Senko and Leon stood shoulder to shoulder at the grand gates of the academy, their eyes fixed on the towering structure before them. Just behind them, the renowned Warrior King, Koya, arrived with his son—Leon—by his side, both prepared to make their entrance. As soon as the citizens caught sight of the king, a hush fell over the crowd. One by one, people dropped to their knees in reverence, honoring the presence of the legendary warrior. Leon, without hesitation, followed suit and bowed his head. But Senko remained standing, unmoved.
Koya's piercing gaze locked onto the defiant young man. "You don't seek my honor? My respect?" the king asked, his voice carrying a weight of authority.
Senko turned his head slightly, his violet eyes glowing with intensity as he stared back at Koya. "What respect have you ever given me?" he replied coldly.
All his life, Senko had never known respect from the Warrior King. Koya had always treated him with cold indifference, never offering the recognition or approval Senko quietly craved. Though Koya had protected him from threats—bandits, traitors, and anyone who might endanger the balance of Jenkiora—it was never out of care. It was duty.
Senko could feel it in every glance the king gave him—that look, sharp and heavy with unspoken judgment. That look that said, You are not one of us.
Because of that, Senko had made a vow. He would rise above it. He would become a greater Warrior King than Koya could ever hope to be. Not for pride—but to prove that respect should be earned, not inherited.
For generations, Warrior Kings had honored the legacies of those before them. It was tradition—almost sacred. Since the dawn of recorded time, there had only been fifty Warrior Kings. Koya was the fiftieth. But Senko didn't want to stand in awe of the past. He wanted to surpass it.
Senko had always wondered why Koya kept an eye on him. Senko always wondered why is he the only kid that doesn't feel normal, he hated it.
The citizens around started to chat "why isn't he kneeling down" one said. "Is he crazy" another said. "That kid is not normal you know what he really is" he said. Senko looked around he's getting the look again. By the Masters, the warriors, and the citizens. At that point Senko just felt alone "Why, why do you guys always look at me like that." Headmaster Zeph comes out the gates of the academy and he kneels "Your honor the warrior king." "I give you my honor and respect Zeph" Koya said. "I was just going to take Senko with me. I was going to chat with him in my office" he replied. "I accept and after you have a talk with him I want to have a talk with you Zeph." Zeph nodded and took Senko with him in the academy, they reach his office. "What did you want to talk about" Senko said with a raspy voice. "Senko what is your dream." "I want to become the strongest warrior king that's what I want then everybody will stop looking at me weird and I will become normal." Senko starts to have tears rolling down his face "I hate crying I wonder why I'm so hated what did I do I did nothing." Zeph puts his hand on Senko's shoulders "I promise you that your normal it's just that" Zeph stopped his setence. "It's what! Do you look at me that way to?" "That sword that I gave you. Let that be your best friend with this weapon you show them who you are because I believen you." Senko started to sob more "nobody never said that to me before" Senko said whiping his tears.
Senko had always wondered why Koya kept such a close eye on him. Why him, out of all the children? Why was he the only one who never felt normal? He hated it.
Whispers stirred in the crowd around him.
"Why isn't he kneeling?" one citizen murmured."Is he crazy?" another hissed."That kid's not normal… you know what he really is," someone else muttered.
Senko looked around. There it was again—the look. He saw it in the eyes of the Masters, the warriors, and the citizens. It wrapped around him like a noose. Cold, judging. Alienating.
At that moment, Senko felt utterly alone.
"Why… why do you all always look at me like that?" he whispered under his breath.
The massive academy gates creaked open, and Headmaster Zeph emerged. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee. "Your honor, the Warrior King," he said solemnly.
Koya nodded. "I give you my honor and respect, Zeph."
"I was just about to take Senko with me," Zeph said, standing. "I planned to speak with him in my office."
"I accept," Koya replied. "But when you're finished, I'd like a word with you as well, Zeph."
Zeph gave a respectful nod, then placed a hand on Senko's back and guided him into the academy. The halls were silent as they walked, until they reached the headmaster's office. Zeph shut the door behind them.
"What did you want to talk about?" Senko asked, his voice low and raspy.
