We both decided to wait until nightfall. We will take our actions in the shadow of night. This is the correct time for us. At this time, the majority of the people are inside their houses and having a good time for dinner and family conversations.
"It is a very harsh path we are taking. I hope our steps do not fall"
"It is risky but certain"
This is a war, not a sitcom where everyone will wait for other's move. Actually, they start moving according to their plans individually. Gathering information on the other candidates and a way to eliminate them from this war.
"What should we do next?"
She asked me. This is a simple question but right now, I do not have an answer to such an easy question that she asked.
"We have to wait for the night then we will start our patrolling over the city. The plan is simple: we will walk around the city and try to find or sense the presence of any other candidate. I am sure we will encounter one"
"All right.....please, give me your words that we will not separate our routes for this strategy"
"I promise"
After a long talk, I was able to convince her to accept my point of view.
"Welcome home"
I say to myself. I took out the keys from my pocket. To unlock the door of my house. I have to turn the key in the right direction at least three times.
I open the door. I took out my shoes and put them on the shoe rack and went to the living room which is situated on the left side of the entrance hall.
We sat down.
"Our course of action is decided, but there are two problems. This problem is not ours but mine. First problem of mine is that I do not have enough information on what I am capable of.....I mean.....I do not know what you are capable of"
She took a deep breath and looked into my eyes. She is beautiful. I know! Why do my emotions keep running wild whenever I look at her? I feel childish or some sort of idiot whenever I talk to her! Damn!
"Do you know why a mortal soul cannot produce magic, master?"
"Magic? Magic exists?!"
She nodded her head.
"All those combats you seen were used with magic"
"Oh! I thought that it was some sort of supernatural ability like in manga and comics from western side uses. They got powers, mutants, magic and science at same time with different categories there"
"If you give me your permission, I would like to go back to our conversation which I was explaining"
"Yeah. Sure, go on. I am listening"
"To produce magic which is a miracle itself requires a great sacrifice. The magic which holds power beyond this world. The greater that magic one wishes for, the worse would be the sacrifice"
"Then what is my price? You are a magical weapon if I have to say. It should mean that I have to pay for it. I am still alive and even survived from being killed off thanks to you. Then why am I still alive?"
"We are talking about a mortal soul, master. This is not about people like you or me"
"Then?"
"The cost of the magic is.....your soul, master. The reason behind why humans cannot produce magic is that they have to pay with their soul for a power to bend this world in their view"
At that moment, I had so many questions in my mind. From the start to never ending unanswered questions. The most troublesome question in my mind was.....how am I alive. This question is troubling me at this instant. If the cost of using magic is your soul. Using your soul, then I should be dead yesterday. She is a divine material from heaven. I used her and I am alive after that, it is a mystery to me.
"How does this work?"
She closed her eyes and started to explain.
"Think of it like vigor. Vigor is what is needed for the man to keep his place in the war. Showing weakness is death. Vigor can be restored through food and rest. It can go the same for magic. Magic is vigor of your but, it can only be regained through soul"
"I understand. So, soul is important for this war?"
She nodded her head.
"This is the reason why every candidate in this war is marked with soul magic"
"Soul?"
"Yes, master. Have you ever felt like your presence is not of this world?"
Think of it. I do not understand people. I try to judge them. I never feel them. I calculate and observe them. We all are humans. Then why observe them? Why do they feel different? Sakura.
"I got it from your eyes. The answer behind this is not only because you are candidate but your soul and body are same"
"Same? What are you saying?"
"The moment a candidate is born, that candidate had been graced by the God before their elders met. They are born with the most rare soul. They are born with the affinity of aether"
"Affinity of aether?"
"Mortals talked about how a mortal body is made up of elements. Fire, water, wind and earth. The four original elements from which God brings this world into creation. In ancient times, there were several mortals who claimed the fifth element. The element of heaven, aether. I cannot speak further from now on. It is beyond my binding"
I did not try to argue or try to ask that from her. We sat silent for a few minutes straight without speaking to each other. Finally, she broke the silence by saying.
"Master, did my words ease your tension?"
"It does solve a few of my questions somewhat. If you do not mind if I ask you, how many souls have you absorbed? Souls make you stronger, right? The more souls you hold, the more powerful you get?"
"In principle, yes. But....."
"But?"
"There is a line in the concept. There is comes the strength of heart"
"Strength of heart?"
Strength of heart? Is it related to the will of a person? What does she mean by that?
"Sometimes people are born with pure souls who might surpass other souls. A person with a single soul can be more powerful than the person who had devoured thousands of it. Back to the problems. What is the other problem? You mentioned that you are facing two problems"
"You will see it. They will be here in any second or sooner than I expected"
There.....
"We are home, Kazuya"
A sweet angelic voice spoke. She is the senior of mine. My senpai. Sakura Bessmertny. She is a very popular girl at our school and with her is my brother. Yusuke Nakajima.
"Excuse me, brat"
I hear the usual voices from the entrance.
"....."
"....."
"....."
People say silence is gold but not here. This sort of silence is painful. Sakura's eyes widen when she looks at Sraosha. Her face is clearly asking for an explanation. Yusuke is smiling like a gangster. He is enjoying this tension. Sraosha's eyes went to the ice mode when she locked her eyes with Yusuke. I can sense hatred towards my brother. I decided to break the silence.
"This is Sraosha. She is foreign exchange student and she is going to stay here with us"
Sakura's expression changed.
