Kaito winced as he dabbed a damp cloth over his bruises. The small, candlelit room he called home was filled with the faint scent of herbs from the ointment he'd prepared. His sparring loss to Ryo replayed in his mind like a broken record.

It wasn’t just losing that hurt—it was the laughter, the whispers, and Ryo’s biting words. Do you really think you’ll ever live up to him?

Kaito’s gaze drifted to the wooden shelf on the wall. Resting there was a single, ornate dagger, its hilt engraved with the sigil of the Crimson Talon. It had belonged to his father, a warrior whose name was still spoken with reverence. The dagger felt like both a gift and a curse, a constant reminder of the expectations he hadn’t yet met.

His hand trembled as he reached for it. “Father,” he whispered, gripping the dagger tightly, “I don’t know if I can live up to you... but I’ll never stop trying.”

The next morning, Kaito arrived at the training grounds before sunrise. The air was cold, and the grass was slick with dew. He was determined to train harder than ever, even if it killed him.

To his surprise, he wasn’t alone.

Master Genji stood in the center of the grounds, his arms crossed and his piercing gaze locked on Kaito. “You’re here early,” the old warrior said. “Still sulking over yesterday’s match?”

Kaito’s cheeks flushed. “I’m not sulking! I just... I need to get stronger.”

Genji’s lips twitched into something that could have been a smile—or a smirk. “Stronger, huh? Swinging that stick around isn’t going to cut it. Follow me.”

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Before Kaito could protest, Genji strode off toward the dense forest beyond the training grounds. Hesitant but curious, Kaito followed.

They stopped at a clearing where a massive boulder sat, its surface cracked and weathered. Genji gestured toward it. “If you want to get stronger, start here. Move this boulder.”

Kaito blinked. “Move it? But it’s—”

“No excuses,” Genji interrupted. “If you want to be more than just your father’s shadow, prove it.”

Kaito gritted his teeth and pushed against the boulder with all his might. His muscles strained, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but the massive stone didn’t budge an inch.

Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, and sweat dripped down his face. Still, the boulder remained stubbornly in place.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Kaito finally shouted, slumping to the ground. “How am I supposed to move something like this?”

Genji, who had been watching silently from the shade, approached. “You’re thinking too much like a brute,” he said. “Strength isn’t just about muscles. It’s about finding the right leverage—and knowing when to stop fighting the obstacle and start working with it.”

Kaito frowned, puzzled, but Genji didn’t offer any further explanation. Instead, the old man tossed him a waterskin. “Rest for now. You’ll figure it out.”

As Kaito drank, his gaze returned to the boulder. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this task than met the eye.

Kaito gritted his teeth and pushed against the boulder with all his might. His muscles strained, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but the massive stone didn’t budge an inch.

Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, and sweat dripped down his face. Still, the boulder remained stubbornly in place.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Kaito finally shouted, slumping to the ground. “How am I supposed to move something like this?”

Genji, who had been watching silently from the shade, approached. “You’re thinking too much like a brute,” he said. “Strength isn’t just about muscles. It’s about finding the right leverage—and knowing when to stop fighting the obstacle and start working with it.”

Kaito frowned, puzzled, but Genji didn’t offer any further explanation. Instead, the old man tossed him a waterskin. “Rest for now. You’ll figure it out.”

As Kaito drank, his gaze returned to the boulder. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this task than met the eye.

That night, unable to sleep, Kaito returned to the clearing. The boulder loomed in the moonlight, and the forest was eerily silent.

As he approached, a faint glow caught his eye. It seemed to emanate from beneath the boulder, pulsing softly like a heartbeat. Kaito’s breath hitched. What was that?

He knelt down, brushing aside the dirt and leaves. His fingers grazed something cold and metallic—a fragment of a strange emblem embedded in the ground. The symbol was unfamiliar, but it felt... alive, vibrating faintly under his touch.

A voice rang out behind him, startling him. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Kaito spun around to see a cloaked figure st

anding at the edge of the clearing, their face obscured. The figure’s voice was low and commanding. “Leave now, before it’s too late.”