After breakfast, Hyuk found himself in the living room, sitting across from his father, Kenji. The room was filled with the afternoon light filtering through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the walls. Kenji's expression was serious, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a somber understanding of the events that had transpired.
"Let's talk about what happened on your mission," Kenji said, his tone steady as he leaned forward slightly, hands clasped together on the table.
Hyuk nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I—I've been meaning to ask you about it."
"First, I want to say that I'm proud of you for what you did," Kenji said, his voice firm yet supportive. "Not many can face the darkness you encountered and walk away from it. But I need you to understand the gravity of your actions."
Hyuk felt a lump form in his throat. He had been wrestling with his emotions since that night—between the exhilaration of his newfound power and the horror of what he had done. "I didn't want to kill them," he admitted, his voice low. "But it felt like... like something took over. The darkness was consuming me."
Kenji's gaze softened, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. "You awakened your ice Kekkei Genkai during the battle. That kind of power can be both a blessing and a curse. You must learn to control it, or it could control you."
"How did I even get this Kekkei Genkai?" Hyuk asked, his curiosity overcoming his hesitance. "I didn't know our family had any ties to the Yuki clan."
Kenji sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Your mother and I didn't want to burden you with the truth too early. The Yuki clan is known for their ice abilities, but the lineage has been diluted over generations. Your mother is a descendant of that clan, though she never fully embraced the powers."
Hyuk's heart raced at the revelation. "So, I inherited this from her? But why now? Why didn't I show any signs before?"
"Emotions can awaken dormant abilities," Kenji explained. "In moments of intense stress or fear, the body can react in ways we don't understand. What you felt during the battle—your anger and fear for Reina and Sakura—it awakened the ice within you."
Hyuk absorbed his father's words, pondering the weight of this new understanding. "And what about the killing?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "How do I cope with that?"
"You learn from it," Kenji replied, his gaze steady. "What you did was a choice made in the heat of battle, but that doesn't make it easy. You will carry the memories, but don't let them consume you. Use them to become stronger, to protect those you care about."
Hyuk nodded, the darkness still swirling within him, but feeling a little lighter with each word his father spoke. "I want to control it. I don't want to become like the things I fought against."
"You won't," Kenji assured him. "As long as you remain aware of your choices and stay true to who you are, you will find your way."
After a moment of silence, Kenji leaned closer, his expression softening further. "And, Hyuk, don't hesitate to talk to me about Reina or anything else on your mind. You're growing up, and it's natural to have complicated feelings."
The mention of Reina brought a warmth to Hyuk's cheeks. "Yeah, I... I will," he replied, though he wasn't entirely sure how to navigate that conversation just yet.
As they continued to talk, Hyuk felt a renewed sense of purpose building within him. He wouldn't let the darkness take over. He had a goal now—to master his Kekkei Genkai and protect those he cared about, even if that meant facing his own fears.