After a few days, Akihira and Ichitsu approach Ishihaya.
"We're ready to train!" Akihira and Ichitsu both say.
"That can't be, it's only been 3 days. Impressive, you both might just have what it takes." Ishihaya says while amazed.
They all go to a big empty field nearby Farvein.
"ALRIGHT, LET'S BEGIN!" Akihira says in excitement.
"Woah, woah, slow it down buddy. Before we begin, you need to know what we'll be facing off against. Firstly, the demon king has two main lines of defense and about 5000 highly trained soldiers. The first one is the five "Thorns of Hell," and the guy you encountered, 'Rolgith,' is one of them. It's said they are all equal in terms of power, but let me tell you the others far surpass the one you fought." Ishihaya says.
"That's insane." Akihira says.
"Each of them commands about a 1000 demon soldiers." Ishihaya says.
"So you're saying each of us has to take on a thousand soldiers and a thorn?" Ichitsu says.
"So you two must train harder than anything you've ever done before in your lives! Understood?" Ishihaya says as he breaks the silence.
"Yessir." Both Akihira and Ichitsu say.
However, it's clear that both of them have realized the immense might of the Shadow King's forces.
"But one question, Ishihaya." Ichitsu says.
"What is it?" Ishihaya says.
"How do you know so much about the Shadow King and his army?" Ichitsu asks.
"Well, I was one of the 3 bodyguards of the former king. Fought alongside him up until his death, he was a good person." Ishihya says.
"Woah. That's so cool." Akihira says as his eyes sparkle.
"Hold on, so if you were to fight the five thorns and the Dimension Duo. Who'd win?" Icihitsu asks.
The air falls silent for a moment as Akihira and Ichitsu wait for an answer.
"If we're talking about 17 years ago, then I've already beaten one of the bodyguards." Ishihaya says.
"Seriously?!" Ichitsu says.
"Originally, there were three bodyguards of the Shadow King." Ishihaya says.
"And?" Akihira asks.
"He was formidable." Ishihaya says.
"What happened to him?" Ichitsu asks.
Ishihaya stares in confusion for a moment.
"You said there were three, meaning he either deserted his position or he's dead." Ichitsu says.
"You're a sharp one, aren't you?" Ishihaya says as he closes his eyes and looks down with a light smile.
Another moment of silence.
"You're right, he is dead." Ishihaya says.
"What happened?" Akihira asks.
"He was killed...by the Shadow King." Ishihaya says.
"So, dispose of the weakling who failed to follow orders?" Ichitsu says.
"That's just how the Shadow King is." Ishihaya says.
"But, why do you look...sad?" Akihira says.
Ishihaya suddenly opens his eyes and looks up at Akihira.
"I often think about him. You see, he and I weren't too different. As I fought him, I learned more about him and his ideals, and I realized that if my life had been going the way it did before I met the hero, maybe I would've ended up just like him." Ishihaya says.
He pauses for a moment.
"No...I would've definitely ended up like him." Ishishaya says.
"Sounds like you've gone through a lot." Ichitsu says.
"Haven't we all? Anyway, let's get back to the topic at hand. Shall we?" Ishihaya says.
"Alright!" Akihira says.
Ishihaya stood before them, arms folded as the wind whispered through the trees.
"Let us begin." Ishihaya says.
His voice was calm but commanding.
"I'll teach you how to unlock your powers—and control them. Once mastered, they will no longer be a reaction to danger, but an extension of your will. Now... close your eyes. Don't search for the power. Let it find you." Ishihaya says.
He paused.
"Listen to the wind. Feel the shift in air pressure. Count the heartbeat of the world through the rustling leaves. If you reach deep enough... you'll awaken not just strength, but your truth." Ishihaya says.
Akihira and Ichitsu did as they were told.
They start to concentrate on their surroundings. A whole day had passed, and it was night time now. They still struggle to manifest their powers.
After three days, something stirred.
Ichitsu, still and calm, suddenly felt the world breathing with him.
The moment his breath aligned with the swaying of the leaves, the world went silent.No sound. No feeling. No light.
He opened his mind—his inner vision—and suddenly, the world around him exploded into threads of silver wind.
