Hiroshi's consciousness slowly returned, and as he stirred, a haunting voice resonated in his mind. It was Baalze. "I will come again. When I return, I will test you," the spirit's words echoed with a terrifying finality, reverberating through Hiroshi's thoughts.
With a start, Hiroshi awoke, finding himself miraculously healed. His surroundings were familiar yet unsettling. He was back in the chamber within the Sacred Realm Academy (SRA), a place he hadn't seen for what felt like an eternity. The reality hit him hard—he had been missing for ten days.
As his vision cleared, he noticed the tense atmosphere. Weapons were drawn, pointed directly at him by the soldiers of the SRA. The elders of the academy stood at the forefront, their expressions a mix of concern and stern judgment. Hiroshi's friends, the ones he had trained with and trusted, were there too. Their eyes held a complex mixture of relief and betrayal.
"Hiroshi," one of the elders began, his voice heavy with authority, "you disappeared without a trace. Explain yourself.
"Hiroshi tried to sit up, but his head throbbed painfully. He rubbed his temples, attempting to piece together his fragmented memories. "I... I don't remember everything clearly," he admitted, his voice shaky. "There was a dark spirit, an illusion... I was trapped."
The tension in the room grew thicker. "Enough with the excuses," one of his friends snapped, their face twisted with anger. "You abandoned us, Hiroshi. You betrayed us."
"I didn't mean to," Hiroshi protested weakly. "I was captured. I fought to return."
"Captured by a spirit?" another elder questioned, skepticism lacing his words. "You expect us to believe that?"
Hiroshi's mind flashed back to the harrowing encounters with the spirits and the shadowy sword. He remembered Baalze's ominous promise and the overwhelming power he had felt. "Yes, it's true. There's a powerful spirit, Baalze. He's coming back to test me. I don't know his purpose, but he's the reason I was missing."
"Prepare?" one of his friends scoffed. "You sound like a madman, Hiroshi. How can we trust anything you say?"
The pain of their distrust cut deep, but Hiroshi knew he had to persist. "Listen to me. Baalze is real. I fought him. The power he wields is beyond anything we've faced. If we don't train, if we don't get stronger, we won't stand a chance."
The elders exchanged glances, their skepticism evident. "We need proof," one of them finally said. "Show us this power you speak of."Hiroshi took a deep breath, closing his eyes to focus. He reached within himself, trying to summon the energy he had felt during his encounters with the spirits. Slowly, a faint shadow began to form around him, the precursor to the shadowy sword.
Gasps filled the room as the shadowy energy became more tangible. Hiroshi opened his eyes, now glowing with a dark intensity. "This is just a fraction of the power we're up against," he said, his voice steady despite the strain.
The room fell silent, the elders and soldiers alike staring in awe and fear. "Very well," an elder finally spoke. "We will consider your words, but know this, Hiroshi: you are on thin ice. Any further signs of betrayal, and you will be cast out."
Hiroshi nodded, relief washing over him. But as he looked around the room, the cold glares of his friends reminded him of the rift that had formed between them. Their trust was shattered, and it would take more than words to mend it.
As the elders dismissed the gathering, Hiroshi's friends approached him, their expressions still hostile. "You've got a lot to prove, Hiroshi," one of them said. "We'll be watching you."
Hiroshi bowed his head, accepting their judgment. "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes to regain your trust."
With that, he left the chamber, the weight of their distrust heavy on his shoulders. But amidst the pain and uncertainty, a fierce determination burned within him. He had to prepare for Baalze's return, and he vowed to become stronger, no matter the cost.
As he walked through the academy halls, the echo of Baalze's threat lingered in his mind. "When I return, I will test you," the spirit had said. And that's exactly what Hiroshi intended to face.
,
In a dimly lit council room, the elders of the SRA convened.
"Did I hear correctly?" one elder asked, his voice grave. "Baalze?"
The youngest of the elders, his face pale, spoke up. "It's not possible, right? Baalze is just a fairy tale."
Another elder, his expression stern, replied, "He is real. Baalze nearly destroyed the earth once, but then he changed his mind. Some say he had a vision of the future and declared, 'It's going to be interesting.' This is recorded in our history. And now, after 5038 years, he has reappeared. But for what purpose?"
The youngest elder shook his head in disbelief. "But that's ancient history. There's a chance Hiroshi read that book and made up the story."
The room fell silent before another elder spoke with authority, "That history isn't public knowledge, and it isn't written on paper. It's recorded in the 'Soul Arawasu.' Only those with divine permission can read it. It's not possible for anyone but us to know."
The gravity of the situation settled over the room, the elders realizing the true extent of the threat they faced. The legend of Baalze was not just a story, and Hiroshi's encounter was a harbinger of dark times to come.