Senko collapsed to the ground, his consciousness slipping away. Hornstein rushed over, dropping to one knee beside him, his voice tight with urgency. "Senko, hang in there!" he called out. Senko could barely hear him — the words were muffled, distant — as darkness crept in. In the haze of his mind, another voice echoed, cold and predatory: "Senko, you will be mine."When Senko next opened his eyes, he found himself lying in the infirmary, a sterile white ceiling above him and the steady drip of an IV bag flowing into his arm. Groggy, he pushed himself upright, blinking to clear his vision. The only person in the room with him was Leon, who immediately jumped up, eyes wide with relief. Without warning, Leon threw himself at Senko, sobbing against his shoulder."You're finally awake!" Leon cried.Nurses rushed in from the hallway, one of them shouting, "He's awake!" as they crowded around the bed."What happened? What time is it?" Senko asked, his voice hoarse.Leon wiped his face and tried to smile through his tears. "Senko… you've been asleep for a week. And… also, you, Korra, and Ibaal — you all became C-ranks!"Senko's eyes widened in disbelief."Wait, wait… did you say a week?" he asked, staring at Leon in shock.Leon nodded, his hands trembling slightly. "The day you fought Ibaal, you collapsed… and I thought— I thought I was going to lose you."One of the nurses carefully detached the IV line from Senko's arm, while another sprinted down the hall to Master Hornstein's office.Moments later, the door burst open and Hornstein stormed into the infirmary, his face full of urgency."Senko!" he called out, his voice breaking slightly.Senko looked up at him, still piecing together fragments of memory. "Master Hornstein… what happened to me?"Hornstein came closer, his expression somber. "You've been unconscious for a full week. And yes — you've been officially promoted to C-rank."Senko lowered his gaze to his trembling hands, confusion swirling inside him."What happened to me…?" he asked quietly.Hornstein took a breath before answering. "When you lost consciousness, the purple aura inside you — the demon's power — broke free. It tried to take control of your body. But no one was harmed. However, the aura was… overwhelming. Too strong for any normal containment."Senko sat there in stunned silence, the weight of Hornstein's words sinking deeper into his chest. Something inside him had changed. And he knew, deep down, the battle for control had only just begun.
"But Master Hornstein, I thought I beat Ibaal. How did he become C-rank?" Senko asked, confusion still clouding his thoughts.
Hornstein let out a heavy sigh before responding. "Luong was supposed to become the C-rank because he won all his battles, but despite it being your first, you defeated Ibaal. The truth is, Ibaal is the strongest in the academy. You, on the other hand, managed to do what most couldn't. But Luong was reckless in his approach. As much as he's strong, we masters aren't just looking for raw power. Ibaal was the choice we ultimately went with."
Before Senko could respond, Headmaster Zeph entered the infirmary, his presence commanding attention.
"Senko, so you're awake," Zeph said, offering a warm smile.
"Headmaster Zeph," Senko replied, still trying to gather himself.
"Congratulations on becoming a C-rank," Zeph continued, his tone light but filled with meaning. "You know, your house is very surprised. Not a single master in White Fang history has ever won in the SA Trials—not even Hornstein."
Hornstein flushed, clearly embarrassed by the remark. "Okay, okay, Headmaster Zeph, you don't have to bring me into this," he muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
Senko's eyes fell to the sword Zeph held in his right hand: the mythical Sanguivar sword. It was unmistakable, and seeing it again made Senko's heart race.
Zeph extended it toward him. "Your sword," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
Senko's hands trembled slightly as he reached out to take it, the weight of the weapon feeling both comforting and overwhelming. "Thank you, Headmaster Zeph," he murmured, his grip tightening around the hilt.
Zeph nodded.
Senko looked up, his mind still foggy. "How is Korra doing?" he asked, shifting on the bed as if the question could ground him.
"She's doing just fine," Leon answered from across the room, but his tone softened. "But she's more worried about you."
Senko, feeling a mix of emotions, let out a slow breath and sank back into the pillow. "Oh."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of everything settling around him. The battle, the SA Trials, his new rank, and the pressure of the demon inside him. It all seemed like too much to process at once.
"By tomorrow, you three will be C-ranks, no longer with the D-ranks," Headmaster Zeph announced, his voice firm. "Although you won't be working with Leon anymore, you're both still in the same house."
Leon clenched his fist, determination shining in his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll work my hardest and become a C-rank too."
