A grimace touched Rael's lips as he assessed the limitations of his new form. *This body is still a kid. I can't manifest my true strength yet,* the consciousness of Saturu mused, the warrior's spirit feeling caged by youthful flesh. Yet, the centuries of honed swordsman skills remained, his most immediate and reliable weapon. His thoughts drifted to the Divine Authority, the power granted upon his death. *Is it the same as the spiritual manifestation of one's energy?* he wondered. To wield such power without tearing this vessel apart, he would need to train it rigorously, to build a reservoir capable of handling immense spiritual energy. The mysteries of what transpired in the war against the Oni in the centuries since his death would have to wait. The most pressing need was simple, tangible: *The first thing I need is a sword.*
His path took him toward the palace library, a place to seek knowledge on spiritual blades or the clan's history. But as he turned a corridor, his elder brother, Kaon, stepped into his path. "Rael," Kaon said, using the name given at birth, his voice carrying a false, commanding warmth. "Father wishes to see your progress. Come to the training grounds." Saturu, wary but seeing an opportunity to observe the Plum Blossom sword style firsthand, simply nodded and followed, unaware of the true danger that awaited.
The training ground was tense. Kaon tossed a basic practice sword toward him. A maid, her face etched with concern, dared to speak up. "Young Master Kaon, please, Rael is still a child! He can't possibly spar seriously." Kaon's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "If you insist, you will be replaced. Or something far worse might happen. Know your place." The maid fell silent, her fear palpable as she watched the scene unfold.
Rael saw his chance. This was not a simple spar; it was a chance to grasp the fundamentals of the clan's technique. "Ready or not," Kaon sneered, and leapt forward. But the attack was not a measured strike; it was a killing blow, fueled by an intensity far beyond a simple sibling rivalry. Rael's instincts screamed. He recalled the body's fragmented memories: this family saw him as a disgrace. They had tried to kill him before, saved only by another swordsman's intervention. Only his mother had cared, before her mysterious departure after a royal event.
Rael abandoned strength for speed, realizing one solid hit from Kaon would shatter his frail body. He became a blur, dodging the furious onslaught. Then, from the shadows, other figures emerged—men sent by the father to ensure the "disgrace" was permanently handled. Trapped, Rael moved. He leapt forward, his speed translating to the sword in his hand, cutting down the ambushers with precise, economical movements that belied his age. Enraged, Kaon charged again, aiming to overpower him with brute force. Their blades clashed with a shockwave that cracked the ground beneath them. The killing intent was undeniable.
Pushing Kaon back, Rael unleashed a technique from a forgotten life, a sweeping slash that sent the attackers flying and left a deep gash on Kaon's back. But then, the air shifted. A dark energy erupted from Kaon. His body contorted, two extra, spectral arms sprouting from his sides, each clutching a blade of shadow. "Give me your soul! Give us your power!" the possessed Kaon rasped.
Shock froze Rael for a second.this possession release same killing intent as the oni . This was connected to the old war. There was no more hiding. He screamed as a shadowy blade nicked his arm, the pain a catalyst. A purple-blue aura exploded from him, the Divine Authority responding to the threat. The energy was immense, mutating his body, forcing it to grow rapidly to the age of twelve to better contain the power. He knew he had only moments. Creating illusions of multiple copies of himself, he swarmed the possessed Kaon, who roared and shattered the phantoms. In that instant, the real Rael stood by the lake, an old, rusted sword in his hand, having grabbed it in his flight. He fell into a deep stance. His eyes snapped open, a marked 'X' glowing within them.
"Divine Authority: Spirit Clearance," he intoned.
The water of the lake evaporated into a thick mist. A single, purifying slash, faster than sight, cut through the haze. Rael stood behind the possessed form. Kaon screamed, the dark energy within him dissolving into nothingness, leaving only the unconscious boy behind.
The maid stared, shaken to her core by the display of otherworldly power. The now-grown Rael walked toward her, his presence immense. "I will not end you," he said, his voice calm but absolute, "unless you swear your loyalty to me, and me alone. Thank you for your concern earlier." She could only nod, a new and terrifying allegiance sworn in the shadow of the lake.