Each leaf was a glowing string of motion. Each gust of wind, a pulse of energy.He could see without seeing. Like a blind painter reading colors with his soul.
Then, from the invisible sky above, a shard of silver light came down and spiraled toward him. It took shape midair—becoming a sleek grey sword with a transparent edge, made of both steel and flowing wind. As he reached out to it, the sword didn't fall—it bent toward his hand, like metal drawn to a magnet.
The moment he gripped it, the wind spiraled around him violently. Not with chaos, but purpose.
The sky turned violet. The sword pulsed with a heartbeat that wasn't his.
The aura then wrapped around Ichitsu like a second skin and disappeared into the blade.
He opened his eyes.
"I did it." Ichitsu whispered.
Ishihaya's eyes narrowed, impressed.
"Incredible... to harmonize with your spirit that fast... and with such power too." Ishihaya thinks.
"Absolutely splendid, Ichitsu! But stay grounded. This is just the first step. Your sword is made of silence and motion—it will teach you more than I can." Ishihaya says.
"Thanks." Ichitsu replies.
Meanwhile, Akihira remained silent, focused. But inside his mind...
He was falling.
Down, down into a void with no bottom.Then—he landed. But not on ground. On ashes.
The world was dead, skyless, and burning. Which looked like fire, but didn't seem like fire at the same time.
He looked around and saw a flame in the distance. Not red or orange—but white. And inside the flame, a bird-like creature was flying, made of broken light and flickering heat.Its feathers were shifting languages, and its eyes were mirrors.
"WOAH! What is this place...? AND Who are you?!" Akihira shouted.
"You've stepped into your Emberfield."
The voice came not from the bird—but from within Akihira.
"This is where all your unlived moments burn. All the rage you hide. All the courage you haven't used. I am not your power... I am your potential."
Akihira took a step forward—and the ashes lit up beneath his feet.Flashes of his life played out in the sky—memories twisted in fire: his village, the attack, his helplessness...
The Phoenix looked at him.
"What will you burn first? The pain? Or the fear?"
Akihira clenched his fists."I'll burn everything that tries to stop me." Akihira says.
The Phoenix smiled.
"You are destined for greatness." The creature says.
"What do you mean?" Akihira asks.
Suddenly, flames shot up around his body—but they didn't hurt. They listened.He moved his hand, and the fire curled around his fingers like threads of silk.
"You will find out, eventually." The creature replies.
In the real world, as Ichitsu and Ishihaya were talking, they felt an intense heat start emanating from Akihira, and suddenly flames burst around his body.
"Looks like he finally got a hold of it! I knew he could do it!" Ichitsu says.
Akihira then opens his eyes, and Ichitsu starts to walk towards Akihira, but is suddenly stopped and pulled back by Ishihaya.
"What'd you do that for?" Ichitsu asks.
"He's not Akihira right now..." Ishihaya says.
"What do you mean?" Ichitsu asks in concern.
"Take a good look at him, he-" Ishihaya stops talking.
As Ichitsu looks towards Akihira, he sees that his eyes are cold and his fire has started turning black. The flames burst from Akihira's body—dancing in a spiral of black and white. His blue eyes start glowing like molten lava. Then suddenly, the air around Ichitsu feels heavy. Similar to how it felt with Rolgith, except this time it's even worse.
"Wh-what is this insane pressure? Feels like I'm stuck in the ground!" Ichitsu says as he's frozen in fear.
The fire didn't necessarily feel entirely evil, but there was something else. Like something was menacingly lurking behind it.
Before it could grow worse, Ishihaya drew a circle in the air with two fingers and whispered:"Soul Seal: Bind."
Golden light wrapped around Akihira's body and drew the flames back in.
Akihira dropped to his knees, panting."What... happened?" Akihira says.
"You went out of control," Ichitsu started, but Ishihaya cut in.
"You began to tap into your power. Just a sliver. But it was enough." Ishihaya says.
"Whoa, seriously?! That's awesome!!" Akihira grinned.
"What did you see?" Ishihaya asked.
"Some kind of dead world... everything was fire... and there was a creature flying inside a massive white flame. Had six wings. It said I was destined or something."
