The colossal gates of the Tower of Voices slammed shut behind them with a dry bang, like the beating of an immense heart. A breath of wind swept across the courtyard, gently ruffling the hair of the three exhausted teenagers who were now descending the stone steps. The sky was tinged with a mature blue, and the sun was beginning to peek beyond the rooftops of Yumehara.
Renjiro ran a hand over his face, still dazed by everything they had been through.
"That was... a lot." he murmured, as if words weren't enough to contain the whirlwind weighing on his chest.
It was then that Akari, with her confident walk and older sisterly posture, approached from behind and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
"You're impressive, all three of you. Not only for what you managed to do, but for not breaking down. You have potential, much more than you imagine."
Takumi raised an eyebrow and tried to hide his smile.
"Finally, someone recognizes our charm."
Asuka snorted softly and crossed her arms, but before she could utter any sarcastic comment, Yuto joined the group with his usual smile.
"Don't joke about it." he said, surprisingly seriously. "There's a special energy hovering over you. As if Æther chose you, even before you chose your masks."
"'Special' is just the fancy term you use to bury us in grueling training…" Reika muttered, but a smile escaped the corner of her lips.
Asuka then took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Renjiro. The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment.
"You…" she began, in an almost solemn tone "are just like your father."
Renjiro gasped for breath.
"Wh… what? Again with that...?"
Akari, Yuto, and even the normally quiet Ryo (who quietly joined to listen to the conversation) nodded, each with expressions ranging from respect to silent nostalgia.
"It's not just in appearance..." Akari said softly, "but in the way you look at the world. How you refuse to accept things as they are, even when they push you to the edge of the abyss."
Takumi and Reika exchanged confused glances.
"Wait, wait." Takumi said, gesturing with his hand, "Renjiro's father was in Yumehara?"
Shiori, who stood at the tower entrance with a slight smile, finally replied:
"That's a story for another day."
Renjiro remained silent. His gaze lost among the distant buildings of the city. But inside him, Asuka's words echoed like a soft thunder: like father, like son.
And though he didn't know what that meant, something in his chest began to burn. Not with anger. But with a hunger for answers.
"Let's go." he said, in a new voice. "We have much to discover."
The three set off through the streets of Yumehara, the twilight enveloping their steps.
And in the shadows of the tower, the members of the Council watched. Silent. Knowing that this story… was only beginning.
Renjiro's steps stopped abruptly. His body remained still, as if Asuka's words still echoed through his mind, rewound, cut, and pasted onto a shock tape.
"Like father, like son."
The silence among the group descending the tower steps was broken when he turned around, his eyes fixed on Asuka, who now stood beside the stone throne, arms crossed and a firm gaze.
"Wait." Renjiro's voice came out harsher than he expected. "What did you mean by that? What do you mean 'like father, like son'? Did you know my father?"
Asuka remained silent, her eyes half-closed as if evaluating the words before even considering answering them.
Renjiro took a step forward, his fists clenched.
"Answer me! You said that, didn't you? He... was here? Was he a bearer? Is he in Yumehara? Is he alive?!"
That last "alive" came out in a tone somewhere between anger, hope, and fear, as if his heart had raced in all directions at once.
Asuka slowly uncrossed her arms. But her lips remained sealed. It was Shiori who stepped down from the platform, a slight, sad smile on her face. The soft sound of her footsteps echoed through the empty hall as she approached Renjiro and placed a light hand on his shoulder.
"Sooner or later… you'll find out everything, Renjiro." she said, looking into his eyes. "But now is not the time."
"And when will the time be, then?" he murmured, through clenched teeth. "When I'm ready? Or when it's too late?"
Shiori didn't answer. Her silence was more eloquent than any explanation. A mixture of protection… and fear.
Reika and Takumi approached slowly, realizing it wasn't the time for more questions.
"Come on, Renjiro." Reika said calmly but firmly. "Let's get out of here before I start yelling at important people."
Takumi placed a hand on his friend's back, gently trying to pull him along. Renjiro hesitated… but eventually gave in, though his gaze remained fixed on the tower. Fixed on the words. Fixed on the past that he now knew had much deeper roots in that world than he had imagined.
Shiori watched them walk away across the square, until the last echo of their footsteps faded into the streets of Yumehara.
