Chapter 18.
“When this emotion is unleashed without control, it grows in intensity like hurricane winds. The raging waves crash incessantly, sweeping everything in their path. In that state, the mind becomes clouded, like turbulent waters. It cannot see clearly; only the fury of the moment is distinguishable. Calmness, reason, and compassion are lost.”
“But like any storm, anger eventually dissipates. The waves subside, the winds die down. The sea regains its serene stillness, just as the mind recovers its balance. All that remains is to rebuild what the storm’s passage has damaged, with patience and perseverance. And to learn to be like the wise captain who knows how to navigate both calm and turbulent waters.”
“Yin and Yang”
The Path
Grandmaster Kong
Ritsu opened his eyes, feeling the sun’s warm kiss on his face. He blinked, disoriented, unsure whether he was still dreaming or had woken from a nightmare. With some effort, he propped himself up on his arms and looked out the window at the scene surrounding him.
It was as though the world had been erased and replaced by another.
The same sun, the same sky—but paler and sadder, veiled by gray clouds threatening rain. Nothing remained of the chaos he had witnessed. The fire that had devoured everything in its path, the flames that illuminated the horror, the ash that had blanketed the ground like a shroud of death.
All of it had vanished, as if it had never been.
Ritsu clutched his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart.
What had happened? How had he survived?
He looked around, searching for any sign of life. He spotted four men sitting by a fireplace, where a tame and controlled fire crackled. He recognized three of them: Professor Soda, Professor Oda, and Professor Norio. The fourth man was unfamiliar. He was tall and slender, with black hair and a long white beard. He wore a dark blue robe, fastened with a silver brooch in the shape of a lyre. His expression was serious and thoughtful, and he held a book in his hands.
A shiver ran down Ritsu’s spine at the sight of the fire.
He remembered the panic he had felt as the flames closed in on him, the searing heat on his skin, the consuming pain in his body.
How had he escaped that inferno? What had happened to Katsuo and Aki? Were they alive or dead? Had he killed them?
Professor Soda’s voice broke through his tumultuous thoughts, rising and falling like a storm as his arms moved erratically through the air.
“A savage!” he exclaimed. “That’s what he is! A wolf cub who doesn’t understand the power he wields!” His fingers curled into claws as he pointed towards where Ritsu lay. “Did you see what he did? He destroyed everything! As if generations of rules meant nothing!”
The stranger seated to his right remained calm, a stark contrast to his colleague’s agitation. His hands rested on his knees, and when he spoke, his voice was as steady as deep water.
“Youth has always been impulsive, Soda. You were no different, if I recall correctly. Or shall I remind you of the incident with the resonance crystals?”
Soda leapt to his feet.
“Madness! This is pure madness! That boy…”
“Are you all right, Ritsu?” a familiar voice interrupted Soda. It was Professor Norio, who had noticed Ritsu’s awakening. He stood and approached, his kind smile and concerned gaze offering a semblance of comfort. “You’ve slept all afternoon. You must be hungry and thirsty. The servants have prepared something for you. Come, sit with us. We’ll explain what has happened.”
Ritsu didn’t know what to say. He was dazed, confused, and afraid.
He didn’t know if he wanted to hear the truth, if he could bear it.
But he had no other choice.
Allowing Professor Norio to help him, Ritsu was guided to the fireplace. The other three men received him with varied expressions: Oda looked at him with curiosity, while Soda, as always, glared at him with contempt.
Ritsu sat on a log by the fire and accepted the bowl of soup and glass of water that Norio handed him. The steaming broth burned his tongue, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t hungry or thirsty, just hollow and parched. Mechanically, he ate and drank without tasting, merely out of obligation.
Meanwhile, the unknown man, who had been reading attentively, closed his book with a snap and tucked it into a leather bag hanging from his belt. Rising to his feet, he approached Ritsu with a deep, resonant voice that cut through the silence.
“Young Akechi, I presume you don’t know me,” he said, scrutinizing Ritsu from head to toe. “My name is Hideo Igarashi. I am the headmaster of this academy and the one responsible for all that occurs here.” He paused, his brow furrowing. “What has happened is…”
Professor Soda leapt to his feet with a cry of indignation, gripping Ritsu’s arm so tightly that the bowl of soup slipped from his hands and crashed to the floor.
