"In this world, strength is not a gift… it is the price to pay to stay alive."
"Kara is the vital energy that flows through all things. Some shape it to create, others to destroy… but all depend on it to survive."
"When the breath of Kara fades, the heart ceases to beat, and the soul disappears into eternal shadow."
The path stretched like a narrow ribbon through a sea of bamboo. The immense stalks rose toward the sky, quivering under a gentle breeze. The morning light filtered through in fragments, drawing shifting shadows on the damp moss. Here, time seemed suspended.
Raizen walked behind Takashi Aomi, marveling at the silence.
Raizen (whispering, almost to himself)
— It's… as if the world is holding its breath.
Takashi (serious, without turning back)
— This place was chosen by the first Zénith Stellaire. The resonance of Kara here is pure, without impurities. It is here that the pacts between man and this force are born.
Raizen hesitated, then asked:
— Why didn't Hana come with us?
Takashi (in a dry, almost annoyed tone)
— The Luminaires and the Astroforges need her care. You, focus. Observe, and be silent.
They reached a colossal red wooden gate, carved with ancient constellations. The surface seemed to vibrate softly, as if it were breathing.
Raizen (amazed)
— Incredible…
Takashi placed his palm against the wood. His mark glowed faintly, and a wave of Kara flowed into the door, which opened with a low rumble.
Beyond it opened another world. A clearing bathed in motionless light, in a mild and fresh climate, as if outside of time. At the center rose the Tempio Zénith, a sanctuary with polished stone walls and ancient beams, haloed with a majestic presence.
Raizen (softly, overwhelmed)
— What is this place?
Takashi (smiling with pride)
— This is the heart of the Zénith Stellaire. The place where those who will bear the Celestial Kara are born.
Takashi smiled, proud to present it.
Takashi (smiling)
_ Raizen, I welcome you to the Tempio Zénith, the place where you will be able to obtain Kara as well as the power that comes with it.
They entered a vast hall. Three Zénith Stellaire were already present, each bearing a mark on their hand. Among them, the mysterious warrior with the beak mask. But Raizen soon saw only one man:
Standing at the back of the room, broad-shouldered, black-haired, with a piercing and calm gaze. His aura filled the entire space.
Raizen
_ Him… that's the person I saw in my dream, he thought deeply.
Kuro (calm and deep voice)
— Welcome, my children. Please, take your seats. Raizen, come join me here, please. (slight smile)
Raizen stepped forward and Takashi joined the other Zénith Stellaire. The four present remained silent.
Kuro (calm, composed voice)
_ I would like to begin, but first Emma, I feel something troubles you. Can you tell me what it is?
Emma Moji – Zénith Stellaire (hesitant, but firm)
— Master… allow me to oppose. Raizen has never wielded Kara. If he fails, his body could break, and his spirit be lost in the flow.
Duggy Low – Zénith Stellaire (nodding)
— His body and spirit have not yet been tested. If he is not compatible, he risks losing his memory and you… you could be paralyzed for an entire day. We cannot afford that.
The man with the beak mask – Zénith Stellaire (serenely)
— You are absolutely right, but if he is ready, Kara can become his ally, not his enemy.
Takashi Aomi – Zénith Stellaire (grave tone)
— I agree with the beak. Yes, it is a power that demands more than strength. It requires the will to protect, the courage to suffer, and the discipline to know oneself. But don't forget we all went through it.
A silence settled. Raizen, still standing, felt the weight of their eyes upon him.
Kuro stepped forward a few paces, his voice resonating through the room, calm but imposing:
Kuro
— You are absolutely right, Aomi. Kara is the primordial vibration hidden in every living being. It is neither good nor evil. It reflects the intention of the one who wields it.
He slowly raised his hand, and a circle of gentle light formed around Raizen.
Kuro
— If your heart is pure, Kara will be luminous and ordered. If your mind is troubled, it will be dense and destructive. And if you fail to harmonize the two… your body and spirit will pay the price.
Raizen lowered his head, aware of the risk but resolved.
Raizen (softly, determined)
— I understand… and I accept it. I want this power. I want to become a Zénith Stellaire. And help those in need.
Kuro (calm)
_ I feel purity in you, then make use of it.
Kuro approached, placed his hand on Raizen's shoulder. All the Zénith Stellaire present knelt, honoring the solemnity of the moment.
Raizen closed his eyes. A burning warmth flooded his chest, rushing through his veins like a river of fire and light. His breath stopped, his thoughts blurred. For an instant, he thought he would vanish into the void.
But deep within, a new force surged. A pulse, clear and pure, that bound his heart, mind, and body into a single rhythm.
