The training grounds were quiet. Cold air drifted across the empty space.
Royoshi stepped forward slowly. Still tired. Still sore. But his eyes—focused.
"…Alright."
Then—a presence.
"You're late again."
Royoshi didn't even turn this time. A small smirk.
"You always say that."
Rikishu stood behind him. Arms crossed. Calm. Watching.
A pause.
"Are you ready to learn something new?"
Royoshi nodded immediately. "Yeah."
Then—he stopped.
"…Wait."
Rikishu's gaze narrowed slightly.
Royoshi turned toward him.
"Do you know Pasithea?"
Silence.
For the first time—Rikishu didn't answer instantly.
The wind passed between them.
A moment.
Then—
"…Yes."
Royoshi's eyes sharpened.
"I know her."
A pause.
"What's your relationship with her?"
Rikishu looked away. Rare.
"I'll tell you when the time is right."
A pause.
"She is… someone special to me."
Silence.
"I don't know if she still remembers me."
A small pause.
"But it's better if she doesn't."
Royoshi watched him, but didn't push further.
"…Alright then."
Rikishu turned back toward him.
The moment passed. Whatever that was—it stayed buried.
"Focus."
A pause.
"I will teach you something important."
Royoshi straightened slightly.
"How to absorb another person's Shuryoku."
Silence.
Royoshi blinked.
"…You can do that?!?!"
Rikishu nodded once. "Yes."
A pause.
"That is the specialty of the Kairo bloodline."
Royoshi froze.
"They can absorb any form of Shuryoku."
A pause.
"Dark or pure. It doesn't matter."
His voice lowered.
"And leave no trace behind."
Royoshi's eyes widened.
"So if someone attacks me—"
"You absorb it."
"And send it back."
Silence.
Royoshi's face lit up instantly.
"THAT'S SO COOL—!"
A pause.
"WHY CAN'T I DO THAT YET?!"
Rikishu didn't react.
"Because you lack control."
A pause.
"Now—take your stance."
Royoshi stepped forward quickly.
"Got it."
Feet grounded, breath steady.
"Listen carefully."
Rikishu's voice sharpened.
"Think of yourself as water."
Royoshi blinked.
"…Water?"
"And Shuryoku as heat."
A pause.
"Heat doesn't destroy water."
"It gets absorbed."
Royoshi frowned slightly.
"…That sounds simple, but it isn't."
"It isn't."
A pause.
"Now—attack me."
Royoshi exhaled slowly.
A sphere of Shuryoku formed in his palm.
Faint at first—then stabilizing.
"Here it goes."
He fired it.
The sphere shot forward—
Fast.
And vanished.
Absorbed.
Rikishu caught it with one hand.
The energy dissolved instantly, as if it never existed.
Royoshi blinked.
"…Okay, that's insane."
Rikishu lowered his hand.
"My turn."
Royoshi froze.
"…WAIT—"
Too late.
A Shuryoku sphere shot toward him. Fast.
Royoshi dodged the first one.
"—!"
The second—too close.
No time.
He raised his arm instinctively.
"…!"
The sphere hit—and slowed.
For a moment—it resisted.
Then—it started to sink into him.
Pulled into his arm. Absorbed. Gone. Silence.
Royoshi stared at his hand. "…"
Then—
"THAT'S SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!"
Rikishu gave a small nod.
"Good."
A pause.
"For a first attempt."
Then—his gaze sharpened.
"But what if it's not just one?"
Royoshi blinked.
"…What?"
Multiple Shuryoku spheres formed around Rikishu.
Five.
Ten.
More.
"WAIT—WAIT—WAIT—!"
They fired. Royoshi froze.
Then—he stopped moving.
"…Alright."
The first sphere hit—and vanished. Absorbed.
Then another.
Then another.
One after another—all absorbed.
The air around him distorted.
His Shuryoku—overflowing.
Unstable. Violent.
Royoshi staggered slightly.
"…Whoa—okay—this is getting out of hand—"
Energy leaked from his body. Cracks of light flickering around him.
Rikishu watched silently.
"Good."
A pause.
"But now you're overflowing."
Royoshi let out a strained laugh.
"Yeah—no kidding—"
His body trembled slightly. Energy leaking uncontrollably.
"…This doesn't feel stable."
Rikishu turned away.
"Of course it isn't."
A pause.
"You took in more than your body can handle."
Royoshi frowned.
"Then what do I do?"
Rikishu didn't answer immediately.
"Figure it out."
Royoshi blinked.
"…You're serious?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"Control isn't taught."
"It is focused."
Before Royoshi could respond—
Rikishu vanished.
Silence.
Royoshi stood alone. Shuryoku raging inside him.
"…"
THEN—
"HE LEFT AGAIN—?!"
The energy flared. His body tensed.
"…Okay… okay… calm down…"
He closed his eyes. Tried to compress it.
It resisted. Harder than before.
"…It's worse than earlier."
The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
His breathing became uneven.
"If I don't control this—"
Then—
A voice.
"Why is a student still here?"
Royoshi froze. He turned.
Pasithea.
Standing at the entrance. Her gaze locked onto him instantly.
