Bab 28: Finding Balance
The first light of dawn spilled over the gray stone walls of Hachi Academy, bathing the grounds in a soft, golden glow. Inside the dormitory, Orin sat on the edge of his bed, his hands clasped as he stared at the faint glow beneath his skin. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on him. While the whispers of the beast within had faded to a faint hum, its presence still lingered—a constant reminder of the power he carried and the consequences of losing control.
"You coming to breakfast, or are you planning to sit there and brood all morning?" Wake leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed and his trademark grin firmly in place.
"Brooding is tempting," Orin replied with a faint smirk. "But I'll take food."
"Smart choice. And get moving before Starke eats every last egg in the dining hall."
Orin followed Wake through the Academy's winding corridors, the early-morning chatter of students echoing faintly. By the time they reached the dining hall, it was buzzing with life. Long tables stretched across the expansive space, filled with students of all skill levels exchanging stories and laughter as they fueled up for another day of rigorous training.
Grabbing a tray, Orin loaded up on eggs, bacon, and fresh bread before joining Wake at a quieter table near the edge of the hall. He was halfway through his eggs when raised voices at the far end of the hall caught his attention.
"Give it back!" A smaller student's voice cracked with frustration, his words drawing the attention of several nearby students.
"Or what?" The taller boy sneered, holding a glowing trinket just out of the smaller boy's reach. "You going to make me?"
The smaller boy lunged for the trinket, only to be shoved back roughly. He stumbled, nearly falling as a few onlookers snickered.
Orin stiffened. "Seriously?" he muttered, shoving his chair back.
Wake, already on his feet, cracked his knuckles as he shot Orin a knowing look. "Let's remind him why the Academy frowns on this kind of thing."
As they approached, the bully glanced their way, his smug grin faltering. "What's it to you?"
"Everything," Wake replied, crossing his arms. "You know the rules. Harassment doesn't fly here."
"Yeah?" the bully challenged, puffing out his chest. "And what are you going to do about it?"
"Give it back," Orin said, his voice low but steady. His intense gaze made the taller boy flinch.
The bully hesitated, his confidence wavering under their combined presence. Finally, with a sneer, he shoved the trinket into the smaller boy's hands. "Fine. Wasn't worth anything anyway."
"Smart decision," Wake said with a grin. "Now, get lost before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."
The bully scowled but turned and stalked off. The smaller boy looked up at Orin and Wake, clutching the trinket tightly. "Thanks," he said, his voice filled with relief. "I didn't know what to do."
"Stick with friends," Orin said with a small smile. "Some people can't resist an easy target."
"And if it happens again," Wake added, clapping the boy on the back, "you know where to find us."
As they returned to their table, Orin felt a flicker of normalcy settle over him. The Academy had its share of challenges, but sometimes, the smallest victories carried the most weight.
Later that afternoon, the squad gathered in one of the Academy's training fields, a wide, open space encircled by towering trees. Orin stood at the center, arms crossed, as the others formed a loose semicircle around him. Zeela paced back and forth, her analytical gaze appraising him.
"So," Zeela began, stopping in front of him. "We need to figure out exactly what you can do. That power of yours—raw as it is—could be our biggest asset or our biggest liability."
"Should be fun," Wake said, his grin returning. "Or terrifying. Either way, I'm in."
Orin rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the confidence boost."
"Focus," Zeela said sharply. "Start with the basics. Can you replicate what you did against Valkas?"
Orin hesitated, the memory of that power stirring uneasily in his mind. "I'll try."
He closed his eyes, taking a slow breath as he reached inward. The energy flickered faintly, just out of reach. With effort, he coaxed it forward, his claws extending as faint orange light rippled beneath his skin.
"So far, so good," Starke observed, his arms crossed. "Now, let's see what you can do with it."
Orin turned toward a training dummy positioned several meters away. He focused on the energy coursing through him, willing it to manifest. A surge of power shot through his arms, and with a sharp slash, an arc of energy tore through the dummy, splitting it cleanly in two. The resulting shockwave knocked over the two dummies beside it.
"Okay, that was cool," Wake admitted, shielding his face from the debris. "Destructive, but cool."
Zeela frowned. "Effective, but messy. You need more precision. That kind of power could take out half the field if you're not careful."
"I'm working on it," Orin said, frustration creeping into his tone.
As the afternoon wore on, the group cycled through various drills to test Orin's control. Progress was slow but steady. Wake eventually paired off with Starke for sparring practice while Orin took a break on the sidelines. His gaze drifted to Wake, watching as he used his Impulse Application to amplify each strike, sending ripples through the air with every movement.
"How does that work?" Orin asked suddenly.
Wake paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Impulse Application? It's all about channeling energy."
Orin frowned. "Channeling it how?"
Wake smirked, clearly enjoying the opportunity to explain. "Basically, I take damage—whether it's physical stress or impact—and convert it into raw energy. Then I focus that energy into my fists or whatever I'm using. It's not magic or Monari stuff. Just physics."
Starke, still sparring with Wake, added, "It's harder than it looks. If you lose balance, it'll blow back on you instead."
Orin mulled this over. "What if I tried something similar? Using the energy inside me?"
Wake shrugged. "Could work. But you'd need to figure out how to focus it."
Taking this to heart, Orin stepped back into the training ring. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the energy stirring within. This time, he tried to guide it, imagining it pooling in his hands. When he opened his eyes, his claws glowed faintly with concentrated energy.
He lashed out at another dummy, the strike more focused and precise. The energy sliced cleanly, leaving the dummy intact but visibly scorched.
"Not bad," Wake said with an approving nod. "Looks like you're getting the hang of it."
For the first time in days, Orin allowed himself a small smile. It was a tiny step, but it felt like progress. And for the first time, the whispers of the beast didn't feel like a threat—they felt like a guide.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone