The Shadow Hunter outpost stood hidden deep within the mountain's crags, shrouded in mist and surrounded by jagged cliffs. Kaede had barely spoken since leaving the forest with Ryoji. Her mind replayed Yuma's final moments, the grief and anger simmering just below the surface.
"You'll find no solace in mourning," Ryoji said, breaking the silence as they approached the gates of the outpost. His tone wasn't cruel, but firm. "If you're here to become a Shadow Hunter, you'll need to channel that pain into strength."
Kaede didn't respond, but her fists clenched tightly. She followed him through the iron gates, her eyes scanning the compound. Warriors of all shapes and sizes trained relentlessly—sparring with glowing blades, running obstacle courses, and meditating under waterfalls. Each wore the same determined expression Kaede now felt on her own face.
"This is where you'll live," Ryoji said, gesturing to a small, sparse room carved into the rock. "You'll train here, fight here, and maybe, if you survive, die here. The choice is yours."
Kaede met his gaze, her jaw set. "I didn't come here to die. I came to fight."
Ryoji smirked faintly. "Good. Training begins at dawn. Get some rest. You'll need it."
---
The next morning, Kaede awoke to the sharp clang of a bell. The air was cold, and her body ached from the previous day's journey, but she pushed herself out of bed. Ryoji was waiting for her in the training yard, his arms crossed.
"Late on your first day," he remarked. "Not a great start."
Kaede's cheeks flushed, but she said nothing.
"Pick up that blade," he commanded, pointing to a rack of practice swords. Kaede hesitated, the weapon feeling foreign and heavy in her hands.
"Your enemy won't wait for you to get comfortable," Ryoji snapped. "Swing it."
Kaede swung, but her movements were clumsy. Ryoji deflected her strike easily with his own blade, sending it flying from her hands.
"Pathetic," he said, his tone cutting. "If that was a demon, you'd be dead."
Anger flared in Kaede's chest. She grabbed the sword again, her grip tightening. "I'm not afraid of you."
Ryoji raised an eyebrow. "Good. Show me."
This time, Kaede attacked with more focus. Her strikes were still amateurish, but there was a ferocity behind them that made Ryoji pause. He deflected each one, but didn't disarm her.
After a grueling hour, Kaede collapsed to her knees, her chest heaving. Ryoji stood over her, his expression unreadable. "Not bad for a beginner. But raw emotion won't win battles. It'll get you killed."
Kaede glared up at him. "What else am I supposed to fight with?"
Ryoji knelt down, looking her in the eyes. "Discipline. Strategy. And above all, control. Without those, you're no better than the demons."
Kaede opened her mouth to argue, but a commotion interrupted them.
A group of hunters rushed into the yard, their armor battered and stained with blood. "The village at the valley—another attack!" one of them shouted.
Ryoji's expression darkened. He turned to Kaede. "Training's over. If you want to prove yourself, now's your chance. Stay close to me, and don't get in the way."
Kaede grabbed her practice sword, her heart pounding. "I'm ready."
Ryoji snorted. "We'll see about that."
---
The village was a smoldering ruin by the time they arrived. Demons prowled through the wreckage, their monstrous forms illuminated by the flames. Villagers screamed as they fled, some cut down before they could escape.
"Stick to the edges," Ryoji ordered. "Pick off the smaller ones. Leave the big ones to me."
Kaede's hands trembled as she gripped her sword. This was no training yard—this was chaos. But when a snarling demon lunged toward her, instinct took over. She dodged its claws and swung her blade, slicing into its arm. The creature howled, but didn't fall.
"Focus!" Ryoji shouted, cutting down another demon in a single, fluid motion.
Kaede steadied herself, her fear replaced by determination. The next time the demon attacked, she sidestepped and drove her blade into its chest. It dissolved into ash, and Kaede stood there, panting, her heart racing.
"Not bad," Ryoji said as he joined her. "But don't celebrate yet."
A deafening roar shook the ground, and a massive demon emerged from the smoke. Its eyes glowed like embers, and its claws dripped with black ichor.
"Stay back," Ryoji commanded, drawing his glowing blade. "This one's beyond you."
But as the demon charged, Kaede felt something stir within her—a surge of energy she couldn't explain. Her sword began to glow faintly, and she gripped it tightly.
"I can help," she said, stepping forward.
Ryoji glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Then prove it."
As the demon roared and charged, Kaede raised her blade, ready to face it head-on.