifted uncomfortably. He didn't know how to explain what had happened. How could he? The power had surged from him without warning, like a tidal wave crashing against a shore that wasn't ready. It had taken everything in him to try to keep himself grounded, but he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pretending he had control.
"I have to get stronger," Senko muttered, more to himself than Leon. "I can't let that happen again."
Leon studied him, his eyes narrowing. "You're not alone in this, Senko. You've got us. We'll help you figure this out. Whatever it takes."
But as Leon spoke, Senko couldn't shake the gnawing feeling at the back of his mind. This was no longer just about training or fighting. There was something deeper at play, something dangerous that not even his friends fully understood. He had to control this power—he had to master it—before it consumed him entirely.Meanwhile, in the dimly lit meeting room of the academy's central tower, the four house leaders gathered around a large stone table, their faces etched with concern. The atmosphere was tense, heavy with the weight of unspoken words. Master Hornstein, head of White Fang, was the first to speak.
"We cannot afford to let the boy continue like this," Hornstein said, his gravelly voice filling the room. His piercing blue eyes focused on Master Keen, who had yet to speak. Keen was known for his calm demeanor, but even he couldn't hide the unease in his posture.
"If the national government finds out about Senko's demon," Master Keen began, his voice measured but firm, "it will be a disaster. Not just for him, but for all of us. The entire academy could be placed under scrutiny."
Master Tamado of the Dark Crimsons leaned forward, his black robe shimmering faintly in the low light. "What if they don't find out? What if we can handle this in-house, keep it under control? The boy is still a wild card, but his potential is undeniable. We could use him—if he learns to control that power."
"There's a risk to everything," Korp, the head of the Spark Guardians, interjected, his tone rough and direct. "We've all seen what happens when someone loses control of their Hora. But Senko… his power, it's different. If we don't train him, someone else will—and not with his best interests in mind."
A silence fell over the room as the weight of the conversation settled in. Each leader had their own perspective, but they all knew one thing: Senko was a weapon, one that could either save or destroy them.
"We'll have to move quickly," Master Hornstein said, breaking the silence. "The trials are coming, and we'll need to keep him focused. If he's going to survive the SA Test and advance to C-rank, we'll need to have a plan in place. The Burden Phase isn't just about power—it's about control. And Senko needs that control more than anyone."Back in the infirmary, Senko was lost in thought as Leon spoke about his next training session, when a loud knock on the door interrupted them.
A tall figure entered, his dark eyes sharp beneath the hood of his cloak—Master Korp.
"I see you're awake," Master Korp said with a grunt. He didn't wait for an invitation but moved toward the bed. "We need to talk, Senko. About your training, and your future here."
Senko glanced at Leon, who gave a small nod of encouragement. "What's this about, Master Korp?"
Korp's gaze softened, but only slightly. "It's about the SA Test. You're one of the few D-rank students with the potential to advance, but there's more at stake here than just a rank. You need to understand the full weight of what's happening. The Burden Phase will push you harder than anything you've faced before. But I think you can do it."
Senko swallowed hard. The SA Test was the trial for D-ranks to become C-ranks, a grueling challenge that only three students would pass. It was a way to determine who would be ready for the dangers ahead, but it also meant that Senko's control over his power—over the demon inside him—was going to be tested in ways he couldn't predict.
"I'm ready," Senko said, though his voice trembled. He had no idea if he really was. But he had to try. For his sake. For everyone's sake.
Master Korp studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "Then let's make sure you're truly ready. We'll help you train. But you'll have to trust us. You can't do this alone."
Senko nodded, his resolve hardening. The Burden Phase was coming. He would master his power—or perish trying.
Senko turned his head to look at Leon, his eyes heavy with exhaustion but determined. There was no avoiding it anymore. He had kept the truth buried for so long, but it was time to finally speak.
"Leon, it's time to tell you," Senko said, his voice barely above a whisper, like he had carried this secret for too long and couldn't hold it any longer.
Leon's expression faltered. "So there was a secret?"