His eyes opened, glowing with a new radiance. On his hand shone the mark, the symbol of the Zénith Stellaire.
Kuro (solemn)
— Raizen… you have awakened your Kara. Protect it, master it, and always remember: every power has its price.
Raizen felt for the first time the bond between his heart, his mind, and his body. He was no longer alone.
The silence lingered a few moments after the awakening, broken only by Raizen's unsteady breathing. Each Zénith Stellaire seemed absorbed by the new power radiating from him.
Suddenly, the heavy doors of the hall burst open. An Astroforge rushed in, his face marked by panic.
Astroforge:
"Master Kuro…" he panted. "The village… the Sang Brûlé… they have attacked the village of Seiran."
The other Zénith Stellaire exchanged worried looks, some clenching their fists, but Kuro said nothing. His gaze lingered on Takashi, and in a calm but firm voice:
Kuro Takahashi:
"Allow me to stay alone with Takashi."
At these words, the others understood they must leave. One after another, they bowed and slipped away in respectful silence, leaving Kuro and Takashi alone, in a strange tension of gravity and anticipation. Raizen, still dazzled by the awakening of his Kara, instinctively followed the movement.
Once alone, Kuro turned to Takashi, his imposing stature and quiet aura contrasting with the grim news. His eyes reflected paternal tenderness, as if he saw in each disciple his own children to protect.
Kuro:
"This mission…" Kuro said, his voice low but penetrating, "it is for you."
Takashi nodded. Kuro continued:
"You may take one person with you. Even though some Astroforges are already on their way, you have the right to choose."
Takashi Aomi (thinking)
"I will take Raizen," he finally declared.
"Not to fight, but for quick field training. This will allow him to understand the gravity of our enemies and to see with his own eyes what the Zénith Stellaire truly face."
Kuro slowly nodded, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. In his eyes shone the pride of a father, mingled with the natural worry of sending a son into danger.
Kuro:
"Very well…" murmured Kuro. "Take care of him, Takashi. Kara is a gift, but it is also a burden. He must quickly understand that light and shadow coexist in this world."
After this discussion, Takashi left the hall where he had spoken with Kuro, his face still calm and impassive. The other Zénith Stellaire, as well as Raizen, looked at him.
With measured steps, Takashi stopped at the center of the group, his dark eyes sweeping over each of them without more words than necessary. His voice, when it rose, was soft but firm, measured:
Takashi:
"The mission concerning the village of Seiran has been entrusted to me."
A respectful silence fell. The Zénith Stellaire nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Takashi continued, still calm, his tone precise and detached:
"I will take Raizen with me."
Raizen started slightly, surprised by Takashi's choice.
Takashi:
"Not to fight," Takashi clarified, his dark gaze fixed on him.
"You will accompany me for quick field training. You will see the gravity of what we face and discover what our enemies truly look like."
Raizen felt a tension mixed with pride and fear rise within him. He lifted his head slightly, aware that this mission would not be a simple training.
Takashi simply added:
"Prepare yourself. We leave immediately."
Without a wasted gesture, he turned slightly, leaving Raizen and the others, his icy calm contrasting with the inner turmoil of his companions.
Emma Moji:
_ Always cold, this dear Aomi.
The man with the beak mask (mocking tone):
_ Yeah, such words could only come from him. (then he smiled)
Duggy Low (serious tone):
_ You'd better follow him. Know that he tolerates no delay, and above all, don't die. We already have enough problems. (he said to Raizen, leaving in a frustrated air)
The man with the beak mask (smiling and reassuring):
_ Don't worry, Raizen. It's not that he hates you, he's just a bit upset, that's all. (patting his shoulder)
Raizen (worried)
_ "Yes, I know," he said, looking at him. "I just hope he'll end up accepting me."
The mission was launched, and the destiny of the young Zénith Stellaire had just taken a new dimension.
The two left the sanctuary, Raizen walking alongside Takashi, his Kara still pulsing in his veins. The bamboo forest grew denser as they moved away from the Tempio Zénith, and each step seemed to draw them closer to the brutal reality awaiting them.
Raizen kept glancing around, intrigued and nervous. He recalled Kuro's words, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. But one question haunted him:
"Who could truly be behind all these attacks? And what are they really seeking?"
Takashi walked in silence, eyes fixed ahead, breathing calmly. His aura remained cold, distant, but reassuring in its total control of the situation.
After a few moments, he broke the silence, his voice calm and measured:
"Raizen. What you are about to see is not a game."
Raizen nodded, fists clenched.
Aomi:
"You will observe, learn, and understand. You will not fight… not yet. But you will see the gravity of our enemies, what it truly means to be a Zénith Stellaire."
