Friday afternoon in a cave near my training area.
Electricity cracking in the air.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" an agonizing voice could be heard for hours now, along with the sound of electricity evaporating water.
"That's it for today. We're going to my cabin today. You better make sure you look presentable to your mom tomorrow when you call her."
"Pant. Don't make it sounds like, pant, I'm a merchandise or something". I lie down in a medicinal bath.
"You don't need to learn this technique. It might hinder your growth. Just focus on learning the basics and building foundation first before I teach you about our semblance." Uncle Kiyoshi burned the poison bath with blue fire this time until nothing is left, including the wooden tub.
"Yes, Sensei." That fire still can't stop to amaze me. I first saw it a few days ago, when he was dealing with huge Grimm activity. Even though he used the same red dust, the fire he made somehow turn to blue, and it's far hotter than the normal one.
Grimm doesn't have a soul. That's why they won't glow when I used my eagle sense, but It doesn't mean that I can't sense them and their eyes are glowing red faintly. Did I make a mistake?
Meditation is being aware of our own bodies. I do this to fully healed and energize my body with Aura. I asked Sensei if we can strengthen our muscles with Aura control alone by simulating muscle exercise while lying down. He said yes, it can, and that is how the cultivation genre in novels is based on, but it doesn't mean that's how it works in real life.
Uncle Kiyoshi explained that, like our body getting immune to poison, your muscles also could get immune to your Aura. In other terms training, that way also has limits. True, it's quicker than normal muscle training without side effects if done correctly, but that's just wasting the technique's potential if you use it early.
The best way of utilizing this technique is when you have no other means of improving your muscles. This is proven and tested by our family. That's why we could lift our bodies with one finger without applying Aura. Of course, this is only a potential for every Yukihira bloodline. We still need to train to possibly achieve this.
I already finish absorbing the nutrients of the medicinal bath. I'm still a bit tired, and my body's still slightly painful, but I can move now. I poured the water into the soil then went out of the cave.
"That took 3 times longer than yesterday." He said while looking at his scroll.
"You used 2 times more the poison use yesterday, and its toxicity is at least doubled!" I said as I know he's playing the role of my uncle as he said that.
"Then it should take you at most double the time to recover," Uncle said with his sadistic tendency when he's being an Uncle to me, well mostly. Sometimes, he still has a sadistic tendency but is tamer.
"You're the one that said that not everything is as simple as times 2," I said, a bit frustrated due to the training I did. It's still annoying even though my body is not that painful anymore. Experiencing extreme pain is still stressful, you know.
"Hehe, I'm just joking. hurry up so that you can rest early." He said.
Inside my room, at uncle Kiyoshi's cabin.
"The person you are calling is busy at the moment. Please try again later."
"That's weird? Nobody's answering. Maybe—Nah, maybe Yang and Ruby are going back to Patch."
Let's take a rest. I'm exhausted. I fell asleep the moment I close my eyes.
"Yawn! I never felt this good for a week." My stomach grumbles. "Time to eat dinner, I guess." I look at my scroll. It has plenty of notifications, mostly from Yang.
I called mom first.
*Ring-Ring*
"Sora... Summer, your big sis... She's currently in ICU." Mom's holding her tears back.
"What happened?!" How are Ruby and Yang?!
Mom told me that when uncle Tai met big sis, she's still conscious but barely hanging for her life. Luckily they got back without a problem which is a problem for me because, despite everything mom told me, she's still hiding something from me. For now, I ignore it. I called Emerald because I think she's the calmest within them, maybe except Yang's uncle, but I haven't really talked to him before. Even though Yang told me they always fight, I did live with Emerald for a year. Although she's not totally Tsundere with me, She is with Aiden and Yang. Well, in Yang's case, according to her, Emerald is also a little devil. Anyways she's my best bet anyway if I want to help.
The scroll only rang once.
"Em—" I was cut.
"Why? You can't call her?" Emerald said, a bit annoyed.
"You mean Yang? No, I haven't called her, that's why I—" I was cut again.
"She just needs time. You don't have to worry. It's Neo and Ruby who are devastated. Of course, Uncle Tai is also devastated." Emerald tried to sound calm, but she's worried too. Her voice cracked multiple times.
"How about you, are you Ok?" I asked.
"Yeah, I have to. Everyone is sad and in need of a positive influence... That damn idiot said he'll be here when I need him." When did this happen? I never thought Aiden will step forward early. It's Aiden, right?
"It's ok to be sad, you know? It's hard to be a positive influencer if you're sad. I'll be your positive influencer," I said.
"How about you?" She asked.
