The room felt dark despite the dim light seeping through cracks in the stone walls. Inside, the atmosphere was silent and mysterious, radiating a heavy, ancient aura. Itsuki stood at the center, nervously watching the elderly woman known as Hana, the leader of the Shingan-kai. She sat on a simple wooden chair, her sharp eyes studying Itsuki with a gaze that nearly intimidated him.
Hana gave a faint smile, observing Itsuki's anxious expression.
"You don't need to be afraid, young one," she said, her voice deep and calm. "This is a safe place for you. Here, we will uncover truths that have long been hidden."
Itsuki still felt lost and overwhelmed. Everything had happened too fast—his encounter with Reina, the meeting with the man in black robes, and the revelation that he carried the blood of the Black Emperor, the ruler of the spirit world. It felt as if he'd been thrown into a completely foreign realm, and every question only deepened his confusion.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Itsuki finally asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Hana sighed, as if preparing to choose her words carefully.
"You must understand your origin, Kuro Itsuki. The blood flowing through your veins is not that of an ordinary human. You are the heir to a powerful bloodline—a lineage feared by many, even by the spirits that govern this world."
"So... I'm not just a normal human?" Itsuki asked hesitantly, staring at his empty hands as if searching for an answer within himself.
"That's right," Hana replied. "You are a mixture of the human world and the spirit world. Not fully one, but not entirely the other either. That is why you can see things no ordinary person can see. That is also why you can sense the changes happening around you."
Itsuki felt as if the ground beneath him shifted.
"But... what do you mean by the spirit world? Why am I involved in all this?"
Hana looked at him seriously, then stood and walked over to a stone table covered with scrolls and ancient books. She picked up one of the scrolls and opened several pages, showing them to Itsuki.
"The Black Emperor, your ancestor, is an entity long forgotten. He was one of the most powerful rulers in the spirit world—a human who dared to defy natural law and the balance between the physical and spiritual realms. But his power was too great, and many felt threatened by it. To contain him, the guardians of the spirit world joined forces to seal his power and lock away the seed of his blood so it would never grow."
Itsuki stared at the illustrations on the scroll with concern. The images were blurred, but one stood out—a man with his face half-covered in shadow, wearing a black robe and a crown made of flame and ash. Surrounding the image were ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with hidden meaning.
"However," Hana continued, "as time passed, the guardians of the spirit world began to divide. And the blood of the Black Emperor, though hidden, never truly vanished. You, Itsuki, are a direct descendant capable of awakening that power. And now, the spirit world is beginning to feel its return."
Itsuki's body tensed, as if something was stirring inside him.
"So... I have to choose whether to continue this bloodline or stop it?"
Hana nodded slowly.
"Yes. That is the choice you must make. The power within you could either save this world... or destroy it. But first, you must learn to control it."
"But how?" Itsuki asked, feeling the weight of it all. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do. I just wanted a normal life."
Hana gazed at him with empathy.
"The normal life you wanted is already gone, Itsuki. The world you once knew has been shattered. Now, all we can do is prepare you for this new reality. If you don't learn to control yourself, this world will fall into the hands of those who seek to exploit it."
Reina, who had remained silent in the corner, stepped forward.
"She's right, Itsuki. You must understand that the spirit world and the human world can no longer be separated. When power like the Black Emperor's awakens, it creates a tremendous tension between the two realms."
Itsuki felt caught between two worlds—one filled with confusion and unseen threats, and one that had already slipped away.
"So... I don't have a choice but to be involved in all of this?"
"It seems that was decided long ago," Hana replied. "But that doesn't mean you have to face it alone. The Shingan-kai will help you understand this power. We will teach you how to control it, how to protect the human world, and how to face the threats from the spirit realm."
Itsuki could only let out a deep breath. His mind spun with all the new information. It all felt like an unending nightmare. Yet, despite the heaviness in his heart, there was one thing he couldn't deny—something inside him wanted to know more. Something inside him wanted to see if he could change his fate.
"Alright," he finally said, his voice heavy but resolute. "I'll learn. I'll try to control this power."
Reina gave a faint smile.
"That's a wise decision."
Hana nodded in approval.
"Now, we will begin your training."
Itsuki didn't know what awaited him next, but one thing was certain—his life would never be the same again. The world he once knew was gone, and before him lay a path full of danger and uncertainty. But perhaps, by walking that path, he could uncover the truth about himself and the power that flowed through his blood.
---
Training Begins
The first day of training started with inevitable tension. Itsuki felt nervous and unprepared for what was to come. Even though he had decided to follow through, doubt and uncertainty still clouded his heart. But there was no turning back now. As Hana had said, the world he knew had changed, and he had to change with it.
The room they entered was filled with ancient symbols etched into the walls. Dim light from old lanterns hung from the high ceiling. This wasn't just any training room—it was one steeped in history and secrets known only to a few.
"This is the first place you must become familiar with," Hana said in a calm yet firm voice. "Here, we will teach you to understand the spirit world and how to control the power within you."
Itsuki looked around, noting every detail. In one corner was a large table stacked with ancient scrolls, books older than he could imagine, and several tools he didn't recognize. Fear still clung to him, but so did a growing curiosity.
"We begin with understanding the spirit realm," Hana continued. "The power in your blood is not just human—it belongs to the spirits intertwined with this world. The spirit realm is invisible to most, but you, Itsuki, can sense it. This is the ability you will use to master your power."
Reina, observing from the side, finally spoke.
"You must learn to sense the spirit world before you can control it. Many people with power like yours have lost themselves without proper training—like wild fire without a master."
Itsuki nodded slowly, trying to muster courage.
"How do I start?" he asked hesitantly.
"First," Hana said, "you must quiet your mind. The spirit world can only be seen with the inner eye, and to open that eye, you must calm the storm within. Fear, anxiety, confusion—they must all be released."
Training began with meditation. Itsuki sat cross-legged on a mat, eyes shut tightly. Hana and Reina guided him with calm instructions, helping him center his thoughts. At first, every sound, every breath felt distracting. But slowly, a quiet peace began to settle. A strange sensation seeped into his being, as if something was stirring beyond his body—a presence unseen, yet unmistakably real.
"Feel it," Reina's voice echoed gently in his ear, both soothing and commanding.
"That power is around you. Inside you. Try to connect to it. Don't be afraid."
Itsuki took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. With every breath, he opened himself further to the surrounding world. Slowly, faint images formed in his mind—blurred shadows shimmering like dim light. He felt a dark aura, as if something massive was watching him.
"Don't rush," Hana warned.
"You must learn to control these sensations, not simply follow them. The spirit world is not something to enter recklessly. Without control, you could become lost in it—just another fragment of its chaos."
Itsuki felt like he was standing at the crossroads of two worlds—the reality he knew and the one filled with unseen forces. Something flowed inside him, more than just blood. Energy. Power. Or perhaps, a burden passed down from his ancestors.
"Don't rush," Reina said softly. "Everything will come in time. What matters now is feeling and understanding. When you truly feel it, you will be able to shape that world."
The training lasted for hours. Itsuki began to feel subtle changes. He could sense the flow of energy within him, though he still couldn't fully control it. Even so, a force kept pushing him to continue—knowing that no matter how difficult, he had to succeed.