"What is the meaning of this, Kazuya?! Why would she be staying here? School can provide her room"
"Senpai——"
"You are not the head of this house! This house is of Yusuke-san!"
This is the first time she cut me in the middle of talking. I never saw her outbursting over something.
"Kazuya, where did you get such a sexy chick?"
Sraosha gives him a cold stare saying that she will kill him soon. Sakura wants an explanation from me.
"She.....she is t-the sister of Maria"
"Maria?"
"Maria?!"
I also do not know who Maria is. I said the name randomly.
"Who?"
Yusuke looked at me with a smirk which said that I am trapped in my own words. I got cornered. Sakura somehow helped me without knowing that she helped me.
"Maria? The girl that Yusuke-san brought home two months ago?"
"Yes!"
Yusuke turned to look at her and his smirk was gone.
"Maria? Who?"
"The girl you brought home two months ago for that kind of activity"
Yes. Yusuke used to bring different girls home for.....that kind of activity.
"If she is sister of that girl whom I fucked. Why is she here? Why not with her sister?"
He trapped me again. This is a complicated situation. I do not know how to get out of here.
"Maria is missing"
Sakura spoke again. Missing? People are getting lost now. Side effects of war? How does she know?
"I am going to cook dinner"
She suddenly excused herself and left for the kitchen. What got into her?
"What are you thinking of doing, brat?"
"What do you say, brother? I know one thing and that is, you are not up to good"
"She told you about the past, right?"
I nodded my head.
"Master, he is not worth of your time"
"A blonde bimbo is saying that is something else. You know, the American stereotype is very popular. Blonde are dumbest girl in the world"
I held her hand. If I did not hold her.....she would have jumped over him right here.
"I am not a traitor who betrayed his blood and words"
"And I am not just rusty old girl who is granny in disguise"
"Stop both of you!"
I yelled. Not that high as the kitchen is close to the living room. I stand up from my sitting position.
"Can you guys please for a second keep down your voice and do not try to kill each other? I am going to cook the meal"
I left the living room. The entrance to the kitchen is from the living room. There is no door. I entered the kitchen. Sakura puts rice for cooking.
"Senpai, can I help you?"
"Yes"
Her voice was not as cheerful as usual.
"You brought ingredients? What type of beef did you bring?"
She took out beef from the fridge. It was a juicy, tender texture of beef. Ribeye is a very good type of steak. It is filled with high fat content and marbling. It should be around 300 or 400g in terms of weight.
"Let's start with the preparation of warishita"
I put it in the pot. I pour one-fourth of soy sauce. I mix mirin, sake, and sugar in the pot. Mix it together. I start to heat the pot.
"You have to wait for sugar to dissolve. Once done, set it aside. You got it, Senpai?"
She nodded her head.
I pour oil over the pan. I start to heat the pan for a little time. I start to slice beef thinly.
"Is it important to cut steak into thin slices?"
"Well, cutting the steak into thin slices is a nice, good touch for high quality cooking. Do not use entire beef. Only few parts for cooking"
I quickly sear a few slices of steak in a pan until they slightly start to show brown color.
"Senpai, is warishita done?"
"Yes!"
She handed me the pot. I carefully pour in enough sauce that is needed to cover the bottom.
"I want you to chop the cabbage, 4 or 5 slices of mushroom, 1 bunch of enoki mushroom, a thinly sliced carrot and remember to slice the nagi diagonally"
After Senpai finished her work. I add the vegetables and tofu. This is yaki-tofu. It is shimmering gently in the sauce.
"Now, konnyaku noodles go last in the list since they only need to soak up flavor"
After a few minutes, the dish is ready. I carefully transfer the dish from the pan to four bowls for dinner. I transfer cooled rice in four bowls.
"Senpai, are you done with preparing green tea?"
"It is done"
She showed me two cups of green tea that she prepared by hand.
"Did you forget that we have another person?"
"Yusuke-san likes alcohol over tea during dinner time, Kazuya. How can you forget?"
"We have a guest. You forget about her"
Her face goes back to silent mode. Why is she acting like this today? Is she okay?
We had a beautiful dinner. I was surprised to see that both my brother and Sraosha did not put blades on each other's throats. This is sort of a prank my brother can pull out.
"Oh. It is too dark now. Senpai, you got late. Want me to drop you at your house?"
We both were outside the front entrance. She is leaving for her home. I want to come with her to make sure that she is all safe. This place is no longer the place that it used to be since our childhood. It is now a center of the war.
"Kazuya, how long?"
"Huh?"
"You know everything but still do not want to accept me. How long do I have to wait outside? When will you let me come inside? Do I have to wait for eternity for you?"
"S-Senpai——"
My words got stuck in my mouth. I do not have the courage to let my words go from my mouth. This is wrong! Why?! Why cannot I think?!
"I will go with Sakura"
The voice came behind me. It was the voice of my brother. He put his hand over the shoulder of Sakura.
"I will drop her at her house. She will be fine with me!"
He smirks at me. Bastard. Sakura gave me a last look before turning her back to me. She left the house with Yusuke.
"Why am I stupid?! Rrraah!!"
I wanted to yell at myself but I could not. I know her feelings for me. I am not dense! Then why do my emotions always become a burden?! Why cannot I show my emotions without care just like everyone?! Why do I have to think before smiling and even trying?!
"Master"
The voice of Sraosha pulled me back to the real world. I turn to look towards her.
"It is the time"
It is the time. Time for next step in this war.