"It's only a matter of time…" she murmured.
And deep down, she knew: when the truth came out, nothing would ever be the same.
As they walked through the quiet streets of Yumehara, the three walked side by side, their steps slower than usual. The sky was already a golden-orange hue, with thin clouds drawing soft patterns above the rooftops of the Japanese buildings.
Renjiro ran a hand through his hair, exhausted, looking ahead as if trying to reorganize his thoughts.
"It feels like days have passed... but it was only, what? Two days?" he said, his voice deep and slightly drawn out. "So much in so little time... the awakening, the Tower, the entities, the training, that damn evaluation..."
Reika, with her arms crossed, let out a small sigh. "It all seems like a long, poorly written dream..."
But it was Ame-no-Kagura's lively and cheeky voice that interrupted, echoing provocatively from Reika's mask.
"Oh, poor things! You think that was a lot? Seriously?" There was a muffled laugh. "My dears, you haven't even begun yet. There's so much more for you to discover."
Reika frowned and turned to the mask now resting on her shoulder, as if wanting to confront it.
"What, even more? More what?"
Before Kagura could respond with another provocative comment, a new presence filled the room, softer, more enveloping, and mysterious. Nyxalith's voice sounded clear, like silk gliding on a cold surface.
"Masks… are not just portals to your traumas and inner strengths. They are reflections of your essence. And when that essence is refined enough… we can… manifest."
Renjiro stopped. "Manifest what?"
Nyxalith smiled inwardly, but everyone heard the voice as if she were right there beside them.
"Weapons. Tools. Extensions of your soul. Each mask holds within it a materializable fragment… something that resonates with who you are. A symbol of your bond with us."
"Weapons?" Reika repeated, her eyes wide. "Like… summoning swords or something like that?"
"Yes. Swords. Scythes. Chains. Claws. Flames. Mist." Nyxalith said in a melodic tone. "It depends on who you are. And how much you accept… the emptiness within you."
Takumi raised an eyebrow, clearly interested.
"That… that sounds useful. When do we learn to do that?"
It was then that Enkidu spoke, serene and firm as always.
"When you are ready. Not before. Mastering your mask is not like wielding a weapon. It's… becoming one."
The three friends exchanged brief glances. The idea of each wielding something born from their soul seemed brutal and powerful… but also terrifying.
Renjiro looked at the cracked mask he held close to his chest, his fingers sliding along the cracks that still covered the surface. His reflection was distorted in the cold porcelain.
"So… all that's left is to keep going, isn't it?"
Reika nudged him lightly with her elbow.
"Of course. We're in this together. You're not running away now, Renjiro."
Takumi raised his fist, excited.
"If my mask turns into a giant katana, I'll have a cloak made with my name on it."
Kagura laughed. "You'd trip over the cloak and break your teeth, you idiot!"
Between smiles, tension, and many unanswered questions… the three continued their way back. Night fell slowly over Yumehara, but the weight of the masks they carried only seemed to grow.
And in the distance… in the shadows between the alleys, something was watching.
In the silence that settled over the streets of Yumehara, after the intense conversation of the three bearers and the provocations of the masks, something stirred in the shadows.
On the roof of a paper lantern shop, a man crouched, almost merging with the darkness. A long, asymmetrical coat in shades of black and copper, with a high, irregular collar, covered his thin body. Loose ribbons hung from his arms, like sashes from a forgotten ritual. The fabric rippled in the wind, whispering as if it had a life of its own. The coat opened slightly in the center, revealing his bare torso, covered in ancient tribal tattoos that seemed to pulse slightly, as if reacting to the Æther around him.
His eyes, completely white, without irises or pupils, shone like dead embers. His disheveled hair, black with bluish highlights, fell across his face to his shoulders, held back in places by metal rings and pieces of gold thread that contrasted with his displeased expression. A broken mask hung at his waist, cracked from top to bottom, like a trophy or memento of something I wanted to forget, or destroy.
His long fingers, with nails painted a worn black, held a small dark sphere, resembling a solid fragment of pure shadow. He twirled it distractedly between his fingers, like a toy.
"Tch… Ridiculous." he muttered disdainfully, watching the three walk away. His voice was deep and hoarse, as if he had smoked his own soul.
