Standing outside on Buraunmajikku's training field stood the entirety of Class 1AB. Each of them stood in a horizontal line, facing forward. Standing before them was the familiar long-blue-haired instructor, wearing his iconic blue vest.
When everyone had arrived at the classroom, Mr. Oshieru suddenly told the students to gather outside in an orderly fashion for today's lesson. As to what will happen beyond those instructions, that is still yet to be seen.
Mr. Oshieru stood tall as he observed his six students. "Alright!" Oshieru hollered, alerting the students. "Today, I decided to deviate from our regular curriculum!" Mr. Oshieru declared, folding his black-sleeved arms across his chest. "It's easy to admit that we've had a hectic year already. Ranging from attacks on Buraun to getting caught up in a terrorist attack by a band of rogues in a distant village."
None of the students made any replies, only listening silently with expectant gazes as to what Mr. Oshieru was building up to. By what he has already said, their normal in-class materials might be put off. But, what else will they be learning?
"...However, being put through those alarming situations—along with already being set-back from the beginning of the year—it has been decided that your physical and magical performance needs attending to." Oshieru added, his voice becoming increasingly stern over every word.
In the line of students, Ninki Meisei raised his hand lazily, getting spotted by Mr. Oshieru instantly. "So, what? Are we going back to the training we did the first few days of school? One-on-one bouts? Shooting beams at stone walls?"
"No," Mr. Oshieru answered precipitously, "it is something that we've glossed over quite frequently." The blue-haired instructor stated, confusing the students. "Your aura prints."
Apiru Naderamu's brow crinkled at Oshieru's declaration, eliciting a response, "Our aura prints? We've been taught that even before we entered the Academy."
Oshieru shook his head slowly. "Aura prints are more vital in combat than what you have been shown. They can be improved, modified, and more versatile—depending on your aura prints, that is."
The students' confusion only grew.
With a heavy sigh, Mr. Oshieru quickly informed the students of what he had meant by saying, "Remember when I told you that Aura Senses could adapt? Regardless of which one you had? That is the basis of what I mean. There are no constraints or limits as to what your aura, or even aura prints, could do."
"So you're telling us that we could've been improving our aura prints, but instead we've been learning about stupid things like history or geometry! We're becoming warriors, not politicians!" Naguru Akogare shouted in disbelief, jabbing an accusing finger at his instructor.
Mr. Oshieru deadpanned, gazing at the dramatic blonde. "What we learn in the classroom is also vital to winning or subduing battles. They all have their importance. You don't want to get into a fight without having any rationalizing skills, do you? Academics builds discipline and reason."
Akogare huffed in anger, "Yeah, righ–Ow!" Naderamu had then smacked Akogare atop the head, halting the blonde male's retort.
"Thank you, Naderamu." Oshieru pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing in slowly and heaving. "We weren't prepared to introduce this to you guys until later, but we want to make sure that you guys are up to speed."
XXX
Each of the six students was placed in various locations of the training field. Senko Sukudo was placed in the middle of the field, being given the most amount of space possible. "You, Sukudo, will practice your manipulations of birds. Their size, your control over them, your visual prowess through their eyes, and how many you can produce." Mr. Oshieru stated, standing off in the distance, looking around at his students.
Shizen Utsukushi was standing off to the side, being prepared to walk over the Kodaina forest, giving her access to the trees around. "Utsukushi, you will learn to adapt your aura print into your combat. Learn how to use your tail and claws. Try producing more tails than your original one, and attempt to form sharper claws. Anything will work." Next in the line was Ninki Meisei.
Ninki Meisei was stationed by a rack of wooden boards, each had blue paint that represented a bullseye. "Meisei, I need you to practice your precision with your bow. Learn how fast you can form an arrow and try to do it even faster. I can even assist you in learning something new about manipulating your arrows, seeing as how my aura print is remotely similar." Then the next.
Naguru Akogare was given multiple wooden stands, each having humanoid figures to represent his opponents. "Akogare, your whip doesn't leave you with much—but controlling the length, durability, and improving your skill on using it as a weapon is still there. From what you've shown at the beginning of the year, you can use it as a way to restrain your opponents, which also burns the opponent to the touch considering that it's made from pure magic." Then goes the other blonde.
