The underground chamber glowed faintly with crimson light. Ishita stood in the center, sweat dripping from her forehead as thin threads of aura spiraled dangerously around her palms. She bit her lip, struggling to control it.
"Focus," Rehan's deep voice echoed from the stone wall where he leaned, arms crossed. His sharp gaze followed every movement, ready to intervene if her aura lost control.
Minutes stretched into an hour. At last, Ishita steadied her breathing. The aura strands settled, clinging faintly to her fingertips.
"…Rehan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Akira… that man with the blade. You said he was an aura wielder like you. But he didn't feel… normal. How does someone become that?"
Rehan's eyes narrowed. For a moment, silence filled the chamber. Then, he exhaled slowly.
"Akira Tanaka. Weapon Aura Wielder. Age—twenty-five. He awakened five years ago. I was there when it happened."
---
Akira's Past
His voice turned colder, distant.
"Back then, Tokyo was drowning in fear. Demons already walked in the shadows, hidden from the public eye. People thought the world was safe—but it wasn't. And Akira…"
Rehan's jaw tightened.
"…he lost his little sister during one of those attacks. Just a human boy then. No powers. No training. But when the demon struck, he threw himself forward to protect her. She died in his arms."
Ishita's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
"His grief," Rehan continued, "his rage—those emotions ripped open his dormant aura. That was his awakening. The Silent Vessel bloodline. From then on, he swore no one else would lose family like he did. He trained for years, his aura fusing with a blade, until he could cut through stone like paper. That is the man you faced."
Rehan opened his eyes, meeting hers directly.
"And out of the entire world, only twelve true aura wielders exist. Akira is one of them."
---
The Scarlet Bloodline Truth
Ishita swallowed hard, but another thought clawed at her. "…Rehan. You told me I wasn't the first. That there was someone like me before."
Rehan's gaze darkened. For the first time, his stoic mask seemed to crack.
"In the last thousand years, only four people awakened the Scarlet Bloodline aura." His voice was low, steady. "You… are the fifth."
Her heart nearly stopped. "…F-Fifth?"
He nodded slowly.
"The Scarlet Bloodline is unlike any other. The moment it awakens, demons across the world stir from their slumber. They rise. They hunt. That is the curse of your power. And the only way those demons return to their seal… is when the Scarlet wielder dies."
Ishita's face went pale. "Then… the fourth—what happened to them?"
Rehan's eyes turned grim. "…The last Scarlet Bloodline awakened fifty years ago. The moment their aura surged, demons swarmed across the land. And before that power could grow too strong, one of the aura wielders killed them. Their death resealed the demons. That… is the fate every Scarlet wielder has faced."
Ishita's knees weakened. "Then… if the others discover me—"
"They will try to kill you," Rehan finished coldly.
Her breath shook, tears threatening to form. "So I really am… destined to die?"
Rehan stepped forward, his hand landing firmly on her shoulder. His voice cut through her despair like steel.
"No. Not while I live. I gave my word to the others—I will take responsibility for you. I will protect you. No matter what."
For the first time, Ishita saw a fleeting softness in his eyes. Not just duty—something more.
---
The Question of Distance
But her voice wavered again. "Rehan… Akira said he was returning to Japan. But he was just here. How can he travel that far… so fast?"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Not impossible. Teleportation."
Her eyes widened. "Teleportation…?"
He nodded. "Every wielder's aura carries a signature. If focused properly, it bends space. You picture a place you've been, channel your aura into the memory, and step through. In a heartbeat, you're there. It drains you, but it's the fastest way to move across the world."
He tilted his head. "And yes, Ishita… even you will be able to do it."
Her jaw dropped. "I—I can learn that?!"
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "If you don't blow yourself up first."
---
Training Teleportation
"Teach me," she demanded, eyes blazing. "Now!"
Rehan chuckled quietly. "Impatient… Fine. Close your eyes. Picture something simple. Your room."
She obeyed, crimson light gathering around her form. The air rippled like heat waves.
"Now push—not with your body, but your mind."
Her body flickered—and in a flash, she vanished.
Rehan blinked. A second later, Ishita stumbled back into the chamber, panting, her face alight with awe. "I-I did it!"
"Again," he ordered.
She tried three more times. Each attempt cleaner than the last. By the fourth, she landed gracefully, her aura steady.
Rehan exhaled slowly, though his expression betrayed nothing. Four tries… That's all it took?
He turned away, hiding his unease. No one learns this fast. This girl… she's not just Scarlet. She's something else entirely.
---
Parting Ways
That night, Rehan escorted her home. The streets of Borivali were quieter than usual, yet fear lingered after the massacre at the café.
At her doorstep, Ishita hesitated. "Rehan… thank you. For teaching me. For… protecting me."
He gave a short nod. "Rest. Tomorrow will test you harder."
She smiled faintly, retreating inside.
Rehan vanished into the night.
---
The Attack in Japan
Hours later, his safehouse filled with the sound of frantic news broadcasts.
"Breaking News: Tokyo under attack! Unknown shadow entities tearing through the city—authorities helpless—"
The screen flashed chaos: skyscrapers burning, civilians fleeing, demons ripping through the streets.
Rehan's fists clenched. Aura flared around him, shaking the walls.
"So it begins," he muttered.
In the next instant, crimson sparks swallowed him whole. His form dissolved into light.
"Japan… I'm coming."
The chamber fell silent once more, the echoes of his vow lingering in the air.