"Three kids who can barely stand… and they already think the world revolves around them. One Tower evaluation and they think they're special." he spat on the ground with a bitter grimace. "You're just… three more. Three more fools playing at being heroes." He rose slowly, his feet barely making a sound on the roof. His posture was lazy, but there was a constant tension in his shoulders, like a beast about to pounce.
"But it's not their fault, is it?" His gaze shifted slightly to the tower rising behind the three bearers. "Those damned Tamashi Zetsumetsu… they keep choosing new toys. And they forget about the ones that broke."
He smiled, a twisted smile full of anger disguised as irony. The wind made the ribbons of his coat dance.
"Let's see how long they last… before they break too."
With a snap of his fingers, he vanished, consumed by a silent whirlwind of darkness. Only the muffled echo of his presence remained, and an inexplicable shiver ran down the spines of the three bearers, even without knowing why.
The sun over Yumehara was slowly setting, tinging the skies with shades of orange and gold. Japanese-style buildings cast long shadows across the streets, while the soft sound of the wind and closing shops created a melancholic calm.
The three walked silently to the dormitories, their footsteps echoing off the polished wood of the hallway. The door opened with a familiar creak. This space was already beginning to feel… vaguely welcoming to them.
Takumi immediately threw himself onto the sofa with a dramatic sigh.
"Today was tough… physically, mentally, and emotionally. I'm completely burned out," he murmured, rubbing his face with his hands.
Reika carefully placed her mask on the coffee table and went straight to the small kitchen, taking fresh water from the clay bottle.
But it was Renjiro who stood motionless in the doorway, his gaze lost on the floor.
"…like father, like son…" he repeated to himself in a low voice.
Takumi raised his head, noticing the tense tone.
"Renjiro?"
The boy finally stirred, walking to the window and pressing his forehead against the cold glass. Outside, the world seemed peaceful… too peaceful.
"What did Asuka mean by that?" he asked, tense. "She said it with such certainty… How does she know anything about my father?"
Reika approached slowly, now with a worried expression.
"Renjiro… do you think she was just provoking you?"
"No. That wasn't the kind of comment she meant. She looked at me as if she already knew something I didn't. Something nobody should know." He turned, his eyes filled with confusion and anger. "I know NOTHING about my father. Not even his full name. Nothing. And now, everyone in this mysterious tower seems to know more than I do!"
Renjiro's mask, resting on the entrance furniture, seemed to emit a subtle glow. Nyxalith's seductive, low voice cut through the air, soft as velvet.
"The emptiness within you cries out for answers, my bearer… but be careful what you wish to discover. His name echoes through these planes like a forbidden whisper. Perhaps… it would be wiser not to know yet."
Renjiro clenched his fists.
"Don't come to me with those cryptic answers, Nyxalith. You know. You saw things within me that I don't even know I have. And yet you hide the truth from me?"
Silence.
The mask remained still.
Reika approached and placed a hand on Renjiro's shoulder.
"At least now you know there's something. That he… played a role in this world. It's hard, but perhaps you can discover more, with time."
Takumi crossed his arms, now calmer.
"And those Kurogane no Kagura… those sons of bitches have something to do with all this. The masks, your father, the Velkraths… it seems like it's all connected. It's no wonder Shiori and the Council want us to train. The war has already begun, even if we're still learning to walk."
Renjiro took a deep breath and nodded.
"I just… wasn't ready for this. I thought I'd find a new path. But instead, I found an abyss… and they all jumped with me."
Reika smiled, half sad, half proud.
"Then let's climb together. Train, learn, fight. And when the time comes… face those answers. This world won't crush any of us."
Takumi raised a water bottle as if in a toast.
"Have faith in the crazy ones, huh?"
Renjiro chuckled and sat down beside them.
The trio stood there, silent for a few seconds, absorbing the moment.
Outside the window, the lanterns lit up one by one, painting Yumehara with a soft light, preparing for the night. But in the air, something remained… dense. As if a storm was about to form on the other side of the plane.
And within Renjiro's chest, a certainty grew:
He would discover the truth. Even if it destroyed him.
The dormitory was warm, comfortable, with that complicit silence that only arises after an absurd day.
Reika leaned back on the sofa, letting out a long sigh. With a carefree gesture, she took off her shoes and then her socks, stretching her legs with satisfaction. Without warning, she placed her feet in Renjiro and Takumi's laps, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Ahhh, finally rest. My legs have been aching since the tower." she said, closing her eyes for a few seconds.
