The Divine Blades

"Hearing this news is like biting into a fruit you thought was sweet, only to find it full of mold inside. There’s no going back once you’ve tasted it."

Royjin Kurogane, usually stoic and commanding shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He spoke steady but the guilt gnawed at him.

"I did everything I could," he murmured with his eyes downcast. "But the Senodokidatsu inside her... it's evolved." He met Soujin’s eyes unflinching despite the severity of his words. “Cera is fighting it, but her body can't handle this much longer. It's feeding off her energy and growing stronger."

A silence settled, thick and suffocating like the walls themselves had closed in to bear witness to the grim reality. Soujin, arms crossed. He did not speak for a long moment.

"And what does that mean?" he finally asked but with a whisper.

Will Blackhart’s filled the room like an impending storm. He cut through the tension with ease but there was some hint of regret in his tone. "It means we have two days, Soujin. There’s a seventy percent chance that in three days, Cera will become one of them. A Senodokidatsu herself. And when that happens…" Will paused with his eyes darkening. "There’s no going back."

Soujin stood frozen but the air around him seemed to grow heavy like a suffocating fog closing in. It was almost unthinkable that someone so full of life could have their flames snuffed out.

"So, what now?"

Will’s gaze hardened. His next words were as sharp as broken glass. "We schedule her execution in two days."

The words hit like a slap to the face that left a sting that lingered. "It’s regrettable. She’s one of our best. But we can’t allow a Senodokidatsu to be born from within our walls. We can’t risk this spreading”

Soujin closed his eyes for a brief second. He pushed down the swirling thoughts that threatened to undo him. Cera had been more than just a squadmate. Despite her attitude, he considered her a friend like most of the squad that he needed to connect more with. She was a brave fighter, and now... now she was a threat. The irony of it twisted in his gut.

"You know what this means," Will continued while now speaking colder.. "We all knew the risks. But we can't let personal feelings cloud our judgment. If we don't act now, the walls won't keep us safe. And the Senodokidatsu will break us down from within."

Soujin’s fist clenched. He had never imagined it would come down to one of their own. "Understood," he said quietly but inside, a storm raged.

"Good," Will nodded. "Prepare yourself, because you may have to do this yourself."

Soujin’s walked toward the training grounds with the news ringing in his mind. The sound of clashing swords flew through the air but it felt like a drumbeat from another world.

A few squads were scattered around, sparring or stretching but his eyes immediately found the familiar figures near the far end of the yard.

Bellar was watching Cordelia who was in the middle of a sparring match with Pufima and Priya. The older woman’s gaze was hard but her hand twitched toward the hilt of her sword every few seconds. Something about her posture—tense, almost… brittle—suggested she was anxious.

Soujin’s boots scraped the dirt. As he neared, Bellar stiffened but didn’t turn immediately.

"Hey, Bellar," Soujin called but the fatigue was clear in his tone.

Bellar’s shoulders tightened for a brief moment and when she finally turned, there was a flicker of sadnesson her face but it was quickly masked by her usual tough exterior.That brief second was enough for Soujin to catch the brief glimpse.

He didn’t waste any time. "Meeting’s over," he said in a low speech. "It’s... it’s not good, Bellar. Cera’s condition has evolved. Royjin says there’s a chance she’ll become a Senodokidatsu in the next few days. So..." Soujin’s throat tightened but he forced the words out. "We will have to execute her."

Bellar's eyes flickered for a moment before she turned sharply. Her back was now to Soujin.

"I gotta go," she muttered. She was trying to leave and moved in a rush but Soujin stepped forward, blocking her path. His gaze was unyielding. "Bellar," he said softly, "you don’t need to hide it. You’re not fooling me. I know how you feel about her."

"Don’t you dare," Bellar snapped. She took a shaky breath before her eyes met his. The usual fire was gone and Soujin could see some visible unshed tears beginning to form. "I’ve got shit to do... now move it or lose it!”

The force of her words didn’t make Soujin budge. He stood firm and could feel the storm swirling inside her that threatened to break free.

He watched her face carefully and gauged the look in her eyes. "What are you gonna do, Bellar?" he asked silently. "You’re not planning to go against the order, are you? You know what that means, right?"

Bellar’s jaw clenched and for a moment, Soujin wondered if she would push him aside, keep running, or... something worse. Her eyes burned with fire. "I don't have a choice," she muttered, roughly. "I’ll handle it my way. Just—"

"No," Soujin cut in. "I won’t let you do something reckless." His eyes narrowed. He looked her dead in the eye. "If you try anything crazy, I’ll stop you."

Soujin could see her struggling. The pain, the fear, the sense of helplessness that had been gnawing at her ever since the truth about Cera’s condition had come to light which she tried so hard to bury.

"I’m not asking for permission," Bellar muttered through gritted teeth.

Soujin’s face softened but the way he spoke was no less firm. "Bellar, listen to me. If you start a fight against the society, it won’t just be you in danger. You know that, don’t you? Your actions—they’ll affect everyone. The squad, the Society... even Cera."

Her breathing hitched for a moment at the mention of Cera’s name but she didn’t reply. Soujin, without warning dropped to his knees before her which startled her.

“What the hell are you doing?” Bellar hissed with her eyes widening.

“I’m begging you, Bellar,” Soujin said while bowing his head low. His hands were clenched into fists against the dirt. “Don’t do something stupid.” He lifted his head with sincerity. “I’ll figure this out. I swear to you, we’ll find another way. But running off and doing something reckless? That’s not the answer. Please…We can figure this out together…please…”

Bellar froze for just a few seconds. Then, she exhaled sharply and turned head to the side. “You’re an idiot,” she muttered while unshed tears started to form. “A damn idiot.”

