Chapter 7 Chapter Seven

• The storm broke just before dawn.
• Kael stood at the mouth of the cave, shirtless, steam rising off his skin as the rain soaked him to the bone. The mountain air was sharp, biting. Behind him, the scarred man silently wrapped up the remnants of last night’s ritual, his face grim.
• Kael clenched his fists. He still felt it—the flicker in his chest. His Hakana. Wild, black, and pulsing with something he didn’t understand.
• He had seen his uncle's Hakana and unlike his, it was nothing like his own was.
• “Why is it like this?” Kael asked without turning. “Why is mine… wrong?”
• The scarred man didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lit his pipe and took a slow drag, exhaling smoke that curled toward the cave ceiling.
• “Because your power wasn’t forged. It was chained.”
• Kael turned sharply. “Chained by who?”
• The man met his gaze. “Someone who feared you.”
• That stopped Kael cold.
• Feared him?
• He’d always been the weak one. The reject. The joke at the academy. The one the instructors ignored and the nobles trampled.
• “Why would anyone fear me?” he asked, voice barely a whisper.
• The scarred man’s expression shifted—almost pitying.
• “Because they saw what you could become.”
• Kael felt the ground sway beneath him. “Then why let me live?”
• The man’s eyes turned cold. “Because killing you would’ve made you a martyr. But breaking you? That turns you into nothing.”
• Silence fell.
• Only the rain spoke.
• Kael looked down at his palms, watching the faint black threads swirl just beneath his skin. His breath trembled. The corruption wasn’t hurting him—it was awakening something old. Something buried.
• “What do I do now?” he asked.
• The scarred man stepped forward, gripping Kael’s shoulder. “You learn control. Because that power inside you? It doesn’t belong to the gods. Or the academy. It doesn’t even belong to you.”
• Kael narrowed his eyes. “Then who?”
• A shadow passed over the scarred man’s face.
• “The one who cursed you.”
• He said looking at Kael. " You have been training for months now. I think you are ready for what is coming next. You are going to have to kill to gain your true first Hakana and when to do, your fate would change."
• " I want to learn more. I want to know more. I don't mind gathering all the woods in the forest. Please don't send me away." Kael pleaded.
• " I am not sending you away child. Instead, you need to find your Hakana and when you do, you will know where to find me."
• Having said that, the man walked away leaving Kael to go down from the mountain.
• ******************************************************************
• Back at the academy, things were shifting.
• Kael’s return didn’t go unnoticed. He walked straighter now. Eyes sharper. Silent. Controlled. And that terrified people more than his weakness ever did.
• Rand sneered, as always, but his jabs were softer now. Less certain.
• “Back from your little rock-humping vacation?” he muttered during sparring drills.
• " Maybe be had been going to hunt so wild animals."
• " And why is he always coming back with nothing but soaked like a lost puppy."
• " I bet he must have been going to cry alone. That is what a loser like him knows how to do."
• Another student said with laughter. They were the inner circles. Rand, Jarvis, Azeal and Dennis. They had awakened their Hakana's and were waiting for the first opportunity to bring the Hakana to life.
• Kael didn’t reply. He only raised his staff—and knocked Rand flat with a single strike.
• The courtyard fell silent.
• Rand clutched his chest, coughing. “You—!” He scrambled to his feet, face red with rage. “You bastard! Do you think you can. get away with this?"
• Kael just turned away.
• No one laughed this time. No one mocked him. They watched.
• Wary.
• And then they whispered.
• Something was wrong with him, they said. Something dark.
• Kael didn’t care. He didn’t come back to show them he was not going to be the weak kid he had always been.
• Not anymore.
• As he walked back into his dorm. He was surprised to see his old sword back on his bed.
• Kael knew who was bold enough to come into his room. He immediately walked outside and didn't see anyone.
• He looked at the sword and unsheathed it. Kael gasped in awe to see that it had been sharpened and remade. The sword immediately felt the presence of his awaken Hakana and it bonded with him.
• The day went by very fast and soon it was time for the preparation of the combat. The following day, the king came to the martial academy to see all the martial students.
• Some were able to unlock not only their Hakana but also magical powers. While some harnesses their fighting skills and were not allowed to spar with those without Hakana's.
• The fear of hurting them was the reason why Master Harond asked them not to fight yet. He needed to wait until he has receive orders from the king.
• But to his surprise, the king came down to the academy himself. All the martial students were all lined up before him as he walked in.
• He stood before them, " You all have the opportunity to train in this academy. I believe you are one of the best swordsman but that is not all. You are going to prove yourself in the days to come. A combat shall be scheduled for all you. You are going to be assigned to duties based on your performances and also some of you will be given the chance to serve by myside. Show me how strong your Hakana is."
• There was silence as every student stared at the man in front of them. Some still don't understand why they had to trained vigorously. The king was about to finish his speech when they heard a loud roar right behind them.
• Everyone's face went pale. As the beast broke through the barrier and charger towards them in rage.