Chapter 7: A Blade that Hesitates
After Kael's training, the three of them sat down under the shade of a tree near the hot spring, the tension from earlier finally fading. Kazuki poured tea into simple clay cups, the warm aroma drifting gently through the air. Ryo sipped calmly, occasionally casting curious glances at Kael, while Kael quietly stared at the steam rising from his cup, still digesting everything that had just happened.
After a few moments of peaceful silence, Kazuki broke it with a calm, measured voice.
"Kael."
Kael glanced up, attentive.
"It's time."
Kael blinked. "Time for what?"
Kazuki set his cup down, eyes now sharp.
"Your final exam."
Kael straightened, shoulders tightening.
"Final exam?"
Ryo perked up too, looking interested.
Kazuki leaned back slightly, arms folded.
"Your task is simple... land a single strike on me."
The world fell quiet.
Kael's breath caught. "W-What?"
Kazuki's gaze didn't waver.
"Just one. That's all it takes."
Kael stared at him, frozen. "You're serious?"
"As serious as I've ever been."
Ryo let out a low whistle. "That's rough…"
Kael looked between the two, a creeping panic rising in his chest.
"But… I've never fought before. I only just learned how to swing a sword, I—"
Kazuki raised a hand, cutting him off.
"That's not my concern. You've learned the basics. Your body has the strength. Your innergy is under control. This test isn't just about skill—it's about focus. Courage."
Kael's mouth went dry. The man in front of him wasn't just his teacher—he was a full-fledged Sentinel, probably leagues above anything Kael could handle. Landing even a single hit on him felt impossible.
"But I—"
Kazuki stood, his robe shifting with the breeze.
"We begin tomorrow. Rest up."
Then he walked off, leaving Kael staring down at his untouched tea.
Ryo leaned in, giving Kael a sympathetic grin.
"Hey, if it makes you feel any better… I wouldn't wanna fight him either."
Kael let out a weak laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "That doesn't help…"
Ryo chuckled. "Didn't think it would."
Kael looked toward the direction Kazuki disappeared to, nerves tightening in his gut. One strike. Just one.
But how do you fight a man like that...?
...
A day passed, and finally, the day arrived.
The morning air was crisp, and the training grounds felt different—tense, as if the very wind sensed the gravity of what was about to unfold.
Ryo stood a short distance away, arms crossed, eyes focused. He had been assigned as the stand-by, tasked with stopping the fight if things got too dangerous. With his unmatched speed, he was confident he could intervene if necessary—but even so, he knew better than to underestimate what was coming.
Kael stood at one end of the field, gripping his Katanada with both hands. His breathing was steady, but his heart pounded like a war drum. Across from him stood Kazuki, calm and composed, his eyes closed as if meditating.
The clearing was silent.
Kael and Kazuki faced each other, swords drawn, a gentle wind brushing across the grass between them. Neither moved.
Kazuki's gaze was calm. "Ready... " he said.
Kael swallowed, then took his stance—shaky, but set. His grip tightened on the Katanada, heart thundering in his chest.
"Begin."
The word was barely spoken when Kazuki lunged.
Steel met steel with a sharp clang—the first strike. Kael staggered, barely catching the blade in time. He stumbled back, Kazuki pressing forward.
Another clash.
Then another.
Each strike from Kazuki was fluid, precise—yet powerful enough to jolt Kael's arms numb. Sparks flew as their blades kissed and parted again and again, but it was clear Kael was being pushed back.
Kazuki's movements had no hesitation.
Kael's were full of it.
He flinched with every counter, held back on every swing. He blocked instead of striking. Guarded instead of pressing.
Kazuki's brow furrowed mid-swing. He's holding back…
He ducked under Kael's horizontal strike and delivered a sweeping kick to his side, sending him tumbling into the rubble.
Kael gasped, coughing, but scrambled to his feet.
Kazuki didn't move. His sword lowered, but his voice was cold.
"You hesitate."
Kael froze.
"You strike but that's all you do, behind those strikes, are nothing" He stepped forward.
"Out there, in the Holy Capital—they won't think twice to cut the enemy down. You show even a moment's hesitation, and they'll bury a blade in your chest."
Kael tensed, saying nothing.
Kazuki's voice hardened.
"You can't protect her like this. Not with a blade that's afraid to cut."
Then everything about him changed.
