"In this world, strength is not a gift… it is the price to pay to stay alive."
"The Kara is the life 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 the Kara fades, the heart stops beating, and the soul disappears into the eternal shadow."
The sun was already high, scorching the rooftops of the Tempio Zenith. The afternoon heat pressed down on the air, and on the training grounds, three figures had collapsed like disjointed puppets.
Danky lay on his back, arms spread wide, wheezing.
— I… I think… I'm dead, he groaned.
Raizen knelt, head bowed, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped from his forehead down his cheeks.
— No… if you were dead… you wouldn't be talking.
Diana, sitting cross-legged, clutched a towel to her neck. Her wet hair stuck to her skin, but a subtle glint of pride shone in her eyes.
— We… we survived. That's something at least.
A heavy silence fell, broken only by their ragged breaths. Then Danky, still sprawled out, spoke in a falsely dramatic tone:
— Hey… what if we did something normal, like… go to town?
Raizen turned his head, puzzled.
— To town? After that?
— Exactly, replied Danky with a tired smile. We can't stay stuck here getting killed at every training. We need to breathe a little.
Diana timidly raised her hand.
— …I'd like that too.
They exchanged a conspiratorial look, then painfully got to their feet and headed toward the main house.
Inside, Hana was sorting parchments. She looked up as they arrived, exhausted, drenched in sweat.
— You look like revenants, she said, amused.
Danky wasted no time.
— Hana, can we go to town? Just to relax a little…
Raizen lowered his head slightly.
— We need a breather. Just a short outing.
Hana studied them for a long moment, arms crossed. Her gaze traveled from Raizen to Danky, then to Diana. Diana nodded gently, confirming the request.
A sigh escaped her.
— Alright… but on one condition: you stay together, and at the first sign of trouble, you come back immediately. Understood?
The three nodded in unison. Danky flashed a big grin.
— Promise!
Hana smiled despite herself.
— Very well. Wait, I'll ask an Astroforge to accompany you.
Tempio Zenith
At the top of the sanctuary, the temple doors opened. Kuro appeared on the threshold, draped in his long white robe. He paused on the steps, gaze turned to the blue sky. A light breeze made the Tempio Zenith banners ripple, but his face remained serious. His eyes fixed the horizon, as if behind this seemingly peaceful day, an invisible storm was already brewing.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Burning Den, the air vibrated with suffocating heat. Between the red columns bathed in flame light, a young Sang Brûlé, barely nineteen, knelt, forehead almost touching the ground.
Before him, Shiro stood impassive. His white hair caught the light, his red eyes gleaming with icy fury. The aura surrounding him was so dense that the air seemed to tremble.
The youth lifted his head, voice firm despite the tremor of his lips.
— You will not regret this, Master.
Behind him, a black door appeared in the flames, sucking in the heat like a tear. Without hesitation, he stepped through it. Shiro remained alone, fists clenched, his murderous gaze fixed on the void.
At the same time, the apprentices waited in front of the sanctuary's hidden exit. They had traded their wet clothes for simple civilian attire. Danky tapped his foot impatiently.
— So, who's going to watch over us? I hope it's not Adams… or our "relaxing day" will turn into extra training.
A female voice sounded behind them:
— Don't worry, that'll be me.
Ashley, the Astroforge from Chapter 4, stepped forward with a confident smile. She had ditched her armor for discreet clothing, a scarf masking the Zenith mark on her hand.
— Rule number one: no Kara. Rule number two: no trouble. And rule number three: you stay together. Understood?
Danky raised his hand like a soldier.
— Yes, Chief!
Ashley shook her head, smiling.
— Let's go. The best skewer stand in Kazemori awaits.
The group set off toward the city, unaware of the shadows already stretching behind them.
The sun slowly declined over Kazemori, bathing the cobblestone streets in golden light. The air buzzed with the city's cheerful commotion: merchants' cries, children's laughter, and the smell of grilled skewers floating between stalls.