Renjiro and Takumi froze. They both stared at her feet as if they had just found a legendary treasure. The silence was broken only by Takumi's soft murmur:
"This... this is paradise."
Renjiro nodded slowly, his eyes half-closed in ecstasy:
"I never thought I'd die like this. Crushed by a princess's feet."
Reika opened her eyes slightly, gave them a half-closed look, and raised an eyebrow.
"You two are really perverts." she said, but without any venom. On the contrary, a slight smile was forming on her lips. "You can enjoy yourselves, but touch and you'll lose your fingers."
The masks vibrated slightly on the table, perhaps in a silent laugh. And then, without warning, Reika opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling, thoughtful.
"You know… the names 'Tenax' and 'Ame-no-Kagura' never seemed strange to me."
Takumi stood up slightly from the sofa, glancing at her sideways.
"What do you mean? Like… have you heard of them before?"
Renjiro straightened up as well, frowning. There was something in Reika's tone that didn't sound like a joke.
"I don't know how to explain it properly." she began, more serious now. "But when my mask spoke to me... the name came so naturally. As if I already knew it. As if... it had already been whispered in my dreams, or written on my bedroom wall in invisible ink."
Takumi swallowed hard. "Shivers. I'm getting chills now."
Renjiro fell silent. And at that moment, a voice as soft as a melody of wind answered in Reika's mind.
"Because your spirit has always danced with mine, little light." Ame-no-Kagura spoke in an enveloping tone. "It wasn't a new name. It was just a reunion."
On the other side of the table, Tenax also spoke, with his usual tranquility.
"The connection between the wearer and the mask… is ancient. Older than the very planes that intertwine. These aren't mere coincidences. They are… resonances."
Renjiro lowered his eyes to his mask, as if expecting confirmation. But Nyxalith remained silent.
Until, with a soft whisper, she spoke:
"He already suspects. Even if he doesn't say it aloud." a pause "Reika is right. And this truth… is only the beginning."
Silence fell again. But it was a dense silence. Charged. Meaningful.
Takumi scratched his head nervously.
"Damn… I don't know if I want to know what this means."
Reika sighed and closed her eyes again, returning to her lazy pose.
"Neither do I. But we're already in the middle of all this. There's no going back."
Renjiro leaned back. "Then let come what may. But tomorrow. Because today… Reika's feet are sacred and I need to sleep."
Reika laughed, and everyone laughed with her. Even though, deep down, they knew that each laugh was a disguise for the chaos that awaited them.
Reika's laughter gradually faded. She tilted her head, her smile slowly fading, until she had a thoughtful expression. She crossed her arms behind her neck, her feet still in Renjiro and Takumi's laps, but the energy in the room changed. It became more… dense.
"Now that you mention it…" she said, in a dry tone, "…Tenax. Ame-no-Kagura. Names like that don't just appear out of nowhere."
She turned her face, staring at the table where the masks were placed.
"If you two have been whispering your names in our ears forever…" her eyes narrowed, "…then, you brats, I want you to explain. Now. Who are you anyway?"
Takumi and Renjiro swallowed hard. Her tone wasn't aggressive, but it was firm. As if she had made a demand she'd been carrying for a long time.
Reika's mask glowed slightly. A small golden swirl danced around her, almost imperceptible. And then, Ame-no-Kagura spoke, with that serene and playful tone that always hid something deeper:
"Well, well… you caught us, Reika. I knew you were perceptive."
There was a brief silence, and then he continued:
"Ame-no-Kagura… is the name of a ceremonial dance, lost in the mists of time, used to appease gods and spirits in eras when humans still knew how to hear what cannot be seen. I was created from that dance, from the emotion behind it, from the hope of healing in a broken world."
Her voice became softer, almost maternal:
"I am the reflection of your soul, Reika. Not just your suffering, but your ability to dance above it. To smile after crying. To fight, even without reason. And yes… my name carries weight. But you, you gave me form."
Reika looked serious, but her eyes gleamed slightly. She was listening to everything. Absorbing it all.
