Senko remained trapped in an unknown place, struggling to breathe as pain consumed him. Meanwhile, in the physical world, his body lay limp against Arden's shoulder as both Arden and Shinra sprinted away, leaving Tom behind. "He's burning up—what do we do?" Arden shouted in concern, still running. "Let's head to the nearby village, Tensurai!" Shinra responded urgently. They continued westward for nearly twenty minutes until the peaceful village, nestled among woods and mountains, came into view.
Upon entering, they were met with the bustle of villagers going about their day. Desperate, Arden and Shinra pushed through the crowd, arriving at the village center. "Is there any doctor here?!" Shinra yelled, capturing everyone's attention. The villagers immediately noticed Senko's dire condition. A young girl with long purple hair, green eyes, and a kimono rushed toward them. "I can help! My dad's a doctor—follow me!" she offered. "Thank you, little girl," Arden and Shinra replied in unison, quickly following her. After more than five minutes of running, they arrived at a modest home where the girl called out, "Daddy, daddy! Someone needs help!"
A man with pink hair, glasses, and a white doctor's coat turned toward them and greeted them warmly. "Warriors, may I help you?" he asked. "Please, this young warrior—he's in bad shape," Arden pleaded. The doctor approached, placing a hand on Senko's forehead and rubbing his palms together thoughtfully. "He has a bad fever. I'm Doctor Ris, and this is my daughter, Mary." Mary waved sweetly, and the two warriors returned the gesture.
"Thank you so much," Shinra said with deep gratitude. "What's the boy's name?" Doctor Ris asked. Arden opened his mouth to answer, "His name is Se—" but Shinra gave him a subtle jab to the stomach, interrupting. "His name is S-Senju," Shinra quickly said with a forced smile toward Arden. Arden caught on and smiled back, confirming, "Yeah… Senju."
"Well, follow me," Doctor Ris said, leading them into his home.
They followed him through a narrow hallway into a small room with a single mattress on the floor.
"Lay him here," he instructed.
Arden gently lowered Senko from his shoulder and placed him onto the mattress. As he did, Doctor Ris noticed the sword Arden held in his left hand—the unmistakable Sanguivar sword.
"Hey… I've seen that sword before," the doctor said, his gaze narrowing.
Arden quickly shifted it behind his back. "What? This sword? Nah, it's just a normal one—nothing special about it," he replied, trying to sound casual.
Doctor Ris raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "I thought it looked familiar." His eyes moved to the emblems on their armor. "You two… You're from the academy in Jenkiora."
Both boys nodded. "Yeah," Shinra confirmed.
The doctor then glanced at Senko. "And this kid's a White Fang, huh? I remember those days. Back then, if you were in White Fang, the other houses saw you as weak," he said with a soft chuckle.
"Hold on," Arden said, squinting. "How do you know that?"
Doctor Ris smiled knowingly. "Because I was a warrior there myself. Spark Guardian. My peak rank was B-rank."
Shinra looked surprised. "Really? So why are you a doctor now?"
"I have my reasons," Ris replied with a grin. "And that's going to stay a secret."
He chuckled, his tone light, but the glint in his eye hinted at a story left untold.
Doctor Ris knelt beside Senko, checking his pulse and temperature again. He pulled a small pouch from a nearby shelf and began mixing herbs in a bowl.
"This medicine should help reduce the fever," he explained. "But whatever's happening inside him… it's not just a normal illness."
Arden and Shinra exchanged a glance.
"What do you mean?" Shinra asked, stepping closer.
Ris didn't answer right away. He looked down at Senko, brushing some of the sweat-soaked hair from the boy's forehead.
"There's something unnatural stirring in his body," he finally said. "I've seen spiritual imbalances before—warriors pushing themselves past their limits—but this is different. Something is fighting inside of him… like two forces clashing."
"Is it still trying to take over his body…?" Arden whispered, just loud enough for Shinra to hear.
Ris glanced up. "What did you say?"
"Nothing," Arden quickly replied. "Just worried about our friend, that's all."
Ris eyed him for a moment but didn't press further. He poured the herbal mixture into a small cup and gently lifted Senko's head, helping him drink.
"He'll need rest. Whatever he's dealing with—it won't pass overnight. You two should get some sleep too. There's a spare room across the hall."
Shinra nodded. "Thank you, Doctor Ris. Really."
"No need to thank me yet," the doctor said with a half-smile. "Let's just hope he pulls through."
The room fell quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of wind against the wooden walls. Senko lay still, his breathing shallow but steady. Outside, the sun began to set behind the mountains, casting a warm golden hue over the village of Tensurai.
