Ink of the Heart
Chapter 4: The Great Scriptors' Temple
After barely escaping the grasp of Kazan Kaga, Bokuro drifted between consciousness and unconsciousness. His body ached, his mind clouded, but one thing was clear — he was alive.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing before a colossal structure: The Great Scriptors' Temple.
Unlike anything he had ever seen, the temple radiated both wisdom and power. Towering pillars reached towards the sky, each engraved with ancient symbols of the first Scriptors. The air itself buzzed with a strange energy — the energy of countless emotions woven together by countless hands over countless years.
A hand gently rested on his shoulder.
"You are safe now," said a deep, reassuring voice.
Turning, Bokuro faced an elder Scriptor. His robes were adorned with glowing threads that seemed to shimmer and shift with his breathing — the marks of a master who had conquered many emotions and lived to tell the tale.
"You were brought here because your spirit called out," the elder said.
"You are not like the others. Your bond with your Script is... extraordinary. And dangerous."
Bokuro nodded, still overwhelmed. He could feel the raw power in the air — and for the first time, he realized just how small he was compared to the true world of the Scriptors.
The elder guided him through the temple's vast courtyard. Students trained everywhere — some writing lines of emotion into the air itself, others sparring using the powers born from their pages.
Laughter, shouts, tears, and even quiet meditation all mixed together. It was like stepping into a world made entirely of living books.
Finally, they arrived at a massive gathering hall. Hundreds of students, all bearing their Scripts — some old, some new — stood in rows. Bokuro joined them, his heart pounding with nervous excitement.
A stern-looking man stepped onto the raised platform before them. His presence immediately silenced the crowd.
His name was Yusugo — a master Scriptor known across the land for his fierce training methods and unparalleled mastery over emotional writing.
"You have been chosen," Yusugo said, his voice echoing through the hall.
"But remember: being chosen is not a reward. It is a burden."
The students listened intently, understanding that every word carried weight.
"Here at the Great Scriptors' Temple, you will not walk your path alone," Yusugo continued.
"You will be placed into squads — groups of three students led by one teacher. You will fight together, grow together, and fall together if you fail to trust one another."
There was a murmur among the students. Squad-based training meant exposing their deepest emotions to others. It meant risking everything.
Bokuro's name was called out.
"You," Yusugo pointed at him, "will be placed in Squad Seven."
He looked around as two others stepped forward:
Kitsui, a girl with cold, calculating eyes. Her dark hair was tied tightly back, and though she said nothing, her gaze pierced straight through Bokuro, as if reading his every secret.
Nensudo, a boy with wild energy, a reckless grin on his face. His Script was sloppily strapped to his belt, and he bounced on his toes like he was ready to fight the world.
"This will be your team," Yusugo declared. "Squad Seven — under my direct supervision."
Bokuro felt a mixture of emotions: relief at not being alone, anxiety at not knowing these people, and curiosity about what lay ahead.
Squad after squad was formed. Some students looked thrilled with their teammates, while others looked like they had swallowed lemons. The temple believed that opposing personalities forged stronger bonds — emotions clashed, and from the clash, growth was born.
After the squads were assigned, Yusugo spoke again:
"Training here is unlike anything you have faced before. We do not teach you to control your emotions by ignoring them. We teach you to understand them, to embrace them, and to turn them into your greatest weapon."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Here, anger will burn you if you are weak. Fear will drown you if you hesitate. And love... love will shatter you if you do not learn to protect it."
Bokuro's mind flashed back to his first page — "I will not be broken."
He understood now that it wasn't a declaration of strength. It was a promise he would have to keep making again and again, every day he stayed at this temple.
As the sun dipped behind the tall stone walls, the squads were dismissed to their sleeping quarters. Bokuro, Kitsui, and Nensudo were shown their shared room — simple, with three beds and one long desk filled with blank pages waiting to be filled.
Nensudo immediately flopped onto his bed, tossing his Script onto the floor with a careless laugh.
Kitsui silently chose the corner bed, already pulling out her writing tools with mechanical precision.
Bokuro stood in the middle, feeling the heavy weight of new beginnings pressing down on him.
He wasn't just here to learn to fight Kazan Kaga.
He was here to understand himself.
And he was no longer alone.
As the stars twinkled above the Great Scriptors' Temple, a new journey had begun — one stitched together by three young hearts and a destiny that none of them could yet see.