Danky
— Another one! These are even better than the last!
Ashley
— Danky, if you keep this up, you'll end up rolling back to the sanctuary.
Raizen
— Let him be. At least it'll stop his whistling at night.
Danky
— Hey! I don't whistle! And you're the one talking, Mr. "I-know-all-the-alleyways-to-escape-the-guards." You made us take a ten-minute detour earlier.
Raizen
— It was a shortcut. You just lack direction sense.
While they bickered, Diana had stopped in front of a kimono shop, eyes sparkling.
Diana
— Look at this one… The patterns are so delicate.
Ashley
— It would look great on you. The color would highlight your hair.
Diana
— Do you think so?
At that moment, her gaze shifted to a dark alley. A motionless figure, crouched on the edge of a roof, seemed to be watching them.
Diana
— Uh… guys? Do you see that?
The three others turned. For a second, they glimpsed the dark shape. Then, like a shadow blown by the wind, it vanished.
Raizen
— Someone was there, I'm sure of it.
Danky
— I didn't see anything. Diana, are you sure it's not your imagination? You've been seeing ghosts everywhere since this morning.
Diana
— But… I really saw something.
Ashley placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Ashley
— It's a big city; there are always people on the roofs. Don't worry. I'm here. As long as you stay near me, everything will be fine.
Even as her words tried to soothe, her gaze nervously swept the surroundings. The illusion of normalcy had just cracked.
Night eventually fell, and to shake off the tension and fatigue of the day, the group headed toward the public baths.
Ashley
— Alright, meet at the exit in one hour. And no foolishness, you two.
Danky
— Promise, we won't drown!
In the women's changing room, the air was already heavy with steam. Diana, a little shy, quickly undressed and wrapped herself in a towel. Ashley, on the other hand, took her time. She slowly untied her outfit, letting the fabric slide from her shoulders. Beneath her civilian clothes was an athletic body, every line fine and graceful. Her muscles were not massive but toned, evidence of years of rigorous training. She ran a hand through her hair, tying it into a loose bun, her neck exposed with natural elegance. Turning to retrieve her towel, she radiated calm confidence—a woman at peace with her body, strong and feminine without artifice.
They entered the bath area. The warm steam enveloped them like a cocoon. Ashley let her towel fall without hesitation and immersed herself in the water with a sigh of relief, her pale skin glowing under the lantern light. Diana joined her, more hesitant, settling against the warm stone.
Ashley:
— Feeling better?
Diana:
— Yes, much better, thank you. Sorry about earlier… I must have been paranoid.
Ashley:
— Don't apologize. In our world, paranoia is a form of caution. It's good to be attentive.
A soothing silence settled. Then Diana lifted her head. The same sensation. On the roof of a nearby building, visible through an opening in the ceiling, the silhouette was back.
Diana:
— Ashley… look.
Ashley followed her gaze. Her body tensed. The aura radiating from the figure was cold, predatory. Before she could cry out, the young Sang Brûlé leapt. His movement was feline in precision, and he landed with deadly grace on the edge of the pool.
Diana let out a scream of fear. Instinctively, Ashley threw herself in front of her, her bare body forming a protective barrier.
Ashley:
— WHO ARE YOU???
The scream alerted the boys.
Raizen:
— That was Ashley's voice!
They surged out of the water and rushed toward the source of the noise. When they arrived, the scene was frozen. The young Sang Brûlé, sword drawn, the lower half of his face masked, stared at them.
Young Sang Brûlé:
— Finally… I found you. I was getting bored.
Raizen and Danky immediately took fighting stances. The ordinary day was over. The hunt had begun.
Raizen and Danky leapt simultaneously, towels flying around them, muscles taut. Danky charged straight at the Sang Brûlé, eyes blazing with contained rage.
Danky:
— You shall not pass!
He struck with all the force of his fury, each movement charged with his hatred of the Sang Brûlé. Raizen followed with a rapid flurry of attacks, aiming to disarm their opponent or at least disrupt him.