Ishihaya's eyes widened slightly.
"A Six-Winged Ember Beast... where have I heard that before?" Ishihaya thinks.
"Do you remember anything else?" Ishihaya asks.
Akihira blinked.
"It's fuzzy. Like it was a dream that's already fading." Akihira says.
Ishihaya gave a rare smile.
"You've both made great strides. Now come—let's rest. Your true training begins tomorrow." Ishihaya says.
As they walked back, the field remained still—but something deep beneath the earth pulsed once, like a quiet drumbeat... as if awakened.
When they reach the village camp, Ichitsu says to Akihira.
"Damn, That's a crazy power you got there. I've never heard of white flames, let alone being combined with black flames."
"You think so? Welp, I'm tired. Goodnight." Akihira says.
The stars hung heavy in the sky as Ichitsu stepped quietly outside. A breeze whispered through the trees. He found Ishihaya standing alone, gazing into the distance with a pensive expression.
"Sensei... what really happened to Akihira back there?" Ichitsu asks.
"I'm not entirely sure myself... but what I felt—what I saw—wasn't ordinary. His power... it wasn't just overwhelming. It was twisted. Something ancient sleeps within him... and it's beginning to stir." Ishihaya says quietly.
"Twisted...? You mean—evil?" Ichitsu asks.
"It's too early to tell. Answers will come with time, and you'll need your strength for the path ahead." Ishihaya says.
But sleep never found Ichitsu. He lays in silence, eyes open, haunted by the image of Akihira's black flames and the pressure that pinned him to the earth.
[Morning – Just outside the cabin]
Ishihaya's voice stirred Akihira from slumber. Outside, Ichitsu was already awake, sitting on a boulder with arms crossed and a distant look in his eyes.
"Morning! You sleep with your eyes open now or something?" Akihira says cheerfully as he slaps Ichitsu on the back.
"Yeah. Something like that..." Ichitsu says forcing a smile.
"Get yourselves ready. We're heading to the Enshrouded Dock. After today, your paths will split—you won't see each other for at least six months." Ishihaya says.
"Wait—six months?!" Ichitsu & Akihira say.
"Your powers differ too greatly. Separate environments, separate methods. Only then will you grow without limit." Ishihaya says.
Ichitsu looked toward Akihira, unsure of the weight behind the flames he'd seen. But Akihira, as carefree as ever, only grinned.
"You're training will be unlike anything anyone would ever dream of. You'll need to have years' worth of growth... compressed into mere months. You won't just learn to wield your power, Akihira, Ichitsu. You'll be forced to face what lies beneath it." Ishihaya says.
[Later – Enshrouded Dock]
The path led through twisted forests and hidden trails until they reached a shore shrouded in mist. A solitary dock stretched over still, dark waters. A boat waited at the end, covered in runes that shimmered when touched by light.
"This place… it doesn't feel like it belongs in our world." Ichitsu says.
"That's because it doesn't. This dock is sealed with ancient enchantments—seen only by those chosen to walk these paths." Ishihaya says.
"Creepy... but kind of cool." Akihira says while he whistles.
"It's time. Say your farewells. When you meet again... you'll both be different people." Ishihaya says.
Ichitsu hesitated. Then stepped forward.
"Akihira... these next six months, I swear, I'll surpass you. I'll find a power greater than what we've seen." Ichitsu says as he steps onto the boat.
"Pfft—bring it on. But just so you know, I'm going to become so strong you won't even recognize me!" Akihira says while laughing.
"Then I'll train till the stars fall out of the sky." Ichitsu says.
They do a fly-by-high-five. No more words were needed. They smiled—genuine, unbroken, despite the looming uncertainty.
"Let's move." Ishihaya says.
With that, the boat drifted into the mist, Ichitsu standing at the bow, wind tugging at his hair. Akihira watched until the fog swallowed them whole.
[Five Days Later – Return to the Dock]
Ishihaya returns. Akihira is ready—eyes sharper, resolve burning steady.
"Your turn." Ishihaya says.
"Let's go." Akihira says as he nods.
As they departed, the wind shifted—like the world itself was holding its breath.
END OF CHAPTER 7