( journey begins ":9:" Hidden purpose)
As the dust of the day's arduous training settled and the young aspirants sought brief repose, Daisho and Master Henzo convened in a hushed corner, their discourse charged with urgency.
"Why was their chosen destiny kept hidden from them?" the Master's voice, though low, carried the weight of steel.
"They have only just arrived, Master," Daisho countered, respectfully but firmly. "To unveil the complete truth before they are even acclimatized to the ways of the DojoI felt it unwise."
Master Henzo's gaze was sharp, unwavering. "They were not chosen for their comfort or their petty inclinations. They were chosen so that, by revealing their purpose, their true potential might be unleashed. To begin their rigorous discipline without illuminating the reason for their presence, the gravity of their path especially to spirits of but ten years was an omission, Daisho. Look now at the cost of your secrecy!"
A shadow crossed Daisho's face. "I understand, Master. The guilt weighs upon me. Yet, I believed…"
"Daisho," the Master interrupted, his tone a cold warning. "This is no common school. The true seriousness of their undertaking must be instilled now, else the reckoning shall not fall on my shoulders alone. Remember this."
With that pronouncement, Master Henzo turned and strode from the chamber. As he passed the resting students, he observed them keenly. Each was lost in their own small world of exhaustion and distraction.
His eyes swept over the group, pausing first on Haru and his companions. He scrutinized Jinso the boy's mind, the Master noted, was clearly far from the moment. Yet, he did not approach. Then, his sight fell upon another: Izuma. Secluded, away from the others, the boy was staring intently at some unseen point. Master Henzo watched him for a long, silent moment.
Daisho approached, sensing the Master's attention fixed upon the solitary youth.
"Master," Daisho murmured softly.
Henzo broke his focus, his eyes returning to his lieutenant. "I trust the lesson has been understood, Daisho." He began to move toward the exit, only to pause, his gaze pulled back to Izuma.
"His name?" the Master inquired.
"Izuma," Daisho answered.
With a final, penetrating look at the boy, Master Henzo departed.
The instant the Master vanished through the doorway, Izuma, as if sensing the break in the tension, lifted his head and met the empty space where Master Henzo had. After the Master departed, Daisho retreated to his own quarters and sat for a while. He was under immense tension, his eyes restlessly scanning the papers laid before him.
His assistant entered the room.
"Master Daisho," he called out softly. "You have done nothing wrong here. To start the training by revealing all the truths to children so young is no simple matter from your perspective. However, shouldn't they know everything? If they are to be prepared for their next test before they leave this place, they must know the reality. You see Yin's condition for yourself, don't you?"
Hearing his assistant's words, Daisho stood up from his seat.
"Tell everyone to assemble inside the Dojo," he commanded. Following this, Daisho quickly rushed out.
The assistant immediately went to where the children were resting and conveyed Daisho's message.
"Master Daisho will be here shortly, so everyone must return to their places and wait in silence."
As soon as they heard the assistant's announcement, the children quietly began to wait for their Master in the Dojo.
A short while later, Master Daisho entered the room. Upon his arrival, they immediately showed their respect by bowing to him.
After entering, the Master looked at each of the children.
"How many of you know the true reason why you ended up in this Dojo after all your efforts?" Daisho asked.
In response to his question, a few of the children raised their hands.
All the students raised their hands, except for Haru and Sai. Jinso was among those who had raised their hands, and seeing this, Haru and Sai looked at him in shock.
"Why have you come here?" the Master asked.
"To become great Sapahans!" the children replied in unison.
Hearing their reply, Sai and Haru looked at everyone else with astonishment. They did not know the real meaning behind why they had been chosen for this Dojo.
On that day, Daisho clarified to them that the true purpose for which they had been chosen was something far beyond the ordinary.
(Supahan: The term Sapahan refers to one who destroys or hunts cursed spirits. The Samurai of that village are considered quite distinct. Beyond being Samurai who protect their land, some among them are chosen Sapahans. They possess many abilities that set them apart from common humans.
Once they become a Sapahan, their primary mission is to destroy the cursed spirits and eliminate their source. Not everyone is capable of becoming a Sapahan; the decision is based on certain special, unique abilities found only in a few individuals.)
Back in their own rooms, the children were discussing Daisho's revelations among themselves. Haru and Sai sat quietly on their beds, saying nothing. Jinso slowly approached them. "So, you two didn't know you were here to become Sapahans?"
"No. We only knew we were coming to be Samurai who protect the country; this 'Sapahan' is completely new to us," Haru said, gazing outward.
"First, we need to understand how this Supahan lineage began. Everyone around here seems to know what a Sapahan is," Sai remarked. It was then that Sai noticed Izuma; the boy appeared to be meditating or engrossed in something else.
"What are you looking at?" Haru asked.
Sai pointed towards Izuma. "Him. He is very different. There is something unique about him."
Suddenly, Haru's attention was caught by Daisho's assistant walking past. Haru decided that since they were here to become Sapahans, he must find out what that meant, and resolved to follow the assistant.
The assistant was going to check on Yin, having been sent by the Master to find out his current condition. He reached Yin's room, made sure no one else was around, and then opened the door.
Inside, Yin was still on the bed. The assistant approached him.
"Yin," he called, trying to rouse him. Yin slowly opened his eyes and looked at him.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked, examining his body.
"I'm fine. Just tired, that's all," Yin replied softly.
The changes that had afflicted him earlier were now absent. The assistant moved his hair aside and checked his neck to see if the blue mark was still there, but there was no trace of it.
"What are you looking at?" Yin suddenly asked him.
"Nothing," he replied, quickly turning to leave. But as he reached the door, he paused, turning back to look at Yin sitting on the bed. Yin looked at him like a normal boy, then slowly lay down again as before.
The assistant then left the room, locked the door from the outside, and departed.
However, Yin, lying on the bed, was not asleep. He could sense the assistant locking the room from the outside before leaving. But Yin remained where he was. Slowly, he moved his hair and touched the spot on his neck that the assistant had checked. Now, something blue faintly glowed beneath his skin something blue and venomous, like a poison. It began to spread through his body, yet Yin lay still, eyes closed, pretending not to notice.