Volume 1:The Prophecy
Chapter 4: The Half Mystery
The air inside the principal's office was still. Time seemed to hold its breath.
Rei, Yuki, and Itsuki sat quietly, their backs straight, eyes forward. Across from them—behind a wide desk cluttered with scrolls, old books, and an inactive tablet—sat Raizen Sora: the principal, a former warrior, and one of the last descendants of a forgotten war.
Only the ticking of the old clock broke the silence.
Then—
"AaaaaCHOOuhhhhhhh!"
Itsuki's full-volume sneeze shattered the stillness like a bomb. Everyone flinched slightly. Raizen had just inhaled to speak and now blinked slowly, as if reconsidering the idea of speaking to teenagers.
All eyes turned to Itsuki.
He raised both hands with a sheepish grin. "It's nature, man."
Raizen exhaled, tapping his desk once with a firm finger. "Let's begin."
"A thousand years ago..." he began, voice low and steady. As he spoke, the room seemed to darken—whether from the overcast sky or the weight of memory, no one knew.
"A sorcerer with power beyond mortal comprehension lived among men. He chose to walk beside them—not above them. When the skies cracked open and demons poured into our world, he stood and fought."
"At his side were four loyal warriors—his own students in magic—and his beloved wife, a sorceress of unmatched spirit."
Raizen's gaze drifted toward the window.
"Together, they fought a war that nearly shattered the world. In the end, the four were left gravely wounded. Only the sorcerer and his wife remained standing."
The room was completely silent now.
"With humanity on the brink of extinction, they made a choice. A seal—not a key, not a lock—but a spell crafted from their own souls. The sorcerer became the lock. His wife, the key. A spiritual prison to seal the demon realm... for eternity."
Rei's fingers brushed instinctively against his chest.
Raizen continued calmly, "Before he passed, the sorcerer left behind a final spell. The key would awaken only when a chosen one from his bloodline—marked at birth—would rise. That child... is you, Rei."
Raizen lifted his right arm. A black bracelet gleamed on his wrist, etched with faint glowing lines.
"This is a soul-bonded tool. Forged during that war." He paused. "One of 6."
Itsuki leaned in slightly, curious.
Rei turned toward Raiga. "What about his bracelet?"
Raizen's expression softened faintly.
"That one is special. A shadow-soul type. It can bind any weapon to your soul. Raiga chose a sword—creating what we now call the Shadow Blade." A short pause. "But that bracelet... was meant for you."
Rei's fists clenched.
Raizen's tone dropped lower. "Your father gave it to me. One night, out of nowhere. No explanation. Just a calm smile and one line: 'I believe in you, my friend. You'll take care of it.' Then... he vanished."
Rei stood abruptly.
"Don't—don't talk about him." His voice was tight. "He left me. Left my mom. He's no father to me."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Raizen nodded once, solemn. Then he looked to the others. "There are more like you. Other descendants of the sorcerer's followers. They still live in this city. Quietly. Watching. Protecting."
He raised his hand.
A streak of lightning flared—arcing along his bracelet—before bursting into two whip-like blades crackling with thunder energy."WHY DOES EVERYTHING HERE HAVE LASERS?!" Itsuki yelled, climbing onto his chair in terror.
Raizen chuckled. "Relax. Yours is still sealed. But with training, its true power, you'll discover soon."
He looked at Raiga. "He'll handle that."
Raiga, arms crossed, answered coldly, "No, I won't. I'm not doing this ."
Raizen simply gave a quiet look toward Itsuki.
The message was clear.
Itsuki immediately put on a dramatic face. "Oh, come on, Raiga-sama~! What will I do without your manly wisdom and emotionally distant ninja training?! How will I survive demon boot camp without your cold, brooding leadership?!"
Raiga twitched. His jaw clenched. "…Fine."
Raizen and Itsuki shared a stealthy high-five behind Raiga's back.
Raizen leaned forward, voice dropping.
"One final warning. If you ever come across the sealed portal... do not touch it. Not even by accident."
Rei tensed. "Why?"
"Because it will speak to you. Not with a voice, but through visions. Whispers. Nightmares. It will gnaw into your soul." He added in a low murmur, almost inaudible: "Especially you, Itsuki."
"…Huh?" Itsuki blinked.
SLAM.
The door burst open.
A blur flew into the room—and straight into Itsuki.
"AAAH—HEY!"
They toppled to the floor.
A girl was on top of him, her face frozen in embarrassment. She quickly stood up, brushing her uniform. Her long hair slipped as she nervously tucked it behind her ear.
Raizen sighed. "Airi... again?"
The girl nodded, head still down. "I want to be trained... too."
Raizen pinched the bridge of his nose. "Still too young for this."
Airi huffed, puffing her cheeks. She turned, kicking the floor in frustration—accidentally hitting Itsuki's shin.
"OWWW, why always me?!" he yelped, hopping on one foot.
Airi bowed quickly, then walked out without another word.
Itsuki limped after her, mumbling to Rei and Yuki,"cute ? yes. friendly fire ? Also yes.
Later that evening, the trio sat on the school's training ground.
The sky had turned a hazy orange. The wind rustled the grass. Shadows stretched across the field.
Raiga hadn't arrived yet.
Yuki lay on the grass, arms behind her head. "This day was too much."
Rei stared up at the darkening sky. "And it's only the beginning."
Itsuki stretched like a cat, groaning. "First demons. Then shadow swords. Now a magical daughter drop-kicking me. What's next? Giant crab gods?"
They all paused.
"…Let's hope not," Rei muttered.
The wind blew again.
Yuki yawned.
"It's already past sunset… Think Raiga will let us crash in the dorms tonight?"
Itsuki stretched, flopping onto the grass with a grin. "If not, I call dibs on the warmest bench. Rei can share it with a mosquito."
Yuki rolled her eyes. "Charming."
Rei didn't laugh. He was staring at the sky, quiet.
"...Home doesn't feel like home anymore," he said. His voice was low. "But my mom's there. So I'll still go back. I'll do anything for her."
Itsuki's smile faded slightly. He looked up at the sky too. "Yeah... I also love my parents."
Then came the pause. He didn't say anything more.
But in his mind—
*"Even if I never had them."*