The chilling reality of A Heart of Onyx settled heavily upon Tokoyami, permeating his every thought and action. It was no longer just a source of power; it was a cage, imprisoning him within the confines of his own detached logic. The Academy, once a place of camaraderie and learning, now felt like a sterile laboratory, its inhabitants mere specimens to be analyzed and manipulated. Tokoyami saw their fears and flaws. The small things that kept them from greatness. All he needed was to be strong. If he could do that then he would be golden in the end.
The emotional detachment was not a gradual fading, but an active severing. Like a surgeon excising a diseased organ, A Heart of Onyx systematically excised every vestige of empathy, compassion, and affection from Tokoyami's being. It was a brutal, clinical process, leaving him numb and hollow. The past versions of him may have felt pain and regret, but there was nothing that made the pain register. The pain was all mental at this point. The memories of the good times began to warp and twist in his mind. Was there any real fun? Was that really a real memory? He questioned all of it. He needed to keep pushing forward but the past would not leave him alone.
His isolation became self-imposed. He avoided contact with his classmates, dismissing their attempts at conversation with curt responses and cold stares. He severed ties with his mentors, finding their guidance sentimental and irrelevant. He even distanced himself from Anya-Lyra, unable to reciprocate her concern, incapable of feeling the warmth of her affection. He had to do this. Everything was too easy to get in the past and he would have needed to have that emotion to get anywhere. The old him would have failed.
She tried to talk to him constantly. She was always so worried and it only got more and more annoying. Every time he saw her face he could feel himself getting more and more numb. All of it was so frustrating. Everything felt numb and she would not leave him alone. Did she not get it? All that was required was to win. There was nothing else to be concerned about other then killing Malkor.
He took the same step he had done before and teleported away again. This time he felt a new presence in his head. It felt like Malkor was almost in his head and manipulating the situation to come to a final end. "This is exactly what has to happen in the situation. If you want to win this was what has to be done." A dark voice echoed in his brain.
The academy instructors, once figures of respect and admiration, now saw him with a mixture of apprehension and unease. They whispered behind his back, their voices laced with concern, their gazes filled with suspicion. They saw a weapon, a force to be unleashed against Malkor, but they also saw something else, something darker, something that frightened them. They did not understand his commitment to winning. He did not care if he lost all emotion because it all meant nothing. It was the necessary sacrifice. It was like they were going to let people die for the sake of feeling.
The headmaster called him to his office, his voice grave, his expression troubled. "Tokoyami," he said, "we are concerned about your… well-being. You have become withdrawn, detached, almost… robotic. We understand the burden you carry, the sacrifices you have made, but you cannot allow yourself to lose your humanity. That is what separates us from Malkor."
Tokoyami stared at the headmaster, his eyes cold and empty. "Humanity is a weakness," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "It clouds judgment, it hinders efficiency, it leads to failure."
The headmaster shook his head sadly. "You are wrong, Tokoyami. Humanity is our strength. It is what motivates us to fight, what inspires us to protect, what gives us hope in the face of darkness. You cannot abandon it."
Tokoyami scoffed. "Hope is an illusion," he said. "Protection is a waste of resources. The only thing that matters is victory."
The headmaster sighed. "I fear for you, Tokoyami," he said. "I fear that you are losing yourself, that you are becoming the very thing you are fighting against. Be careful, or you may find that you have won the battle, but lost the war."
Tokoyami ignored the headmaster's warning, dismissing it as sentimental nonsense. He had no time for such distractions. He had a mission to complete, a duty to fulfill.
He left the headmaster's office, his resolve unwavering. He continued to train, pushing himself harder and harder, his abilities growing stronger and stronger. He had a plan to propose, a strategy that would guarantee victory against Malkor. It would involve risks, sacrifices, and difficult choices. But it was the only way.
He called a meeting with the Academy leaders, presenting his plan with cold, clinical precision. He laid out the risks, the sacrifices, the potential casualties. He offered no apologies, no condolences, no words of comfort. He simply stated the facts.
The Academy leaders listened in stunned silence, their faces etched with horror and disbelief. They questioned his methods, challenged his assumptions, accused him of ruthlessness. But Tokoyami stood firm, unwavering in his conviction.
"This is the only way," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "If you are not willing to do what is necessary, then we are already doomed."
The Academy leaders debated amongst themselves, their voices rising in anger and frustration. They were torn between their desire for victory and their fear of Tokoyami's methods.
Tokoyami watched them, his expression unreadable. He knew that they would eventually come around, that they would realize that he was right. They had no choice. He was the only one who could save them. Even if this meant hurting them.
He spent his remaining time gathering supplies. If he had to save the world then he would need all of it to make sure that it was a success. With that being said, his first priority was making sure that he did everything he could to protect Anya-Lyra.
He prepared his bag with the most effective of his items. Everything had been prepared and all that was left was to execute. This meant going out for a test run and figuring out exactly where Malkor would be. How would he complete the end to the greatest of the puzzles. What was the most effective tool in his arsenal?
As he took a nap to rest up for the day Anya-Lyra was able to sneak up on him and place a protection charm. This way if anything ever happened to him he would be safe and sound in the end.
The next day, Tokoyami prepared to go see and make his request. The request was to start his mission. To head into the world and end the fight between he and Malkor. It would all be up to him and if he failed then the world could be at risk. This was what he had wanted. This was his chance.
He went to the new headmaster to tell him of his plan and request permission to carry out his mission.