### **Chapter 17 (Continued): The Cost of Power**
Hours had passed since Kenji had been taken into the healing chambers, but to Kai, it felt like an eternity. The weight of his earlier battle, combined with the concern for his friend, made his entire body feel heavy. Nohara had fallen asleep on one of the chairs in the waiting area, but Kai remained wide awake, his mind unable to rest.
The doors to the waiting room opened quietly, and Sensei Ryu stepped inside. His usual composed demeanor was softened slightly, though his presence still carried the quiet strength Kai had come to rely on. Kai looked up as Ryu approached, feeling a mix of emotions—relief, fear, and something else he couldn't quite identify.
Ryu stood in front of Kai, his arms crossed loosely over his chest. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was thick with unspoken questions.
"Sensei," Kai began, his voice shaky but filled with a need for answers, "What happened to Kenji? Why did he collapse like that? He was fighting so well, and then… he just—" Kai's words trailed off, his fists clenching again as the frustration bubbled up inside him.
Ryu sighed softly, his gaze drifting toward the healing chambers where Kenji lay. "Kenji pushed himself far beyond his limits," he said quietly, though his voice carried the weight of someone who had seen this many times before. "Spirit energy is a powerful force, but it's also a dangerous one. Every person has their own threshold—an amount of energy they can safely channel without harming themselves. Kenji exceeded that threshold."
Kai listened intently, his eyes fixed on Ryu. "But why? Why would he push himself so hard if it was dangerous?"
Ryu's expression softened slightly as he turned his gaze back to Kai. "Kenji believed he had no choice. He felt that he had to protect all of you, that his power was the only thing standing between you and certain death. In moments like that, people don't think about their own limits. They think only of what must be done, no matter the cost."
"But why didn't he know his limits?" Kai asked, his frustration bubbling to the surface again. "Shouldn't we be trained to know how much we can handle?"
Ryu nodded slowly. "Yes, you're trained to understand your limits, but the truth is, in the heat of battle, it's easy to lose sight of them. Adrenaline, fear, the desire to protect your comrades—it can all cloud your judgment. And when you're fighting an opponent as powerful as the Flame Reaper's clone, sometimes even knowing your limits isn't enough."
Kai's gaze fell to the floor as he processed Ryu's words. He had seen the look in Kenji's eyes during the fight—the determination, the desperation. Kenji had been willing to sacrifice everything to keep them safe. But at what cost?
"Spirit energy is more than just a source of power," Ryu continued, his tone calm but firm. "It's connected to your very life force. The more you push beyond your limits, the more you risk damaging that connection. In Kenji's case, he depleted almost all of his energy reserves. If he had gone any further..."
Ryu paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. Kai's heart skipped a beat as he realized what Ryu was implying. If Kenji had gone further, he could have—
"But he's going to be okay, right?" Kai asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "You said he just needs to rest, and the healers are helping him."
Ryu nodded, though his expression remained serious. "The healers will restore his physical body, and his spirit energy will recover in time. But the damage he did to himself is not something that can be healed overnight. He'll be weakened for a while, and it's possible he may never be able to push himself as far as he did in that fight again without risking his life."
Kai felt a pit form in his stomach. He had always thought of Kenji as nearly invincible, the strongest among them. The idea that Kenji's power had limits, and that those limits could have cost him his life, was almost too much to bear.
"He believed in you," Ryu said suddenly, breaking Kai's thoughts. "That's why he fought the way he did. He saw potential in you and in Nohara. He wanted to make sure you both survived because he knows how important you are to this team, to this academy. But in doing so, he placed too much of the burden on his own shoulders."
Kai's mind whirled with Ryu's words. He had always admired Kenji's strength, but now he understood that Kenji had been carrying the weight of responsibility that was meant to be shared.
"Sensei," Kai said, his voice quieter now, "I... I don't want Kenji to have to do that again. I want to get stronger—strong enough to fight alongside him, to help him, not just stand back and watch."
Ryu's expression softened as he looked down at his student. "I know you do, Kai. And you will. But it's not just about getting stronger physically. It's about understanding your power, knowing your limits, and working as a team. Kenji fought the way he did because he felt he had to bear the brunt of the battle alone. But that's not how a team works."
Kai nodded, though he still felt a knot of uncertainty in his chest. He wanted to be strong, to protect his friends, but he had seen the consequences of pushing too hard. He didn't want to make the same mistake Kenji had.
"How do I know my limits?" Kai asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. "How do I make sure I don't end up like Kenji?"
Ryu smiled faintly, though it was a smile tinged with the wisdom of someone who had lived through countless battles. "That's something you'll learn with time, Kai. Training will help you understand the flow of your spirit energy and how far you can push yourself without risking harm. But more importantly, you'll learn to trust your team. You don't have to carry the burden alone."
Kai glanced toward the healing chambers where Kenji was resting. The thought of his friend lying there, weakened and vulnerable, filled him with a renewed sense of determination.
"I'll get stronger," Kai said firmly, his voice steady. "Not just for me, but for Kenji and Nohara too. I won't let them down."
Ryu's gaze softened with approval. "That's the spirit, Kai. But remember, strength isn't just about raw power. It's about wisdom, patience, and knowing when to rely on those around you. That's what makes a true warrior."
Kai nodded, taking Ryu's words to heart. He still had so much to learn, but he knew now that strength wasn't just about being the strongest fighter. It was about understanding the balance between power and control, and more importantly, the bonds he shared with his teammates.
As Ryu turned to leave, he paused for a moment and looked back at Kai. "Kenji will recover, but he'll need time. In the meantime, you and Nohara must continue your training. You'll need to be ready for whatever comes next. The world outside the academy is dangerous, and the threats we face are only growing stronger."
Kai looked up at Ryu, determination burning in his eyes. "I'll be ready, Sensei. We all will."
Ryu gave a final nod before heading toward the door. "Good. Rest tonight, Kai. Tomorrow, your training begins again."
As Ryu left the room, Kai leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with everything that had happened. He glanced over at Nohara, still asleep, and then toward the healing chamber where Kenji lay.
This was only the beginning.