Noticing that the Tama-Artists aren't looking in his direction, Lucy takes out the hammer that killed his mother. Without any hesitation, he clashes it with his fist; those who can't see the silver tincture think he is doing a trick.
However, Lucien is happy —doesn't show expressions in front of strangers— at the sight of the hammer breaking.
However, his joy doesn't last long, as the chroma vanishes, leaving his body drained like someone who ran from Alaska to Argentina. Feeling giddy as a windmill, Lucy lies his head on the table, hiding his smile.
—This is the power of the soul. If I keep using it, I'll feel less fatigued; paring with the strongest Tama-Artists.
Stopping himself from sleeping, Lucien listens to the surrounding sounds. On the other side, Katsura walks to the other Tama-Artists, grimacing.
"Did you tell them what is going on?"
The question is rhetorical; the movement of the head can answer. However, Girashi, a tall man who can match Lucy in height, replies with furrowed brows.
"There is no need. The smart ones already know."
—Why are tall people acting cocky today?
Katsura thought, instinctively gripping his tachi with a snort:
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't tell them?"
The brown-haired man bends forward, inciting his eyes to look at Katsura's scalp that is reflecting his face.
"Then, who would tell the mortals you brought, Academy failure?"
Katsura gnashes his teeth, stepping back.
"It's not like you passed."
Girashi smirks, standing up straight with a puffed chest.
"At least I had a better grade than you."
Katsura's scowl deepens, pulling his sword out of his scabbard slowly. All the Tama-Artists in the restaurant are Academy failures, but Katsura has the lowest grade.
Halfway taking his tachi, his hand turns into fire, melting the sword. Forthwith, Girashi laughs, his hands on his belly.
"Your Tama might allow you to turn your body into fire. Nonetheless, it's useless to Bushi like us, who don't have much Rei."
Clicking his tongue, Katsura throws his flaming fist toward Girashi's toned abs. However, before it can connect, the hand returns to normal.
—Shit! I'm out of Rei already!
Sweating, Katsura's face turns red from embarrassment, but he still opens his big lips.
"If I didn't kill the kyuketsuki on my way here, I would've ended you."
Not wanting a reply, Katsura strides over to the mortals. Playing nonchalant, he lands his gaze on the red-hair looking at the table.
'What is his name again? Lucy Duterere? Luchi Etori? Eh? Whatever!'
"Silver Hammer! Explain everything from the start!"
Although Bushi are the weakest class of Tama-Artist, they are not to be underestimated. Their Tama can enhance or change their bodies; with the right liquid Tama, they can shoot out elements from their bodies. Knowing that mortals who oppose their command would have hell on earth, Lucy doesn't hesitate, even though bothered by the nickname.
Standing, Lucien shows his kindest face in front of strangers —indifference.
"At sixteen, everyone is taken to drink the Faith Tama, and open their Primordial Space to become Tama-Artists."
»»»Tama is either awakened, plundered from something, or mined from the ground. In some occasions, Tama might appear in the form of liquids, just like petrol when the latter is done«««
»»»To date, two theories make sense about the origins of liquid Tama. First: it's a Tama that has experienced weathering, and since Tama is said to be from a spirit it turns into liquid, instead of soil like rocks. Last: it's the benevolent spirits that move around the world that make liquid Tama«««
That aside, Lucien continues:
"Those who fail can't have access to use Rei. Such are sent to the mortal regions of Kurenai Village to live as mortals who worship and obey Tama-Artists' every command.
"Moreover, the Tama-Artists have the right to bring us into the Age Regiment Camp."
The mortals tremble in fright. They know, but the way Lucy says it, makes it feel horrible.
"Every male mortal between the ages of 16 to 20 has been gathered in this restaurant to go fight profound beasts in the bordering forest of the two villages in Kokoro Island. As the profound beasts' stages increase, the deadlier they would be; sometimes, they might have Tama or unique abilities. We, also, have to kill the Kushi Village mortals to decide whether the two villages should go to war or not."
For a moment, the whole restaurant turns silent.
All they have to do is simple: fight profound beasts; sometimes, they have to kill it, tire it out... or simply offer their pitiful lives, in hopes that it would be full, and go back before all of them die —killing people sounds easy, so they thought.
Their lives are as meaningless as bugs'... well, at least, bugs have the option to run.
For them, running is worse... they would be captured, and placed under the rat torture. The rat would be placed on their back-hole or stomach, firing it up to dig its way into the victim's body. Sometimes, it's something horrible as glasstration.
After a few seconds of deathly silence, one boy rushes to kneel at Girashi's feet, tears in his eyes.
"Lords, please spare me! I am only twenty, and expecting a baby in the next few -"
His words are cut short, as Girashi chops off his head in a swift motion of his nodachi before returning it to its scabbard.
In the next second, Girashi casts a cold gaze over the mortals in the restaurant.
"Silver Hammer, tell them what happens to mortals who disobey the orders given by the lords, the Tama-Artists!"
