After the incident, Sasaki became increasingly wary of his Essence.
He no longer trusted it.
Whenever he felt even the slightest change within himself, he immediately became tense.
Eventually, his parents made the decision to seal it away until he learned how to properly control it.
For a while, everything was peaceful.
Sasaki returned to his normal routine.
He went to school.
He trained with Shigura.
He spent time with his friends.
And, most importantly, nothing strange happened.
For the first time in a while, Sasaki began to believe that everything might actually be okay.
Until one day...
Something spoke to him.
First day of school for Sasaki and Shigura.
Sasaki walked along the dirt path toward the main road.
A carriage was already waiting.
Shigura was sitting inside.
"You took your time."
Sasaki climbed inside.
"I was fixing my hair."
Shigura looked at him.
"Your hair looks exactly the same."
"...Shut up."
Shigura smiled.
The carriage began moving toward the kingdom.
Sasaki leaned against the window.
"So..."
He looked at his brother.
"What are we learning today?"
"Essence."
Sasaki's expression immediately changed.
"Seriously?"
Shigura nodded.
"Our teacher said we'd be learning about the different power systems."
Sasaki smiled.
"Finally."
"You say that now."
Shigura opened his book.
"But you hate studying."
"I don't hate studying."
"You fell asleep yesterday."
"That was because the teacher was boring."
"You were studying history."
"Exactly."
Shigura laughed.
The carriage eventually arrived at the kingdom.
Unlike the countryside, the city was already alive.
People filled the streets.
Merchants shouted from their stalls.
Children hurried toward school.
Guards stood at the entrances of important buildings.
Sasaki looked out the window.
Even though he'd seen the kingdom countless times, he still enjoyed coming here.
The carriage stopped in front of the academy.
Sasaki grabbed his bag.
"See you later."
Shigura followed.
"Don't get into trouble."
"I never do."
Shigura stared at him.
"...Right."
Sasaki walked through the academy doors.
The classroom was already filled with students.
Sasaki took his usual seat near the window.
Shigura sat beside him.
The teacher entered a few minutes later.
The room immediately became quiet.
The professor placed several books on the desk.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Professor."
The professor turned toward the board.
"Today, we're going to discuss the three primary power systems recognized throughout the world."
He wrote three words across the board.
Essence.
System.
Cultivation.
Sasaki leaned forward.
The professor pointed toward the first word.
"Essence."
The room became noticeably quieter.
"Essence is one of the rarest forms of power known to mankind."
He paused.
"Essence is another soul."
Sasaki looked down at his hands.
The professor continued.
"It reflects your actions and leads you toward the best path for you."
A few students raised their hands.
The professor ignored them for the moment.
"But Essence is not without danger."
He turned toward the class.
"Those who choose the dark path can eventually become what is known as a cursed body."
The room grew quieter.
"A cursed body is the result of one's Essence becoming corrupted by the path they choose."
He wrote the words CURSED BODY on the board.
"Those who reach this state often develop a reputation as dangerous individuals. In some cases, their names become synonymous with atrocities."
He paused.
"Some are even remembered as being as dangerous as mass murderers."
Sasaki frowned slightly.
The professor continued.
"Essence is extremely rare to come across."
He looked across the classroom.
"Currently, we have only two students in this school known to possess it."
Several students immediately turned toward Sasaki and Shigura.
Sasaki blinked.
The professor smiled.
"Sasaki Oyuki."
Sasaki slowly stood.
"Uh..."
Everyone looked at him.
He scratched the back of his head.
"Hello."
A few students laughed.
Sasaki looked embarrassed.
"I'm Sasaki Oyuki."
He paused.
"I have Essence."
The professor nodded.
"Thank you."
Sasaki quickly sat down.
Then the professor looked toward the other side of the classroom.
"Shigura Oyuki."
Shigura calmly stood.
"I'm Shigura Oyuki."
He looked around the classroom.
"Like my brother, I possess Essence."
He sat back down.
The professor turned toward the board.
"These two brothers are among the very few individuals of their generation to possess this power."
Sasaki glanced at Shigura.
Shigura glanced back.
Sasaki whispered,
"We're famous."
Shigura whispered back.
"We're sitting in a classroom."
"Still famous."
The professor continued.
"Now, Essence is not the only method of obtaining power."
He erased the board.
"Next, we have Systems."
The word appeared again.
SYSTEM.
"Systems are abilities granted through a structured interface."
He began writing several examples.
"Some Systems enhance physical strength."
He wrote another.
"Some provide magical abilities."
Another.
"Some allow their users to manipulate specific concepts."
The professor turned around.
"Unlike Essence, Systems do not necessarily reflect the user's personality or actions."
Sasaki listened carefully.
"They are tools."
The professor continued.
"And like any tool, their usefulness depends on the person wielding them."
A student raised his hand.
"Professor, can someone have both a System and Essence?"
The professor nodded.
"It is theoretically possible."
The classroom immediately became louder.
"But it is exceptionally rare."
The professor raised his hand, silencing them.
"Now, the final major power system."
He wrote:
CULTIVATION.
"Unlike Essence and Systems, Cultivation is something that must be developed through training."
He turned toward the class.
"Through meditation, physical training, techniques, and the accumulation of power, cultivators gradually strengthen themselves."
Sasaki rested his chin on his hand.