With a quick turn, she began walking away. Soujin didn’t move to stop her this time. He stayed on his knees and watched her go with a pit forming in his stomach.

When she left, he let out a long, shaky breath. “Damn it. Don’t do something you’ll regret later, Bellar…”

Nightfall settled over the Divine Blade Society. In the stillness of Squad 3's barracks, a faint breeze slipped through the slightly cracked windows. Inside one room, Pufima and Priya lay tucked into their assigned bunks. The remnants of a day filled with training and whispered fears was evident in their slack, peaceful faces. It was Bellar and Cera’s room before all this. Now, it belonged to two young girls trying to carve out their place in the world.

In another part of the barracks, Soujin sat on the edge of his bed with one hand gripping his knee while the other rested on his chin. He waited for Bellar to arrive but as hours stretched on, it became clear—she wasn’t coming back tonight.

He sighed heavily while raking a hand through his hair. His mind swirled with questions, doubts and a gnawing sense of unease. Where had Bellar gone? What was she planning? The thought of her facing Cera’s fate alone was enough to twist his stomach into knots.

With a glance at the door, Soujin stood and grabbed his sword. He secured it to his side and stepped out into the hallway.

Soujin moved with purpose through the night and approached Squad 4’s barracks. These were the quarters of the healers and medics—a place of recovery and tonight, grim inevitability.

Soujin stopped just outside the room where Cera rested. He didn’t enter yet. Instead, he lingered in the shadowed corridor in front of a door. Behind it lay a comrade, a friend, caught in a battle far beyond any swordfight.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath. He had no answers, no solutions, and yet he was now at this barracks hoping to find... something. Anything.

He exhaled deeply. His breath was visible in the cold night air. With one last glance at the door, Soujin stepped forward.

Soujin's hand hovered over the handle for a brief moment before he pushed the door open. The room was barely lit up, though it did have the soft glow of enchanted orbs which gave off some light. His steps were careful upon his entry. The door closed with a quiet thud behind him,

Cera lay in the center of the room. Her face was partially obscured by the creeping edge of a phoenix-like Senodokidatsu mask. Even in her unconscious state, her body twitched against the restraints of her condition. Her hands occasionally clawed at the air as though trying to rip the mask away.

Soujin’s chest tightened. Suddenly, Cera’s body jerked, and her eyes snapped open. A guttural groan escaped her lips before escalating into a sharp, "Fuck it!" Her aura exploded in a torrent of fire that surged from her in every direction. The flames engulfed her bed and licked at the walls and ceiling, yet the furniture remained unscathed.

Soujin raised an arm to shield himself. As quickly as it had flared, the inferno subsided and left behind faint wisps of smoke that curled into the air. Cera slumped back into her bed with her breathing labored.

Her fiery orange eyes was tinged with a faint glow from the mask. She locked onto Soujin. "What... what you doing here, cap?" She sounded hoarse, but the usual bite of sarcasm lingered. "You look stupid, standing there like... like I'm already dead."

Soujin swallowed hard. He stepped closer."Cera…You're—"

"Don’t," she interrupted. Her hand twitched. She wanted to raise it but lacked the strength. "I’m gonna recover. I’ll be kickin with you guys any day now. This shit ain’t shit! You’ll see. I’ll kick this Senodokidatsu’s ass!”

Her words were bold but her expression betrayed her. The faint tremble in her lips, the slight flicker in her gaze…Soujin could see the fear she was trying to hide. He lowered himself to sit on the edge of her bed.

"Cera, it’s okay," he said softly, his tone laced with sadness. "You don’t have to pretend with me… It’s my fault you’re like this. I was the one who screwed up that day... “

Soujin raised his eyes from the floor with guilt etched deeply into his face. “Cera... it’s my fault you’re like this. I didn’t listen to you that day.”

. "What you on bout Cap?" She spoke with slight irritation. "I ain’t even member most of that day."

Soujin shifted uncomfortably. “You told me…You told me the remains of the Senodokidatsu were still moving and following us but I…I didn’t take it seriously. I thought we were done. I gave the all-clear, and I...” His voice cracked. He clenched his jaw to steady himself. “You were right. And you paid the price for my negligence.”

Soujin’s head hung low and spoke after a small pause. “In two days, Captain Will has ordered your execution.”

Cera blinked. “What? The fuck are you talking about?”

Soujin forced himself to look her in the eye. “Royjin says your condition is evolving. The Senodokidatsu inside you is gaining ground. If it takes over completely, you’ll... you’ll become one of them.”

Cera’s hands trembled and this time she managed to raise it, though only slightly. “They’re... gonna kill me?” she asked with a whisper. “That’s the plan?”

Soujin nodded slowly. “Will gave the order. He says it’s for the good of the Society. If the mask overtakes you—”

Cera cut him off with a sharp laugh. “For the good of the Society,” she repeated mockingly. Her eyes narrowed and the fire in them reignited. “Of course. Gotta keep the machine running, right? So… that ain’t gonna fly with me. So, ya ready to battle The Head man upstairs for me?”

Soujin blinked at her with confusion. “Excuse me? Battle the Head Captain? Are you out of your damn mind, Cera?”

Cera let out another sharp laugh but this one was laced with defiance. “You heard me, Cap. We got a motto, remember? ‘One for all.’ Ya mess with one of us, ya mess with all of us.”

Soujin’s eyes widened. “Oh…Oh…shit…I didn’t know it was gonna be like this…I didn’t know…”