Chapter 8: Into the Unknown
*That same evening*
Ronin awoke in his small room as the sun was setting, his head pounding and his body aching as if he'd been struck by lightning. The events at the training ground felt like a distant nightmare—surely he hadn't really overpowered Kazuma so easily?
Rose sat in a chair beside his bed, her expression grave. A packed travel bag rested at her feet.
"You're awake," she said softly. "How do you feel?"
"Confused," Ronin admitted, sitting up slowly. "What happened to me out there? I felt... different. Stronger. But also like I wasn't myself."
Rose stood and moved to the window, gazing out at the holy barriers that shimmered across Finslia's sky. "Sometimes, when we're pushed beyond our limits, hidden aspects of ourselves emerge. What matters now is learning to control it."
"Control what?" Ronin asked, though part of him wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
Rose turned back to him, her expression resolute. "Pack your belongings, Ronin. Only what you need. We're leaving tonight."
"Leaving?" Ronin's voice cracked slightly. "Where? Why?"
"To King's Land," Rose replied. "There's someone there who can help you understand what's happening to you. Someone who knew your parents."
Ronin's heart skipped. "Someone who knew my parents?"
"My former master, Baelish. He's... unique in his understanding of different types of power." Rose picked up her bag. "But we need to leave now, before Stanley and Shin try to stop us."
"What about Lucy and Rin?" Ronin asked, already knowing the answer but hoping he was wrong.
"They stay here. This journey... it's something you need to do alone."
An hour later, they made their way through the quiet streets of Kingston toward the harbor. Ronin carried his twin blades Seikuro and a small pack with his few possessions. The weight of leaving his friends—the only family he'd known for five years—pressed down on him like a physical burden.
At the harbor, Rose had already arranged passage on a merchant vessel bound for King's Land. The ship was modest but sturdy, its sails billowing in the evening breeze.
"Wait!" a familiar voice called out behind them.
Ronin turned to see Lucy and Rin running toward them, with Stanley and Shin close behind. Lucy's eyes were red from crying, while Rin's expression was a mixture of anger and hurt.
"You weren't going to say goodbye?" Lucy demanded, throwing her arms around Ronin in a fierce hug.
"I..." Ronin began, but the words caught in his throat.
Rin stepped forward, his jaw set with determination. "I should come with you. We're supposed to stick together."
"No," Stanley said firmly, placing a hand on Rin's shoulder. "Rose is right about this. Some journeys must be taken alone."
Shin nodded, though his expression was troubled. "But know that we'll be here when you return. Both of you."
Rose stepped onto the ship's gangplank. "We need to go. The tide won't wait."
Ronin looked at his friends—his family—one last time. "I'll get stronger," he promised. "Strong enough to stand beside you both."
"You already are strong," Lucy said through her tears. "You just need to believe it."
As the ship pulled away from the harbor, Ronin stood at the stern, watching Finslia's lights grow smaller. The holy barriers above the kingdom seemed to pulse in farewell, and for a moment, he could swear he felt them calling to something deep inside him.
---
*Three days into their journey*
The merchant ship *Sea's Grace* cut through the waves under a star-filled sky. Most of the crew and passengers had retired for the night, leaving only a few sailors on watch duty.
Ronin stood at the bow, unable to sleep. The ocean stretched endlessly in all directions, and for the first time in years, he felt truly alone.
Rose approached quietly, carrying two cups of hot tea. "Couldn't sleep either?"
"Every time I close my eyes, I see what happened at the training ground," Ronin admitted, accepting the warm cup gratefully. "That wasn't me, Rose. Or at least, it wasn't the me I know."
Rose was quiet for a long moment, choosing her words carefully. "Tell me, what do you remember about the night your parents died?"
The question hit Ronin like a physical blow. "I... I remember fire. Screaming. My father's sword being knocked from his hands." His voice grew quieter. "I remember a man with red eyes and black wings. And then... pain."
"And after that?"
Ronin frowned, concentrating. "Nothing clear. Just darkness, and then waking up in that forest with you, Stanley, and Shin." He looked at Rose intently. "Why? What does that have to do with what's happening to me now?"
Rose stared out at the dark water. "Sometimes, surviving something that should have killed us changes us in ways we don't expect. The power you showed today—it might be connected to whatever allowed you to survive that night."
"Are you saying I'm cursed?" Ronin asked, fear creeping into his voice.
"I'm saying you're special," Rose replied firmly. "And my master will help you understand what that means."
---
*King's Land - Port of Drakmoor*
King's Land appeared on the horizon like something out of a legend. Unlike Finslia's gentle, magical beauty, this island nation was rugged and imposing. Towering cliffs rose from the sea, crowned with ancient fortresses and mystical spires that seemed to pierce the clouds themselves.
"It's incredible," Ronin breathed as they approached the harbor.
"King's Land is home to some of the most powerful mages and warriors on the continent," Rose explained. "It's also one of the few places where different types of power—light and dark, holy and demonic—are studied without prejudice."
The harbor of Drakmoor was bustling with activity despite the early hour. Ships from across the known world docked here, their crews unloading exotic goods and stranger passengers. Ronin saw people whose very presence seemed to warp the air around them—clearly powerful magic users of various disciplines.
"Stay close," Rose warned as they disembarked. "King's Land is neutral territory, but that doesn't make it safe."
They made their way through the crowded streets, past shops selling enchanted weapons and rare spell components. The architecture was unlike anything Ronin had seen—buildings that seemed to grow from the very rock, their walls inscribed with glowing runes.
Finally, they reached their destination: a modest tower on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by a garden that seemed to exist in perpetual twilight. Some plants glowed with inner light, while others seemed to absorb the illumination around them.
"Welcome to my master's sanctuary," Rose said, pushing open the garden gate. "The Tower of Balance."
As they approached the tower's entrance, the heavy wooden door swung open without anyone touching it. A voice, ancient and amused, drifted out from the shadowy interior.
"Rose, my dear student. And you must be young Ronin." The voice paused, and Ronin felt as though invisible eyes were examining him from head to toe. "My, my. What an interesting boy you've brought me."
A figure emerged from the shadows—an elderly man with silver hair and eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of centuries. He wore simple robes that shifted between light and dark as he moved, and his very presence made the air around him hum with power.
"Master Baelish," Rose said, bowing respectfully.
Baelish studied Ronin with those ancient eyes, and slowly, a smile spread across his weathered features. "Oh yes," he said softly. "You'll do quite nicely. Come, boy. It's time you learned who you really are."
As they entered the Tower of Balance, Ronin felt something shift within him—as if he was finally approaching answers he'd been seeking his entire life.
[To be continued in Chapter 9: The Journey Begins]