Apiru Naderamu was placed near Meisei, but instead of bullseyes, she was given a long-distanced stand made of wood. It was standing on four legs and had a wide board, enabling Naderamu to pierce multiple times. "Naderamu, your shurikens have an amazing amount of potential. What you need to work on is hand-eye coordination, much like Meisei. You already know how to make multiple, but how fast can you make them? And how much? I noticed that you exhausted yourself during the Class V. Class match we previously held, resulting in you becoming vulnerable."
Then Mr. Oshieru arrived at the final student. "Tanjo," the jet-black-haired teen, was merely standing in the open, with no equipment handed to him, and wasn't placed in any special environment. "Throughout the entirety of the year, you have not used any kind of aura print. You also have shown a lack of control with your magic, being unable to shoot basic projectile beams at your opponents from point-blank range."
Tanjo winced at Mr. Oshieru's words. It was the honest truth. The jet-black-haired teenager had no rebuttal, no anger to display, or any sadness to express. It was just what he had to accept.
"But," Oshieru suddenly spoke, "I have witnessed your magic first-hand. So have your classmates. You are a powerhouse when under control. You even had the longest-lasting beam at the beginning of the year when tested." Mr. Oshieru praised Tanjo, slowly reverting back to his stern visage once more. "However, all of that could also be rendered useless if you can only use it coincidentally."
Tanjo perked up slightly, gazing at Mr. Oshieru questioningly and said, "So, what do I do?"
"The only thing you can—and should—do. Learn from your mistakes and don't stop trying until you get it right!"
XXX
"Are you sure he's prepared, Regashi?"
Returning back to Furusato, Imawashiki and Regashi could be seen walking side-by-side down a hallway of the castle. Imawashiki was currently looking toward Regashi, searching for an answer from his king.
"The child should be ready. We've prepped enough, haven't we? We got him up to as strong as he could be in the quickest amount of time possible. With us feeding him, as well as keeping him at above optimal conditions, he should be able to accomplish this little test quite well." Regashi replied cooly, a small smile appearing on his lips.
The two then proceeded to enter a room, which was occupied by the other members of the Furusato Unit. The green-haired brothers were leaning against one of the walls. Gimu was standing straight with his hands in his pockets, and Shototsu was sitting down in a spare wooden chair.
"What did you call us here for, boss?" Doryoku asked, perking up slightly at the sight of Regashi and Imawashiki.
Instead of Regashi replying, Imawashiki stepped forward. "Where is Mizuki?"
Gimu stepped to the side, revealing a huddled Mizuki who was clutching his arm and had his back toward everyone. Regashi smiled, walking forward.
Mizuki could hear Regashi's footsteps getting near, prompting him to shake violently, clutching his arm even tighter than before. Suddenly, Mizuki could feel a hand fall onto his shoulder, making his eyes widen. However, Mizuki felt as if he couldn't move an inch. He felt as if his body was paralyzed.
"Mizuki, I believe you know what time it is?" Regashi asked, waiting for the child to respond. A pregnant silence ensued throughout the area, making Regashi answer for him. "It's time for your test."
Itami pushed himself off of the stone wall he was leaning on, looking at Regashi. "What is the test he has to take? Because you brought us all here to witness what was going to occur."
Regashi glanced back at Itami, smirking. "Imawashiki, will you do the honors?"
Imawashiki nodded in response, extending his right arm out toward the center of the room. Without a moment's notice—*Fwoosh!*—a ring of spiraling fire appeared, swirling in a clockwise rotation. Eventually, the fire dissipated, leaving nothing but a tall figure covered in a thin, black blanket.
Mizuki's eyes widened as he felt an abrupt sensation spread through him, all of it coming from the new, tall figure underneath the blanket.
Regashi stood up straight, walking over to the tall figure. He reached out to clutch the black blanket lightly, keeping the fabric between his fingers. "Behold, Mizuki…"
*Swoosh!*
Regashi yanked the black blanket off, revealing the contents underneath.
Everyone in the room's eyes—save for Imawashiki and Regashi's—widened tremendously, unable to take their eyes off of the new sight.
"...For this will be your last test with the power of the Kekkan no Sosei!"
It was the dead body of Kiyo, chained up to a stand with his old scythe hooked up to the stand beside him. The very same Kiyo that partnered up with Gimu sixteen years ago, who also successfully managed to kill Hana Ketsueki in his final moments.
XXX
Hey! I hope that you enjoyed today's chapter. It took me a while to think about how I wanted it to go—but in the end, I got it done! I hope you guys remember Kiyo! The scythe wielder from the first two chapters of The Villages Disciples! Stay tuned for more!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_