The morning sun pierced through the crystalline windows of the Serium Academy, casting fractured patterns of light across the polished floors. Shinjiru stepped cautiously into the Archive Wing, the Ivory-blue aura of Miyu Kage already present like a gentle pulse that radiated from her very being. The scent of old parchment and distilled essence hung in the air, a sharp reminder that this was no ordinary library.
"Shinjiru Arakami," Miyu said softly, turning from the towering Essence Files that lined the walls. Her eyes glimmered, a reflection of the countless lifelines stored within. "You've been active in the field. Impressive… but reckless."
Shinjiru's hands tightened around the straps of his training garb. "I… I had no choice," he muttered. "A boy's life was at stake."
Miyu inclined her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "And yet, rules exist for a reason. Your actions could have had consequences far beyond your understanding."
He lowered his gaze. "I know. But… I couldn't let him die. Not like my father."
Miyu's eyes flickered, a shadow passing over her serene face. "Your father's case… is not something lightly discussed. Few know the full details." She paused, then motioned for Shinjiru to follow her deeper into the Archive. "Come. There is something you must see."
Rows upon rows of Essence Files stretched into the distance, each one humming with the recorded history of Himen and humans alike. Miyu guided him to a secluded chamber, the walls lined with floating file projections, each labeled meticulously.
She selected one, and a soft glow illuminated the file. "Your father… Haruto Arakami," she began, voice barely above a whisper. "He was… exceptional. His intellect, his essence… unlike any Himen of his time. He pushed boundaries, broke rules for reasons few understood, and ultimately paid the price."
Shinjiru felt a chill crawl down his spine. "Paid the price? He… he didn't die from a simple accident?"
Miyu's gaze held his. "No. He died during an encounter with a Stage 3 Krawler. The circumstances were… irregular. He had broken Rule 3, consuming human essence under extreme conditions to protect you. That decision set in motion events that ultimately led to his death."
The weight of revelation pressed down on Shinjiru. "He… he did all that for me?"
Miyu nodded. "Yes. But there is more. Your lineage… you are not entirely human. Your essence… your aura… carries latent Himen traits. This hybrid nature, if properly cultivated, could make you stronger than any Himen before you. But it also makes you a unique target."
Shinjiru's mind spun. The feeling he had always had—a pulse of power that surged uncontrollably, even before the awakening—began to make sense. "So… I'm the only one like me?"
Miyu's expression softened, but her eyes remained steady. "The first and only. And that is why the rules of this world weigh on you differently than any other. You will be scrutinized, tested, and challenged in ways no one else could endure. Even the Elite 8 will watch you closely."
Shinjiru's fists clenched. "Then I'll prove myself. I'll train. I'll… I'll make sure his sacrifice wasn't for nothing."
Miyu gestured to the file, the projections shifting to reveal Haruto's personal notes, field reports, and battle analyses. "These are your inheritance," she said. "Study them. Learn the strategies, the essence manipulations, the combat applications. But remember—knowledge without control is dangerous. And your hybrid nature amplifies both potential and risk."
Shinjiru absorbed every detail, memorizing chain mechanics, essence strategies, and tactical maneuvers. He could feel the echoes of his father's presence guiding his hands, his aura, the very rhythm of his strikes.
Hours passed, the chamber growing dim as sunlight waned. By the time Shinjiru stepped out, his mind was a storm of information, emotion, and newfound determination. Every lesson, every failure, every heartbeat in the field had led him here.
As he exited, Miyu's voice followed him: "Remember this, Arakami. The truth of your past is both a weapon and a burden. How you wield it… will define your future."
Shinjiru inhaled deeply, feeling the hum of his violet aura strengthen within him. The path ahead was treacherous, and the shadows of the past were no longer just memories—they were tools, guides, and warnings.
He glanced toward the distant towers of the Academy, the corridors where shadows of Krawlers and whispers of Himen overlapped. And in that moment, he made a vow: he would master this power, uncover every secret, and face the challenges of this realm, no matter the cost.
Because the legacy of Haruto Arakami—and the birth of a singular hybrid—was a story the Serium Realm would never forget.