The young master's word wasn't up for debate.
A warm ease moved through Gotoh's chest. He didn't say anything—nothing needed saying; he would repay it with loyalty.
He pulled pen and paper from his pocket and began copying. Roy left him to it, took Yubashiri from the rack, and stepped out.
Off to the training hall.
Six a.m., mid-November. The sky wasn't light yet; lamps still burned along both walls of the corridor, their flicker dragging the boy's shadow back and forth. Roy breathed in the mountain's fresh air; then his gaze shifted, looking far ahead…
At the end of the hall, Zeno turned the corner, hands clasped behind his back, Tsubone following with two big suitcases.
"Grandfather." Roy stopped beside the luggage.
Zeno came to a halt before him, looked him over from head to toe. "Roy, you've grown taller."
From Physique 11 to Physique 71—in just a few months. Sixty points wasn't an "improvement"—it was a leap.
"It's gotten cold; I've been eating more."
"Mm… time to put on your winter weight." Zeno patted his arm. "No father doesn't wish his son well. Seeing you change—I'm pleased."
"Everything is for moving forward," Roy said evenly.
Zeno agreed. "In that, you're better than Silva was at your age."
"He was stubborn too?"
"Stubborn? He…"
"Ahem." A light cough cut in without ceremony, breaking up Zeno and Roy's talk.
Another man came from the corner behind Tsubone—large, thick with muscle; even with winter coming he still wore that close-cut black combat suit, silver hair spilling to his waist, that cold, severe face. He walked like a mountain.
He stopped before Roy, looking down. "The sun… that's your answer?"
He was due out on a job with Zeno this morning. After Gotoh's call, the man had been silent a long time…
"It is—and it's yours too." Roy lifted his chin, eyes bright, speaking sincerely: "I just feel you're too cold sometimes. If I can make you feel what warmth is, I'd… be very glad to."
"You've really changed."
"Father taught me well."
Silva: "…"
He stared deep at the boy—and found himself at a loss. He turned away instead, with Zeno shaking his head and smiling behind him.
"Heh-heh… train your Ren well. Let Grandfather see it when the time comes."
The "A Kill A Day" on Zeno's chest flapped in the wind. He clapped Roy's shoulder and followed after. Tsubone, suitcases in hand, gave Roy a small nod as she passed.
They went straight by him. The red sun broke the ridge, ten thousand rays driving off the dark. Roy watched the current and previous heads of the Zoldycks depart—the dawn draped over his shoulders like a cape.
"Visualization… first 'see', then 'think'; borrow, imitate, create—awaken a Ren that's uniquely your own…"
Folding Father's and Great-Grandfather's teachings on Ren together, Roy opened the hall door, took his poison, and trained in the sun—until the venom bit. Then he had Luke carry him to the garden, face to the sunlight, for a sun-bath.
"What is he doing?" Illumi came in behind and watched it all.
Luke, shovel in hand, had been about to dig a pit. It wasn't needed. He shook his head—no idea.
To him the young master seemed… not quite right—but whether he understood or not, he would respect it.
"Young master—it's your turn. Lethal dose again today?"
Illumi: "…"
"Make it sub-lethal."
Great-Grandfather had just called him in—told him to go pay respects to Zigg in the afternoon. He didn't want to show up looking wrecked.
And so…
On this chilly afternoon, three people lay in a row in the garden before the Zoldyck castle.
One with hands folded on his belly, sun-bathing in peace. One face-down, butt in the air—status unknown. And one buried in a pit with only his head out—shaded by a parasol.
A twisted harmony—until two figures, one before and one behind, tore it apart.
The sun slanted. Feeling the light fade, Roy opened his eyes, stretched, and—as usual—headed for the basement.
Hearing him, Illumi shook off the stupor, clawed out of the pit, shook off the dirt, and followed.
"You're going to pay respects too?" They noticed each other at the same time, spoke at the same time, then fell silent.