“Incredible!” he exclaimed. “Simply incredible! This boy should be out on the streets, not sitting by the fire!” he protested, addressing the other three with wild eyes.
“Calm yourself, Kazuki,” said Professor Norio, stepping between Professor Soda and Ritsu. “Let go of the boy. He’s been through enough trauma. Losing control of his reiki like this is not something we should take lightly.” He turned to Ritsu with a look of pity and compassion. “He’s not to blame for what happened. He’s just an inexperienced child. He needs our help, not our anger.”
Soda released the boy’s arm, but he didn’t calm down. He continued to glare at him with hatred and disdain, as though he were a monster, an abomination, a threat.
“Our help? What kind of help can we give this stupid peasant?” he spat, his tone seething with venom and resentment. “Haven’t you seen what he’s done, Norio? Haven’t you seen how he unleashed hell on the academy? He almost killed dozens of students—the children of the empire’s finest families! How can you defend him after what he’s done?”
Ritsu lowered his head, helpless under the harsh judgment.
How could he explain the inexplicable?
The screams still echoed in his ears.
The power had run wild, like a raging horse, uncontrollable.
“I’m not defending him!” Norio explained. “But hatred isn’t the answer. We must…”
The sharp thud of Professor Oda’s cane reverberated through the room, silencing the argument.
Everyone flinched and turned toward him.
“Silence!” he barked, his voice raspy and sharp. “Enough with the arguing! Enough with the blame! Enough with the nonsense!”
Oda rose with difficulty. Limping, he approached Ritsu and placed his hands on his shoulders.
Ritsu looked up, confused.
Didn’t Oda see him with contempt, like Soda did? No, in the man’s bleary eyes, there was... admiration? A near-maniacal fascination, like that of a collector gazing upon a rare, exotic treasure.
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“I saw everything from my tower,” Oda whispered, a twisted smile curling his lips. “The fire, the chaos... it was magnificent. Truly beautiful.”
He leaned in so close that his lips brushed Ritsu’s ear.
“So much power in someone so young... exquisite... delicious,” he hissed, his warm breath sending chills down Ritsu’s spine.
Ritsu swallowed hard, wishing he were anywhere else. Anywhere but here, exposed to these men.
The headmaster, who had been observing silently with an impassive expression, cleared his throat.
“Please, show me some respect. I’m not finished speaking,” he said calmly.
The man approached, and Ritsu felt a suffocating pressure in his chest.
It was as if the headmaster’s gaze was crushing him. Was he releasing reiki?
Oda stepped back, his shoulders slumping as though bearing a heavy burden. Professor Norio tensed, his delicate features twisting into a grimace. Even Soda seemed to shrink, his indignation replaced by something resembling fear. One by one, they lowered their gazes to the floor.
“That’s better,” the headmaster murmured, visibly satisfied by their submission. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes... the boy.”
The headmaster extended a hand to help Ritsu up, then led him to a small table set apart from the others, where a teapot and porcelain cups awaited. He poured a herbal infusion and invited him to sit.
“Drink this. It will help you calm down,” he said kindly, his tone warm and paternal. “I know you’ve been through a harrowing experience and don’t understand what’s happened. But you don’t need to feel fear, shame, or guilt. We’ve all been young and inexperienced.”
Ritsu took the cup with trembling hands and sipped. The liquid was warm, with a taste both sweet and bitter.
“What happened to me, sir?” he asked weakly, his voice trembling. “Why did I lose control of my reiki? Why did I cause so much harm?”
The headmaster sighed, looking at him with compassion.
“Fire is the purest and most voracious manifestation of energy. But it’s also the most dangerous when left unchecked. That’s what happened. You lost control of your reiki because you let your negative emotions take over,” he explained, his voice serene and wise. “Reiki is fueled by our emotions and is influenced by them. When we are calm and balanced, reiki flows harmoniously and benefits us. But when we are angry, sad, frightened, or resentful, reiki becomes turbulent and harms us. In your case, anger, fear, frustration... they fuel that inner fire much more intensely than any other element.”