"No worries. See?" I open the front camera then I showed a goofy smile on my face.
"Are you stupid? Did he infect you, Nii-san? You know you should have done that with Gorilla girl. No, to Neo and Ruby, I think they'll need it. Why—" I cut her this time. It kinda feels a bit good.
"Nah, you said you will be their positive influencer. Go do it. I already showed you how. I know you can do it," I said.
"Really?" Emerald asked.
"Yeah, dad said, no Yukihara that aren't thick-skinned," I said.
"Ok... Nii-san, I don't want this to happen again. I don't want to lose anyone again." Emerald cried.
"Don't worry, this won't happen again, we'll be stronger, and we can protect everyone we care about. To make sure of that, we must grow strong...no matter what it takes." I said.
"Ok, Nii-san. I'm ok now. Thanks." Emerald showed her rare cute side.
"How about Yang? Will you call her afterward?" she asked.
"As you told me a while ago, she needs time for herself. Also, Yang is stronger than she thinks she is. I'll just call her later when big sis got out of ICU. Besides, you're gonna cheer them up anyway. I trust you." I said
"Ok, Bye-bye, Nii-san." Emerald didn't hang up. She only turns off the camera.
"You heard him?" Emerald asked someone.
"Yeah, I know already. We promised each other. We will grow together no matter what." Yang said with conviction. Emerald then hangs up.
Yeah, I already promised. How come I haven't said 'no matter what' with conviction.
"I guess I'm part of everyone. I'm lucky to have a sister like her." I can't say it, so I forced myself into a corner.
"What's wrong, Kiddo?" Uncle asked as I ran towards his room.
"Sensei, I have decided that I want to grow stronger no matter what the fastest way possible! If I back down, don't let me!" I said with conviction.
"Ok, we'll do it tomorrow. Go rest for now and make sure to tell your mother why you can't call tomorrow." Uncle said.
"Hai, Sensei." I bowed.
Later at night, mom told me that big sis's condition is stable, but she's comatose. She loses her right eye, and she has a deep wound on her hips. The doctors said that she could still run but not as she used to be. Her career as a huntress might be over, but at least she lives.
I called Yang after making sure that Ruby and Neo are ok. Yang and I didn't talk much. We just enjoy the silence, which is a bit weird for Yang. I told her about my training tomorrow, she said she will force her dad to teach her or ask mom to train her instead. We then return to silence until we unknowingly fall asleep.
Monday morning.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh!"
"Sora!!! Don't faint! Focus on healing your wounds!" Sensei yelled.
"Ahhhhh!!!" I know it will be painful but, this pain is far, far, FAR worse. I feel like my Nerves are exploding then got burned. It's freezing and burning at the same time.
After long agonizing hours that feel like years, my Aura flows at least 10 times faster. I also realized that my Aura is a bit more... potent? I also feel relaxed, then suddenly I'm in my room at my uncle's cabin.
"Your awake." My uncle's standing at the door.
"What happened?" My body feels so heavy but not painful.
"The treatment was a success. You just need rest. By the way, it's Wednesday already. Do you want to eat lunch early?"
"Uh *growl*... Sure." I answered, a bit ashamed.
"Ok then, I'll call you when the food's ready. Ooh yeah, don't move excessively. You won't like it." He walks out of the room.
"...Ok." I lay down on my bed then fall asleep.
Monday next week.
"What's the training today?" I asked.
"We're gonna train your control over your body."
"But I already have full control over my body," I said, confused.
"To your old body, yes." He throws a rock directly at me. It's so fast that I can only rely on my reflexes. I caught it, but...
"Ahhh" My shoulder was in pain. I used my, Aura and I noticed my shoulder was dislocated, and I snap some muscles.
"Due to the treatment, your reaction is almost instantaneous, so Your body can't keep up with the instant movement you just did. We can just have to make your body tougher, but you don't have full control over your body. Since our techniques are mostly based on our full control over our bodies. You need to regain your full control over it," Uncle said.
It took me a whole week of training to regain full control over my body instead of years like before with my dad. 1 month to increase my physical strength to barely keep up with my reaction time. Another month to finish the 1000 poison and drug immunity. Unknowingly 3 months already ever since I started training with Uncle. Although I did not learn any techniques, I thought I will learn. I gain many, especially on my control over my Aura, Immunity to some poison and drugs, and especially the qualitative improvement over my body. It helps my body resisting poison easier. If I have known, I should have done the nerve rearrangement earlier. I feel like I wasted my 1st week of effort in increasing my poison immunity. Well, I also learn plenty about survival in my free time.
It's time to go back to Mistral to train our teamwork for a month, then go back to our respective training.