Then Takumi's mask emitted a faint greenish glow. Tenax spoke, his voice deep and serene, like the echo of an ancient forest:
"Takumi, my name "Tenax" means having the quality of holding firm under pressure, staying persistent and unyielding over time, maintaining effort and determination despite difficulty, resisting breaking or giving up when faced with obstacles, and continuing forward with steady endurance rather than relying on sudden strength or force."
Takumi fell silent. His gaze had changed, perhaps more attentive, perhaps more emotional, but still processing.
Reika looked at the two of them, then at her friends beside her. She took a deep breath and rested her head against the back of the sofa. "So that's it."
Renjiro ran a hand through his hair.
"It means our ties to the masks aren't just a recent thing."
Nyxalith's voice appeared for the first time in the conversation. Warm. Melodic. Intense.
"You, Renjiro… aren't ready to hear the origin of my name yet. But when you are, you'll know that there are things that aren't chosen. They're destined."
He shuddered. But said nothing.
Reika broke the silence with a softer voice:
"Well... that explains a lot. And at the same time, it explains nothing."
Takumi gave a nervous chuckle.
"And the official training hasn't even started yet."
Reika pulled her feet back, finally letting the two breathe.
"Then let's go to sleep. Because if tomorrow they're going to beat us up in the name of 'destiny,' I at least want to have rested skin."
"Damn... we haven't even had dinner yet..." grumbled Renjiro, rubbing his stomach with a grimace. "I think we spent the whole day just surviving."
Before anyone else could answer, knock-knock-knock.
A dry, relaxed sound at the door. The three looked at each other.
"Who is it...?" Reika began.
Renjiro stood up and opened the door, and there was Yuto, arms crossed, leaning back with his usual relaxed aura of confidence. He no longer wore his previous ceremonial attire. Now, the Council member wore a tight black shirt with the Tamashi symbol embroidered in gold on the back, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms covered in tattoos of ethereal symbols that moved very subtly. He wore wide hakama-style trousers in a deep blue shade with gray details, and open boots with crossed straps, giving him an air of a modern warrior with a traditional touch.
"I was listening to everything, you know?" he said, with a cheeky smile and a nod. "You guys are really turning this dormitory into a confessional... "But hey..." he glanced at Takumi "good try with the physical training."
"Hah." Takumi crossed his arms, but couldn't help but smile. "Honestly, I'm still all sore… But yeah, it was worth it."
"I came to invite you guys to dinner." Yuto continued casually. "Ryo's coming too, and he doesn't leave his hiding place for just anything, so take advantage. It's going to be at a restaurant nearby, outdoors. It's got a good vibe today."
The three exchanged glances.
"We just arrived…" Reika began suspiciously.
"…but we don't have any food at home." Renjiro finished, already grabbing his socks.
"And I'll accept any excuse not to cook." Takumi said, putting on his shoes in an instant.
Minutes later, the five were walking through the streets of Yumehara, bathed in the soft light of dusk.
The sky was tinged with warm shades of orange, gold, and magenta, like a living painting, with thin clouds floating like soft brushstrokes. The traditional houses with their sloping roofs reflected the light as if the world were temporarily at peace.
Amber lights began to flicker on the walls and hanging lanterns, casting long, tranquil shadows. The shops were slowly closing, but some still sold sweets, tea, or incense, perfuming the air with spices and flowers.
People sat on the steps of the houses, children ran barefoot with paper kites, and an old man played the shamisen in a corner. The smell of ramen, udon, and fried foods lingered in the air like a constant temptation.
It was all incredibly cozy. A stark contrast to the chaotic day they had had.
Reika was looking around, visibly relaxing. She pulled the light coat she was wearing over her short sweater, feeling the cool breeze.
"Hey, Yuto." she asked, still absorbing the scene. "Where are we going, anyway?"
Yuto pointed with his thumb over his shoulder, without stopping walking:
"Restaurant 'Autumn Mist'. Tables outside, good food, hot sake… and a breathtaking view of the temple from the top of the hill. Let's enjoy it before Ryo changes his mind and goes back to his hole."
Renjiro shrugged with a smile.
"That description alone has already made our day."
Takumi made an exaggerated gesture of relief:
"If they serve me something that isn't pure æther, I'll be happy."
Everyone laughed and continued walking, the city cradling their steps with that kind of tranquil warmth that only appears at the end of a day that seemed like it would never end.