Kado's hand gripped Akira's wrist tightly, pulling her along the street.
"I have to show you… now!" he barked, eyes flashing with the dark crimson gleam of the half-lynx power beneath the surface.
Akira stumbled slightly but caught herself, raising an eyebrow. "Kado… what are you dragging me into? Calm down," she said, tugging lightly on his arm.
"I'm serious! You need to see it! You don't understand!" His voice was sharp, almost growling, the veins along his arm faintly black-red, crawling like fire beneath his skin.
Akira tilted her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Maybe… maybe you're imagining things in your head," she said, shaking her head. "It's just a curse, right? Nothing serious."
She chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
Kado froze mid-step, jaw tightening. "It's not just a curse!" he said, teeth clenched. "It's… it's me. Part of me. You have to see it, Akira.
You have to understand what I—"
She raised a hand, stopping him. "Kado, enough. Seriously. Let's talk this afternoon, okay? You should stay safe until then," she said firmly, her eyes calm, almost teasing now. "Go back to your dorm. I'll see you later."
Kado's fists clenched at his sides. His tuffs twitched, itching to react, claws itching to form—but he held it back, letting the crimson gleam fade. He opened his mouth to argue, then swallowed, realizing she was right… for now.
Akira smiled softly and stepped back. "Be careful. You don't want to overdo it," she said, turning to leave. Her laughter was light, teasing—but there was a note of caution in her tone.
Kado's chest heaved, frustration and restraint battling inside him. He watched her walk away, and the sunlight caught her hair, silver like fire in the day.
He whispered to himself, voice low and sharp: "This afternoon… I'll show you."
...
....
Kado returned to his room and shed the uniform he had just received. His hands hovered over the scar on his chest, right above the heart. He let out a low sigh.
"Curse you… why won't you show yourself?" he barked, tuffs twitching.
A low, echoing voice slithered through his mind. "ALREADY CURSED."
"Damn you," Kado muttered, frustration spiking.
"ALREADY DAMNED," the voice replied, calm as ever.
"Shut up, Curse."
"HM," came the single-word response.
Kado shook his head, ignoring the voice, and pulled on his uniform.
The morning sun filtered through the academy windows as he stepped outside.
Voices drifted through the training grounds.
"Riku's awake already!" one boy said. "He's joining us in the afternoon session."
Kado smiled, relief flooding him. Riku survived… good.
Students were scattered across the field, demonstrating their abilities to teachers who were grouping them according to skill. Fire, water, wind, earth—each talent displayed in bursts of power and precision.
Kado's gaze swept the ground, noting familiar faces. Kaori zipped past with her speed, slicing the air effortlessly.
Taro hefted a heavy club, muscles straining with ease. Riku duplicated himself perfectly, decoys moving in harmony.
Two others joined their teacher's group: a boy named Mizuki, flames dancing around his fingertips, and a girl, Sora , whose hands glowed faintly as she healed a wounded student nearby.
The teacher overseeing them, Sensei Takeda, nodded approvingly.
Kado cursed under his breath. And me? Where do I fit?
He looked around and realized he was the only one standing alone in the circle, ungrouped.
"Oi! You there!" Sensei Takeda called, spotting him. "Come along, boy. You'll assist our group. Do not enter the hunt if you value your life."
"I… I can't just assist," Kado said firmly, stepping forward. "I want to be in the team where Akira is. She's the healer—she needs protection!"
A collective gasp rippled through the nearby students.
"Wha—?" one boy whispered.
"She actually—he wants to be with her?" another snickered.
Kaori froze mid-step, eyes narrowing.
Akira quickly turned her face away, avoiding his gaze entirely.
She pressed a hand against her forehead, her body stiff, clearly unsettled, as if she didn't know how to respond.
Kado's chest tightened. Did I just make things awkward? Did I say too much? he thought, feeling a pang of worry.
He watched her avoid him, shifting uncomfortably, and his confidence wavered for a moment.
Sensei Takeda's hand shot out, gripping Kado firmly by the shoulder. "Enough," he said, eyes sharp. "You will not die because of a girl. You follow my orders, understand?"
Kado's jaw tightened, frustration and determination mixing in his chest. "Fine…" he muttered, voice low. "But make sure she's safe."
Takeda gave a curt nod, dragging him toward the assigned group.
