The Ahen dawn

Episode 1: The Ashen Dawn

The sky was the color of a dying ember.

Villages that had stood for generations were now nothing but smoldering skeletons. Bodies lay scattered like fallen leaves after a storm. The air tasted of smoke, iron, and the sickly sweetness of blood.

Screams echoed across the valley. A haunting melody of despair that would never find its ending.

Among the ruins, a man and a woman lay tangled together. Their clothes were torn, their bodies bruised beyond recognition. Blood seeped from wounds that would never heal. But pressed against their chests, wrapped in torn cloth, a baby slept. No more than a year old. Unaware that the world had already ended.

The woman's eyes—once bright, now dim—found one last flicker of hope.

A young man stumbled through the smoke. His face was streaked with ash and tears, his own wounds bleeding freely. He fell to his knees beside them.

"Master!" His voice cracked.

The man on the ground lifted his head with great effort. Kusicame—though he looked young, barely past twenty, with black hair and black eyes that had always been stoic—now showed something rare: raw pain.

"Kusicame…" the master whispered. "Take care of… our child…"

The woman clutched the baby tighter. Tears streamed down her face, cutting clean lines through the ash.

"Kusicame, promise me…" Her voice cracked, barely a whisper. "Promise you'll protect him… our little boy. He's all we have left."

She paused, struggling to breathe. Then the words poured out of her like a river breaking through a dam.

"My little one, my sweet baby boy… Momma wants you to grow up strong and kind. To chase your dreams and never give up. To find a love that makes your heart sing. To be brave when the world gets tough. And to always remember that you are loved—more than words can say, more than any moment in time."

Her voice grew softer, but more fierce.

"You are our everything. Our reason to breathe. Our why. Grow up with love in your heart, and shine like a star in the night. Momma and Daddy will always be with you—in your heart, in your smile, in every step you take. I want you to be happy. To laugh. To love. To live a life filled with joy. And to never forget that you are cherished. You are wanted. You are so loved… my baby boy."

Kusicame's stoic face finally broke. Tears mixed with the blood on his cheeks.

"I promise," he said, gripping the master's hand. "I promise I'll protect him."

The woman's voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Tell him… tell him… we love him…"

She looked at the baby one last time. Her eyes held love and sorrow in equal measure.

Then a dark creature rushed into frame, jaws snapping.

The world went black.

---

Flames roared around Kusicame as he emerged from the burning wreckage. In his arms, the baby wailed—a thin, terrified sound that cut through the chaos.

His wounded subordinates stumbled toward him. One of them, a young man with a gash across his cheek, looked past Kusicame with desperate eyes.

"Master! Where's…?"

Kusicame's breathing was heavy. His black eyes, usually unreadable, shimmered with unshed tears.

"Master… and his wife with child…" His voice cracked. "They're gone."

A subordinate fell to his knees, sobbing.

Kusicame looked down at the crying infant in his arms. Then he looked up at his men, his face hardening into its familiar stoic mask.

"But I managed to save this orphan child," he said quietly. "In the midst of the ruins."

No one questioned him.

---

Fifteen years later.

The sun streamed through wooden slats, painting golden stripes across a small room. A boy lay sprawled on a futon, his mouth open, drool pooling on the pillow.

Isami was average height for his age. His hair was white — but at the tips, at the very edges, it caught the light with a golden hue, as if someone had dipped each strand in molten sunlight. His eyes, when they opened, were golden too. Bright. Restless.

He sat up with a goofy grin, stretched, yawned—

Then his eyes went wide.

Training!

He jumped out of bed, his necklace—a small pendant—swinging and jingling. His foot caught the edge of the futon. He tripped, rolled, crashed into a wooden pole, and stumbled out the door, leaving a trail of overturned sandals and startled birds in his wake.

---

The training courtyard was wide and sun-drenched. Morning dew still clung to the grass.

Kimara stood at the center, her hands weaving through the air. Water swirled around her like a living ribbon. She had long blue hair that swayed with each movement, and her blue eyes were sharp as ice. On her left arm, partially hidden by her sleeve, was an eagle birthmark—dark against her pale skin.