The room filled with light laughter at his words, the tension easing slightly. But then, a sudden presence entered, and the atmosphere shifted. The door opened, and the unmistakable figure of an S-rank warrior entered—the renowned Shinra.
"Greetings. May I come in?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight.
"You may," Headmaster Zeph commanded, his tone a bit more serious.
Shinra stepped inside, her piercing gaze settling on Senko. "Senko Yuhira, congratulations on becoming a C-rank," she said, her words warm but laced with something deeper.
"Thanks," Senko replied, still trying to shake the disorientation from waking up.
Shinra paused for a moment, her expression shifting as she gathered her thoughts. "I just wanted to warn you," she said, her voice lowering, "the national government is involved."
At those words, the room seemed to freeze. Both Headmaster Zeph and Master Hornstein were visibly startled, their faces betraying a sense of concern Senko hadn't expected. Leon too, noticed the shift in the air, his own expression turning serious.
Senko's heart raced. He could tell this was no trivial matter.
Shinra continued, her gaze intense. "But I want to help. I know the purple demon is inside you—the eyes, the power. I want to help you control it."
Senko blinked, surprised by her directness, but before he could respond, Headmaster Zeph spoke, his voice heavy with disappointment. "This isn't good. This is exactly what we feared." He glanced at Senko, then back at Shinra. "Senko has to go into hiding. This will put the entire academy in jeopardy."
Master Hornstein, who had been listening quietly, suddenly let out a deep sigh, wrapping his arms around his head in frustration. "This is very bad. This is the last thing we wanted."
Shinra's expression darkened as she spoke the final words. "Koya the Great—the Warrior King—snitched. He hated that Ibaal lost to Senko. He made sure the government knew."
A tense silence settled over the room, each word hanging heavily in the air. Senko's mind raced. Not only did the government now know about the demon sealed in him, but they would likely stop at nothing to seize it. The path ahead was more dangerous than he could have imagined.
Senko, still confined to the infirmary bed, slammed his fist against the wall beside him, a loud thud echoing through the quiet room. His body ached from the sudden movement, but the surge of anger within him dulled the pain. "That Warrior King—he doesn't even deserve that title," he growled, his purple eyes flashing with frustration and resentment.
Leon, who had been sitting quietly by Senko's side, jumped at the sudden noise. He rushed closer, worry flashing across his face. "Calm down, Senko. We don't want you getting too riled up," he said, reaching out to place a steadying hand on his friend's shoulder. His voice was firm, but the crack of fear in it was impossible to miss. After all, he had seen firsthand what could happen when Senko's emotions spiraled out of control—the purple aura, the sheer destructive power hidden inside him.
Headmaster Zeph, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward, his arms crossed loosely in front of him. His expression was calm but serious. "It's the best thing for now," Zeph said in a low voice. "The academy can't afford to make enemies with the national government. Koya the Great still holds influence, even if his pride is the only thing left of him."
Senko clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into his palms. The words stung worse than any wound. "So… we're just supposed to sit here? Let him get away with this?!" His voice cracked with rage and disbelief. "He couldn't stand that Ibaal lost, so he put a target on my back. How is that fair?!"
Leon gave a nervous glance toward Zeph, unsure of what to say. For once, his easygoing optimism had nothing to offer.
Zeph sighed, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. "Fairness doesn't exist at their level, Senko," he said. "You're strong—too strong. And people fear what they can't control. Right now, the only thing keeping you safe is that they don't fully understand what you are."
Senko looked down at his hands, trembling slightly. The memory of the purple aura flooding out of him, taking over his body, haunted him. He remembered the voices, the way his mind had started to slip away. "What if I can't control it?" he whispered, almost to himself.
"You will," Leon said, gripping Senko's arm tightly. His voice was steadier now, filled with conviction. "You're not alone. We're going to figure this out. Together."
Zeph nodded in agreement. "That's why you have to be patient, Senko. You have a long road ahead of you. But you're not walking it alone."
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the soft ticking of the infirmary clock. Senko closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, forcing the anger back down where it belonged—for now. He couldn't afford to lose control again. Not yet.
When he opened his eyes, there was a different look in them—not rage, but resolve.
"Fine," he said quietly. "I'll wait. But when the time comes… I'm taking my title back."
Zeph smiled slightly, a rare glimpse of pride in his usually stern face. "That's the spirit, Senko Yuhira."