I didn't like how things were going. My wound was still aching. Still taking a lot of time to heal, even though I had slept for so long and preserved the energy to heal. Mishaps after mishaps, nothing went the way I wanted it to.
'I feel like Master Henka is behind all of this. From what I was able to decipher, the Henka share a lot of characteristics. Mother and I were similar in some ways, so are we and them. If there was someone more cunning, more controlling than me, it must be one of the elders.'
'What kind of result is Master Henka hoping for? Did he know I would go to the Takeda because of one simple dagger? Does he want me to fight them? Or does he want me to politically get my dagger back?' Both cases were hard to achieve. On one side, I was still injured, not at my best performance. And on the other side, I was in their home, intruding their daily lives. There was no reason to take me, a stranger that seemed to carry the blood of their rivals, seriously.
The guest room was as simple as my own room at Henka estate. Just a mat for me to sleep on, a few gaslights and candles, and clothes for me to wear for sleep. The bathroom was also connected to the room - I didn't make use of it. Every few seconds, the sound of arrows hitting their targets were heard. And every few minutes, the whistling sound of an arrow passing over the estate was heard. Whatever kind of training the Takeda did, it was really consistent.
A few hours had passed since I spoke to one of the Takeda. It was dark outside, only the moon's reflection lit up the paper doors.
***
I wasn't sure if I would get caught. I was thinking of using Galaxy-Sight to survey my surroundings. There was just so much one could do, other than meditating and thinking about the future. I was cautious the whole time, I couldn't risk accidentally emitting my Mana.
Every action with Mana carried the intent of the user. When I used Galaxy-Sight, I would often use caution or curiosity as an intent. But when I did nothing but meditate, my mind was purely focusing on the Mana around me and my Core. And on my journey with Tsuki, I learned that while meditating, one could accidentally leak their intent-lacking Mana. The purest form of a Bearer's Mana, intent-lacking Mana. If felt and observed by the wrong people, the intent-lacking Mana would tell them the smallest details about you. I was once able to feel Tsuki's intent-lacking Mana. It carried no intent, but I felt pure doom, but strangely enough, it also carried comfort and a safe shine. Nikolas had accidentally leaked his intent-lacking Mana right after awakening his Mana-Core. His Mana felt obviously cold, but it also felt sturdy, unbreakable.
The strangest thing of all, whoever leaked intent-lacking Mana was not able to feel what their own Mana gave off. 'Whatever one feels while using their ability, that's the same feeling their Mana carries.'
I wasn't at a point where I had gained the wisdom of others regarding Mana, but for me, the intent-lacking Mana was a problem. I wanted to be able to get my Mana into my Core as fast as possible, shortening the time it can be deciphered in the process. 'There must remain a great amount of secrecy regarding one's Mana signature. The enemies in this world do not share the same type of weapons anymore. They all have individual weapons that give them the potential to rise above one another. Not once was this possible in humanity's history...'
***
I hadn't realized just how close I was to awakening my second Mana-Core at that time. But my concentration was split, my mind heavy from all the the complications at hand. 'Perhaps, I would've caused the same destruction, just like when I awakened my second Mana-Core at Henka estate. It's all in the past now, it doesn't matter. I am now there where I wanted to be.'
***
I woke up, still sitting cross-legged, the sun shining through the paper-thin doors. I needed a few minutes to readjust my eyes to my fiery-orange surroundings.
"Henka Boy, come with me." The Takeda from yesterday called out.
"Give me a second." I responded.
I quickly stretched my body, as it gotten stiff from sleeping while sitting. I then used my ability to style my hair, make me look proper, presentable.
I followed the Takeda whose first-name was still a mystery for me.
"Can I ask for your name? I can't really discern you otherwise." I asked.
"Will you bother to remember?" He asked back.
"I won't forget."
"Hideki Takeda. First-born son of Nao Takeda, the current Master of the family."
'So weird... The first-born is running around for me. Why would he even bother with others instead of pursuing like the rest seem to do?'
"Where has your investigation led to?" I asked, while he walked me through the exact same architecture the Henka estate had.
Squeaky floors and the usual paper walls accompanied us throughout our walk towards our destination. Many non-Takeda bowed as we passed them. Most of them were around my age, perfect for drilling a skill into their existence.
And as I had expected, we went to the Takeda's training grounds. Our training grounds couldn't be compared to theirs. Just like machines, the many people that wore the same black and white kimonos picked up the students' arrows, set up their target, carried their food and water, and worked to create an efficient learning and automated environment.
More than 20 students. Less than half were Takeda - recognizable by the family-crest on their Kimonos.
'Definitely bigger than our mansion too. I could only sense a few people enter my 100 meter radius last night. Now there are dozens of people.'
Looking into the crowd, I searched for Tsuki. It wasn't hard to find her. A crowd of 7 students gathered behind her, watching as she shot targets the second they appeared from behind an obstacle. 'Her Salan ability has gotten quite powerful. I hope she doesn't overdo it and expose the depth her ability is able to reach.'
"He is down there." Hideki Takeda pointed towards Tsuki's crowd.
"I feared this would happen..."
"Yeah. Unlucky, truly..."
We went down the stairs, being occasionally greeted and looked at weirdly. It was my sword that revealed me to be an outsider. Slowly, whispers spread. And before we were even able to reach the crowd, my appearance was announced.
"Look! A Henka!" One of the Takeda yelled out.
The only thing I saw was Tsuki. She turned her head around in a flash. Her expression carrying confusion, worry and a hint of delight.
"All of you! Calm down! Treat our guest with curtesy." Hideki ordered.
All of the students, except for those with the Takeda blood, went silent. The young Takeda approached us, clearly thinking that they were more superior than me, than my Clan.
"Students!" Another man yelled.
But this time, even the Takeda became quiet.
"Brother, I'm here because your son has something that doesn't belong to him." Hideki announced.
The son in question felt confused. In his eyes, he hadn't stolen anything.
„What do you mean, Uncle?" One of the Takeda boys questioned.
The boy carried a bow and a small pouch. His hair was long, black and tied into a bun at the back of his head. His face showed anger, he felt wronged by Hideki's words.
It wasn't my tome to speak yet. I let things continue until my tome to talk came.