She flicked her wrist. A blade of ice shot across the courtyard.

Hakimaru watched from the side, leaning against a wooden post. His hair was split—half blue, half flame-yellow. And his eyes matched: one blue, one flame-yellow. The blue eye was hidden beneath the blue lock of hair that fell across his face, giving him a mysterious, almost dangerous look. He cracked his knuckles.

Yin sat cross-legged on the ground, perfectly still. She was short, with black hair that fell straight to her shoulders and grey eyes that never quite focused. She was blind. But her head tilted slightly, listening to everything—the rustle of leaves, the distant bird, the soft ripple of Kimara's water.

Isami burst into the courtyard, panting and flustered.

Kimara smirked. "You're late, Isami."

"ISAMI!" A voice boomed from off-screen. Hakimaru stepped forward, his flame-colored eye gleaming. "You're late again! As always!"

Isami's face fell. He breathed heavily, then whined, "Why must I be stuck with this guy for eternity? 

Yin spoke softly, her grey eyes turned toward Hakimaru. "No need to be hard on Isami, Hakimaru. Maybe he just had a long night."

Kimara's response was immediate. She flicked her wrist, and an ice blade shot straight at Isami's head.

He yelped, threw himself sideways, and tripped over his own feet. The ice blade whistled past his ear, close enough to freeze a strand of his golden-tipped hair. He hit the ground with a thud.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, KIMARA?!" Isami shouted, outraged. "You almost got my head!"

Kimara smiled sweetly. "Wish I did."

Isami threw a tantrum—flailing his arms, shouting nonsense, stomping his feet. Everyone else fell silent, watching the spectacle with varying degrees of amusement and exhaustion.

Then Yin smiled.

"Good morning, Sensei Kusicame."

Isami's expression changed instantly. His golden eyes narrowed. The goofiness drained away, replaced by something cold and distant.

"Morning, Sensei," he said flatly.

Kusicame stood at the edge of the courtyard. He looked exactly as he had fifteen years ago—late twenties, black hair, black eyes, stoic as stone. But today, something different radiated from him. An aura.

"The Umbra Academy Selection will soon commence," Kusicame said. "That means you need to be at your best. So today, we'll be doing something different."

He stepped forward.

"Today's training will be intense. Unlike normal." He reached up and slowly removed a pendant from his neck. The same pendant Isami wore. No—not the same. This one was older, darker, and as Kusicame held it up, the air changed.

The pendant gave off a faint vibration. A low humming sound spread through the courtyard. The ground trembled slightly.

"I want you four to attack me," Kusicame said. "If you can remove this pendant, you win."

Isami's face became serious for a second. Then a grin spread across his face.

"Hehe… this looks fun."

Kimara sighed. "You're the only one smiling."

Hakimaru cracked his knuckles again, his flame-colored eye glinting. "Don't hold back, old man."

Yin stood calmly, her grey eyes unfocused but steady. She tilted her head. Soft sound ripples moved around her feet. She was from the Sound Clan—and even without sight, she could hear every movement, every vibration in the air. She felt everything around her.

Kusicame smirked—a rare crack in his stoic mask.

"Good. Come at me."

He tapped the ground lightly with his foot. A low sound wave spread across the courtyard. The air became heavy.

"Begin!"

All four moved at once.

Kimara swung her arm forward, sending a powerful stream of water rushing toward Kusicame. Hakimaru dashed forward with incredible flame speed, moving low to the ground, his dual-colored hair streaming behind him. Yin raised both hands, releasing sharp pulses of sound to track Kusicame's exact position.

Isami ran forward too.

Tripped.

Fell.

"AHH—!"

Kimara jumped over him. "Idiot, watch it!"

The water attack reached Kusicame. He didn't move. He snapped his fingers.

A strong vibration burst from his body, splitting the water in two.

Hakimaru appeared behind him instantly, throwing fast flame strikes. Kusicame blocked them with one hand.