Each took a side of the hall, hands in pockets, not touching…
Tap… tap…
Two sets of steps echoed. Illumi's eyes slid sideways—Roy's were straight ahead. "I won't take your things for free," he said quietly.
Silva's notebook on the Four Fundamentals was exactly what he needed—especially after learning Zetsu days ago and finding Ren a fog—truly a pillow for a drowsy head.
"I said, Father gave it," Roy replied, knowing what he meant. He didn't mind repeating it.
The hollow-eyed boy didn't care. "If you handed it to me, it's your gift.
"Either way—it came from you…"
"Suit yourself." Roy lengthened his stride—done talking.
Illumi matched it with Shadow Step, arriving first at the basement, where Scarface and One-Eye stood.
"Young master."
"Young master."
They bowed. Roy arrived an instant later and nodded back.
Which raised the question… who goes first?
Illumi flicked a glance at Roy.
He stepped forward without hesitation. Scarface and One-Eye drew the steel door, and he went in.
Two seconds later he came out, hand on the wall, calves shaking.
"One and a half seconds." Scarface clicked the stopwatch and traded a look with One-Eye, then opened the door again…
This time Roy went in as Illumi came out. The brothers brushed shoulders without a look…
"Get down!"
Deep in the corridor, the airtight door opened; a tentacle reached and rolled Roy in—into re: Game of the Dead.
The shout, the sandworm's Ren—familiar. Roy reshaped his aura, raised a single Nen shield in front, and took the first tail-lash. Zigg's eyes found him again.
"Whose kid are you? Your Ren is coming along… Heads up—the big one's coming!"
The worm skimmed the ground, starting the second wave. This time Roy visualized the sun—its heat, its glare, its unbearable blaze. The milky shield, under that pressure, sprouted red specks…
They steamed—scorching the air.
Zigg felt heat, thickened his own iron shield, and cut a look over—red points blooming together, heat rippling out. The instant it met the sandworm's Ren, it burned it away.
Zigg's eyes gleamed. "The truth of fire?"
"No—the truth of the sun…"
[Notice: Nen Property Change activated]
[Note: "Truth of the Sun" — Lv1 (1/100)]
[Effect: Scorch. (Host can imbue aura with heat to burn the opponent's Nen)]
Sss— Sparks caught—streams of aura and flying planks hurtling for Roy turned to ash.
This time, he lasted two and a half minutes. What held him back—was aura.
"Impressive. Shame you're young—your grasp of the visualization's still thin. Otherwise… you might live."
Crack! The landing craft splintered in the worm's jaws; a flying gunwale smashed his shield. As he faded he thought he saw regret on Zigg's face—then blackness—link cut.
And he didn't even make it back to the sea; the world reeled and he opened his eyes in reality—tentacle setting him down outside the airtight door, the pot of yellow chrysanthemums at his side.
Too domineering.
You can't stare at the sun; pouring heat into aura burns enormous fuel. It had even eaten the little reserve he kept for his Door of Cognition—use it well, it's a blade—use it poorly…
"—it's a burden."
Spent—hollowed out—he stood there a long time before his head cleared. Then he put one foot in front of the other and headed up the passage.
One step… two… very slow, very careful. When he emerged—
Illumi, Scarface, and One-Eye all looked. Scarface pressed the watch. "Two minutes thirty-one."
"Looks like I lost again…" Illumi flicked hair from his eyes. He'd thought with Zetsu under his belt he could close on his brother—but Roy was still across the river, and he still couldn't reach.
Illumi stared at Roy a moment, then turned and left, bleak.
A gust swirled dead leaves. Roy left as well, returned to his room, set Silva's notes beside Zigg's, and read them side by side…
After a while, thoughtful, he wrote on a blank page:
"One blazing heart, pointed at the sun."
Sun Breathing—born of the sun. Nen—condensed to Ren with the sun as its reference…
All paths, one road.
"Ask The Heart"… "Ask The Heart"… so long as the sun does not set, his heart will not go out…
He closed the notebook. Never had his path ahead felt so clear.
When lost… just follow the sun.