"You have the potential to entertain me... Say, what are these abundances of Mana around us? What intent does your Mana carry?" Ryoto asked.
"Ambition and determination. I can't let myself be intimidated by you just because you are at a higher stage than me. Well, that was only half of the truth. Speaking from the experience I gathered on my journey, meeting another strong Bearer can lead to unpredictable outcomes. I simply prepared in case you wanted to pounce on me immediately after seeing me." I explained.
"Do you think that your 'preparations' were enough? I don't think you are in a state where you could properly defend yourself." Ryoto questioned my actions.
"I won't know. My body is a mess, but my Salan ability remains at it's greatest."
After my response, Ryoto stood up slowly, his hands reaching for his Katana. He did it slowly so that an elder could interrupt him if they wished. But after there wasn't a response, Ryoto approached me, his Katana still sheathed.
It was clear from the start that I couldn't win. My gravitation points were useless without any objects, yet the slightest act of resistance could give me the respect I was owed.
I sent Mana into Kagami's Katana, and with the activation of Supreme-Control, the Katana flew right into my right hand, surprising most of them except for Master Henka, Uncle Kiyoshi and Ryoto himself.
My face showed determination. And with a reverse grip, I awaited for Ryoto's approach, but he never approached. He wanted me to show more of my ability, or even attack him first.
The men of the family were behind Ryoto, so there were in the line of my ability. If I threw the Katana with the help of my ability, I needed to do it so that someone could parry it if needed. The path that went through Ryoto's chest also went through Osamu. 'He should manage...'
I placed a gravitation point on the end of the path that led through Ryoto and Osamu. I then took a few steps in Ryoto's direction, making him think I was engaging in close combat. The reverse grip also helped into making him believe that. And when there was only 5 meters between us, I threw the Katana to the gravitation point. The gravitational pull that was affecting the Katana accelerated it even more, helping the Katana reach a speed that was faster than any arrow.
The Katana flew straight at Ryoto's chest. I saw him follow the blade with his eyes. 'Was it too fast?' I wondered. Unbeknownst to me, Ryoto was able to react to my attack, but he chose to simply be hit by it. The Mana-imbued Katana hit his chest, tip first. Then it fell down without even leaving a scratch on him.
Normally, an object that was effected by my ability would still gravitate towards the gravitation point, unless I either wanted it to not be affected anymore, or the object was rid of my Mana. In that case, my Mana had completely disappeared from the Katana. Ryoto's Mana had overwhelmed mine in a mere second.
"Most men would've died." Ryoto said.
"Most men didn't have 2 Mana-Cores." I responded.
The sword on Ryoto's hip was still in its sheath. And he was still standing at the same place. I had done what I was able to do with the situation at hand. If my surprise attack didn't work, nothing would.
"I won't need to move in order to defeat you." Ryoto stated.
"I won't need to think to know that. My loss. A well deserved victory."
The threatening aura subsided. That told me that Ryoto had intended to challenge me from the start. 'He has done me a favour.'
"Breakfast will be ready in an hour." I informed. "I hope you didn't mind that, Kagami. Your sword was the only tool that could've helped me win.
When I walked to Kagami's Katana, Ryoto picked it up for me, handing it to me after that. Ryoto smelled like burning coal with a tinge of gasoline. If that odour would've existed pre impact, it would've made a lot of money. The smell was pleasant.
"Will it take long for you to reach my level?" Ryoto asked.
"I can't say. I still need to adjust a few things."
„Osamu! I won't forgive you if he catches up to me faster than you do. And Kagami, you can try as well." Ryoto announced.
***
After breakfast, Ryoto sought me out. It came as quite a surprise to me. I thought that the exchange we had was final, and that we would only ever communicate again in case I ever wanted to fight him.
"What was that? This pressure... The girl Tsuki told the Master about your ability, but left us in the dark. Your Salan ability. What is it?" He asked with a great interest.
„Perfect. Let's exchange favors then." I responded.
Ryoto seemed too curious, like a house cat that had gone outside for the first time. This curiosity was beneficial to me.
„What do you want?"
„You, as the strongest young one, must have access to more things. I want a communication scroll. I need to contact somebody. Also, I want to know what your ability is." I offered.
„Only the communication scroll." He stretched out his hand.
At first, I didn't want to accept his counteroffer, but something in me told me that it would be a nice challenge to train and defeat Ryoto while being kept in the dark about his possible Salan ability.
„Hmm… Deal!" I accepted.
With a gaze more curious than before, Ryoto awaited my response.
„What will he offer me?" I said aloud, noticing someone else's presence just around the corner.
„Father, I told you he would…"
„I was just testing him. If he were to only tell us about his Salan ability, we still wouldn't know everything he could do with it. With that, I now know that he must have an ability or an innate instinct that lets him sense someone."
„What can you offer me then, Uncle Kiyoshi?"
„Training. Guidance. If you wish."
„No. I don't think I want that. Do you mind going away so that I can tell your son?"
„What makes you think that he won't tell me?"
„It's simple. Honour. Bound by the code of honour. Even though our family was regarded as mercenaries, we had to had a reputation so that we could get offers. Having honour and being honourable was a thing that was widely spread across Japan. Most criminals lacked that, and that is what told us apart."
My answer had impressed Uncle Kiyoshi, and Ryoto nodded in agreement. He was ready to honour my wish.
„I like you, kid. Have it your way." He said as she turned around." Ryoto, I will be by the horses. We will go back to train after you're finished."
When Uncle Kiyoshi left, Ryoto looked as expectant as before.
„You go first." I said, disappointing him.
„Hm!" He scoffed.
***
„Here. The communication scroll." Ryoto handed me the familiar piece of paper.
„I can control gravity to some degree." I held up my end of the agreement.
„Interesting…" He turned to leave. „Will your gravity affect me even when I fly? Make sure you can."
His words sounded like a metaphor. But interpreting it was hard and useless.
Back at my room, I took out the piece of paper that was still imbued with Pantera's Mana. I didn't know how to work the communication scroll, but figuring out wasn't hard. I had to put the piece of paper from Pantera over the scroll, then a series of lines would appear, signalling that it was ready.
‚Pantera. It's me, Niam.'
I waited for a response. Several minutes passed. I thought that she was caught or didn't have her scroll anymore. But a a light that shone from the scroll disrupted my thoughts. I went to read Pantera's reply.
‚He knows.'