"Tch… he's fast," Hakimaru muttered.

Kimara sent two water blades from the side. Yin released another sound pulse.

"Sound Slash!"

The sound wave hit Kusicame directly. Dust exploded. For a moment, they thought it worked.

Then the dust cleared.

Kusicame stood there, unmoved. A stronger vibration surrounded him like invisible armor.

"Better," he said, genuinely impressed.

Isami jumped again, aiming for the pendant. "I got it this time!"

His fingers almost touched it—

Kusicame disappeared with a burst of sound.

Reappeared behind all four.

"Too slow."

He stomped the ground. A powerful sound shockwave pushed them all back. They slid across the courtyard, struggling to stay upright.

But this time—Hakimaru stopped himself mid-slide. Kimara landed on her feet. Yin stayed standing.

They looked at each other.

"Again," Hakimaru said.

Kimara smiled. "Together this time."

Yin nodded. "I can track him. Follow my sound."

They moved again. Coordinated. Kimara trapped the ground with water. Hakimaru attacked from above. Yin sent sound pulses to guide them and created a barrier to try to contain Kusicame.

For a moment, Kusicame was surrounded.

Isami ran in too. "WAIT FOR ME!"

He jumped—

Tripped again—

Fell into Hakimaru.

"GET OFF!"

Kusicame used that moment. He clapped his hands.

A massive vibration exploded outward.

All four were thrown back.

Silence.

They lay on the ground, breathing hard. Kusicame stood in the middle, untouched.

"You are improving," he said, disappointed but calm.

He looked at Yin, Kimara, Hakimaru.

"Good teamwork."

Then he looked at Isami.

"Especially you… need more work."

Isami looked down, embarrassed.

---

Evening painted the village in shades of orange and gold.

Isami walked alone near the training area, holding his stomach. It growled loudly.

"Man… I'm starving. Training with that old man should come with food."

He looked toward a small food stall near the road, where steam rose from a grill. The smell of roasted meat made his mouth water.

"Maybe I can still get something—"

Three older village trainees stepped in front of him. They were from another training group. Their smiles were sharp.

"Look who it is," said Guy 1.

"Kusicame's favorite kid," said Guy 2.

"Yashiro's kid thinks he's special," said Guy 3.

Isami sighed. "I'm not in the mood today, guys."

"You train under Yashiro himself," Guy 1 continued, stepping closer.

"You eat his food," said Guy 2.

"You live in his house," said Guy 3.

Guy 1 pushed Isami's shoulder. "And you still act like a clown."

Isami's golden eyes flickered. But his voice stayed calm. "…What's wrong with you guys? Just stop calling the Yashiro's name into this."

"Then give us your money," said Guy 2.

"I don't have any."

A fist connected with Isami's stomach. He doubled over, gasping. Then they started kicking him.

Guy 3 spat, "Every time we see you, you're smiling."

"It's annoying," Guy 1 added.

Isami curled up on the ground. He tried to smile through the pain.

"You guys really hate me that much…?"

Another kick—

Suddenly, water crashed between them. The three bullies jumped back.

"That's enough."

Kimara stood behind them, water spinning around her arm. Her blue eyes were cold as winter. The eagle birthmark on her arm seemed to darken.

Guy 2 scowled. "Stay out of this."

"Pick someone your own level," Kimara said.

Guy 1 sneered. "This doesn't concern you."

Kimara flicked her hand. Water shot out and slammed into their legs. They fell to the ground in a heap.

Guy 3 scrambled up. "Tch… let's go."

They ran.

Kimara turned to look at Isami. He lay on the ground, bruised but smiling weakly.

"…Thanks."

She looked away. Her voice was sharp.

"Don't misunderstand."

A pause.

"Only I'm allowed to beat this loser."

Isami smiled. "You always say that."

Kimara hesitated. Then she stretched her hand toward him.

He looked surprised. Then he took it.

She pulled him up.

His face turned red.

They walked together. The sunset painted the sky behind them—golden and red,

The scene faded.

---