Amber of its cruelity

📜 CONTINUATION SCENE: Cardo's Sudden Arrival

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Tai is still sitting up, recovering from the whole Balerion fiasco. He notices a man standing at the edge of the training grounds — a lone figure, cloak fluttering.

Tai (squints, confused):

"Hey… who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Cardo (calm, staring at Tai):

"So… I see. It's really you."

Tai (annoyed, tilts head):

"Huh? See what? Bruh, you gonna talk or stand there like a statue?"

Cardo (dry smile, mutters):

"…Nothing."

Cardo turns away, walks off without another word.

Tai (points at him, frowning):

"Hey! Oi! Who was that sketchy NPC??"

Hiroshi (waves him off, pretending casual):

"Don't mind him. Probably just messing with you. Focus on your training."

---

Suddenly, a group of young students — mostly girls — run up. One bold girl steps forward.

Girl (excited, bright voice):

"Hiroshi-sensei! Please teach us the new sword forms too!"

The other girls behind her giggle and whisper.

Hiroshi (sighs, patient teacher mode):

"Alright, alright — line up, everyone. One at a time, don't push."

Tai (rolls eyes, smirks, teases Hiroshi):

"Damn, old man — got yourself a whole fan club, huh? You better go sign autographs."

Tai is staring where Cardo vanished, still puzzled.

Tai (squinting):

"Sensei… who was that? He looked at me like I owe him money or something."

Hiroshi (voice calm, brushes it off smoothly):

"Don't mind him, Tai. There are many people moving in the shadows lately — focus on yourself for now."

(Hiroshi opens a wooden box and hands Tai a folded garment.)

Tai (takes it, holds it up suspiciously):

"Eh? A cloak? What's this for?"

Hiroshi (nods reassuringly):

"It's part of your next step. If you want to stand among high-tier fighters, you'll need it. Trust me — it's important."

Tai (pretends to sulk, then smirks):

"'Trust me', he says… Fine, Master Hiroshi. You know I'd wear a chicken suit if you told me it'd make me stronger."

Hiroshi (slight smile, soft tone):

"Good. Just put it on and meet me outside when you're ready. We'll begin the next stage."

CONTINUATION — Tai's Past (Tai & Hiroshi)

---

They're near the edge of the training field. Hiroshi checks Tai's cloak, adjusting it on his shoulder. The wind is gentle. Hiroshi's tone is careful, sensing there's more to his student than just jokes.

Hiroshi (quiet, looking at Tai):

"Tai… before we move ahead… tell me something."

(He pauses, steady gaze.)

"What really happened to you and your sister?"

Tai glances away. For a second, he almost shrugs it off, but Hiroshi's calm tone makes him talk.

Tai (soft but raw, looking at the ground):

"Heh… Long story, Master. But if you wanna hear, fine."

(He exhales, remembering. His voice is honest — no mask.)

Tai:

"I remember… I was little. Me and my sister were playing outside. Mom was there too. It was normal — laughing, you know?"

(He squeezes his fists.)

"Then outta nowhere… this huge, giant thing — like a shadow — just fell from the sky. Hit Mom first. Crushed her. And then…"

(His voice cracks, but he swallows it down.)

"…And then it ate her. Right there."

Hiroshi stays silent. He lets Tai speak.

Tai (continues, eyes distant):

"I didn't wanna run. But my legs — they moved on their own. I grabbed my sister's hand and just ran. And then — boom — some bright thing, like a flash of light, slammed into me. Felt like it buried inside me. Didn't know what the hell that was. Thought maybe I died too."

(He kicks at the dirt lightly, remembering the fear.)

Tai:

"Next thing I know, I'm dragging my sister away. She's always been sick — her body's weak, always has been. I'm carrying her, half her weight. Then outta nowhere — this shadow figure shows up. Didn't see a face. Just darkness. Next blink, we're somewhere else."

He goes quiet. The wind rustles the trees. Hiroshi studies him — no pity, just understanding.

Hiroshi (gently, hand on Tai's shoulder):

"You held on to her all the way."

Tai (shrugs, but his voice is raw):

"Yeah. Didn't know what else to do. She's all I got."

Hiroshi nods once — solid, no empty words.

Hiroshi:

"Thank you for telling me, Tai. Keep that fire. You'll need it."

Tai exhales, tries a crooked grin.

