The sun had barely risen, and the morning dew still covered the grass in the garden. Sitting cross-legged on the mat Genshiro had set up the day before, Chibaki yawned widely, almost dislocating his jaw. His yellow eyes stared at the horizon, impatiently waiting for his master.
A few moments later, Genshiro's tall silhouette emerged in the pale morning light. His steps were heavy yet steady, his dark eyes already focused.
— "You're early, Chibaki," he said in a deep voice, setting his bag down on the ground.
— "I couldn't sleep…" the boy admitted, fidgeting with his fingers. "I had a… strange dream."
Genshiro's gaze settled on him, intrigued.
— "A dream?"
Chibaki took a deep breath before speaking.
— "It was… like I was in a void. And then, a voice… huge, echoing everywhere at once. It talked to me about Myuki. It told me to be careful of… someone. But I don't know who. It felt too real to be just a dream."
A silence lingered for a moment. Genshiro stared at him, his expression unreadable, before giving a slight shrug.
— "Dreams are often reflections of our fears or desires. You've just awakened to Myuki—your mind is still unsettled. Don't dwell on it too much."
— "But Master, I'm sure that—"
— "Enough," Genshiro cut in, his voice firm but not harsh. "Maybe one day you'll understand. For now, it's not your priority. Your only task is to learn how to control your Myuki."
Chibaki clenched his teeth, frustrated, but eventually nodded.
Genshiro sat down in front of him, crossing his legs.
— "Good. Just like yesterday, we'll start by feeling your Myuki core. Think of it as a warm-up. Close your eyes, breathe… and find that warmth again."
Chibaki closed his eyes. The fresh grass beneath his fingers, the sound of birds, and his master's calm voice helped him focus.
Slowly, the familiar warmth appeared once more—gentle and comforting, near his heart.
— "I feel it, Master…" he whispered.
— "Perfect. This time, try to move it. Imagine it flowing like a river through your veins. Guide it to your hands… or your legs. That's your exercise for today."
Chibaki took a deep breath. He focused, frowning slightly.
The warmth shifted… hesitantly.
His body began to tremble from the effort.
His fingers tensed, his breathing grew uneven. The warmth in his chest had moved into his arm, stronger than before. His fingers trembled, tingling with energy.
— "Yes… I'm doing it…" he murmured, a strained smile on his lips.
But suddenly, the warmth swelled—too fast.
Like a flame devouring the air, it became burning… painful.
An unstable aura pulsed around his hand, lifting dust and flattening the grass around him.
— "Wait, Chibaki!" Genshiro called out, rising to his feet.
— "No… I can do it… I want to do it!" the boy shouted, eyes wide.
His entire body vibrated. The Myuki, compressed too much, was trying to burst out. A sharp gust erupted from his hand, throwing the mat aside and scraping the ground. His heart was pounding so fast he thought it would explode.
Then—
A firm hand landed on his shoulder.
— "Enough."
Genshiro's deep voice struck like thunder.
In an instant, the heat vanished, pulled away as if swallowed by an invisible abyss. The aura flickered… then disappeared.
Chibaki dropped to his knees, gasping, his eyes still wide with fear.
— "What… was that…? It felt like I was going to explode from the inside…" he whispered, trembling.
Genshiro stared at him sternly.
— "You tried to go too fast. Myuki is not a beast you can force into submission. If you push it, it will turn against you… and consume you."
He crouched down to his level, his gaze softening slightly.
— "Remember this, Chibaki: you don't control Myuki. It's an exchange. You must listen to it, tame it… like a breath that slowly becomes your own."
Chibaki lowered his eyes, ashamed, but nodded.
— "I understand… I just wanted to prove to you that I could do it…"
A faint smile appeared on Genshiro's lips.
— "And you will. But not in a single day. Let's try once more… but take it slow this time."
He stepped back and crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on his student.
— "Come on. Breathe. Feel your core. And this time, instead of forcing it… guide your Myuki, as if you're showing it the way."
Chibaki took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused again. This time, he wouldn't force it.
He dove deep within himself, where the familiar warmth burned softly. His Myuki core, resting near his heart, pulsed with a pure white light.
He focused on it…
And little by little, he felt currents forming—like invisible rivers flowing through his body.
The Myuki pathways revealed themselves to him, thin glowing threads running through his arms and legs.
— Slowly… not too fast… he thought, clenching his teeth.
The light stretched gently from his core, a faint glow moving from his chest to his shoulder… then down his arm.
Each inch it traveled sent shivers through his body, as if he was rediscovering a part of himself.
The glow reached his elbow… then his wrist.
Chibaki slowed down even more, afraid everything might collapse.
Finally…
The light reached the end of his arm, illuminating the pathways in his hand.
He suddenly opened his eyes.
His hand was surrounded by a bluish aura—transparent, almost liquid.
It vibrated softly, wrapping around his fingers like a flame made of water.
— "I… I did it!" he exclaimed, his heart racing.
But at that exact moment, his excitement broke his concentration.
The aura vanished instantly, fading like mist.
Chibaki froze, disappointed to have lost it so quickly.
But Genshiro, who had remained silent the entire time, slowly nodded.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
— "Well done, Chibaki. You managed to guide your Myuki calmly. But you must not lose focus. Myuki needs to be constantly controlled… and that requires a lot of concentration at the beginning."
He crossed his arms, his serious gaze fixed on his student.
— "Repeat this exercise several times, and try to maintain that energy for as long as you can."
The training continued throughout the entire morning.
Sitting cross-legged, Chibaki focused on his breathing, sweat forming on his forehead. The bluish aura appeared… vanished… then appeared again. With each attempt, he managed to hold it a little longer, a little more steadily.
The sun was already high in the sky when, for the first time, he managed to maintain the energy for nearly an hour without letting it slip away.
The air around him vibrated slightly, and his entire arm seemed to breathe in rhythm with the flow of Myuki.
When he finally released his focus, he fell backward, exhausted but happy, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Genshiro watched him in silence, arms crossed. A simple nod was enough to show his pride.
— "Not bad… for an impatient kid," he murmured, almost to himself.
Chibaki didn't respond.
His eyes were closed.
He was already asleep, carried away by exhaustion… and the warmth of the sun.