In the training ground, I was only in my shirt as I was training with Mr. Hagaruma, the teacher Dōjigiri assigned me. A man in his late 30s around 188cm tall, with simply black cut hair and glass but a strong build despite his Young age Mr. Hagaruma is an excellent martial artist
We were doing hand-to-hand combat Mr. Hagaruma was sweating because each palm was countered and even he was pushed back, despite the lack of experience I was still out besting him by raw strength
Then he told me to hold, he took his glass and smiled, he was sweating because his robe was drenched, meanwhile I only had a few sweat drops on my forehead compared to him "Did I go out too much, Mr. Hagaruma?"
Mr. Hagaruma leans against a training post, wiping his forehead with a towel that's already soaked through. His breath comes in heavy gasps, while I stand barely winded. He's a seasoned instructor for the Habakiri clan - someone who's trained warriors for decades - yet I've pushed him to his limit with nothing but raw instinct and that impossible physical conditioning.
He holds up a hand, still catching his breath. "No, Iuo-dono. I simply wasn't prepared for... whatever you are."
He straightens, studying me. "You've never formally trained in clan martial arts. Every move you make is pure survival instinct. It's sloppy, brutally efficient, and completely unpredictable."
He walks to a weapon rack, selecting a wooden practice sword. "The problem isn't your combat ability. It's your Soul partnership."
He tosses me a practice sword. I catch it effortlessly. "Right now, you and Naia fight as separate entities. She casts, you swing. But at higher ranks - especially against what we're expecting at Heartwood Spire - that won't be enough."
Naia appears in her Ascended form beside me, her expression thoughtful. "He's right. We need to move as one."
Mr. Hagaruma nods. "Exactly. The Habakiri clan has a technique - Soul Fusion. Not a full merger, but a synchronization. Your movements become her attacks. Her essence becomes your strength."
He takes a stance. "Show me. Attack me while she channels into you. Let's see if you can achieve even basic synchronization."
Naia places her hand on my shoulder, her energy beginning to flow into you. "Ready when you are, Iuo."
I nodded "alright let do it"
I took a stance as Mr. Hagaruma summoned his soul - a large armored figure covered from every side, only leaving a small narrow line where its eyes are glowing in bright red color - I gripped the sword before dashing, I infused it with thunder, making an explosion upon hitting it. Dash back the soul charge at me but I made big distance, as it charged suddenly from the gravel a huge water bubble appear the armored soul got stuck unable to escape, Mr hagaruma was in disbelief the suddenly he felt a tug in his back he didn't turn and just smiled "it seems I was wrong you two work in sync it just I didn't see it"
I smiled as the sword tip pressed on his back "It's all in creativity Mr. hagaruma"
---
at the end of the day.
The dining hall of the Habakiri clan compound is a massive, open space filled with long wooden tables and the warm glow of enchanted lanterns. The air smells of roasted meat, spices, and sake. Dozens of clan members - warriors, scholars, and family - fill the room, their conversations creating a comfortable hum.
Iuo was seated at one of the main tables, still catching his breath from the afternoon training, when a shadow fell over him. Before he can react, a massive arm wraps around his shoulders in a friendly headlock, pulling him into a bone-rattling embrace.
The man attached to the arm is indeed gorilla-like in stature - easily seven feet tall with arms like tree trunks and a wild mane of black hair. His laugh booms through the hall. "Iuo! The outsider who made Hagaruma-san tap out! You're alright!"
He squeezes again, making his ribs creak. "Name's Goro! I heard you took down an Awakened-rank solo. That's clan elder level stuff!"
A woman across the table, slender with sharp eyes and twin blades at her hips, raises her sake cup. "Don't let Goro's enthusiasm fool you, newcomer. He's been trying to match Hagaruma for five years and hasn't managed a single clean hit. You made the old man work in one afternoon."
Another member, older with grey-streaked hair, leans in. "The whole clan's talking about it. The outsider who survived the Soul Storm carries holt salt and treats it like spare change. You've got everyone's attention."
Naia sits beside him in her human form, picking at her food with a smile. "They're treating you like family already."
He chuckled "well I'm honored to be a member"
Goro releases you, clapping your back hard enough to sting. "So, Iuo! What's your secret? Those reflexes aren't normal, even for a Soul Master."
