"Excuse me, is the Academy this way?"
A Shinigami barely acknowledged me. "A little further down, keep going straight." He held some documents in his hand, looking over them. He paused, looking up at me. "What, who are –"
Ah, he noticed me.
"Kurosaki Ichigo." I slapped him in the face with my brick.
Gently.
He hadn't wronged me, so I wasn't going to be putting lumps all over him like a couple of idiots in the Rukongai. But it was enough to let his body flop to the ground, unmoving.
I hummed as I continued going, snapping my fingers to take on the appearance of the guy I just knocked out. I carried him a little ways behind a few corners and set his unconscious body down and went on my way.
Since I was actively being searched for, this would probably dissuade the lower end of the Shinigami here. From what I've recently learned, my Reiatsu is unique enough that I stick out like a sore thumb if someone gets close enough.
What is 'close enough'?
I have absolutely no idea, but that Captain noticed me from a fair distance away and it sounded like he'd been watching me for a little while at that point.
I tried my best to pull down my Reiatsu and beat it into the furtherest corner of my soul, but it felt like I was just taking a hammer to a problem that requires a more delicate touch.
I would see If I could get some pointers from Tessai later so I didn't stand out too much. There was still so much I was ignorant about that I needed information on, but for now, I was so close to my goal!
Ducking my head, I made it look like I was engrossed in some paperwork as a small group of Shinigami ran past me.
Where they were going, I had no idea but presumably, they were probably going after me back where I was a while ago.
Maybe one of the many Shinigami that had an unfortunate run in with my brick was discovered.
Who knows.
Regardless, I perked up when I turned another corner and found a building that looked more unique than the hundreds I've passed so far.
While not out of style with the overall architecture, it was clearly made to be differentiated on sight. It was pretty darn big, having that Edo-Period castle motif but still retaining a sort of modernized school look if you squint your eyes. It had a few different floors I could see from this angle and a large wall that encompassed it.
Thankfully, there didn't look like there were guards or anything of the sort. Which….isn't that surprising, it's a school for apparently training Shinigami. It probably would be low priority for any kind of invader, not needing any major resources to rebuild if they had such a gigantic pool of incoming students to continuously choose from.
I perked up, looking at a few students walking in the open courtyard. How did I know they were students? They were wearing slightly different uniforms than a standard Shinigami. A handful of students and I could more or less gleam the differences. Women apparently wore white and red, and men wore white and blue.
With a flick of my wrist, my illusion shifted to accommodate this new appearance.
I admit to being rather excited.
I wasn't ashamed to admit that I was a bit greedy. I don't think I crossed any abhorrent lines due to it, but everyone knows I like to….collect things. At this point, I don't know if it's my Draconic nature or my Devil nature. Regardless, those feelings were roused once more at the prospect of having a Zanpakutō.
My Zanpakutō.
I wanted to add it to my collection in addition to actually having one to access for power purposes.
With a pep in my step, I walked past the threshold of the academy. The atmosphere here was rather casual even if there was a little bit of a manhunt going on outside. I suppose it would be irrelevant to them, the higher-ups wouldn't be sending random students out there for something like that.
Thankfully, there didn't seem to be anyone of noteworthy strength here because I walked right in and wasn't accosted after wandering around for a few moments. I think if someone noticed me, in a situation where I – an invader – was around students, they would immediately move to apprehend me.
That is to say, I also didn't let my guard down. It would be a dreadful time to lose out on my goal because I got lazy.
And no one gave me any second glances, which was good. I did follow along with a group going in a random direction. They seemed to enter a classroom, or a better description was a lecture hall reminiscent of what I was used to.
Massive rows of desks ascending with a podium and big chalk board at the bottom and center for everyone to see.
I ducked out before getting noticed. Didn't wanna get called out and forced to sit through a lecture and waste my time.
Now, if I were an Asauchi, where would they keep me?
Presumably, they aren't that….valuable to someone other than myself. It looked like every person walking around here had a Zanpakutō so clearly they're handed out rather early into their academic studies. But at the same time, they can't just be laying around the place.
Really, they would probably only be valuable to the people in the Rukongai, but to get them, someone would have to first be accepted into the Academy. And at that point, would they really waste their opportunity to leave that wretched place just to sneak out some swords?
So….my first thought was the training grounds I peeked at when I was passing through the halls.
That makes the most sense to me, perhaps a storehouse where they keep extras or something along those lines.
I continued to hum to myself as I found some stairs to make my way towards the open fields opposite the entrance I came in from.
Immediately, I was greeting with a resounding explosion. I perked up and relaxed for a moment as I was a fireball-like spell launched off towards the side wall and at a target. It was a little off course, hitting the wall before dispersing.
There were several students lined up practicing Kidō. It reminded me of an archery range with how they were all set up.
I did walk behind them to get a close look.
"O Lord, Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter wings, you who bears the name of man, inferno and Pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, March on to the south!" A girl raised her palm up towards a target a fair distance away. "Hadō #31 Shakkahō."
A red light erupted like a ball from her hand, flying fast towards a target. It slammed into it, explosive with a distinct amount of kinetic force and erupted into a fiery explosion.
