After checking into a quiet little inn on the outskirts of town, Kagetsu set his bag down beside the bed and turned to Ezren with a glint of resolve in his eyes.
"We should show each other our strength," he said plainly. "If we're going to be a team from now on, it's better to know what we're working with. That way, we can form a strategy when the time comes."
It made sense. More than that, it sounded… official. Like the beginning of something real.
Ezren shifted awkwardly.
"What kind of Essentia do you have?" Kagetsu asked, curiosity edging into his otherwise calm tone.
Ezren rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly very aware of how little he actually knew about himself.
"Uhh… I don't know how to use magic," he admitted. "Actually, I'm not even sure I have an Essentia. What if I don't?"
Kagetsu blinked, caught off guard.
"That's… unusual. Not impossible, but rare. I've never met anyone without one. Until now, I thought I was the only one."
He stood abruptly, grabbing his cloak from the wall hook.
"Come on. We're going to the Magic Shop. They have a device that can test for Essentia. If you've got one, we'll find out."
"Hey, by the way, Ezren—are those the only clothes you have?" Kagetsu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure are," Ezren replied with a smile.
"Well, we can pick up some more for you later."
"Oh, really? Thanks, Kagetsu."
"No problem."
The Magic Shop
The place looked like it had been forgotten by time. The sign above the door—Magical Shop, faded gold letters clinging to decaying wood—swayed slightly in the breeze. Ezren had expected something more mystical, not… dusty.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old parchment, crushed herbs, and a metallic tinge that clung to the back of the throat. Crystals hummed faintly from the shelves, glowing artifacts blinked in slow pulses, and a massive orb sat on the reception desk like a sleeping eye.
An elderly man in a white robe and round glasses shuffled into view from behind a curtain.
"Welcome," he said, voice as warm as his smile. "How can I help you two?"
"We're here to test his Essentia," Kagetsu replied, gesturing at Ezren.
The old man nodded and pointed to the sphere.
"Place your hand on the sphere, young man. Let's see what you've got."
Ezren hesitated. What if it didn't react at all?
He took a breath and pressed his hand to the orb's cool surface.
The crystal pulsed, flickering through a spectrum of colors. Blue. Red. Green. Yellow—then suddenly stopped. A deep, shadowy black spread through the orb like ink in water.
The old man raised a brow but didn't seem concerned.
"There's your answer. That'll be two copper coins."
Kagetsu paid without a word. Ezren stared at the now-dark sphere.
"…Umbra?" he asked quietly.
"A form of darkness," Kagetsu explained. "Shadow. Concealment. Manipulation. The exact abilities vary by user. It's not common, but it can be powerful."
Ezren's thoughts swirled like the black mist in the orb.
"So… how do I find out what I can actually do with it?"
"You'll have to train," Kagetsu said simply. "Essentia doesn't reveal itself unless you connect with it."
"Well, let's go shopping for some clothes for you before we head back to the inn," Kagetsu said with a smile.
The two strolled into the bustling market, picking out a few crisp white shirts and sturdy black pants. With their purchases in hand, they made their way back to the inn.
Back at the Inn
They returned just before nightfall. Dinner was simple—bread, stew, and something that might have been vegetables.
As the sun dipped below the hills, Kagetsu stood, casting a long shadow across the room.
"The entrance exam for the Academy isn't something to take lightly. It's one of the most difficult trials in the region," he said. "You'll need to be ready."
He extended his hand.
"I'll help you train. Let's make sure you're prepared."
Ezren hesitated… then stood. Whatever this power was, he had to learn how to control it.
Not just for the exam—but for whatever lay beyond it.
The Morning After
The field outside the village was empty, save for the wind and two figures standing face to face.
Ezren's breath came in soft clouds, his body still sore from the last few days of physical training. Today was different. Today, they were finally tackling magic.
Kagetsu crossed his arms, gaze steady.
"I can't help much with magic itself. I don't have it. But someone once explained how it works. Maybe it'll be enough to get you started."
Ezren nodded. "I'm listening."
"Close your eyes. Imagine a tunnel inside your body. At the end of that tunnel, there's a gate. Behind it is your magic. Try to force that gate open. Picture black fog rushing through the tunnel and into your hand. Then hold it out—let the fog escape."
Ezren closed his eyes. Tunnel. Gate. Fog.
He pictured it all.
Nothing happened.
Again.
Still nothing.
Then—
A cold sensation surged through him like ice through his veins. His hand trembled. A shimmer of darkness flashed in the air—brief, jagged—then vanished.
Ezren stumbled backward, gasping.
"I… I did it…"
Kagetsu's eyes widened. "That... I've never seen anything like that. You should name it."
Ezren managed a weak grin.
"Special Folding."
The Days That Followed
Their training continued every morning.
Ezren's portals grew more stable—larger—though he could still only summon one or two a day before exhaustion set in. Kagetsu honed his Ghost Pulse, blinking across the field like a shadow in the wind.
Progress was slow, but steady.
Then, the day arrived.