It had been some time since Senko was given the medicine, and while his body rested, the two others had retreated to a spare room to get some sleep. Slowly, Senko's eyes fluttered open, vision still blurry as the dim light filtered through the curtains. A dull throb echoed in his head, and instinctively, he raised his hand to cover his right eye. Disoriented, he sat up on the bed and mumbled, "Where… am I?"
Sitting quietly beside him was a young girl with bright, curious eyes and a cheerful demeanor. The moment Senko stirred, she beamed at him. "Hi! I'm Mary," she said brightly. "And I already know your name—it's Senju."
Senko tilted his head in confusion, an eyebrow lifting. "Senju?" he asked, still groggy.
"Yeah, that's what your two friends called you," Mary replied with a nod.
He glanced around, suddenly concerned. "Where are they?"
"They went to get some rest. They carried you in here earlier—you looked like you were in a lot of pain," Mary explained softly. "But I can show you where they are if you want."
A faint smile crossed Senko's lips. Despite the aching in his body, her presence brought a strange sense of calm. "I'd like that."
As he swung his legs over the side of the bed and attempted to stand, his body immediately protested. Pain surged through his limbs, and the throbbing in his eyes intensified, nearly bringing him to his knees.
"Are you okay, Mr. Senju?" Mary asked quickly, stepping forward with concern.
Senko gritted his teeth and forced a smile. "Yeah… just a little sore, that's all."
Gently, Mary guided him through the quiet hallway. The lanterns flickered softly on the walls as they reached the door at the end. She opened it carefully.
Inside, the room was dimly lit and peaceful. Shinra was sprawled across the bed, fast asleep, while Arden sat against the wall, dozing in an upright position, arms crossed and chin tucked to his chest.
Senko stepped inside, his voice soft but filled with emotion. "Guys…"
Both Arden and Shinra stirred at the sound. Shinra blinked, groggy at first, then his eyes widened. "You're awake," he said, relief flooding his expression.
Senko looked between them. "What… what happened?"
Arden stood up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "That's a long story," he said, his voice quiet but heavy. "We'll explain everything… just not right now."
Mary left the room so they can talk "Okay I'll be leaving now."
Senko looked at his friends, the weight of their expressions telling him more than words ever could. Something had happened—something serious. He could feel it in the silence that followed Arden's words, in the way Shinra kept glancing at his hands like they were stained with something he couldn't wash off.
"I don't remember much," Senko admitted, his voice low. "Just flashes. Pain. Screaming. And then… darkness."
Arden walked over and gently rested a hand on his shoulder. "You lost control," he said. "The purple demon inside of you—it came out. We barely managed to stop it."
Senko's breath caught in his throat. "Did I hurt anyone?"
Shinra stood now, crossing the room with a grave look. "You didn't kill anyone, but you scared us two. That thing… it wasn't you, Senko. It felt like a monster wearing your skin. If we don't control it who knows what's going to happen next"
Senko lowered his head, shame creeping in like a slow, cold tide. He clenched his fists. "I didn't mean to. I— I couldn't stop it."
"We know," Arden said firmly. "And we're not blaming you. But you need to understand—this isn't something you can ignore anymore. That power… it's growing. And so is the danger that comes with it."
Arden looked at the door crack "The little girl is listening." There was a pause. Mary stood quietly at the doorway, watching with wide, uncertain eyes. Then, taking a few small steps forward, she spoke.
"I think he needs training. Real training. Maybe there's someone who can help him control it."
Senko looked up at her, surprised by the calm determination in her voice. "You… think that's possible?"
Mary nodded. "I don't know who, but I've heard stories. About people who've tamed the darkness inside them. If you guys find the right person, maybe they can help you before it's too late."
Arden and Shinra exchanged glances, then looked at Senko.
"Then that's our next move. Please don't tell anybody about this not ever your father" Arden said. Mary nodded. "We'll rest tonight. But tomorrow, we will see what we can do tomorrow." Shinra cracked a tired smile. "Let's just hope we find them before someone else finds you. Probably the person can come with us to Stillflame to train you"
Senko looked between them all—his loyal friends, and the unexpected kindness of a stranger. Despite the fear that still lingered in his chest, he felt a flicker of hope.
"Thank you," he said softly. "All of you."
And for the first time in days, the shadows in his heart seemed just a little less heavy.
"But we still have to keep a low profile." Arden said "From now one your name is Senju, Senko."
Senko nodded.
"If we can probably ask around we will see who can probably help Senko control the demon." Shinra said.
Doctor Ris came in the door "That's where I come in."
To be continued…