Silence fell again, disturbed only by the rustling leaves and the wind weaving through the trees. Raizen felt his Kara vibrate softly, a gentle warmth reminding him he was no longer just a child of the streets, but a bearer of energy capable of changing the course of things.
A few hours later, they reached the outskirts of Seiran. The once-peaceful landscape was now ravaged. Half-collapsed houses, flames still clinging to some rooftops, and muffled cries escaping from shattered alleys.
Raizen's heart tightened. He had imagined the violence, but seeing the town like this… it was real, brutal, and relentless.
Takashi remained in the background, observing every movement, every sign of danger, his expression impassive, calm, and focused. He approached Raizen and whispered, always with that composed tone:
"Do not act. Kara will save no one if you do not know when or how to use it."
Raizen nodded, his eyes scanning the chaos around him. The village attacked by the Sang Brûlé was not only a battlefield: it was a lesson, a test, and the first true trial of his Kara.
Final scene
The village of Seiran was nothing but a field of desolation. Flames still licked half-collapsed rooftops, and the cries of survivors echoed intermittently among the ruins. Raizen's heart tightened, his Kara furiously pulsing through his veins. He wanted to move, to intervene… but Takashi placed his hand on his, keeping him back.
Without a word, Takashi's gaze pierced the mist rising around them. Each step seemed to absorb sound, each breath of wind vanishing into the thick white veil. Raizen felt a cold fear course through him, but he couldn't look away.
In the mist, a silhouette first appeared indistinct. Then, other forms began to take shape, smaller, less defined, giving the impression that the mist itself was animating to reveal presences. Raizen's heart pounded wildly, his breath cut at each apparition.
Finally, they could distinguish the man at the center of this floating mass. His imposing stature seemed to absorb the light around him. His red eyes gleamed like embers in the mist, and a scar ran across his right eye. In each hand, he held a crystal chain, glimmering with sinister light.
He smiled, a cold and cruel smile, before speaking:
"Finally, you are here… I will kill you and take the one you protect."
Raizen's heart raced, panic overwhelming him. He wanted to react, shout, strike… but Takashi fixed him with firm stillness and murmured in an icy voice:
"You're not a pure Sang Brûlé, are you? You're a superior Kageyami. Your Kara is strong… but not enough."
The man with red eyes froze for an instant, his lips twisting in contained irritation. Then, with a sharp gesture, he raised his hand and roared:
"Attack!"
The mist swirled around them, masking enemy silhouettes surging in waves. Takashi stepped in front of Raizen, his eyes fixed on the red-eyed Sang Brûlé, as his Kara awakened, vibrating around his fists.
The first assailant leapt from the mist. Takashi sidestepped, striking with his right fist that unleashed a concentrated electric discharge. The enemy collapsed, rigid and smoking, as another emerged from his left.
He spun on himself, striking again with a barrage of fists lit with Kara, sending the assailants flying backward. With each movement, his body was a mix of speed and fluidity, shielding Raizen like a living wall.
Raizen tried to follow with his eyes, but Takashi seized his arm:
"Stay behind me."
With a sudden sprint, Takashi rushed into the mist, striking one opponent after another. His blows created small explosions of energy, illuminating the scene with bluish flashes and silhouettes hurled against the ruins. Raizen felt the breath of Kara on his face, the sound of fists crashing against bodies resonating in the fog.
Then, Takashi combined his physical attacks with Kara:
Takashi: Piercing Lightning
A concentrated discharge shot from his hand, striking the first assailant before he even reached them. The electricity lit up the mist, revealing bodies collapsing, paralyzed by the sheer force of the attack. Raizen felt his Kara vibrate within him, a mix of awe and fear.
Without pause, Takashi chained another:
Celestial Kara: Chain Lightning
A series of bolts leapt between several silhouettes, striking one after the other as they tried to advance. The crackling sound of electricity and the enemies' screams tore through the mist's eerie silence.
More assailants approached, but Takashi focused his Kara and unleashed:
Celestial Kara: Paralyzing Wave
A luminous wave spread from him, paralyzing several enemies at once. Raizen watched, stunned, at Takashi's total mastery. He understood how much their safety relied on his strength.
Raizen's heart leapt with every strike, the screams of enemies and the crack of electricity filling his ears. Takashi advanced and retreated at once, a fluid motion of deadly dance, never leaving Raizen alone, never letting an enemy slip past.
Suddenly, the red-eyed Sang Brûlé leapt into the fray, the crystal chains swirling around him like snakes of dark light. Takashi stepped back, pulling Raizen with him, striking with fists charged with Kara and creating a moving barrier, each gesture perfectly calculated to keep the young Zénith Stellaire safe.
Smoke.
End of Chapter 3