The next day during study period, Enryu sat at his desk, staring blankly at the notes in front of him. His thoughts drifted.
Yesterday... that's going to stick with me forever. But I need to move forward. Holding on to the past will only slow me down. I can't wait to finally start training.
That battle between Hagan and the Veilburn—unreal. And that thing was only a Tier One?
Today's lessons were dull for the most part, though geography had its moment. A newly discovered island had stirred some interest, but Enryu was already waiting for the next subject.
History.
Mother Selene, poised and ever enigmatic, stepped forward, her soft yet commanding voice filling the classroom.
"Today's lesson will cover The Great Crimson War—a conflict so soaked in blood, the battlefield was said to resemble a sea of crimson.
It began fifty years ago and raged on for three long decades. Victory came when The Mandate gained the upper hand over The Luminary, wielding the world's most feared weapon: The Chain of Veyr.
A weapon so devastating, it was sealed away under strict terms agreed upon by both factions… After a couple more minutes of discussion. Mother Selene spoke the magic words
And with that, class is dismissed. Go enjoy your training."
She winked as she finished, a signature flourish.
Niko stared blankly at her, unimpressed.
Why is she always winking…?
Outside, Enryu turned to his friends with a grin.
"You guys ready to officially start?"
"Yeah," Niko replied, already stretching.
Sayo gave a small nod, her eyes firm with quiet resolve.
I want to keep up with them... so we can always stay together.
They met in Hagan's massive backyard, a training field carved out of wild land—plenty of space, no mercy.
Hagan stood at the center, arms crossed. "Glad you're all on time. You know the drill. Start running."
The trail spiraled up the side of the mountain. Even the first lap had them gasping for air. Enryu was in front, Niko close behind, but Sayo lagged with every step.
A voice echoed in Enryu's mind—a memory from earlier.
"Don't slack off. I'll be watching at all times," Hagan had warned.
Back in the present, Enryu's legs burned, lungs screaming for a break. He slowed, muttering to himself, "There's no way he's actually watching…"
The moment he stopped, something smacked the back of his neck.
"OW—what was that? A rock?!"
Far below, Hagan casually lowered a slingshot, smirking. "Told him not to stop."
Enryu's eye twitched. How did he hit me from all the way down there? This guy's a monster.
After the laps, they collapsed onto the grass—sweaty, breathless, and half-dead.
Hagan clapped once.
"Alright. On to the next."
Niko groaned, "Not even a little break?"
"This is your break," Hagan said calmly. "We'll be meditating. So you better use it wisely."
All three of their hearts sank.
The three of them sat cross-legged on the ground, mirroring Hagan, who faced them in the same position. His tone was calm but firm as he explained the next phase of their training.
"There are three steps," Hagan began. "First, close your eyes and breathe—not just any breathing, though. Your rhythm needs to be steady and consistent."
The trio listened intently.
"Second," he continued, "visualize Ember inside your body. Imagine it gathering, pulling it all toward a single point. That's where your Halo will begin to form."
"And third," Hagan's gaze sharpened, "you exert it. All three steps must happen in the same breath—one inhale, one exhale."
Niko furrowed his brow. "Wait—what's the point of exerting the Ember we just worked so hard to gather?"
"A good question," Hagan said with a slight nod. "Think of it like peeling an orange to get to the fruit inside, or trimming split ends so your hair can grow healthier. Exerting removes the excess Ember that could interfere with forming your Halo. You're creating the best possible conditions for it to develop."
"Okay, I get it now," Niko said, nodding slowly.
"Alright. Let's begin."
Enryu took a deep breath, shutting his eyes.
Okay... First step—breathe. Steady rhythm... right, I think I've got that. Next... visualize it. Ember forming at a single point...
Suddenly—poof.
A quiet sound escaped him.
Niko and Sayo exchanged glances, both fighting the urge to laugh.
Did I just fart...? Enryu's eyes snapped open in embarrassment. Oh man, that's so embarrassing. No, no, focus—back to the Ember.
Minutes passed, and something clicked.
I don't just feel it now... I can actually see it. Woah—there's so much of it. How am I supposed to gather all of this into one point?
Hagan's voice cut through the stillness. "Remember, all three steps—same breath—even if you're stuck on one."
Enryu exhaled nervously. I don't even know how to do step two properly... and now I have to exert it already?
He braced for something to happen. Nothing did.
A few minutes later, Hagan stood and clapped his hands. "That's enough for today's second session. Now we move on to hand-to-hand combat."
The three groaned internally.