Kado glanced at Akira one last time. She still avoided looking at him, moving as if the earth itself would swallow her if their eyes met. I hope I didn't ruin anything… he thought, guilt and worry gnawing at him.
...
...
They kept moving for minutes through the forest, the group chatting nervously, asking questions and whispering about fears that hadn't yet materialized.
Kado walked at the back, carrying all their bags. A prince, and I'm being used as a pack mule… he cursed under his breath. He wanted to shout it, but the others would mock him mercilessly.
His tuff twitched sharply. Kado's heart jumped. Something was close. His gaze darted, scanning the shifting shadows.
There it was—a beast, moving silently through the trees. His stomach lurched, and he fell backward with a gasp, shouting,
"A monster is around!"
Laughter rang out. "Ha! Kado's scared!"
"Dreaming again, maybe?" someone sneered.
But Sensei Takeda froze, his eyes narrowing as he remembered Kado's warning from the night before.
He strode forward, gripping Kado by the shoulder. "Where?" he barked.
Kado pointed, though the direction seemed random, his finger shaking. The others laughed again, mocking, until Takeda's glare silenced them.
"Get ready. It's coming," the teacher ordered, his voice low but sharp.
Seconds stretched into a tense heartbeat. The first beast burst into view, charging straight at them. Kado's pulse matched the rhythm of the creature's, thrumming in his chest.
He couldn't move forward—not while Curse still restrained him. If he let Curse out now, it would risk taking over completely.
More beasts appeared, more than they had anticipated. Kado's jaw tightened. He pretended to be terrified, moving back as if running from the threat.
The teacher tried to stop him, shouting, but Kado darted past, leaping between trees with unnatural speed, his tuff twitching, ears flicking.
He stopped in a small clearing, the open space giving him a perfect vantage.
"Come and get me!" he shouted, taunting the creatures, trying to draw them away from his friends.
He murmured to Curse, "Are you ready?"
ALWAYS READY, came the whispered reply inside his mind.
"I only need a few of your powers," Kado said aloud.
The response was immediate. Speed surged through him, claws sharpening, veins darkening like ink under his skin. His right eye glowed crimson.
He bent his hands to the ground and launched forward, slicing through the beasts with precision. One… two… three… four… five fell before him, their blood painting his arms and clothes.
Kado moved to a pool nearby, washing his hands, but paused when voices reached him. He ducked behind a tree, back pressed to the bark, fists clenched.
Akira's team had appeared. She was beside a boy—Hiroto, a fighter—who was shielding her from the remains of the fallen creatures.
Kado bit his lip, a pang of jealousy tightening his chest as she clinged to him for safety.
Akira sniffed, paused, and moved on.
Kado exhaled, turning his gaze to see Kaori staring at him, frowning. "Is this the best place to hide, weakling?" she called.
He almost laughed in relief, straightening. "I'm just… watching," he said evenly.
Taro's voice cut through. "Your job is staring at your girlfriend now?"
Riku, frowning, hadn't spoken to Kado since waking. Kado noticed and approached cautiously. "Riku… I—"
"You're too weak," Riku interrupted sharply. "If you weren't, none of them would have died."
The words hit Kado like a physical blow. He gasped, mouth opening, but no sound came. Riku expected a reaction, saw none, and sighed, moving away.
Kado sank against the rough bark, the forest quiet around him except for the distant groans of the fallen beasts.
I've been foolish… he thought bitterly. Foolish to trust everyone, foolish to rely on a curse that isn't supposed to be my crutch.
Everyone sees me as weak. Laughing at me… mocking me… even Riku… someone I thought I could count on…
He shook his head, heart pounding with a mix of shame and fire. I can't… I won't… I can't let them see me like this. If I'm going to survive, if I'm going to protect anyone… I have to be strong on my own. Curse or no curse, I have to be someone they'll respect… someone they won't dare mock… someone they'll fear.
His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into the palms. I've let humiliation pile on me like a weight, and I've let it sting for too long. No more. I'll make my body strong. I'll make my mind sharper. I'll train until this shame… this weakness… is gone. And when I do… they'll see Kado for what he truly is.
A low, almost inaudible growl escaped his throat. And maybe… just maybe… I'll start with those who laughed first.
He exhaled, shoulders squaring, tuff twitching with restrained power. I'm done being a joke. Done being the fool. From now on… I decide what kind of man I am.