It's been a month since I decided to learn together with Maki and Mai. Since my knowledge about martial arts is slim to none, using my power as heir to the Zenin clan, I decided to appoint a teacher who can teach me.
I still don't know how I managed to use Protection Sorcery without having any martial arts knowledge. Maybe the previous Naoya was on the verge of a breakthrough or something.
Anyway, since I don't know much about martial arts myself, I learn from my teacher, and then I come to the nearby woods, where Maki and Mai are, and teach them what I learn, and we also get close to each other through the month. If I keep this up, then I have no doubt that, if in the future Maki goes berserk, she won't kill me, though I have no intention of letting Mai die; we can never be sure about the future. If for some unfortunate reason I can't somehow protect Mai...well, no need to think any deeper.
Anyhow, I was on my way to Woods to practice with Maki and Mai. But it seems they have not arrived yet.
The reason why we didn't practice in the training hall is because a month ago when they first came to us in the training hall, Oge came to meet me and threatened me not to meet them or something.
I am not afraid of him or anything, which he also knows. The title of first in line gives me a lot of leverage in Zenin, as there is no one with talent to replace me, or so they say. But only I know that I didn't even know any martial arts and I am weak. If I challenge Oge directly, it won't be me who will suffer; it would be Maki and Mai.
The woods were quiet in that uncomfortable way—too still, like the air itself was holding its breath.
I stood near the clearing we usually trained in, arms folded, listening to the faint rustle of leaves and the distant cry of a bird. Normally, by this time, Maki would already be warming up, swinging a wooden staff with brutal enthusiasm, while Mai complained about dirt getting on her clothes.
But today, footsteps came late.
I turned and immediately knew something was wrong.
Maki was walking stiffly, jaw clenched, eyes forward. Mai followed close behind her, head down, shoulders shaking. Her sleeves were damp, and she kept rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand like she was angry at them for leaking.
"…What happened?" I asked.
They stopped a few steps away. Maki answered first. "Mai saw something."
Mai sniffed loudly. "I did not—!"
"You did," Maki cut in. "You froze."
I crouched slightly so I was closer to Mai's eye level. "Saw what?"
Mai hesitated, lips trembling. "S-something scary. In the trees. It was looking at me."
I glanced around. Nothing.Probably because it already left or something otherwise I could see it.
"…Where?" I asked calmly.
Mai pointed toward a cluster of thick trunks. I focused, senses stretching out as far as they could. "But it seems it left." Mai murmur.
I saw nothing then I nodded slowly. "Alright."
Mai frowned. "You believe me?"
"I believe you saw something," I said then I added, bluntly, "But stop crying. You're being a crybaby."
Her head snapped up. "I am not a crybaby!"
Maki crossed her arms. "If there was something there, why didn't I see it?"
I straightened and answered without thinking too hard about the weight of my words.
"Because you don't have cursed energy."
"…Oh," Maki said quietly. She looks sad but that's the truth.
Maki looked between us. "So… I'm the weird one?"
"No," I said immediately. "You're the sensitive one."
That earned me two skeptical looks.
I sighed. "Look. If what you saw was real then it was probably a weak curse. The kind that only shows itself to people with just enough cursed energy to notice but not enough to fight."
Mai swallowed. "So it wasn't my imagination?"
"Maybe," I said honestly. "Maybe not. Either way, you didn't do anything wrong."
Maki clenched her fists. "Then why can't I see it? And what would be even the point of practicing if my enemy is someone I can't see?"
Because the world is unfair. I didn't say that.
Instead, I walked between them and put a hand on each of their heads a give them a pat.
"Cheer up," I said. "Both of you."
"This world hands out bad cards at birth, Some people get cursed energy. Some don't. Some get strength. Some get brains. Complaining about it won't change anything."
I looked at Maki. "You don't see curses. So you train your body until it doesn't matter."
Then at Mai. "You see things. So you learn not to panic when you do."
Mai wiped her eyes. "…You're bad at comforting people."
"Yeah," I agreed. "But I'm right."
Maki let out a quiet huff—almost a laugh.
"…Fine," she said. "Let's train."
Mai hesitated, then nodded. "I won't cry."
"Good," I said, stepping back into the clearing. "And Maki, you don't have to worry about not seeing curses. There are tools that allow you to do it."
~~~
I like the idea of people who reading my novel leaving their make on my book so Give me lot of comments and Power stones. Give me inspection. Give me reviews.
POWER STONE, GIVE IT ME.
Posted some extra chapter in patron, if you are interested check it out, link is the synopsis.