"So basically..."
He whispered to Shigura.
"Everyone has their own way of getting strong."
Shigura nodded.
"Pretty much."
The professor continued explaining the differences between the three systems.
Sasaki listened.
For once, he didn't fall asleep.
He was actually interested.
Especially in Essence.
There was something strange about knowing that the power inside him was connected to who he was.
He looked down at his hand.
His Essence had always been difficult to control.
Maybe there was a reason for that.
When class finally ended, Sasaki stretched in his seat.
"That was actually pretty interesting."
Shigura packed his books.
"You stayed awake."
"See?"
Sasaki stood.
"I'm becoming a scholar."
"You still failed your history test."
"...Let's forget about that."
The two brothers left the classroom together.
The rest of the school day passed normally.
They attended their other classes.
They ate lunch with their friends.
Sasaki spent most of the break talking about how he was going to master his Essence.
Shigura reminded him that he'd been saying the same thing for years.
Sasaki ignored him.
By the time school ended, the sun was already beginning to descend.
Sasaki and Shigura left the academy.
Sasaki looked toward the training grounds.
"Want to spar?"
Shigura sighed.
"Again?"
"Again."
"You never get tired."
"Nope."
Shigura smiled.
"Fine."
The brothers spent the afternoon training.
Sasaki attacked first.
Shigura blocked.
Sasaki swung again.
Blocked.
Again.
Blocked.
Sasaki notices a pattern
Then finds an opening.
He strikes.
This time, Shigura barely managed to dodge.
Sasaki grinned.
"Got you!"
"You almost did."
"Almost doesn't count."
"I know."
They continued sparring until both of them were exhausted.
Eventually, Sasaki collapsed onto the grass.
"One day..."
Shigura stood above him.
"One day?"
"I'll beat you."
Shigura smiled.
"How times have i heared this?"
Sasaki groans
Shigura offers his hand
"Let's get something to eat."
By the time they finished eating, evening had arrived. They gone home meeting their sister.
"Sis? You're back!"
Shigura chuckles
"I've been very busy but i brought back some snacks."
Sasaki took a pie out of the basket before she even placed it down, and ate it.
"This is really good!"
Shigura takes the food from Sasaki's hand and takes a bite.
"Yes i agree. This is delectable."
Sister chuckles
"Aright boy's. Time to get ready for bed."
"You can shower by yourself now right?"
Sasaki's face flushed
"Yes of course i can!"
The two goes up and gets ready.
As Sasaki showers. Shigura ask Sasaki
"What would we do if Sister got hurt. And we couldn't help."
"..."
"Impossible. Sis is the strongest person i know."
"Alright..."
The two head to bed and sleep.
The next day. Sasaki walked along the path toward his cabin after a long day of school.
The sun was beginning to set as he made his way home.
He was stopped by a shopkeeper standing beside a small cart filled with trinkets.
"Hello there, Young Master! Care for some trinkets?"
Sasaki looked over the items.
"Sure. How much for two?"
"Usually, they're twenty bronze coins each."
The Toy Man smiled.
"But I'll make you a deal. Two for thirty. How about it?"
Sasaki nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks."
He handed over the coins and took the two trinkets.
As Sasaki continued walking home, something suddenly felt wrong.
A strange sensation stirred inside him.
It was familiar.
The same feeling he had experienced when he was blasted away from the cabin.
Sasaki stopped.
"...Not again."
He quickly placed a seal over his Essence.
Then he continued walking.
For a few moments, nothing happened.
Then—
Thump.
Sasaki froze.
Another surge of power began building inside him.
His breathing became strained.
Thump.
A sharp gasp escaped his lips.
"...?"
Sasaki suddenly coughed.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He staggered forward before slowly crouching to the ground.
"This..."
He coughed again, blood staining his hand.
"...hurts a lot."
His vision began to fracture.
Flashes appeared before his eyes.
Fire.
A lone figure.
Countless corpses.
A blood-red sky.
Then...
Nothing.
A massive burst of wind erupted from Sasaki's body.
The entire forest shook.
Trees bent beneath the force.
Sasaki's eyes widened.
Then everything went silent.
He opened his eyes.
But he was no longer in the forest.
He stood within his subconscious.
Darkness surrounded him.
A voice echoed through the emptiness.
"I am the Coalescent."
Sasaki froze.
"You are my successor."
"...What?"
"The Calamity..."
The voice grew heavier.
"You must stop its incarnation before it is too late."
Sasaki looked around, desperately searching for the source of the voice.
"How do I do that?"
Silence.
"..."
Sasaki waited.
Nothing.
"Hello?"
Still nothing.
Suddenly—
The darkness swallowed him.
Sasaki's eyes snapped open.
He was back in the forest.
"Ugh..."
He struggled to breathe.
"Sasaki!"
A familiar voice called out.
Shigura rushed toward him.
"You good, bro?"
Sasaki looked up at him.
"Yeah..."
His voice was weak.
"I'm fine."
Shigura crouched beside him.
"No, you're not."
He turned around and crouched down.
"Come on. Let's get you to the infirmary."
Shigura lifted Sasaki onto his shoulders.
Sasaki didn't resist.
"Okay..."
As they began walking toward the capital, Sasaki's eyes slowly closed.
The world around him began to fade.
And before they could reach the gates—
Everything disappeared into darkness.