Yōtsuki: "Yes, our training is essentially complete. Of course, it's not yet enough, but now we will intensify it. Every exercise you've done so far, you will now do twice as much. Then three, four times, and so on. After two months, we will begin meditation. Gradually, you will start to feel your Reikyō awakening."
Yōtsuki continued training his students. Each of them made steady progress. Being the village's guardians already, the initial routines were relatively easy for them. But when the training intensified to three times the usual workload, fatigue began to set in. Yōtsuki decided it was time to start katana exercises and asked the children to bring their swords.
Yōtsuki: "Look at the state of these katanas! We absolutely need to get you new ones. After that, we'll increase the training to four times the usual workload and continue with the katanas."
Morizuki, drenched in sweat, looked at Yōtsuki.
Morizuki: "Four times?! I'm done, sir. I can't go any further."
Yōtsuki: "I'm not forcing you, but know this: if your village is attacked again and your family is threatened, I won't be protecting them if you fail to act."
The wind blew. Morizuki's gaze fell on the grass swaying in the breeze. Memories of his helplessness when his village was attacked flooded his mind.
Morizuki: "Haah… You're right, sir. I'll continue. My family comes before everything."
Engetsu: "Keep being a coward, and I'll surpass you and crush you beneath my feet, Morizuki!"
Morizuki: "We'll see, Engetsu. I'll make you give up."
Suddenly, a silence fell over them, broken only by the sound of someone crunching crackers.
Hyōgetsu: "Mm… delicious!"
Everyone turned to him. Hyōgetsu's face reddened as he quickly hid the crackers.
Engetsu: "Hahaha! Look at our cool-headed boy!"
Morizuki: "Hahaha! There are crumbs on your face, Hyō!"
(Yōtsuki smiled.)
"Thus begins the journey of precious memories and loyalty."
As night fell, everyone drifted off to sleep. Yōtsuki remained outside, leaning against a tree, feeling the gentle yet slightly cold wind. His hair fluttered in the breeze. Beside him rested a bottle of his homemade wine, thick with the essence of grapes. The bottle reflected his face. Tears often fall when one is sad, but Yōtsuki's tears streamed down his face even as his lips smiled. These were tears of joy—a symbol of past happy memories.
Yōtsuki: "I will entrust my search to others. I will be with them so they can find the purpose they lack. I will be a good and loyal person. If necessary, I will die for them. You would have wanted this too, wouldn't you, my love?"
Dawn broke with a dazzling brilliance. The sun rose. The students stretched awake, answered their mothers' calls for breakfast, ate quickly, and hurried to the training grounds. They could already feel the power surging through their veins.
They stretched, warmed up, and ran—everyone except Hyōgetsu…
Yōtsuki: "Hyōgetsu, late again."
Hyōgetsu: "Sorry."
Yōtsuki: "Come on, Hyōgetsu. If you keep lagging behind, you'll fall behind your friends. Start your training immediately."
Hyōgetsu: "Okay."
The students completed their run around the forest.
Morizuki: "Haah… haaah… I'm done."
As always, the students were drenched in sweat.
Yōtsuki: "Sit down."
Engetsu: "What? But the training isn't over yet."
Yōtsuki: "This is training—meditation. A journey to the realm where your soul will meet you. Now that you are strong enough, your soul will accept the meeting."
Engetsu: "How will that happen?"
Yōtsuki: "Empty your mind. In the void, you will find the place to meet your soul."
Morizuki: "I don't understand… yet I understand. I'll do it!"
Morizuki sat, assumed a meditation posture, and began. Seeing him, the others followed suit.
Yōtsuki: "Clear everything from your mind. There's an easy way: think of something simple, like fruit yogurt. Focus only on it, banishing all else from your thoughts. When the time comes, even the fruit yogurt must vanish. It's not that hard."
Morizuki: "Rice pudding… rice pudding… hmmm…"
Engetsu: "Say it in your head!"
Hyōgetsu had already drifted into the realm of dreams, into regions of universes and souls. In the void, his mind wandered far and deep.
(Inside Hyōgetsu's mind)
Hyōgetsu: "Cold… so cold. Why am I standing on a frozen lake, in the middle of snow-covered mountains?"
A distant, echoing voice spoke:
???: "The power you seek… should it flow through your body as well?"
Hyōgetsu: "Who are you? Where are you?"
???: "Behind you…"
Hyōgetsu spun around.
Hyōgetsu: "What… who are you? You look like a girl."
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "You know what I am."
Hyōgetsu: "I think… I do. You must be my soul. Time is short. I need power—power that flow through my body."
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "The power you seek… from me? Seems so. Asking for help from your own soul… why?"
Hyōgetsu: "To protect my family and loved ones. I cannot allow the village to be harmed again. Not ever. I refuse to rely on strangers for help again."
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "A sufficient reason. I already sense what you feel. Touching me will suffice, I think…"
Hyōgetsu: "Touching?"
He slowly reached his hand toward his soul, pointing his index finger…
(Ice cracking sounds)
Hyōgetsu froze. Mid-motion, he felt immobilized, as if the cold had gripped him.
Hyōgetsu: "What is this?!"
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "Are you not ready, Hyōgetsu?"
Hyōgetsu: "No, I am ready. Something is wrong."
He tried to move with all his might, but nothing happened.
Hyōgetsu: "I don't understand. What's happening? Why am I frozen?"
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "…"
Hyōgetsu: "Don't just stare calmly at me. Say something! What should I do? Aren't you my soul? Come closer. I want you near. Let me touch you."
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "Why should I? If you were strong enough, you would have touched me already."
Hyōgetsu: "I am strong enough. I've trained for days. For today. To protect my village and family. Come on, you're my soul. Please. Hold my hand. Merge with my will. Grant me your power."
For several seconds, his soul simply stared. But finally, it approached Hyōgetsu.
Hyōgetsu: "Come, come closer. Let me touch you."
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "Closer…"
The soul stepped forward, aligning its chest with the tip of Hyōgetsu's index finger. With all his strength, Hyōgetsu finally touched his soul. It felt as if his frozen body were slowly thawing.
Hyōgetsu: "This is what I needed. Thank you."
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "May I embrace you?"
Hyōgetsu: "Of course."
Hyōgetsu and his soul embraced. Around them, the mountains began to fade.
Hyōgetsu's Soul: "You'll visit me again, won't you?"
Hyōgetsu: "Definitely. Just be by my side in this world."
Opening his eyes, Hyōgetsu saw Yōtsuki watching him. He took a slight step back.
Yōtsuki: "I knew you would wake first, Hyōgetsu. How was your journey?"
Hyōgetsu: "Strange. I… feel strange."
Yōtsuki: "Completely normal. Did you meet your soul?"
Hyōgetsu: "Yes, I did."
Yōtsuki: "Excellent. Did you make contact?"
Hyōgetsu: "I did."
Yōtsuki: "Exactly… Now let's wait for the others to wake."
Morizuki was still meditating.
(Inside Morizuki's mind)
He found himself in a place filled with grass, flowers, and trees. Like a forest, but far more beautiful.