Chapter 1: Ashes of That Day (II)— Truths Buried in Silence
Hayato woke up screaming.
His chest burned.His hands were shaking.
The smell of blood was gone.The screams were gone.
But the pain remained.
He lay in a small, plain room.
Stone walls.
A simple bed.
The sword rested beside him.
He grabbed it—and cried until his chest hurt.
Voices echoed nearby.
Angry.
Cold.
He pushed the door open just enough to see inside.
The Council
A wide room.
Stone walls.
A long table where the elders sat in a half circle, robes neat, expressions tense. At the head sat the Village Chief, hands folded calmly, eyes cold.
Their voices overlapped.
"This incident cannot be allowed to spread," one elder said sharply."Entire caravans destroyed, civilians dead—do you realize what this will do to our standing?"
"Our standing?" Hakuro snarled."People were slaughtered!"
Another elder slammed his staff on the floor."Lower your voice, Hakuro! This is a council chamber!"
Hakuro laughed bitterly."A chamber where cowards hide behind titles."
The chief finally spoke, voice measured and heavy.
"We are not denying the tragedy," he said."But the truth of it cannot be revealed."
Hakuro turned toward him slowly."You mean you won't reveal it."
The chief's gaze hardened.
"If the public learns the disaster was caused by the son of an elder—by a noble—it will tear the village apart."
"And what of the dead?" Hakuro demanded."Do they not matter?"
"They are already dead," another elder replied flatly."What matters now is preventing further chaos."
Hakuro stared at them.
"So that's it," he said quietly."Image over lives."
One elder leaned forward.
"There is… another option."
The room went silent.
Hakuro's eyes narrowed."Speak."
"We claim the forbidden power was awakened accidentally," the elder said."That the child—Jin's son—lost control of the sealed sword."
Hakuro froze.
"…What did you say?"
"The boy was found unconscious at the epicenter," the elder continued calmly."The sword responded to him. That is enough."
Another elder nodded."A tragic accident. A child unable to control inherited power."
Hakuro's fists trembled.
"That child," he said slowly,"just watched his parents die."
Silence.
Then—
"That is unfortunate," someone muttered.
Hakuro snapped.
He crossed the room and punched the speaking elder—his brother—square in the face.
The crack echoed.
Blood splattered across the floor.
"You gave Shin access to the shrine," Hakuro roared."You knew he was unstable!"
His brother wiped blood from his mouth and smiled.
"Careful, Hakuro," he said."You're letting emotions cloud your judgment."
"Judgment?" Hakuro shouted."You want to sacrifice a child to protect yourselves?!"
The chief raised his hand.
"Enough."
"This council will decide."
"A vote," the chief said."All those in favor of placing responsibility on Jin's son—raise your hands."
Slowly.
One by one.
Hands rose.
Even the chief's.
Hakuro stood alone.
"All those opposed."
No one moved.
No one met his eyes.
Except his brother.
Who smiled.
"The decision is made," the chief declared."A report will be issued immediately."
Hakuro whispered,"You're monsters…"
"…Why?"
Every head turned.
Hayato stood in the doorway.
"…Why?" he asked again, voice broken.
No one answered.
Except one.
"That," Hakuro's brother said casually,"is how the world works, child."
"You should be grateful we're letting you live."
Hakuro struck him again.
Bone cracked.
Teeth scattered.
"Say another word," Hakuro whispered,"and I forget you're my brother."
Hayato turned.
Picked up the sword.
And ran.
Hakuro chased after him.
The chamber fell silent.
"What should we do?" an elder whispered.
Hakuro's brother stood, blood dripping.
"I'll deal with Hakuro."
"And the child?"
He smiled faintly.
"He's Jin's son."
"A seed like that grows dangerous."
"Better to cut it down early."
Hayato did not understand politics.
But that day—
He understood betrayal.
End of Chapter 1