Ritsu remembered what he had felt before everything spiraled out of control. He remembered the hatred Katsuo had provoked in him, the humiliation and abuse. He remembered the fear of seeing Aki bleeding on the ground.
The headmaster’s words made sense.
“And how can I stop it from happening again?” he asked anxiously. “How can I suppress it?”
The headmaster smiled and patted his head.
“Suppress it? You mustn’t fear the fire within you, young one. What you must fear is letting your dark emotions control it. The fire itself isn’t evil; it’s just fire. It’s up to you to give it a higher purpose.”
The headmaster’s affectionate smile was almost grandfatherly.
“Don’t let anger or fear corrupt your gift. Learn to be like fire: ever-changing, adaptable. Let your inner flame burn with its own light, not with the darkness of harmful emotions. Be like fire, but maintain the calm and serenity of water.”
He poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it, closing his eyes to savor the infusion. A satisfied smile crossed his lips before he gestured to the other professors.
“Come closer, my friends,” he said affably.
The three approached, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.
“I have good news,” the headmaster announced. “I’m pleased to inform you that none of the students present during the unfortunate incident suffered serious injuries.”
He cast a warm glance at Professor Norio.
“And this, we owe to you, my friend. You acted with great courage and decisiveness to protect the students. We are all deeply grateful.”
Norio bowed his head humbly.
“I only did my duty, Headmaster. Anyone else would have done the same.”
“I don’t think so,” the headmaster countered, giving Soda a sharp look. “You possess a rare protective instinct, Norio. It’s an invaluable trait in a reiki master. I’m very glad to have you on our academy’s faculty.”
Professor Soda could no longer contain himself and burst out angrily.
“Just a moment! What about the boy?” he demanded, pointing at Ritsu. “He tried to commit mass murder! If not for Norio, who knows what would have happened? He’s a danger to everyone! He should be expelled, locked up, and EXECUTED!”
The headmaster silenced Soda with a piercing glare.
“Calm yourself, Soda,” he said firmly. “I’ve been informed by young Shinji, Shiori, and Aki—Ritsu’s friends—that he has been the target of bullying and mockery by some classmates.” His gaze darkened. “To put it lightly.” Turning to Ritsu, the headmaster asked, “Ritsu, is it true that you’ve been subjected to harassment and abuse by your peers? Is it true that Katsuo and others have been... harsh with you and your friends?”
Ritsu nodded, the fire rekindling within him. He recalled the taunts, the blows, the thefts, the extortion, the shoves, the insults, and the contempt.
“Yes, sir, it’s true,” he admitted in a trembling voice. “They hate us.”
The headmaster sighed in sorrow.
“It was only a matter of time before such a reaction occurred. Ritsu reached the limits of his patience and tolerance. Fortunately, as I said, no one was seriously hurt, and the garden has been restored thanks to reiki.”
Soda seemed ready to protest again, but something in the headmaster’s look made him stop. He simply shook his head, scowling.
“Very well, Headmaster. I trust your judgment on the matter. But I’ll keep a close eye on the boy,” he warned. “A power like his requires strict supervision.”
The headmaster nodded but raised a cautionary finger.
“Your concerns are valid, Professor Soda. But I also expect you to keep a watchful eye on young Katsuo and his group.”
His tone grew grave.
“All students here passed the rigorous Imperial Examination and proved their worth to be here. Within these walls, they are all equals, regardless of their lineage or past.”
“Of course,” Ritsu thought bitterly. They were beautiful words, but only that. The reality was much different. He was convinced that Tora and the other bullies had only managed to “pass” the exam thanks to their parents’ influence and gold.
The headmaster scanned the room, meeting the eyes of each professor.
“Today’s events are a painful lesson for all of us. We must redouble our efforts as mentors to guide these young people along the path of righteousness. I will not tolerate further abuse or discrimination among the students. From now on, I expect strict impartiality and integrity in how we treat everyone. No favoritism.”
He paused to let his words sink in.
