**Narrator:**
The air in Sai's chambers was still and heavy, the light from outside casting a golden hue across the room. Sai sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes locked on the black book resting on the table. A constant reminder of Zaroth's power, its presence unnerved him. Yet, the more time passed, the more it called to him, as if whispering secrets in a language only his blood could understand.
**Narrator :**
Sai glances over to Hana, who stands near the doorway. Her sharp gaze follows his, settling on the book.
**Sai (his voice steady, but curious):**
"Hana, that book… the one I found in the dungeon. The black one with torn pages."
**Hana (nodding slowly):**
"You mean this one?"
**Narrator :**
Hana walks over to the table and picks up the black book carefully. The air around it feels denser, as if the very pages carried a weight far beyond their appearance. She turns, holding the book out to him.
**Hana (her voice cautious):**
"Here, but… it's strange. I've tried looking through it myself. It won't open. No matter how hard I try."
**Narrator :**
Sai takes the book from Hana's hands. His fingers brush against its cracked cover, the symbols faintly glowing in response to his touch. He frowns, his grip tightening slightly as he tries to pull the cover open.
**Sai (with slight frustration):**
"It won't budge."
**Hana (watching him carefully):**
"That's what I mean. There's something more to this book, Sai. Something that doesn't want to be revealed—yet."
**Narrator :**
Sai pauses, feeling the strange pull from the book. A thought crosses his mind, and his eyes narrow with determination.
**Sai (thinking aloud):**
"Maybe… it's waiting for something. Something from me."
**Hana (her expression shifting to concern):**
"Master… what are you thinking?"
**Narrator :**
Without answering, Sai closes his eyes, focusing on the energy coursing through his veins—the draconic power of Zaroth. Slowly, he channels his energy into the book, his hand glowing faintly as the symbols on the cover begin to react. The room grows colder, the atmosphere thickening as the book starts to hum.
**Narrator :**
Suddenly, the book responds. Its symbols flare up with an intense light before the entire cover begins to glow. Hana takes a step back, eyes wide with alarm.
**Hana (shouting):**
"Master, stop! Something's wrong!"
**Narrator :**
Before Sai can react, the book pulses violently and is abruptly sucked into the artifact around his wrist—an old, dragon-shaped bracelet given to him after he received Zaroth's power. The artifact glows, and in an instant, the book disappears, absorbed completely.
**Sai (in shock):**
"What the—?"
**Narrator :**
Before he can finish his sentence, a sharp, searing pain erupts from his wrist. Sai doubles over, clutching his arm as the artifact pulses with an unnatural light. The energy inside it surges through his body like wildfire, burning every nerve.
**Sai (groaning in agony):**
"Gah…!"
**Narrator :**
His vision blurs as the pain intensifies, his legs buckling beneath him. Hana rushes toward him, panic rising in her chest as she watches Sai fall to the floor, writhing in pain.
**Hana (desperately):**
"Master! What's happening?!"
**Narrator :**
The artifact on Sai's wrist glows even brighter, its energy overwhelming him. His body convulses, and a blinding light explodes from the bracelet, filling the room. Sai's eyes roll back, and with a final gasp, he collapses, unconscious.
**Narrator :**
Hana drops to her knees beside him, her heart racing. She gently shakes Sai, trying to wake him, her voice trembling.
**Hana (frantic, whispering):**
"Master… Master, wake up!"
**Narrator :**
But Sai doesn't respond. His breathing is shallow, his body still. The artifact on his wrist is dim once again, the glow fading as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only an eerie silence in its wake.
**Narrator:**
Hana's mind raced, panic and confusion swirling within her. The black book was gone—absorbed by the very artifact that had once been a symbol of Zaroth's power. And now, Sai lay before her, unconscious, his fate uncertain.
**Hana (whispering, shaken):**
"What have you done, lord?"
**Narrator :**
The scene focuses on Sai's wrist, the dragon-shaped artifact now dull and silent, as if waiting for something. The faint glow of Zaroth's power lingers, a quiet promise of the dangerous path that lies ahead.
Dream sequence:
**Narrator:**
Sai found himself in an endless void, floating in a vast expanse of nothingness. His mind spun as the familiar burning sensation coursed through him. The pain was less intense this time, but it was still there, gnawing at the edges of his consciousness.
**Sai (gritting his teeth, muttering):**
"Fuck… Zaroth… you said you wouldn't meet me again."
**Narrator :**
Suddenly, a soft, unfamiliar voice interrupted the silence. It wasn't Zaroth's deep and commanding tone, but a gentle, feminine one.
**Unknown Voice (calm, feminine):**
"Zaroth isn't here."
**Narrator :**
Sai's eyes widened, his confusion evident as he glanced around the void, searching for the source of the voice.
**Sai (narrowing his eyes):**
"That voice… I've heard you before. You were the one who told me to run when I first got here."
**Unknown Voice (with a quiet sense of confirmation):**
"Yes."
**Narrator :**
A figure materialized before him, bathed in soft light. It was a woman, her presence ethereal, her form shifting between reality and dream. Her voice was calm, almost soothing.
**Sai (demanding, skeptical):**
"So who are you?"
**Unknown Voice:**
"My name is Saroth. I was created by master Zaroth to aid you."
**Narrator :**
Sai blinked, the name catching him off guard. He couldn't help but let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
**Sai (sarcastically):**
"Saroth? Seriously? That's what he named you?"
**Narrator :**
Saroth nodded without a hint of offense, her expression serene.
**Sai (groaning, rubbing his temple):**
"Alright, Saroth—wait, can I just call you Sara? That's easier."
**Sara (smiling slightly):**
"You may."
