Ink of the Heart
Chapter 3: The Flame of Escape
Bokuro's heart pounded wildly in his chest. Darkness surrounded him, and Kazan Kaga's presence made every breath feel heavier. The Script was still in his hands, but its trembling was filled with fear and uncertainty.
"Feeling scared, Bokuro?" Kazan said, his voice chillingly calm.
"This fear will make your ink submit to me. Your words, your emotions — they'll become my tools."
Bokuro clenched his fist.
"No..." he muttered.
"This ink is mine. My heart. My story."
But doubt was creeping in. This strange world... it was weakening his emotions. His power was slipping.
Kazan extended his hand, and waves of black ink rose into the air, reaching out to bind Bokuro and drag him in.
"Fight, if you can!" Kazan laughed.
Memory: Words of the Master
Suddenly, Master Elara's voice echoed in Bokuro's mind:
"When fear surrounds you, remember — the ink flows deepest from the heart."
Bokuro closed his eyes. He turned inward — not to the fear, but to his resolve. To the lessons from his father Raiko. To the teachings of the Heartweavers.
His breath steadied.
"I will shape the ink of my heart with my own hands, not anyone else's."
He opened his Script and, with trembling hands, wrote a single word:
"Freedom."
As soon as the word formed, his Script burst with light — white, sharp, and pure.
The waves of ink gripping him shattered like ice under morning sunlight.
Kazan Kaga's face twisted in fury.
"What… you…!" Kazan roared.
The Power of Escape
Light now surged around Bokuro. He raised his Script, and from the page rose a barrier of brilliance, separating him from Kazan's grasp.
"This is my story!" Bokuro shouted.
In the next moment, the light engulfed everything. Darkness exploded apart.
And Bokuro was falling — through rushing air — as if being pulled out of a tunnel.
Return
Bokuro's eyes opened to find himself lying in the temple garden. The sky was clear, stars shining above.
Master Elara and Raiko rushed to him.
"You did it, Bokuro," Master Elara said, smiling. "You discovered your true strength."
Bokuro smiled weakly.
But he knew — this was just the beginning.
Kazan Kaga now knew Bokuro could become a real threat.
And a much bigger battle was waiting for him