Location - Inside Kina's training Room
It had already been two hours since Kael had begun his desperate fight for survival against his master. Kina threw a punch aimed at Kael's head, and with a quick response, Kael moved his body sideways, narrowly avoiding the blow. "Now that was good. Observe and action. You observed my punch and you took the action that will take you out of the threat with minimal movements," Kina commented, looking proudly at her disciple.
"Let's stop here for today," Kina ordered, at which Kael affirmed with a head nod as he fell to the ground, his body unravelling after the intense situation he found himself in before. He supported himself with his hands and made himself comfortable on the damaged floor.
Kael took a deep breath of relief as his body began to regenerate thanks to the serum's influence, but it didn't take away the pain that accompanied it. Within a few minutes, he had healed up and had energy to stand up from the floor.
Raising his head, he found his master taking care of her katana. "Ahhh…I thought you would've left by now," Kael spoke as he approached his master. Kina sheathed her katana back into its scabbard, and she signaled Kael to approach her.
Obeying her order, Kael approached her, and the next thing he knew was him sitting on the ground, his hair tangled in Kina's hands. She ran her hands through his hair, her voice soft and solemn. "Does it still hurt?" she asked, seeking confirmation. "No. It doesn't hurt anymore, and it's just like you said…the Detel serum will help me become strong enough…" Kael admitted, not before being caught halfway through his speech.
"I'm sorry, Kael. It's okay to be hurt, and it's okay to be mad at the person who hurt you," Kina replied, her hands cupping Kael's cheeks as she turned his face towards hers. Kael looked at her, and he could see the conflict hidden behind her eyes. "I know, but it's fine. You promised to make me strong enough to take down those monsters. Strength that doesn't come with its hardship isn't strength at all," Kael spoke, his eyes warm and free with no malice laced within them.
Hearing his comforting words, Kina hugged him closely and held him tightly in her warm embrace. "You're a kind person, Kael, but I know how this cruel world will forcibly change you. I know this is pretty hurtful, but...your revenge, do you have to take it?" Kina asked. She knew Kael's answer before he needed to say it, but that sight of hope in her wandered if her words could hold some sway in his hardened mind.
Kael held his master's hand tightly, his voice panned, as he gave his response. "That's so cruel of you, my master. There are many things that I could elaborate on, especially if you asked me to. But this one isn't one of them, master. I'm sorry..I truly am, Master. I know you're just worried and looking out for me, but I have to be filial this time." Kina, hearing his response, didn't make much of a reaction. Maybe it was because she already knew what his answer would be, but she just released Kael from her grasp.
Kael looked at his master, his eyes followed her in curiosity. Feeling his eyes on her, Kina finally decided to speak. "My team's break is about to reach its end, and when that is done, we'll have to leave for the missions given by the Commanders. Do you know? I only just realised that there's still so much I want to teach and share with you, but I guess we won't have that time, my disciple."
"I see. I thought it was still some time away as you never brought it up with me," Kael recalled, his head resting on Kina's lap, who seemed not to mind. "You've always been worried about me, even when you didn't show it or…when you also tried to kill me…a…lot of times," Kael added, the latter bit of his statement stressed to get his point across.
Kina playfully flicked Kael's ears, a chuckle escaping her. "You always know how to make me laugh. And the training is all for your good," Kina and Kael said at the same time as they both burst into laughter, diffusing the choked atmosphere that had surrounded them previously.
"Yeah, I know. And I also know that I trust in you, so you should trust your disciple a bit more, too," Kael argued. "Hmm..that is true. I trust you, Kael, but I'm worried. I have to leave soon, and you have your trial missions coming up soon. What if the knowledge I've taught isn't enough for you to make it back to me safely? This thought pops up in my mind sometimes, and…it scares me, Kael," Kina shared honestly with Kael, one of the few times that she showed her vulnerability.
Kael locked his hands with his master, as he declared to her, "I'll always come back to you, this I promise, Master. Besides, if what the Crazed Star of Constellations taught me couldn't help me survive, it means that there was never any hope for escape in the first place. I trust you completely with my life, so you should trust yourself. I'll come back from the mission safe, and when I've taken my revenge, I'll come back to you," Kael promised, his eyes fixed on hers.
"Alright, I'll believe you, my filial and problematic disciple. And you have a point…if you die even when I've taken you as my disciple, it'll be a huge stain on my reputation. In order for this not to happen, we'll crank up the intensity of training. Every day, immediately after classes, you'll come here to train with me for at least two hours," Kina ordered with a smile on her face.
"Ahh…you should be kinder to your only disci…." Before he could complete his sentence, the door that led out of the training room banged open, and the cold girl, Kael's batch rank 2, Kira Kiomi walked into the room, her face, which was filled with happiness, gradually faded into shock and morphed into something darker, her eyes blazing with anger and her hands firmly tightened on her sword.