"I'm not sure Goro maybe it's because I've learned about souls before just mindlessly picking one and acting like I own the universe" he answered, looking at his palm before being met with a slap to the back like a truck hit me by goro him laughing
Goro's slap sends him forward slightly, but he catches himself on the table. The man's laugh echoes through the hall. "Hah! That's the spirit! No pretense, no bullshit. You see Souls as partners, not property. That's why you're different!"
The woman with the twin blades, whose name is Yuki, nods in agreement. "Most novices treat their first Soul like a trophy. They pick the prettiest one or the one with the flashiest abilities, then get angry when the bond doesn't work."
She gestures to Naia with her sake cup. "But you two... there's something real there. The whole clan can feel it."
An older member, seated at the head of the table, speaks with authority. "Surviving the Soul Storm taught you respect, Iuo. Respect that most spend decades learning. Those who treat Souls as tools die young. Those who treat them as family... they become legends."
Goro leans in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, about the Heartwood Spire mission. Goro wants in. I can punch things really well!"
Yuki rolls her eyes. "Goro's enthusiasm exceeds his strategic value. But he's right that you'll need backup. The Spire's corruption is spreading faster than we anticipated."
"To tell you the truth I know my way through the dead zone as I was stuck there for well since I was 13 before being found around 16 since then my life has been a blurred one moment I'm living off wild cores for good the next I'm in a room with adults trying to comfort me, since then I was just one angry problem each time a soul got close I always get hostile, normal reaction for a kid after seeing his family get turned into bones by souls right in front of his eye" he muttered getting a bad vision of his father pushing him away
Suddenly, he felt an arm on his shoulder. He looked to see Dōjigiri coming to check in. "Nobody can escape the past, yet everyone can move forward. I have no right to tell you this but iuo, I'll do my best to make sure you don't experience hell again even at my own cost of souls"
Iuo look at Dōjigiri then smiled it was a painful but genuine smile "thanks Dōjigiri-san"
---
The third day of training arrives with a clear morning sky over the Habakiri training grounds. I've spent the days pushing myself - training with Hagaruma, learning Soul Fusion techniques, and pouring essence into Naia every night. She's been steadily climbing: 50... 100... 150... 180... 195...200...270
Now she kneels on the gravel, her storm-cloud hair flowing around her shoulders. I step back to give her space. This is the moment - awakened rank. The threshold where a Soul becomes fully human.
We begin channeling essence. It flows from me to her in a steady stream, but this time it's different. The energy is heavier, more substantial. The sky above responds immediately, darkening as if a storm front is rolling in.
Naia's head tilts back, her eyes closing. Her lips part slightly. The air grows thick with power.
The first drop falls. It's larger than normal rain, glowing with an impossible color - green like deepest forest, blue like ocean depths. It spirals down slowly, defying gravity, leaving a trail of light in its wake.
The drop lands perfectly on Naia's tongue. She doesn't swallow - she absorbs it. The light spreads through her body, visible beneath her skin like veins of liquid energy.
Her back arches. A pulse of power radiates outward, shaking the ground. Gravel shifts. Trees in the distance bend away. The dark clouds swirl faster, forming a perfect circle above her.
She rises slowly, her eyes opening. They're different now - deeper, ancient. Her body has changed subtly. More defined, more... complete.
The energy stabilizes. The clouds begin to clear. Naia looks at her hands, then at you. Her voice carries new weight.
"I can feel everything. The earth beneath my feet. The air in my lungs. Life."
She touches her chest, where a human heart now beats. "I'm real, Iuo. Completely real."
I catch my breath and wipe off sweat from my face i look at her and smile "Glad you feel happy Naia"
She smiled Naia launches herself at me with the same enthusiasm she had as a tiny figure on my shoulder, but now with the full weight and force of her human form. I stagger back from the impact, but catch her easily. Her arms wrap around my neck, her face buried in my shoulder.
She's warmer now - a normal body temperature. I can feel her breathing, the steady beat of her heart against my chest. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for believing in me. For treating me like I was already whole."
