( * vanished scar,* coloured eye )
It was Haru and Sai who had come looking for them. Both of them looked completely exhausted.
"Hey Nobaya... were you here all along?"
Sai said, looking at Nobaya as he stepped inside the room.
"Hey, Sai!" Haru nudged him, signaling him to show more respect.
Sai went straight to the bed and sat down. He was truly drained of energy. He kept his sword right next to him.
Haru, meanwhile, walked straight over to Jinso. He had come specifically to check on how Jinso was doing.
"How are you feeling, Jinso?"
Haru looked at Jinso's hand...
"This... where did the wound go...?"
Haru asked, completely shocked.
Jinso moved his hand quickly and tried to wrap the cloth back, but Haru had already seen it.
"How is this...?" Haru stood there in shock. "There was a massive wound there just a while ago!"
Unable to believe it, he stared at Jinso. "Wait, show me!" Sai also got up and went closer. He was equally stunned.
Jinso looked at Nobaya without saying a word. Nobaya gave a subtle smile and replied.
"This is the proof that he has awakened his power, Haru, Sai."
"What?" They turned to Jinso in shock.
"Yes. He has awakened Morikara. It is "
Before he could finish, a change swept through the room. The temperature began to shift, and Sai sensed it immediately. A chilling numbness of a cold wind spread through the room.
"What is this...?" They looked around. Haru unsheathed his sword... Sai followed.
The light in the room dimmed. They couldn't see anyone entering; they couldn't even hear a single footstep.
[Whooshhhh!!!]
To everyone's shock, a gust of wind blew through and vanished instantly. That was when they saw a shadow behind Jinso.
"Jinso...!"
Haru lunged forward, swinging his sword toward the shadow.
{Claanggg!!}
Another sword intercepted Haru's blade, knocking it down. As they watched in shock, the smoke cleared.
"Izuma...!" Sai said in wonder.
Yes, it was Izuma. He had arrived in the room, blending with the wind. They could see a deep void in his eyes. He sheathed his sword, and instantly, the unnatural silence in the room vanished.
"Izuma...!" Haru said, picking up his sword from the floor.
"This is impressive," Sai said with a grin.
"I was right here. I heard everything you said," Izuma said as he walked forward slowly. "Congratulations on awakening Ember Call, Jinso."
He said this as he walked toward the exit. Both Jinso and Nobaya were startled. The other two didn't even know the name of that stage, and Jinso hadn't mentioned it. How Izuma knew it was what shocked them.
Izuma walked out without paying attention to anyone else. Nobaya was pleased with the progress of all four.
"You are all on the same level now," he said happily. "Haru, you can sense the soul; Sai, you can freeze the air; Jinso, you can turn pain into fire; and Izuma... he can become a shadow."
He looked out toward the sky, which looked different now.
"You are about to experience the real trial and the true battle. Be ready to end his dominance," he told them.
Izuma, sitting outside, heard this too. He gripped his sword tightly; the weapon's energy began to stir restlessly with excitement. Simultaneously, a peculiar power could be seen coursing through Izuma's veins.
Izuma slowly raised his head and looked at the sky, just as Nobaya had. His eyes were now covered by a distinct hue... a Smoky Violet color had surfaced in his eyes.