"…Your Shuryoku."
A pause.
"It's unstable."
Royoshi scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Yeah. Just a little."
"A little?"
"You're overflowing."
Silence.
She stepped closer. Slow. Careful.
"Stop forcing it."
Royoshi blinked. "…What?"
"You're trying to suppress it."
A pause.
"That's why it's resisting."
Royoshi frowned.
"Then what do I do?"
Pasithea's gaze softened slightly.
"Let it flow."
A pause.
"Guide it."
"Don't fight it."
Silence.
Royoshi hesitated.
Then—closed his eyes again.
"…Alright."
The Shuryoku surged. Violent. Unstable.
But this time—he didn't push back.
He let it move.
Slowly—
It began to settle.
The pressure dropped. The air stabilized.
Royoshi opened his eyes.
"…Huh."
A small breath.
"…That actually worked."
Pasithea watched quietly. Something in her expression shifted.
"…That control…"
A pause.
"…It feels familiar."
Royoshi tilted his head.
"…What?"
Pasithea shook her head slightly.
"Nothing."
A pause.
"Go back to your dorm."
Her voice returned to normal.
"And rest."
Royoshi nodded. "Yeah."
He turned and walked away.
Pasithea remained. Standing still.
Silence.
Her gaze lingered where he stood.
"…Kairo…"
A whisper. Barely audible.
The wind carried it away.
Something long forgotten—
Was beginning to return.
Royoshi walked through the quiet corridors.
The training grounds faded behind him.
But the feeling didn't.
His steps slowed slightly.
"…That pressure…"
A pause.
"…That wasn't normal."
Silence. No answer. Rikishu didn't appear.
Royoshi exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
He pushed the thought aside. For now.
He reached his dorm. The door clicked open.
Inside—silence. Calm.
He stepped in and closed the door behind him.
"…Finally."
He moved quickly. Changed his clothes. Dropped onto the bed.
The moment his head hit the pillow—his body gave in.
"…I'm exhausted…"
A pause.
That pressure. That presence.
"…Something's monitoring me…"
Silence.
His eyes slowly closed. Darkness. Sleep.
Morning came. Soft. Quiet.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains. Falling across his face.
Royoshi shifted slightly.
"…Mmmm…"
A pause.
Then—his eyes opened.
"…Morning already?"
He sat up slowly. Body still sore but lighter than yesterday.
A small stretch.
"…Better."
He glanced at the clock.
Pause.
"…I actually woke up on time?"
A rare moment.
Royoshi stood up.
"Let's not mess this up."
He headed to the bathroom. Brushed his teeth. Washed his face. Cold water—
"…Yeah, I'm up."
Quick bath. Uniform on.
Back in his room—he grabbed his bag.
No rushing this time.
"…Nice."
A small pause.
Then—a thought.
That pressure.
His expression shifted slightly. Serious.
"…It's still here."
Silence.
He picked up his bag.
"…Guess I'll find out sooner or later."
He stepped out. The door closed behind him. The day had begun.
Royoshi walked through the corridors.
This time—no rushing. No panic.
He reached the classroom door. On time.
A rare moment.
Royoshi stepped in calmly.
"…Nice."
From the front—Ishara turned.
She paused. Just for a second.
A hint of surprise crossed her face—but it disappeared instantly.
Her expression returned to normal. Calm. Composed.
"You're early."
Royoshi smirked slightly.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Shocking, I know."
Ishara crossed her arms.
"…Try to make it a habit."
Royoshi chuckled quietly.
"I will."
He walked to the back. Took his usual seat.
"…Feels weird being on time."
The class continued.
Lessons. Explanations. Normal routine.
But—Royoshi wasn't fully relaxed.
That pressure. Still there. Faint. Watching.
Time passed. The bell rang.
Lunch.
Students stood up. Voices returned.
"Finally."
He walked out.
The cafeteria buzzed again. Same noise. Same chaos.
But today, it felt different.
Royoshi stepped up to the dispenser. Tapped the panel.
"Chicken."
Ishara stood beside him.
"Of course."
"What?"
"Nothing."
She selected—
"Rice. Curry."
Their trays slid out.
They walked toward the same secluded bench. Sat down.
Royoshi started eating immediately.
"…Man, this never disappoints."
Ishara glanced at him.
"You say that every time."
"Because it's true!"
Silence.
They ate quietly.
Not awkward. Just calm.
For a moment—everything felt normal again.
Royoshi leaned back slightly after finishing.
"…That hit."
Ishara placed her tray aside.
"You're simple."
"I prefer efficiency."
A faint pause.
Then—
A sound. Low at first. Distant.
"…?"
Royoshi frowned slightly.
Then—
BOOM—!!
A massive explosion tore through the air.
The entire cafeteria shook. Windows rattled violently.
Students screamed. Trays fell. Chaos.
Royoshi shot up instantly.
"—!"
Ishara stood at the same time. Eyes sharp.
"That wasn't normal."
"No kidding."
Another tremor.
Royoshi's expression hardened.
It wasn't the same pressure—
Somewhere in the Citadel—
Something had just begun.
And this time—
It wasn't hidden anymore.