She pulls back slightly, just enough to look at me. Her eyes are still that same blue-green storm color, but there's a depth to them now that speaks of true humanity. "I'm not just a Soul anymore. I'm your partner. Your family."
Her hands move to cup my face, and she presses her forehead to mine - a gesture she used to do when she was tiny, but now carries so much more weight. "When we go to the Heartwood Spire, I'll protect you. Not because the contract says so, but because you're mine to protect."
She pauses, realizing what she said, and a faint blush colors her cheeks. "That came out wrong. I meant..."
She trails off, then just smiles, resting her head on my shoulder again. "I know what I meant."
From the training ground entrance, you hear applause. Hagaruma stands there with Goro and Yuki, all three watching with knowing smiles. "Beautifully done," Hagaruma calls out. "Awakened in under a week. The clan has witnessed something special today."
The celebration around us is genuine - Hagaruma's pride, Goro's booming congratulations, Yuki's quiet respect. But on a high balcony overlooking the training grounds, a different mood festers.
A young man watches, his expression twisted with barely concealed resentment. He's dressed in expensive clan armor, his posture rigid with entitlement. Beside him floats his Soul - a beautiful creature with golden wings, but it hovers with the timid movements of something that's been broken down.
The man's voice carries just enough to be overheard by those paying attention. "Five years. Five years I've nurtured that golden core, and it can't even reach Awakened."
He kicks at the Soul, not hard enough to cause damage, but the disrespect is obvious. "Useless. All that money wasted on a dud."
His Soul flinches, golden wings drooping further. The man turns away from the balcony, storming back inside.
Goro notices me looking up and follows your gaze. His expression darkens. "That's Kenzo. Second branch head's son. He's had every advantage - gold cores, elite training, legacy contracts. But his Souls never bond properly with him."
Yuki sips from a sake cup someone handed her. "He treats Souls like investments that should pay dividends on schedule. When they don't, he blames them."
Naia's arms tighten around me, her voice soft but firm. "That's why he's stuck. He'll never understand what we have."
"....he shouldn't be treating it like that" I muttered
Hagaruma sighs, shaking his head. "Kenzo will cause problems. He's already petitioned the elders to have you investigated for 'unauthorized ascension methods.' The old men dismissed it, but he won't let it go."
I watch as Kenzo went deep into his room "Typical for a second head of the family or a spoiled kid in general at least Kaito starts learning humility"
"Hey! Screw you" Kaito yelled from across
---
That evening
Naia was sleeping souls can take the shape of a simple object to stick to there Masters for Naia she turned herself into a pendant. Iuo was in the living room he was summoned the first time he came here, he was talking with Dōjigiri when suddenly Himawari came destroying another door "PAPA!!! oh hi iuo. Papa I want to buy this!" She said pointing at her phone showing dressed that cost about 3000 "pretty please!"
Dōjigiri sighed then pulled out his card from his sleeve and gave it to her, Himawari snatched it before giving her father a kiss on his head, and jumping out of the room in happiness. Dōjigiri took a sip of his tea and sighed, "My apologies"
Iuo held his hand "none taken. Dōjigiri-san I got a question"
Dōjigiri places his cup down and answers before Iuo can continue "Kenzo is a good kid, but he's misguided my brother drove in only for power had influence on Kenzo to become who he is, by clan rules we can't do anything he's from the second branch and I can't do anything to save his soul. even though I really wish you had it iuo-dono."
"It's alright Dōjigiri-san I understand but still" his eyes flicker for a second "it's just that after being rescued I was taught that souls aren't all evil. Back then when a soul approach me to heal my wounds after the special guards found me I almost crush it core but day by day, through therapy, lot of study and trying not to break down I've learned - soul and us are the same we all essence yet they need us as much as we need them - even though I wasn't allowed to own soul by 16 because of my studies and interaction with other souls and people I understand how they feel, scard, anger, pain, thinking we only see them as tools but then I saw, the one that treat them as another person not a trophy were always the happiest since then I've been working with other people and souls day and night A from that when I got Naia I understand something, she was scard that she not good enough as a bronze but since then I watch her grow her interacting with other people other then me. I'm so happy for this life"
Dōjigiri listened and smiled as he wiped off some tears Iuo didn't notice "honestly I really wish you were that gold core master"