Zeph met his eyes. "Senko… what is your dream?"
"I want to become the strongest Warrior King. That's what I want," Senko replied without hesitation. "Then maybe… everyone will stop looking at me like I'm some kind of freak. Then I'll finally feel normal."
Tears began to slip down his face, quiet and uncontrollable.
"I hate crying… I hate that I'm hated. What did I do? I didn't do anything…"
Zeph gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you—you're normal. It's just that…"
He hesitated.
"It's what? Do you look at me that way too?" Senko asked, his voice cracking.
Zeph shook his head. "That sword I gave you… let it be your closest friend. With that weapon, show them who you truly are—because I believe in you."
Senko's sobs deepened, his body trembling.
"Nobody's ever said that to me before," he whispered, wiping his tears.
Senko had always wondered why Koya kept such a close eye on him. Why him, out of all the children? Why was he the only one who never felt normal? He hated it.
Whispers stirred in the crowd around him.
"Why isn't he kneeling?" one citizen murmured."Is he crazy?" another hissed."That kid's not normal… you know what he really is," someone else muttered.
Senko looked around. There it was again—the look. He saw it in the eyes of the Masters, the warriors, and the citizens. It wrapped around him like a noose. Cold, judging. Alienating.
At that moment, Senko felt utterly alone.
"Why… why do you all always look at me like that?" he whispered under his breath.
The massive academy gates creaked open, and Headmaster Zeph emerged. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee. "Your honor, the Warrior King," he said solemnly.
Koya nodded. "I give you my honor and respect, Zeph."
"I was just about to take Senko with me," Zeph said, standing. "I planned to speak with him in my office."
"I accept," Koya replied. "But when you're finished, I'd like a word with you as well, Zeph."
Zeph gave a respectful nod, then placed a hand on Senko's back and guided him into the academy. The halls were silent as they walked, until they reached the headmaster's office. Zeph shut the door behind them.
"What did you want to talk about?" Senko asked, his voice low and raspy.
Zeph met his eyes. "Senko… what is your dream?"
"I want to become the strongest Warrior King. That's what I want," Senko replied without hesitation. "Then maybe… everyone will stop looking at me like I'm some kind of freak. Then I'll finally feel normal."
Tears began to slip down his face, quiet and uncontrollable.
"I hate crying… I hate that I'm hated. What did I do? I didn't do anything…"
Zeph gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you—you're normal. It's just that…"
He hesitated.
"It's what? Do you look at me that way too?" Senko asked, his voice cracking.
Zeph shook his head. "That sword I gave you… let it be your closest friend. With that weapon, show them who you truly are—because I believe in you."
Senko's sobs deepened, his body trembling.
"Nobody's ever said that to me before," he whispered, wiping his tears.
One day, you'll know the truth," Zeph said quietly.
Senko's brows furrowed. "Why can't you just tell me now?"
Zeph let out a long sigh. "Because I'm not the right one to tell you. It doesn't feel right. I'm sorry."
Outside the room, Warrior King Koya stood outside the office door, listening. After a moment of silence, he knocked—softly, but firmly.
"Come in," Zeph called.
The door swung open, and Koya stepped in with purpose. Zeph glanced at Senko and gave a nod. "We'll finish this conversation later. For now, head to the D-Rank battlefield—and show them who you really are."
A small smile tugged at Senko's lips. "Yeah. I will."
With his sword secured at his side, Senko turned and left the room.
The moment the door closed, Koya's gaze hardened as it locked onto Zeph.
"So," Koya said coldly, "giving a D-Rank one of the mythical swords seemed like a good idea to you?"
Zeph didn't flinch. "You know it belonged to his father."
"I don't care," Koya snapped. "That boy… he's a demon. What if he loses control? What if he goes on a rampage?"
Zeph stepped forward, voice calm but firm. "We are warriors. And you are the Warrior King. Isn't this supposed to be under control?"
Koya's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. Time was running short.
"We'll finish this later," he muttered before storming out.
Meanwhile, on the D-Rank battlefield, Senko stood tall beneath the rising sun, his blade gleaming at his side. Day two at the academy had begun. Whatever came next—he was ready.
To be continued…