Kina looked towards the direction of the door, and recognition veiled her eyes as she asked, "What brings you here, little sister?" Kira stepped into the room and took two steps forward, her eyes fixed on Kael, who nestled within Kina's embrace. "You should show me proper respect, The Crazed Star of Constellation. In your presence is the only heir of Clan Kiomi. Or have you lost your manners ever since you betrayed us, team leader? Or should I call you the title of the Traitor of Clan Kiomi?"
"I understand. Please forgive my earlier rudeness." Kina took her sword into her hands as she rose from her position. Her voice was coldly formal, a tone Kael had never seen of her., "What brings you to my humble abode, Young Lady of the Great House, Clan Kiomi?" Kina respectfully and formally addressed the girl, who was Kira.
"I have been graced with rumours of an expert with the katana, and with my family's honour, I had to come observe this expert for myself," Kira stated her reason for being here, her hostile eyes never once leaving Kael's. "I understand. It would be a huge honour to receive someone as respectable as you. I have also heard of Clan Kiomi's might, so such a guest is welcome anytime," Kina responded.
"I wish to have a spar. I heard you have a disciple, and as customs stated, I have to challenge your disciple to gain the authority to challenge the master. So could you grant the permission to spar with that disciple of yours? Though I doubt it can be called a spar considering how quick it'll take," Kira commented, a smug smile adorning her face, her eye still filled with malice.
"I understand, Young Lady. Please wait a bit, for I shall prepare my disciple for the spar, "Kina noticed before moving Kael out of the room, each of his steps out of the room, closely monitored by Kira.
Location - Outside Kina's Training Room
Kael resisted as he spoke to his master in a whisper, keeping in mind his classmate still in the room. "What is going on? Why did she suddenly suggest a spar, and why do I have to fight her?!" Kina disregarded his complaints as she held his hands and led him to her office. Closing the door behind them, Kina, without a pause, walked to the drawer present in the room and with some clicks and practiced actions, a hidden compartment flung open and she placed her hands in it.
She pulled out what seemed to be a katana in a white sheath with some designs around in black ink that gave it a unique appearance. She drew the sword out of the scabbard fluently and it made a scraping sound as it emerged from its original abode. The blade of the katana was a polished and beautiful shade of black steel with an even hamon (This is the wavy, visible line that runs along the blade's surface, created by the differential hardening process during the sword's creation) at its edge. The handle of the sword was filled with strange words that Kael couldn't make any sense of.
Kina sheathed the sword back into the katana and, with a smile, stretched it to Kael. "I was keeping this until you turned of age or some event like that. It was meant as a surprise, but I guess I can give this to you now, " Kina admired the sword in her hands before throwing it to Kael, who quickly caught it. "Thank you…Master," Kael smiled in tears after he received the sword. "Ahh…why did I get dumped with a crybaby disciple?" Kina sarcastically added, her face filled with a smile as she observed Kael struggling to hide the tears he let fall from his eyes.
"I wasn't crying. It was just my sweat," Kael argued, hoping to retain his reputation. "Sure…sure. Anyway, Kael. There's another reason I'm giving you that sword. In my family, we have a belief that the first time you ever use a new sword, it must be marred with victory to sate the hunger of the spirit that resides in the katana. My katana's first use was in victories, and so it has brought me a lot of victories ever since. There are a lot of traditions I don't agree with in my family, but this one was one I could get behind."
"What I'm trying to say is that you must absolutely win with this sword, alright, my disciple?" Kina added as she stared at Kael. "Wait, wait, wait. You're going too quickly. She's rank 2, is fighting, her not going to break the rule of showing respect to higher ranks? Also, why would she just come in here to pick a fight?! And why did you call her little sister? There's so much going on!" Kael ruffled his hair in frustration before he got another flick to his forehead from his master.
"Head in the game, Kael. Go out there and make me proud, and if you do, there'll be a special prize for you," Kina encouraged as the fire of determination lit in Kael's eyes. "I'll fight to defend my master's honour!" Kael shouted, his fists tightened on the sword in his grasp.
"Good, good. Though I feel concerned that it was the special prize that made you fired up, but as they say, the end matters, not the means, right?" Kina murmured to herself.
SOME MINUTES LATER
In the centre of the repaired training room stood Kael, in his grip was his new weapon and his opponent, the Young Lady of Clan Kiomi, Kira Kiomi, her katana's blade slicing through the light as it refracted a glint of the metal's silvery surface.
Joining the two was Kina, who stood at one edge of the room, her eyes focused intently on the two and her two vice leaders, Min and Fin, being the referees and observers of this match. Fin took to the centre and spoke. "I want a match that is clean and fair. This is a match of swords, so honour them and honour yourselves," Fin stated, and with a nod to both of the contestants, he took from the center stage and waved his hand while he spoke aloud the words which would start the spar. "Begin!!"
As soon as those words were said, both Kael and Kira disappeared for a short while before the resounding clash of the metals of the swords made the eyes of Min and Fin draw in that direction. Sparks flew between the two swords, which lit the faces of Kael and Kina. The smell of hot metal signified the true beginning of the duel.