“I trust I’ve made myself perfectly clear,” he concluded, raising his chin slightly in authority.
“Of course, Headmaster,” Soda replied quickly, standing upright in respect. “I will monitor young Katsuo and his group. You have my word.”
***
Ritsu entered the living room, dragging his feet with an exhausted step. He had been through too much in just one day. His face, streaked with sweat and fatigue, reflected the weight of his meeting with the headmaster and the professors.
The room was lit only by the soft glow of paper lanterns, casting sinuous, shifting shapes on the walls. Shadows danced to the rhythm of the fire, dark and mysterious. Shiori, Shinji, and Aki were waiting for him with worried expressions, seated on cushions around a low table.
When she saw him enter, Shiori jumped to her feet and ran to him, wrapping him in a tight hug.
“Ritsu!” she exclaimed anxiously, brushing the hair from his forehead to look into his eyes. “Are you okay? Aki told us what happened... I can’t believe that idiot Katsuo went so far as to attack you with reiki!”
He tried to smile, but his chest was burning as if his heart had been stabbed open.
His reiki still hadn't fully recovered.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Ritsu lied in a hoarse voice.
Shiori shook her head vehemently, refusing to let go of him.
“Don’t be stubborn! That could have caused serious injuries! And after such a massive release of reiki, you must be completely drained. You should go to the infirmary right now to get a revitalizing potion!”
Ritsu shrugged, his expression defeated.
“It’s not necessary, really. The fatigue will pass.”
Shinji approached them, his brow furrowed and fists clenched. His barely contained anger crackled in the air like static electricity.
“Katsuo is nothing but a sneaky, cowardly rat. Next time, I’ll be by your side, Ritsu, and we’ll see if he dares try it again.”
Ritsu sighed, worn out.
“There won’t be a next time, Shinji. The headmaster knows everything and is keeping a close watch. We shouldn’t look for more trouble.”
Shinji snorted in disdain.
“Trouble? The trouble starts and ends with people like Katsuo and his spoiled entourage. They strut around the academy as if it belongs to them, looking down on those of us from outside the walls. We’re the victims here—especially you! Katsuo is a bully who preys on the defenseless to inflate his sick ego. He doesn’t deserve compassion or forgiveness; he deserves a lesson. And I’m going to give it to him, I promise. He’ll regret the day he dared to lay a finger on you, Ritsu.”
Ritsu placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Shinji, I appreciate you wanting to defend me, but I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me. It would only make things worse.”
Shinji was about to protest, but at that moment, Aki joined them, smiling crookedly under the bandage wrapped around his bruised nose. He, too, had been a victim of Katsuo’s uncontrollable rage.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure that arrogant jerk won’t dare mess with us again. He practically wet himself when he saw your flames, Ritsu!”
Ritsu let out a bitter laugh.
Despite everything, he couldn’t deny that remembering Katsuo’s panicked screams brought him a bit of vengeful satisfaction.
“And how are you, Aki? Are you okay?” Ritsu asked, pointing at his swollen nose.
Aki shrugged.
“Better than ever! Look on the bright side, my friend. This bruised nose got me the attention of five gorgeous girls.” He winked mischievously. “Even the Sakurazawa twins, Yumi and Kaori, came to check on me. You should’ve seen how gently Yumi touched my nose! And Kaori insisted on accompanying me to the infirmary... I’m more attractive now!”
They all let out a laugh, momentarily easing the tension in the room.
“Seriously, Aki,” Ritsu said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt. I’m really sorry you got caught up in this because of me. But it’s all over now. The headmaster is keeping a close eye on Katsuo; he won’t bother us again.”
“I hope so,” Shinji muttered, crossing his arms. “Because if he so much as touches a hair on your heads again, I’ll make him regret the day he was born—with or without your approval.”
Ritsu, Shiori, and Aki exchanged a look. They knew Shinji’s protective temperament all too well. All they could do was trust that the professors’ oversight would be enough to curb his vengeful impulses.
“Come on, don’t look so gloomy,” Aki said, slinging an arm around each of their shoulders. “The worst is behind us! Now it’s time to celebrate that we’re still in one piece.”