The Cursed Iris

What Is My Purpose

Katsumi still thought about his conversation he had with Aimi. It seemed to frustrate him because the area around him began heating up.

"Why did she sound like Totomaru? It's kind of annoying."

"And why is that? I don't think you've ever told me about them," Kumo asked skeptically. He already didn't know too much about Katsumi to begin with, all he knew was that Katsumi did something terrible, he was captured, put on trial, and punished. For some reason they decided to trust him to be watched by a talking badger.

"Totomaru was my master," Katsumi answered in a somber tone. His body language changed, not only that, but the temperature also around him dropped. "He was like a father to me and my sisters. He also taught us how to use spiritual energy, how everything works in the three realms."

"So why were you so angry about the way Aimi sounded?"

"Because..." Katsumi mumbled under his breath.

"Because of what?"

"He's also the one who captured me and turned me into Takamagahara. After that he completely disappeared without a trace."

"Sounds like a terrible father," Kumo remarked.

"Why are you so snarky? It's annoying."

"And you're destructive... so what is your point?"

"Gah! You're impossible!" Katsumi angrily yelled. "But anyways Totomaru's disappearance changed the balance of the three realm's power distribution."

"Why is that?"

"It was because he was known as the Half-Breed King," Katsumi replied, and that's when Kumo noticed something about how Katsumi answered, the tone in his voice was completely different from before.

"The strongest hybrid in the three realms. He was able to overcome so many things and he was the only being in existence to wield the ashen flame."

"Yeah..."

"And you were supposed to be the next Half-Breed King? That's your dream, isn't it?"

"........."

"I'd take that as a yes, but if that's your case; then how exactly did you end up like this? You're a capable fighter through and through. All you needed to do was take the exam."

"........"

"Now I understand you a little bit more, but Katsumi question."

Katsumi looked at Kumo and it was surprising to see the expression on his face. Katsumi was crying, his eyes were puffy, tears were flowing from them. His body trembled as well, "Katsumi it'll be okay," Kumo reassured, but will everything truly be, okay? How exactly could any of them know especially if they had to wait on a certain person, they don't even know exists? It's a crazy situation that they're finding themselves in.

"Master also told me I'd be important to the growth of this person, but I don't even know how..."

Kumo stared at him with a worried look. "How what?"

"I don't know how to change myself. How am I supposed to help someone else before myself?"

The air around them became tense in a way, and Katsumi summoned a fireball in his right hand. He stared at it with disdain that you would think he hated it with every fiber of his being.

"I'm hated by everyone in the three realms. I am a half breed that's of two realms, one blessed and one cursed, but when people see me, they only see the cursed one. I've honestly hated the way they always looked at me, but I wanted to prove to them that I wasn't bad at all. That's why..." his voice trailed off, "that's why I accepted that power of that sword."