**Narrator :**
Sai's gaze sharpened as his thoughts drifted back to the reason for this encounter.
**Sai (serious, cutting to the point):**
"So, how exactly are you going to help me, Sara?"
**Sara (her tone instructive, yet gentle):**
"I can teach you how to control Zaroth's power—and more. But first, you need to wake up."
**Narrator :**
Sai frowned, confused by her sudden urgency.
**Sai (frustrated):**
"Wait, what? Wake up? I'm tired of this, Sara. Tired of these damn painful dreams."
**Sara (reassuring, her voice softening):**
"You won't have to endure the pain anymore, Sai."
**Sai (his frustration turning to suspicion):**
"What do you mean by that? Sara, I—"
**Narrator :**
Before he could finish his sentence, everything around him started to dissolve. Sara's form faded into the darkness as Sai's vision blurred. The last thing he heard was her calm, distant voice, urging him to wake.
**Sara (faintly, echoing in the void):**
"Wake up before the tension in the real world rises."
### **Reality: Sai Awakens**
**Narrator :**
Sai's eyes snapped open. The dim light of his room greeted him, but something was different. His body felt heavy, and the faint soreness from the artifact still lingered. As his vision cleared, he noticed a group of maids standing around his bed, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion.
**Sai (irritated, his voice sharp):**
"What the hell are you all doing here?"
**Narrator :**
He glanced to his side, where **Hana** stood. Her arms were crossed, her face a mixture of anger and relief, though her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. She wasn't her usual composed self, her emotions too raw to hide.
**Sai (his tone softening, slightly guilty):**
"Hana…"
**Narrator :**
But before Sai could say anything more, he looked back at the maids.
**Sai (snapping, regaining his edge):**
"Go and do your work! Now!"
**Narrator :**
The maids quickly scurried away, leaving Sai and Hana alone in the room. The tension hung thick in the air, but neither spoke. Sai's mind raced, thoughts of Sara, Zaroth's power, and the pain he had endured swirling in his head.
Sai, still lying in bed, looked over at **Hana**, noticing her red, tear-streaked eyes. The sight stirred something in him, though he quickly masked any vulnerability with his usual dry tone.
**Sai (sighing, with a hint of exasperation):**
"Why is it that every time I wake up, I find you crying?"
**Narrator :**
Before Sai could react, Hana's fist slammed into his stomach, catching him completely off guard. He doubled over in pain, groaning as he tried to sit up.
**Sai (wincing, gasping for air):**
"How… can you hit your master like that?"
**Narrator :**
Hana's eyes flared with anger, but there was an unmistakable glint of worry behind them. She didn't even flinch at his words, stepping closer to his bedside.
**Hana (firm, voice shaking slightly from frustration):**
"Shut the hell up, Sai!"
**Narrator :**
Sai stared at her, surprised by her intensity. Hana wasn't one to lose her composure easily, but the weight of her emotions was clear as day now.
**Hana (her tone demanding, almost pleading):**
"Tell me what's happening to you! Why, you collapse, or worse, you don't wake up for days!"
**Narrator :**
Sai's expression hardened as he sat up, rubbing the spot where she punched him. His eyes flickered with a mixture of deflection and calculation, as if debating whether to tell her the full truth.
**Sai (turning away slightly, muttering):**
"It's nothing. Just my power… sealed by my masters. Anytime I come into contact with something connected to him, the pain hits, and I fall asleep. It's… the price I pay for bearing his blood."
**Narrator :**
Hana crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes, unconvinced by his explanation.
**Hana (challenging):**
"That's all? Pain and sleep? You expect me to believe that's why you keep collapsing like this?"
**Narrator :**
Sai clenched his jaw, a flicker of guilt passing through his gaze before he quickly masked it. He hated lying to her, but the truth about **Sara** and **Zaroth's power** was something he wasn't ready to reveal—especially now. He needed to figure out what it all meant first.
**Sai (forcing a smirk, trying to change the mood):**
"Why? Worried about me, Hana? You know, if you're not careful, people might think you've grown fond of your 'master'."
**Narrator :**
Hana's cheeks flushed slightly, but her expression didn't soften. She wasn't about to let him brush this off with his usual sarcasm.
**Hana (huffing, still annoyed):**
"Stop trying to change the subject. This is serious, Sai."
**Narrator :**
Sai leaned back against the headboard, letting out a tired sigh. The weight of everything—the curse, Zaroth's legacy, the pressure of leading Zarador—it was starting to get to him. But for now, he had to keep Hana in the dark about Sara. He needed more time to figure things out.
**Sai (finally, with a hint of sincerity):**
"Look, I'll be fine. It's just a side effect of the power I'm dealing with. I know what I'm doing, Hana."
**Narrator :**
Hana stood still for a moment, her gaze locked on his, searching for the truth behind his words. After a tense silence, she finally let out a long sigh, her shoulders dropping.
**Hana (grudgingly, her voice softer):**
"Fine. But if this happens again, don't think you can keep brushing it off. I'll find out what's really going on, Sai."
**Narrator :**
With that, she turned to leave the room, her usual composed demeanor starting to return. But as she reached the door, she paused and glanced over her shoulder.
**Hana (quietly, almost hesitant):**
"And… don't make me worry like that again."
**Narrator :**
Sai watched as she left, the door closing softly behind her. He let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair.
**Sai (to himself, muttering):**
"Yeah… easier said than done."
**Narrator :**
As he lay back down, his thoughts drifted back to Sara's words. *No more pain*, she had said. But what did that really mean? And what more was there to uncover about Zaroth's power? For now, the answers eluded him, but one thing was clear—his journey with Zaroth's legacy was far from over.