"You'll be sparring with me," Hagan said plainly. "Just for today—unless I decide otherwise. All three of you will come at me at once. If even one of you manages to land a single hit, the training ends. You win the spar. You have thirty minutes."
Thirty minutes later...
All three lay sprawled out on the ground, limbs aching and spirits crushed.
How did we not land a single hit...? Enryu thought, still catching his breath.
He dodged everything, Sayo mused in disbelief. And he countered most of our attacks like it was nothing... He didn't even break a sweat.
Niko's eyes stared blankly at the sky. I want to go home.
A low, resonant bell then echoed across Koko Village.
Enryu paused mid-step, eyes narrowing. "What's that sound?"
"They're back," Hagan said without hesitation.
Sayo tilted her head. "Who's back?"
"The Vikings," Niko muttered.
Enryu's brow furrowed. "Vikings? I've only read about them—legendary warriors who rule the seas. Didn't they play a huge role in ending the Great Crimson War? Why would they be here?"
Hagan folded his arms. "As you three know from your studies, this is their land. A few were born right here in Koko. Some of the village elders still carry Viking blood."
Enryu's eyes darted back to the bell tower. "Then how come we've never heard that bell?"
"It hasn't rung in six years. You were all too young to remember."
Niko's posture shifted. "Uhh... I have to go."
Hagan gave him a knowing look. "You're all dismissed. If you see any of them, be sure to pick their mind. They've lived through more adventures than you could imagine."
Enryu's face lit up. "Wait—Niko, let's go meet—"
But Niko shot him a cold glare. "I don't feel the best right now. I'm going home."
Enryu froze, surprised. As Niko turned and walked off, he turned to Sayo. "What was that about?"
Sayo shrugged. "No idea. Maybe he really is sick. We did push ourselves hard during training."
"Yeah... we should let him rest."
Enryu and Sayo took off toward the village entrance, excitement bubbling within them.
But what they found stopped them in their tracks.
Six Viking warriors entered the village—but they didn't look anything like the mighty legends told in books. One cradled a broken arm, limping heavily. Another was on crutches, his right eye wrapped in bloodied gauze. A third moved gingerly, favoring his side, his breaths shallow—internal bleeding, maybe. The remaining three helped support them, each with scratches and bruises of their own.
Enryu's eyes widened in disbelief. "What… could've done this to them?"
"I'm going to get Mother Selene," Sayo said quickly. "She can stabilize them until the doctor arrives."
At the village's heart, the six warriors rested around the central fountain, its crystalline waters glinting under the sun. Pristine beaches circled the area, but the calm setting clashed hard with the wounded warriors bleeding onto its sands.
Mother Selene moved swiftly, tending to open wounds and wrapping gauze with practiced hands. Enryu, Sayo, and Hagan sat a short distance away, watching in heavy silence.
Hagan stepped forward. "Astrid... What happened out there? Where are the others?"
Astrid's voice was hoarse. "Terrorists. A rising group that calls themselves The Order of the Pariah. They oppose The Mandate. There were only three of them... and they decimated thirty of us."
"Three? Against thirty?" Enryu asked, stunned.
"They tore through our ranks like paper," Astrid continued. "Only the four generals stood a fighting chance—General Ivar, Magnus, Erik, and Freya."
Enryu and Sayo's eyes widened as the story grew more intense.
"They stayed behind to hold them off," Astrid said, clenching his fists. "The rest of us escaped."
Mother Selene stepped back. "That should stabilize your wounds until the doctor can see you."
"Thank you," Arne said weakly. The others echoed him with nods of gratitude.
Hagan exhaled. "At least the six of you are safe…"
"No," Astrid growled, slamming a fist into the stone. "This is humiliating. One of them could've ended me. Instead… he disabled my legs, gouged out my eye, and left me a message. Said to spread it to anyone I encountered."
Enryu swallowed. "What did he say?"
"A purified world is on the horizon… and will soon come to pass."
Hagan scowled. "Why share their vision unless… they're seeking recognition. Trying to provoke a response."
Igna stepped forward. "Exactly. We believe they want The Mandate to come after them. They're calling them out."
"Reckless," Hagan muttered. "Even if they're powerful."
"No," Astrid said quietly. "Their abilities—if they find others like them... they could become a real threat to the entire continent."
The village doctor arrived. "You four—come inside."
Mother Selene turned to the remaining two warriors. "What will you do while you're here? Your wounds are patched up. You should heal within a few days."
Knut gave a tired grin. "I just want a soft bed. Haven't had one off the sea in weeks."
Runa, her face still etched with fury, spoke through clenched teeth. "Got somewhere I can let off some steam?"
Hagan nodded. "Come with me."