Senko nodded, his gaze hardening. "Yeah. So, I was born on the Eternal Night. The former Warrior King… he was my father."
Leon stared at him, his eyes wide with disbelief. "There's no way." His voice was a mix of shock and confusion.
Senko looked at him, his tone steady but tinged with a deep sadness. "And after that… I think you know the rest of the story."
Leon's eyes glazed over for a moment, processing the weight of the words. And then, as if a switch had been flipped, his face went pale with sudden realization. "Oh my God. Purple eyes." His voice quivered with fear.
Senko lowered his gaze, the disappointment in his voice thick as he spoke. "The Warrior King sealed the purple demon… in a newborn. That newborn was me."
Leon froze, horror and confusion etching across his face. "But why his own son?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the very question itself held the weight of an impossible answer.
Senko took a deep breath, his chest tightening as he exhaled. "I don't even know myself." His fingers twitched, as if he could still feel the remnants of the power, the beast lurking beneath his skin. "The purple Hora… it was all the demon."
Leon stared at Senko in stunned silence for a moment. Then, his face shifted, a new understanding dawning on him. "Yeah… it was. But what about that day—the monster you fought?"
Senko's eyes grew distant as the memory flooded back, vivid and clear. He remembered the battle like it was just yesterday—the sensation of time slowing as he saw the monster's every movement before it even happened, like he could predict it. The thrill of that power. But with it, the fear of losing control.
He exhaled slowly. "So was that the reason why you were so strong that day?" Leon asked, leaning forward with curiosity.
Senko shook his head, the frustration evident in his movements. "That, too. But it was mostly my sword—well, the former Warrior King's sword. I won't even call him my father."
Leon sat down beside Senko's bed, his face clouded with disbelief, but also a growing understanding. Master Korp, who had been leaning silently against the wall, finally spoke up, his voice calm and measured, though there was a trace of concern.
"The sword… the Sanguivar Sword… it's a mythical sword," Korp said, his words carrying a weight of ancient knowledge.
Leon's eyes widened in shock, and he jumped to his feet. "What?!"
Senko quickly raised a finger to his lips, motioning for Leon to keep quiet, and Master Korp did the same. "Shh," Senko whispered, trying to suppress the noise. The nurses in the nearby hallway stirred, but the room fell back into a brief silence.
Leon, still processing the revelation, shook his head in disbelief. "But how? There are only six mythical swords in the world. How could you—?"
Senko looked at him with a mix of resignation and bitterness. "I know. But I wouldn't even want to hold something that was my father's… or the former Warrior King's. Zeph gave it to me, though, probably for a reason."
"The Sanguivar Sword is the only one that people have seen to date," Master Korp added, his tone grave. "The other five… are lost. Vanished."
Leon's mind raced. "Where did the other ones go?" he asked, still grasping at the enormity of it all.
"They were all owned by warrior legends—warriors whose names have passed into myth. But after those legends died… the swords disappeared. No one knows where they went," Master Korp replied, his gaze distant as he remembered the tales of lost heroes and forgotten blades.
Leon stood up again, his eyes blazing with determination. "Senko… I'm going to do this with you. You can't be alone in this." His voice was fire, full of the conviction that only true friendship could offer. "I'll face the trials with you. Whatever it takes."
Master Korp smiled slightly, his eyes softening as he watched the bond between the two friends. "Because you will become the Warrior King," Leon said, his voice steady but filled with quiet pride.
Senko looked between them, his mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. The weight of his past, the burden of the demon sealed within him, and the looming trials all seemed too much to bear alone. But with Leon beside him, with someone who believed in him, maybe… just maybe, he could take the first step toward mastering his power.
The path ahead was uncertain, filled with trials and dangers. But for the first time in a long while, Senko felt a flicker of hope—hope that he wasn't fighting this battle alone.
Onto the Burden Phase.
Master Korp walked out the infirmary "That boy thinks I'm on his side still didn't forget what he did to my parents. I wish him dead."
To be continued…