"Huh? You want me to take her as my disciple?"
Yuki Tsukumo looked at Riko Tennen and asked Shion Gojo.
Gojo Satoru, standing nearby, muttered, "Brother, this woman just loafs around abroad. She's practically wasting her Special Grade title."
"If anyone can teach Riko, it's you. Or at the very least, I can do it," Shion added with a playful smirk.
Yuki Tsukumo froze. "So my image has really fallen this far?!"
"No, your image hasn't fallen. You've always been this way," Shion replied nonchalantly.
Yuki opened her mouth, then hesitated. Shion continued, "We can certainly teach Riko, but if we're talking about the most suitable teacher, that would be you, Yuki."
Suspicion flickered across Yuki's face. Shion didn't hide anything. "I know you're also a Starmaw."
Yuki snorted coldly. "Did that old woman Tengen tell you? I don't understand why she keeps saying all this!"
Shion remained unfazed. He relied entirely on fragmented memories from his past life; he hadn't been told anything.
"In short, astral bodies are special beings with innate magical power but usually lack techniques, yet you, Yuki, are an exception. You've awakened the powerful Wrath of the Stars, and perhaps you helped Riko awaken hers too."
Riko Tennen's eyes lit up. She realized the blonde woman in front of her was a legendary sorcerer, one of the Four Great Special Grades alongside Shion and the others. Such a figure could truly alter her fate.
Yuki rubbed her hair in exasperation. "Well… there is a way."
"Actually, the Star Magma Body isn't devoid of innate techniques; they're just hidden by its unique constitution. To awaken it…"
Yuki hesitated. "We must find Tengen to perform 'assimilation.'"
"Ha???"
"Let me explain. It's not true assimilation, but allowing Tengen to absorb the fundamental essence of the Star Magma Body. Without the body's suppression, its techniques can manifest naturally."
"So… back then…"
Yuki shrugged. "That's how I went through it, and that's how I accidentally awakened Star Wrath."
Shion, Satoru, and Riko exchanged bewildered glances.
"What? Are you going?" Shion asked, concerned that Tengen might be difficult.
Riko clenched her fists. "Of course I'm going!"
"I'll go with you!"
Satoru hesitated, then spoke. Shion added, "I'll come too. If anything goes wrong, my domain and reversal technique might be useful."
Though Shion wanted to respect Riko and Yuki's time, he didn't trust that old hag Tengen. As the first sorcerer reborn from the cursed realm, Shion had zero confidence in her.
Yuki rolled her eyes. "I'm not going. I don't want to see Tengen's face again."
---
The Palace of Death
Satoru frowned. "Brother, we're the ones who interfered with Tengen's initialization. She must hold a grudge. Will she even help?"
Shion shook his head. "Bro, have you forgotten what I taught you? Treat people sincerely and politely, and you can always reach their hearts. Let bygones be bygones."
Satoru picked at his ear, incredulous.
"Let's go." Shion led the way, entering the Ryusei Shrine with confident strides.
Riko, entering the place that had nearly cost her life, still looked uneasy.
Inside the Palace, a towering tree rose like a mountain. Shion clasped his hands to his mouth. "Old hag! Come out! I need your help!"
Satoru and Riko were stunned.
"This… this is what you mean by being sincere and polite?"
Shion gave an OK sign. "Yeah, if she refuses, I'll beat her until she agrees. That's moving someone's heart."
Tengen's body emerged from the tree trunk, bizarre in appearance: a long narrow head, a wide mouth, and four eyes, almost like a cursed spirit.
Tengen looked at Shion with mild exasperation. "You could at least show respect to a jutsu master who's lived a thousand years!"
Shion rolled his eyes. "If someone can be as reliable as Tosaku, who's also a thousand years old, then I'll respect him. Otherwise, nope."
"Weird!" Tengen's eyes widened. "You know that name?"
"Of course. I come from one of the three founding families. Getting intel on legendary sorcerers is easy. Besides, the title of 'most evil sorcerer in history' isn't exactly a secret."
Satoru, standing to the side, looked at Shion and Tengen in confusion. Most evil sorcerer? Starter family? How come I didn't know this?
Tengen cut the small talk. "Alright, why are you here?"
Shion explained Riko's situation. Surprisingly, Tengen agreed without hesitation.
"I've lived thousands of years, and perhaps the astral matter assimilation is my fault. Helping Riko awaken her technique is… a kind of atonement."
Soon, Tengen and Riko began the process of assimilation. Initially, Riko was frightened, but seeing Shion and Satoru beside her gave her comfort.
The brothers kept their Six Eyes fully active, monitoring every move.
Tengen said helplessly, "There's no need to be so wary of me, is there?"
Shion shrugged. "You're an old fox, after all."
---
The assimilation completed successfully. Riko emerged from the vines, staring at her hands in awe.
Satoru asked eagerly, "Riko, how is it?"
Riko puffed out her chest. "I've awakened a very powerful technique! Get ready to be crushed under my feet, Satoru!"
"It seems your technique even affects intelligence," Satoru remarked.
"Stop bickering. Yuki's still waiting outside!"
Outside the Palace, Yuki Tsukumo awaited them.
"How did it go? Everything alright?"
Riko beamed. "The technique is called Star's Sorrow. It can manipulate temperature within a certain range."
Yuki's eyes glimmered. "The Lament of the Stars… an impressive technique!"
"Yosh! From now on, I'll be your spell teacher!"
Satoru frowned. "Wrath of the Stars, Sorrow of the Stars… why do they sound so grim? They don't suit your personalities at all!"
Yuki and Riko glared at him. "Then what should we call it? Hoshi no Kokoro?"
Shion sneezed. "Ah ~"
___
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