The Sang Brûlé smiled, almost amused, and countered with calculated violence. He dodged, blocked, and returned precise strikes, hitting the boys' arms and legs with blows that burned with pain but broke nothing. Danky felt his ribs hit the stone, gasping for breath, but he got back up, fists clenched, ready to strike again.
Danky (gritting his teeth):
— No… way… I… won't give up!
Raizen took a hook that sent him crashing onto a ledge, pain searing through his muscles. But he sprang back immediately, regaining his guard with determination. The two boys exchanged blows, blocked and dodged, every impact making their bodies shudder, yet no serious wounds formed.
Young Sang Brûlé:
— Enough. I'm not here to kill you. I just want to talk.
Danky panted, his hatred burning beneath the surface, but he maintained control, fists clenched.
Danky:
— I'll kill him… he whispered.
Raizen stood again, eyes on the Sang Brûlé's blade, every fiber of his body tense, ready to strike once more. Ashley, behind Diana, gripped her towel, ready to intervene if necessary.
Ashley (grabbing a towel and snapping it around her waist):
— You don't discuss matters with a drawn sword. Put your weapon down, and then you can talk. Now.
The Sang Brûlé gave a faint smile, noting the mixture of determination and anger in the boys, and slightly lowered his blade. But the air around them still vibrated with tension. Every breath felt heavy with contained hatred and the promise of impending violence.
Perfect — I continued exactly as you wanted: Ashley emerges from the bath, reveals her Kara, materializes chains, then the verbal exchange with the young Sang Brûlé, who gauges her and issues his threatening demand.
The silence grew heavier, as if the steam itself held its breath. Ashley didn't stay passive any longer. With a sharp motion, she shook off the clinging water and rose, her towel still secured at her waist. Her eyes, calm at first, hardened.
A glow began to seep from her skin—not decorative, but the living pulse of Kara: a dense, silvery energy that made the air around her vibrate. The steam seemed to twist at her passage. Ashley inhaled, and Kara burst forth like solid smoke, coiling around her hands to form heavy, clinking chains, imbued with her energy.
Ashley:
— If you came here to cause trouble, you've got the wrong address.
The chains cracked against the ground, wrapped around her like armor, then rose into barriers ready to strike the intruder. Their metal seemed to drink in the lantern light, becoming denser, more dangerously real.
The young Sang Brûlé let out a small laugh—a cold laugh that echoed metallically. He showed neither surprise nor fear; on the contrary, he stepped back slightly to gauge her better.
Young Sang Brûlé (amused grin):
— Hm. Judging by your power, I'd say you're not a "pure" Zenith Stellaire… more like mid-rank. Am I wrong?
Ashley clenched her fists, the chains vibrating slightly under the impulse of her Kara.
Ashley:
— No. I'm an Astroforge. And if you try anything, I'll make you regret being born.
The young Sang Brûlé stared at her, a slow, murderous smile forming under his mask.
Young Sang Brûlé (cold smile):
— Interesting. I am… a full Sang Brûlé, pure rank. And I don't beat around the bush: tell me where the Zenith Stellaire hideout is. Maybe I'll let you live, maybe not.
Around them, Raizen and Danky stood again, rage and defiance mixed with caution. Diana, pale, pressed Ashley's hand. Ashley's chains jingled softly, ready to fall like verdicts. The boy's threat lingered in the air like a thrown challenge—and his smile was not empty.
Ashley (icy voice):
— You can burn with desire, but you will not set foot on our paths as long as I stand. We don't talk about a place that protects its own. Never.
The Sang Brûlé tilted his head, appreciating the resistance as much as the threat. His gaze burned with cruel desire: to get what he wanted, by words or by force.
Young Sang Brûlé (broader smile):
— Then start by telling me how you intend to end your days on this earth.
Summoning his black Kara, powerful and imposing,
Around them, the steam became a curtain. Time seemed suspended—a fragile instant where a decisive word could ignite a war.
END OF CHAPTER 7