His posture.
His aura.
His eyes.
Kazuki stepped forward again—but this time, he wasn't a teacher.
He was a predator.
Kael raised his blade, but the world blurred—the next thing he knew, Kazuki was there.
A swing came—faster than Kael could read. He barely blocked, the force sliding him across the ground.
Another swing.
Kael blocked again—but the blade twisted mid-air, slamming into his shoulder with the flat. He flew back, skidding through the field, blood trailing from a cut on his arm.
Kazuki advanced slowly, deadly quiet.
"If you think that this is still just training then you're dead wrong"
Kael struggled to breathe. His hands trembled. His sword felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
"Still afraid to cut me?" Kazuki raised his blade, preparing the next strike. "Then die."
Kazuki lunged.
Kael parried.
The clash of steel echoed around the clearing, each strike reverberating with intensity. Kael struggled to keep up with Kazuki's relentless assault, the weight of his blade growing heavier with each passing moment. Sweat dripped down his brow, and fatigue gnawed at his muscles, but he couldn't let up. He had to prove himself. The question is... how?
Kazuki suddenly halted, sword lowered, and fixed Kael with an icy stare. "Why do you fight?"
Kael hesitated, breathless, his heart racing.
"To save Sist—"
"Save Sistine?" Kazuki interrupted with a derisive laugh.
"Hmph, don't make me laugh. As if someone as weak as you could ever hope to accomplish such an impossible task."
Kael's eyes narrowed, frustration boiling within him. "I—"
Kazuki stepped closer, his voice turning cold.
"You can't even cut, Kael. So tell me." He raised his blade, pointing it menacingly toward Kael.
"Are you planning to use the excuse of saving Sistine when one of the guards corners you like this?"
Kael swallowed hard, the intensity of Kazuki's gaze piercing through his resolve.
"Do you think saying you'll save her will actually do anything? Huh?! " Kazuki pressed, his tone dripping with disdain.
"You are weak, and that's all you'll ever be."
Kael felt the weight of those words sink in, deep. With each blow Kazuki delivered, he blocked defensively, but the realization cut deeper than any strike. Kazuki was right. He was afraid—afraid of hurting someone, afraid of the consequences of wielding his sword.
"You're weak," Kazuki repeated, his voice harsh, almost mocking. "What will you do? Just stand there and hope for a miracle?"
Kael's resolve wavered. The relentless strikes continued, and he felt himself faltering with each clash. Kazuki was relentless, and Kael could only defend. He lacked the intent to counter; his mind was clouded with self-doubt.
"You're just like a child," Kazuki taunted, lunging again, his sword aimed at Kael's side.
"Afraid to hurt, afraid of dangers "
Kael blocked the strike, but Kazuki pushed him back, his strikes relentless and fierce. As the blade whirred past him, Kael felt the weight of Kazuki's words crashing down like a storm.
"Why can't I…" Kael whispered, his breath ragged. "Why can't I strike back?"
He grunted as he blocked another blow, his mind racing. Am I really that weak? Each parry chipped away at his confidence, and the question echoed in his mind.
Kazuki was right. If he couldn't even land a single blow here, how could he hope to face the Sentinels guarding Sistine?
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. He was letting his fear dictate his actions. He wasn't just fighting Kazuki—he was fighting his own weakness.
"No more," Kael whispered, his voice gaining strength. "I'm done hiding!"
He took a deep breath, grounding himself. The world around him fell silent for a brief moment, as if time had paused.
In that instant, something shifted.
Kazuki lunged again, but this time, Kael didn't retreat. He drew in his innergy—not with a flare or a roar, but with focused precision. The energy coiled within him, an invisible force waiting to be unleashed.
Kazuki's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the change. "YESS! Finally."
"SHOW ME!! SHOW ME YOUR KILLER INSTINCT!!"
Kael swung his sword with newfound purpose, charging it with innergy that thrummed silently through the blade. He didn't shout. He didn't warn. He simply moved.
SLASH!
The sound was deafening as his blade sliced through the air, a shockwave bursting from the impact. The ground beneath him trembled as a massive gash tore through the earth, a testament to the raw power of his swing.
But even as he unleashed that force, he felt the exhaustion clawing at him, draining him of strength. As the shockwave rippled outward, he staggered, vision blurring. He had pushed himself to the limit.
And then—everything faded to black.