—Although my skin is pale, it's porcelain since I'm an albino; there is nothing silver about me: why are they calling me that?
Helplessly sighing, Lucien replies coldly:
"All mortals who don't act to the wishes of the Tama-Artists are killed."
***
During the night, walking crop jack o'lanterns eat the mortals' hearts; the lucky ones have cockroaches entering their guts.
Of course, this is a product of their sweet dreams.
For a stick like boy with umber skin and coiled pink hair, however, it's a different story. Curled up in a corner, he hugs himself to supplement the heat his dilapidated jinbei can't produce.
"Big brother, I'll kill you. How dare you lie that I'm 16? I'm 15! Fifteen! Fif..."
The young man stops grumbling. At the same time, the wind imports blades of coldness, instigating him to clash his teeth against each other, as he coughs on the side.
The day has been the worst for Ten: not only did his chance to be a Tama-Artist get robbed, but when he tried to explain his age, the Tama-Artist lashed him.
"Tsk, at least this place smells better than the compost my neighbors threw me in."
Although the restaurant has the funk of unwashed bodies, it can't overpower the lovely scent of flora coming from the broken shoji (paper screens), and the ceiling that might fall anytime.
Testing the brisk zephyr, Ten wryly smiles, enjoying his freezing hell.
'If only I had a girlfriend to warm me up at times like this?'
—Aren't I too young to be thinking that?
"Shut up! I don't need a girlfriend!"
Ten grumbled with a yawn, standing up from his corner. Glowering, he walks around; to his vexation, everyone in the restaurant looks to be either handsome, or more chiseled than him.
Noticing a rat, he kicks it toward the window.
"Is this what I would've become if I ate regularly?"
The rat didn't go anywhere, and starts attacking his tabi. Clicking his tongue, Ten curses himself for almost letting food escape. Licking his lips, the pink-hair chases the rat that now realizes he isn't a walking twig.
After a minute, the rat goes inside a muscular man's kimono. Sacred and excited, Ten continues his journey. Suddenly, his gaze lands on Lucien's silver birthmark on his left wrist.
'Those strange characters, they're the same as my brother's green birthmark.'
—Mmm... lets look.
As someone who has the same last name as the First Tama-Artist, curiosity is Ten's middle name. Taking careful steps, he advances closer to the sleeping red-hair.
However, the moment he touches Lucy, he wakes up.
Already with a second plan, Ten brings out a bottle, smiling.
"This material is called plastic. My brother made it to store water: want some?"
Lucy narrows his brows. Entering deep thought, he frowns, inciting the pink eyes to flinch. Letting go of his words, he nods, taking the bottle.
"Thank you."
—Your face doesn't look thankful at all.
Ten sighs, his little plan has worked. If it didn't, he would've acted crazy —always works. Patiently waiting, he scratches the back of his head.
"Silver Hammer-san, do you have a girlfriend?"
—People always ask me that.
Lucien knits up his brows, returning the bottle.
"Yes."
"Oh... she must—"
"There is a well on the west side of the restaurant."
"..."
Ten blinks, his words caught in his throat. His mouth moves, but can't produce a word, as he trembles.
'This guy is scary.'
—Maybe it's those amber eyes.
The pink-eyes lets go of all thoughts, bowing to Lucy, he heads out of the restaurant.
The arid forest ahead sings the sounds of ghosts, emitting an eldritch sensation that intensified Ten's explorer's spirit... well, with his crippled sense of direction, he doesn't know which way is west.
'It won't hurt to reconnoiter a little.'
—Maybe, I'll find a way to escape without being caught by the Bushi.
Placing his hands into the pockets of his jinbei, Ten walks straight forward, his countenance calm as a mother's kiss. The forest is a grandicious mixture of tropical and savanna trees, filled with an embrace of fruits, broadening Ten's knowledge of plants.
After three minutes, Ten chews on a guava, passing by a jacaranda tree, only to be greeted by a marvelous sight.
'It's that bastard who lashed me!'
—But what is that thing, chewing on his heart?
The creature, humanoid and wooden, has hair from lush green branches, together with spikes for fingers. Furthermore, it's elephant like leg is stepping on the Bushi, splattering his insides out.
'I've seen enough for today.'
Ten gulps down the remaining part of the guava, turning around with a nonaligned mien.
"What are you doing here—?"
Ten didn't wait to hear what the profound beast has to say; befriending the wind, he runs back to the restaurant with a stiff visage.
Arriving, Tento frowns at what the mortals did to his chill spot, prompting a grumble out of his thin lips.
"Why did they discharge there?"
Shrugging, Ten goes to an empty table to sleep —his body is warm as intended. However, something bothers him.
—Why didn't I feel fear against that beast? Could it be because I don't have desires? But fear is an emotion, isn't it? Well, I don't have most emotions to begin with. Wait, didn't I fear Silver Hammer-san...
The young man continues thinking, but he is already asleep.