Chapter 15: Awakening the Inner Flame

Ren's battle with Hideo left him exhausted, but it also left him invigorated. The heat of battle had ignited something within him, something beyond simple swordsmanship. He had felt it—a surge of energy, a power deep within his soul. Lady Kagura had seen it too.

That evening, as the academy grounds lay bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, Kagura summoned him to a secluded training hall.

"You have begun to awaken your Soulfire," she said, her voice calm but firm. "But it is raw and unrefined. If you do not learn to control it, it will consume you."

Ren clenched his fists. He had felt the strength of the Soulfire in his fight with Hideo, but it had been fleeting, uncontrolled. He needed to master it.

"How do I control it?" he asked.

Kagura gestured for him to sit. "Close your eyes. Breathe. Feel the energy within you."

Ren obeyed, slowing his breath. At first, all he felt was the dull ache of his muscles. But then, as he focused deeper, a flicker of warmth pulsed in his core. It was small, almost imperceptible, but undeniably there.

"Soulfire is not merely energy—it is an extension of your will," Kagura continued. "Fear, doubt, hesitation—these will cause it to waver. Strength, resolve, purpose—these will allow it to burn brightly."

Ren furrowed his brow, concentrating harder. He reached inward, grasping for that flickering warmth. But the moment he tried to force it to expand, it slipped away, like water through his fingers.

Kagura chuckled. "You cannot control fire with brute strength alone. It must be guided, nurtured. Try again."

This time, Ren let go of his frustration. He simply breathed, allowing the warmth to grow at its own pace. The flicker steadied. He felt it spread—not wildly, but with controlled intensity. A faint blue glow shimmered around his hands.

His eyes snapped open. "I… I can feel it."

Kagura nodded in approval. "Good. Now, the real training begins."