In its simplest terms, AIR is energy. The Chinese call it 'Qi,' and the Japanese refer to it as 'Chakra,'" Marito explained, breaking down the ancient concepts for his attentive audience.
He laid a single sheet of paper before Rio, Gyau, and Kawsoki. "Your first task is fundamental: you must throw this paper with enough power to pierce through that wall, just as I did. To achieve this, you must funnel your internal vitality into the paper's fibers. Clear your mind. Let the energy circulate through your limbs. To control AIR, you must transform your daily habits and how you govern your physical vessel. Now... sit. Focus. Become aware of your emotions and the flow of your internal currents."
Gyau scratched his head, looking doubtful. "Is this really going to work, Marito-san?"
"Just shut up and focus," Marito snapped, silencing any further questions.
And so, the three friends sat in the profound silence of the manor, each attempting to find their inner center. For Rio, however, the struggle was far more intense than for the others. The Lord Shizen energy within him was like a caged beast, thrashing against his ribs. Worse yet, Neroli was manifesting in the shadows of his mind, whispering cold, discouraging thoughts. "You'll never master this, Rio... you are destined to remain in my shadow," Neroli's voice echoed relentlessly. Rio gritted his teeth, battling the mental interference with every ounce of his willpower, desperate to stabilize his energy.
An hour passed. Beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads, and their bodies trembled from the sheer mental strain of the exercise.
"Alright, stop!" Marito commanded.
As they opened their eyes, the world seemed to shift, appearing sharper and more vibrant than ever before. Marito raised his open palm in front of them.
"What do you see?" he asked.
Gyau was the first to gasp in amazement. "It's like... a heat haze! I can see the air shimmering around your hand like desert heat!"
Kawsoki narrowed his eyes, perceiving a more distinct form. "I see it... it looks like a flickering flame. A black flame dancing on your palm, Marito-san."
Rio nodded, his voice heavy with awe. "Yeah. It's definitely a black flame."
Marito smirked, satisfied with their progress. "Good. What you're seeing is the most basic form of energy. But don't get excited—seeing it doesn't mean you can use it yet. The second step is just as simple: you must look at this piece of paper until you can see the energy residing within it."
He held up a fresh sheet of paper. "Focus on this. Don't look away." With that, Marito casually sauntered off to catch up on his TV shows.
Another two hours dissolved into the afternoon. The three of them stared at the paper until their eyes burned. Suddenly, Rio took a sharp breath. "I see it! I can see the threads of energy woven into the paper! I can see it clearly now, Marito!"
Marito strolled back from the living room, a glint of approval in his eyes. He looked at Rio and nodded. "Well done, Rio. Now that you can finally perceive the AIR... the real lessons on how to wield it begin now!"After Rio shouted that he could finally see the energy within the paper, Marito nodded with a faint look of approval. However, instead of pushing them further, he decided to call it a day.
"Alright, that's enough for now. I'll teach you the next step tomorrow," Marito declared.
Gyau, driven by an insatiable desire to become a powerhouse as soon as possible, immediately protested. "Wait, tomorrow?! Can't we keep going now? I'm finally getting the hang of this! I want to be a master already!"
Marito gazed out the window toward the distant, mist-shrouded mountain peaks. "I'm going for a climb. Anne is already up there, and honestly, it's been too long since I've scaled these heights. I need the exercise."
Hearing about the mountain trek, Gyau's mood shifted from frustration to excitement. "Okay then! Let's do it. Let's climb that mountain!"
Rio, feeling the grime and sweat from the morning's exertion, chimed in, "I'm going to hit the showers first."
"Fair enough," Marito replied, checking the time. "We'll head out at 10:00 AM sharp. That gives you about an hour to get your gear together and prep yourselves."
As Rio headed toward the bath, he paused, closing his eyes to savor the new sensation within his core. "Whoa... this feeling is incredible. It's like my senses are sharper, like I'm seeing the world through a completely different lens."
"I know, right?!" Gyau added, grinning ear to ear. "I feel exactly the same way!" Both of them were exhilarated by their newfound ability to perceive the AIR energy—a fundamental shift in their reality.
Meanwhile, Kawsoki was nowhere to be found in the discussion. Instead, he was back in the hot spring, splashing around and swimming laps. Gyau looked over at the pool and shouted, "Oi, Kawsoki! Stop messing around in there! You're clouding up the water. It's a hot spring for relaxing, not a swimming pool!"
Kawsoki popped his head out of the steam, looking slightly embarrassed. "My bad, my bad! I just got a little carried away!"