(Chapter unfolds:16" Mission ")
Nobaya returned to their location. They were all sitting after a period of intense training. Sai had changed his hairstyle and looked healthy. Haru was attempting to harmonize with the power of his sword. Izuma was still gathering knowledge. Jinso was focusing on learning more about Morikara and bringing it under control.
Nobaya, upon his return, was carrying a box in his hand.
Seeing Nobaya, they all approached him.
"What is this?" Haru asked, pointing to the box.
"An opportunity has arrived for you to prove your strength," Nobaya replied.
They looked confused.
"There is a Zek presence in the foothills of the Eastern Mountain. You must destroy it."
"What...?"
"Yes. That Zek is incredibly powerful; it is a Zek that has become a slave without losing its own soul. Only you can destroy it."
"But how will we recognize a Zek?" Haru asked.
He took two stones out of the box he was carrying in his hand.
"Grip your swords tightly," Nobaya instructed.
As each of them gripped their swords firmly, they suddenly felt a special kind of aura emanating from the stones: a dark black color and a faint grey hue.
A slight, subtle vibration also ran through the swords in their hands.
"The auras you are seeing now belong to cursed souls. The dark one is from a Zek who willingly accepted the curse and became a Zek; the other is from one who was forced to become a Zek.
This is enough for you to discern whether the person standing before you is a Zek or an ordinary human.
Since you are Sapahans, you will be able to sense this quickly."
He placed the stones back inside the box.
"Whom are we supposed to destroy?" Jinso asked eagerly.
"The Zek in the foothills of the Eastern Mountain. We have very little time now, so we must eliminate him quickly."
After Nobaya went inside, Sai took his sword and stood ready to leave.
"Where are you going?" Jinso asked.
"To kill the Zek."
"Hey! What do you know about this? We are supposed to go tomorrow, not now," Jinso said, and walked back inside.
Time moved forward... Each of them was occupied with their own preparation.
Nobaya was observing what everyone was doing. Each of them was training hard to successfully complete their first mission.
Haru was sitting separately, deep in thought, with a troubled expression on his face.
"Haru..." Nobaya called him softly.
"Are you afraid of failing the first mission?"
"I don't know," he replied.
"Boy, remember the reason Master gave for bringing out your strength during your training: fear...
You are standing here as a Sapahan now because you have eliminated fear. Trust the sword in your hand, and it will act according to your command."