Tai:

"Yeah, well — you said 'high tier', right? I'm not dying before I reach that."

They stand up together — master and student, with wind on their backs.

CONTINUATION — Tai's Next Trial

---

Tai holds up the cloak. Hiroshi steps back, giving instructions in that chill but commanding tone.

Tai (eyebrows raised):

"So… how's this even gonna work? You got any real plan, Master?"

Hiroshi (calm, half-grin):

"Click the clasp on that cloak."

Tai (squints at it):

"Click it? What's that gonna—"

He clicks. The cloak shimmers, its fabric tightening, then flows up his arm — morphing into a strange metal guard that covers his forearm, wrapping around his knuckles like a half-gauntlet.

Tai (deadpan):

"Uh. So you turned my blanket into a metal sock puppet. How's this help me again?"

Hiroshi (pointing, unfazed):

"Stay focused. Breathe. Feel it connect to your flow. It's a conduit — not a toy."

Tai (snorts, sarcastic):

"Oh yeah, I'll just breathe. Sure. Real easy when—"

Suddenly, Hiroshi touches his forehead — a faint spark. Tai's vision warps. He staggers, and the world around him folds in:

A black domain appears — endless shadows shaped like humans, each holding dull, flickering blades.

Tai (blinks, mutters):

"Wow. Neat. So we're skipping training and just dumping me in nightmare mode, huh?"

A shadow figure lunges. Tai ducks, swings his new metal gauntlet — crack — the thing shatters like glass. Another swings. Tai spins, kicks it straight through.

Tai (breathing heavy, half-smirk):

"Okay, fine. Can't talk, huh? Guess this is my welcome party."

---

Outside the domain, Ren watches the scene through a magic screen Hiroshi conjured. He crosses his arms.

Ren (flat tone):

"...And what exactly is this? Another one of your half-explained death traps?"

Hiroshi (calmly, eyes on Tai's struggle):

"This 'death trap' is the only way for him to control the dragon's power — Balerion. He told you that name, didn't he?"

Ren (nods, sighs):

"Yeah. Big black scaled ego with claws. He mentioned it. Didn't think you'd toss the kid in a demon blender just to teach him."

Hiroshi (serious, low):

"He needs the dragon's force. But raw force without will? It'll eat him alive. This domain pushes him to the edge — until he commands it. Not the other way around."

---

Back inside, Tai drops another shadow with a slam of his armored fist. He pants, blood pumping.

Tai (to himself, with a grin):

"Alright, scaly freak. I know you're watching. Let's see who eats who first."

📜 CONTINUATION — Balerion's Mock

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The shadows break under Tai's blue-flame blade. He stands, chest heaving, while the metal gauntlet flickers like a living torch.

Tai (muttering, staring at the burning edge):

"Guess this glove's got fire now… What are you inside me, huh?"

A deep, chilling voice coils around his mind — like something ancient whispering through iron.

Balerion (inside Tai's head, smooth but mocking):

> "You want to know, boy? I am the Dertimik — Amber of Fire itself. Unseal me… and you'll have power this world fears."

Tai (snorts, wiping blood off his lip):

"Tch. Power, huh? Always strings attached."

Suddenly, the black void shifts. Hiroshi appears in a swirl of wind — calm eyes cutting through the gloom.

Hiroshi (steady, commanding):

"Tai. Tell me. What did you hear?"

Tai (half grin, half serious, looking at Hiroshi):

"He says he'll 'give me everything.' Keeps whining that I should unseal him. Even said you're scared of him — that 'that guy' fears what's inside me."

Hiroshi narrows his eyes, then looks past Tai — as if staring straight at Balerion's hidden core.

Hiroshi (low, cold):

"He's bluffing. He's the one afraid. If he wasn't, he wouldn't need you — he'd be you."

Balerion's voice slithers back, sharper now, laughing under its breath.

Balerion (inside Tai's head, taunting):

> "Hah… little mortal, listen well. That guy lies because he fears what you could be with me. Let me out — I'll show you power he'd never give you."

Tai rolls his neck, flicks his blade to his shoulder, eyes locked with Hiroshi's.

Tai (half-smirk, stubborn fire):

"Sorry, dragon boy — not today. I'll figure you out my way."

He turns to Hiroshi, grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Tai:

"So… what now, Master? Keep swinging this thing till I sweat him out?"

---