The Great Hall of the Shiro was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. The room, with its towering wooden beams and polished stone floor, seemed to hum with the quiet history of the Takeda family. Lanterns hung from the rafters, their light casting gentle shadows that flickered and danced across the walls adorned with tapestries and scrolls. Every corner of this ancient palace spoke of power, legacy, and strength.
Nine-year-old Ryūzaki Kaito sat in one of the hall's far corners, his small hands nervously gripping a wooden practice sword. He had been waiting, though he wasn't entirely sure why. His father, Takeda Haruto, had called for him to come, but there had been a tone in his voice that Kaito had never heard before—one that was full of weight and seriousness. It made his heart race, though his young mind couldn't quite understand why.
"Kaito," came the king's voice from the throne, calm but with an underlying force that Kaito had grown up knowing well. "Come here, my son."
Kaito stood, his feet silent against the tatami mats. He set his sword aside and made his way toward his father, each step heavier than the last. This wasn't like the usual summons; this felt... different. His father, the mighty king, had always been the epitome of strength, a figure of invincibility. But today, Haruto seemed smaller somehow, his usual commanding presence tempered by something Kaito couldn't place.
As Kaito approached, he noticed the usual brightness in his father's eyes was gone, replaced by a tired, almost sorrowful look. His once indomitable form now appeared more hunched, the weight of his crown more apparent than ever before.
"Kaito," Haruto said softly, motioning for his son to sit beside him. "Come. There are things we must discuss."
Kaito knelt beside his father, his small hands resting on his lap as he waited, his heart pounding. His father rarely spoke with such seriousness unless it was something very important.
"Kaito," Haruto began after a long pause, "there is something you must know. You are the heir to the Takeda family, and that means you are destined to follow in my footsteps. You will become a demon trainer."
Kaito blinked, the words unfamiliar and heavy. "A demon trainer?" His voice shook. He had heard the stories — of the powerful Takeda family who could control the demons that roamed the land, but he had never thought much of it. His father's power had always been a distant, grand thing, something Kaito couldn't fathom. But now, as his father spoke, it felt all too real.
Haruto nodded, his eyes fixed on his son. "The Takeda family is the most powerful in this land because we are the only family able to control demons. We bind them to relics, Kaito, and use their power for the good of the kingdom. It is a gift, but also a burden. One that has been passed down for generations."
Kaito felt his stomach tighten. "But... why me? I'm only nine. I don't even know how to control demons. I can barely swing a sword properly."
Haruto's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Kaito's shoulder. "I understand your fear, Kaito. But you are the one who carries the gift. All your siblings... they have their own strengths, but none of them inherited the power to control demons. You are the only one."
At this, Kaito's heart skipped. He had six older siblings: Sora, the eldest at fifteen; Raiko, thirteen; Keiko, twelve; Yuuto, eleven; and the twins, Haruka and Mei, both ten. All of them were talented in their own right. Sora was strong in combat, Raiko could control the wind, Keiko had an affinity with spirits, and Yuuto had mastery over water. Haruka and Mei had their own impressive skills with earth and fire, respectively.
But none of them could wield the power that Haruto and Kaito's ancestors had possessed. None of them could control demons.
Kaito's mind raced. He loved his family, and each of his siblings was exceptional in their own way. But now, he had the terrifying realization that he was different. He was the one who had inherited the family's greatest power.
"But... why me, Father?" Kaito whispered, a sense of dread creeping over him. "I don't want this power. I'm not ready."
Haruto's face softened, but his expression remained resolute. "It's not a matter of wanting it, Kaito. You have been chosen. And the demons will come for you, whether you are ready or not. When you turn twelve, you will begin your training, and when that time comes, you will face the demons. But I will help you prepare, just as my father helped me."
Kaito shook his head. "I don't understand. Why is this happening now? Why didn't my brothers and sisters inherit it?"
The king's face darkened, and he looked away for a moment, as though contemplating something painful. "That is a question I cannot answer. Our family has always passed down this gift. And for centuries, we have protected this kingdom with the power to bind demons. But the path you are about to walk is dangerous, Kaito. And you must know the history of the Takeda family, the burden that comes with our legacy."
Haruto's voice lowered, his eyes hardening as he spoke. "There was a time when another man, like me, was born with the power to control demons. His name was Kanemori Daigo. Unlike me, however, he used his gift for destruction. He terrorized this land, summoning demons to destroy entire villages, waging wars against our people, and sowing chaos wherever he went. His reign of terror lasted for years. No one could stop him — not the greatest warriors, not even the other demon trainers of the time."
Kaito's eyes widened. "What happened to him?"
Haruto's gaze became grim. "I did."
Kaito stared, speechless. "You defeated him?"
Haruto nodded solemnly. "I did. It was the most difficult battle of my life, Kaito. My power was nearly spent in the fight. But I managed to seal his demons into relics, binding them to objects, and locking them away. Kanemori himself was captured and exiled, but the damage he caused took years to undo. His reign nearly destroyed everything. But I was the one who ended it."
Kaito felt a chill run down his spine. His father had fought against someone with the same power he now possessed. "Father... why are you telling me this? What does it have to do with me?"
Haruto's eyes softened, though the hardness of the past still lingered in them. "Because, Kaito, I fear my strength is fading. The power that defeated Kanemori is no longer as strong as it once was. I passed some of that power to you when you were born. You are the heir to the Takeda family's legacy. But you will face challenges that I cannot foresee. You must be prepared to take on this responsibility, for the sake of our people, our family, and yourself."
Kaito's chest tightened. He felt like he was drowning in the weight of his father's words. "But I'm just a child," he whispered, his voice trembling. "How can I do this? How can I control demons? I don't even know where to start."
Haruto's gaze softened, his voice gentle. "I know, Kaito. You are still young. But in three years, when you turn twelve, you will begin your training. You will learn how to control the demons bound to the relics, how to wield their power. And when the time comes... you will be ready."
Kaito swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. It was too much. How could he possibly become like his father? How could he control demons like that?
"I don't want to fail," Kaito said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Haruto smiled, a sad but understanding smile. "You won't. You're not alone, Kaito. You have me, and you have your family. Your siblings may not have inherited the gift to bind demons, but they are strong in their own right. You will not walk this path alone."
Kaito looked up at his father, a mix of fear and determination in his heart. The burden was heavy, but it was now his to bear. In three years, his training would begin. And when the demons came for him, he would have to face them.
For the first time, Kaito realized what it truly meant to be a Takeda.