That was not one of the Kidō I am familiar with.
Number Thirty One, was it?
….I shouldn't get distracted.
A Zanpakutō takes priority.
However, I noticed something interesting out of the corner of my eye. Behind the students there were tables and seats set up, and there was a book just sitting there. Granted, it's not a 'book' like I'm familiar with in this day and age, but parchment bound and tied like you would see in the olden era.
I looked back and forth to see if any eyes were on me before walking by and grabbing it.
Yoink.
And I slipped it into my kimono.
I kept walking until I left this area with people practicing Kidō and moved towards the adjacent field. Once I felt I was in the clear, I took out the book and looked at it, a big grin quickly forming on my face.
I flipped over a few pages and I couldn't help but cackle ever so slightly.
It was a list of instructions for Kidō up to Number Fifty.
What a good find!
I assume this was some manner of 'text book' or the equivalent that you would find here before it was very coherently written and seemed very streamlined rather than notes or something someone wrote up randomly.
In any case, this was a big windfall and I was ecstatic to start practicing it when I had time.
I gently put it away in my storage. And I was certainly in a very good mood at this point and I had yet to even lay my eyes on my new sword!
What a good day this is turning out to be.
Speaking of swords, I could hear some sounds of combat nearby. I peaked around another corner and saw a few students sparring with wooden swords, others swinging their Zanpakutō in practiced motions. And other simple training methods were going on.
I didn't really wanna go rummaging through every building nearby, but I had a sneaking suspicion my goal was close.
I tapped my chin, Reinforcing my Eyes to look around. The only thing that immediately stood out was a smaller building that had a noticeable iron-looking lock on it.
Well, If I were a betting man…..
I casually walked around the perimeter to not get into the immediate vicinity of anyone else, making my way to what I was assuming was a storage shed nearby.
Walking up to it, the lock looked rather mundane in nature. I didn't feel any spells intertwined with this place so I'm guessing my first assessment on the 'value' of these swords was spot on if I'm correct.
I grabbed hold of it, Reinforcement filling my hand. I squeezed it slowly, not to make a huge racket, but until it loosened and popped out enough that I could twisted it and undo the lock that was holding the door shut. It seemed old and undisturbed like it hadn't been used it awhile, so it was rather easy to break.
I took one quick glance around and no one was paying attention to me, so I slid it open and sneaked inside.
My eyes immediately lit up and I had to hold back a laugh.
There were probably a couple dozen swords just haphazardly thrown in here along with a plethora of other things that were not very tidily kept. Honestly, there was dust all over the place and even the lock looked a little bit rusted.
I wonder if this building was just completely forgotten, because it was clear no one had been in here for awhile.
Walking up to the nearest sword, I grabbed it and I felt something interesting.
Even with the 'stolen' Zanpakutō I had on my hip, I could faintly feel that was…..taken. There was an imprint on it already forming, a sort of rejection of my own energy. I could maybe corrode it or replace it with my own with a lot of time and effort, but that felt utterly wasteful and too much effort.
That being said, this sword I now held in my hand was blank. Completely and utterly blank in comparison and it felt strangely familiar to hold.
As my Aura ever so gently flowed out and enveloped it, it seemed to eagerly accept my touch.
"Since you're the first one I picked up, let's call it fate. You'll be my new Zanpakutō for now on." I looked at it happily.
I don't know if there is any special meaning in picking a specific one or not, but this one is my pick.
On the off chance that these things are tracked or something, I would just keep my own for now. In the future, it shouldn't be too hard to come back if I have the need for others for whatever reason.
They might get a bit more pissed if they found out I had dozens rather than just one. Lets keep the greed to a minimum while I'm still ignorant of the world for the moment.
But that didn't mean I wouldn't see If I could find anything else of note.
There were a few boxes and I blew some dust off of.
Opening one up, it was old uniforms and I pushed it to the side. Another one had what appeared to be old books. That piqued my interest.
The first one at the top was barely held together, clearly having been weathered while stored here. I flipped a few pages and it also had some Kidō written down in it. I shrugged, stuffing it in my ring with the other.
However, the vast majority of the remaining ones appeared to be about Zanjutsu, or Swordsmanship.
It was a little interesting, showing basic forms. I'm guessing that's what they were practicing outside and what they mainly teach in regards to sword wielding here.
I pocketed a copy of that as well.
There was one last book that caught my attention, different from the others.
"Hohō – The Art of Movement." I read the cover of it before skimming a few pages. And based on that alone, I'm suddenly remembering a very smug cat that could move in some strange and ridiculous ways. "Now, isn't that interesting."
I gladly pocketed that as well. It would be something I look into and see if it could be beneficial.
Standing up, I realized that I seemed to have obtained everything I set out on getting here. However, there was one little thing I was curious about that hadn't been mentioned anywhere that Tessai told me.
Wasn't there a branch of Kidō that focused on healing?
I hadn't seen anything thus far referencing that particular branch. I should give a look around here to see if I can find anything interesting about it.
And didn't that Nanao Ise mention their injured members being sent to the Fourth Division for treatment?
Would it be a bad idea if I popped over there and took a look before going back if I can't get anything else?
[***]
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