Hagan's Backyard
"You don't mind if I get a little destructive, right?" Runa asked, not waiting for permission.
A long, violet-purple bo staff materialized in her hand—appearing out of thin air like magic.
"No, do your thing" Hagan replied calmly
Niko's Room
Mother Selene knocked gently before entering. "You okay, Niko? I know you—"
"Do you think they're dead?" Niko interrupted, eyes locked on the wall. "My parents?"
Mother Selene froze.
"So you know," he added.
"I don't know the full details. But yes, they encountered a powerful adversary. Your mom and dad—along with the other two generals—held them off so the others could survive."
"Oh."
She softened. "But I bet they came out victorious. They might be on their way back right now."
Niko's voice turned bitter. "I don't care. I hate them, you know that, right?"
Mother Selene didn't answer at first. "Alright… I'll go make your favorite. Beef stew."
As she left his room, her thoughts lingered painfully.
Niko's always been cold toward his parents. He says he'll never forgive them for choosing the seas over their own child. But he just… doesn't understand.
Hagan's Backyard
"Whoa," Enryu whispered. "How did she do that?"
Hagan chuckled. "Pay attention. If you thought I was strong, you're in for something…"
Runa burst into motion—her staff slicing through the air like katana, swift and precise. Each movement flowed into the next, smooth and deadly. With a final, powerful swing, she sent a surge of force flying into the forest miles back. Trees snapped and split down the middle, collapsing in a massive arc that stretched for miles.
Enryu and Sayo stood, slack-jawed.
"She… lost to someone?" Enryu asked, stunned.
Runa exhaled, finally relaxed. "Whew. Needed that."
"You're crazy strong," Enryu said. "How'd you get like this?"
"Many years of training. Starting at Oathspire Academy—the most prestigious school on the continent."
"They plan to attend in three years," Hagan chimed in.
"Ohh?" Runa grinned. "So I assume you started training already?"
"Today was their first day," Hagan said.
"Well then," Runa said, spinning her staff. "Time for your first lesson. You—boy. Step forward."
Enryu hesitated, then stepped up.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Enryu Kurozawa."
"Don't take your eyes off me, no matter what," she said. "There's a shard of ice ten meters above your head. If you move, it will likely penetrate your skull. If you dodge, I'll hit you with the same attack I used to slice those trees. Understand?"
"What?! Wait, there's no other—"
"Start."
What kind of lesson is this?! I'm going to die!
The shard began to fall.
This is insane. She can't be serious.
"What? What kind of lesson is this? I'm gonna die!"
As the shard continued to fall, panic gripped me.
I—I have to move. That thing is actually coming for me. She couldn't be serious about attacking me…"
Right before it struck, Enryu leapt to the side.
Whack! Her staff tapped his forehead lightly.
"Ah—!" Enryu stumbled, but something else caught his eye.
A puddle. From the shard. It hadn't shattered.
"You see?" Runa said. "If you'd stayed put, you'd have only gotten your hair damp. But you panicked. Got distracted."
She tapped her staff to the ground.
"In this world, you need to learn to listen to your superiors, as it can save your life," Runa's voice was stern, her gaze unyielding. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't think for yourself. You have to find the balance between the two."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "What this lesson is truly about, however, is showing you how distraction can turn the tide in a situation—and especially a battle. If you hadn't let yourself get distracted, you probably could've seen through my lies. Distractions can turn even the strongest warriors into fools."
Sayo felt a tightness in her chest. I knew she was lying, even though I couldn't exactly pinpoint what the lie was.
Enryu stood silently, brow furrowed. I never even considered that she could be lying...
He opened his mouth, about to speak, when Sayo shouted, "Enryu, you still did a good job!"
Enryu gave a rueful grin. "Thanks, Sayo, but this time, I was the fool," he said with a soft chuckle.
Selene's Kitchen
Mother Selene glanced at the kitchen clock as she stirred the pot. The food is almost ready. I hope this cheers Niko up a little.
She set the spoon down and made her way to Niko's room. The air was heavy with anticipation. She knocked gently on the door, her voice soft as she called out, "Niko, the food's ready."
When there was no answer, she hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. As she stepped inside, a cold breeze swept past her, and her heart dropped.
There he was — Niko — sitting cross-legged on the bed. His body was rigid, trembling slightly, and his eyes were rolled back into his head. He mumbled incoherently under his breath, the words slurred and broken, as if speaking to something only he could see.
Mother Selene's breath caught in her throat. She rushed forward, the chill of the room gnawing at her skin, terror clawing its way up her spine. Something was terribly wrong…