Kurumi pov
"What's going on? "
I ask looking confused at the monitor.
" I have an idea but it's just my guess not backed by science".
Ash says turning his head towards me.
" As you know the existence of dust is known to everyone but how exactly it works no one knows " .
"It is the same with the aura even though we can physically examine it, its origin is unknown" .
"So people started to call it energy coming from the soul, but we don't know if there is such a thing as a soul, it's just a conjecture that everyone believes in, in fact we don't even know who will be the first to put forward the theory of the origin of the aura."
" But you already know that"
Ash says as I nod in confirmation.
' Since I have the ability to use books I have been able to educate myself in things I couldn't before'.
I think as I look at Ash's face, who is obviously trying to put his thoughts into sentences.
" At this point adding your situation with semblance and results from the test."
" I'll conveniently refer to it as a metaphor."
" If the soul is a bucket then the aura is the water in the bucket".
" Semblance is the lid from a bucket with a hole that has a special pattern through which water overflows silhouetting the given semblance . In your case you have many buckets at least that is what the scanner shows when one bucket was empty another bucket appeared"
" The scanners are only able to examine one bucket at a time so we don't know how many buckets you have if you don't exhaust them in turn"
" This is the only explanation I can give you at the moment without better equipment I can't do anything"
Ash says when I listen to him clearly.
" How can I have multiple buckets?"
I ask confused .
" I have no idea."
" I am not a specialist in aura research but at most I can ask someone who knows,"
" So what we can do for now is practice other things".
Ash says as I nod in confirmation .
" Did you do what I asked you to do? "
Ash asks.
"Yes I can already do it ".
I say as I close my eyes and sense my shadow. The shadow cast by my body is behind me but now it is slowly dissolving like water and move in front of me.
" Great just as I thought"
Ash says. Opening my eyes my shadow is back to how it was and looking at the monitor I can see that this movement has taken my aura equivalent to the time it took for my shadow to change shape .
"Then what about shadows other than your own "
Ash says when this time it is from his shadow that a pale hand appears. I look at it with a satisfied smile when Ash looks pleased too.
"Like I thought shadow control or more of a manipulation so if you can create clones maybe you can make constructs out of shadows? "
" But let's leave that for now"
" Are you practicing the rest like I asked you to? "
Ash asks.
"I'm trying but I'm not getting anywhere when it comes to using shadows in the dark I can't do it."
" Same with the living creatures in my shadow they can go inside but they don't come back from there."
" When it comes to time related skills it is just a theory I don't know how to even start it"
" I did as you said to feel the same feeling as when reloading my gun but it doesn't do anything as if it's not related to that"
I say simply.
" Well don't worry about it and for now focus on what you can do and train".
"You have too much skill so for now focus on the shadows ."
"So far we have dealt with the problem of you having too little aura for your skill so increase your aura supply as much as you can."
Ash said.
"Stooooooopppppp! "
Our conversation is interrupted by Copper's shout. Turning around we see Neo who is standing with her foot on Copper's hand pressing it to the ground. Copper himself is kneeling on the ground and Neo's dagger is a few inches from his neck.
' My mouse can bite '.
I think looking at it with satisfaction.
" Neo has also improved now both of you don't need our skills anymore."
" What we have taught you plus your original skills means you are already high up the food chain in the Vale"
"Remember that you have the ability to fight, but it is your demblance that makes you the best at diversion, which is the key to victory."
"We have already improved your skills in hand-to-hand combat, now you only lack experience and age."
"You're still too young, but you'll be monsters in the future."
Ash says as he and I watch Neo and Copper start another sparring match in which my pink mouse fucks him up again.
"That's enough for today Copper. "
Ash says after his brother's next loss . Hearing this Copper has a smile on his face glad that he doesn't have to do this anymore.
" Now it's Kurumi's turn."
Says Ash when a look of fatigue and resignation appears on Copper's face . Seeing Copper's face I smile at his unhappiness as I pull the watch / timer / measuring device off my wrist and hand it to Ash then walk towards Copper passing Neo.
Looking into her eyes I felt a non-verbal conversation take place between us .
' Show him hell'
Thinking of these words I stand facing Copper .
' Of course we would never hurt them until we were forced to do so .'
' But that doesn't mean we can't be vicious in sparring '.
Looking towards Neo I see that she is doing the same aura test as me.
" Ready?"
Copper asks.
" Always ready for a challenge ".
I reply catching and lifting the corners of my dress making a nod gently bending my knees while bowing my head.
" What a lady you are"
Copper says with a smile. After these words I quickly create three clones whose job it is to fight Copper.
The fight itself is something my little mouse likes. I like to mess with people when she's done with them.
' However that doesn't mean I can't hand fight I'm just a little worse than Neo at it but I make up for it in firearms'
' However, this is sparring I can't shoot Copper'.
With that thought I watch as the shadowy clones diverge in three directions with the intention of circling Copper.
Copper pov
Sparring with little Neo is like a game where you have to hit a gopher with a hammer but the little bastards hide in a hole.
All the time the illusions, if you finally hit one, it shatters like glass and the real one appears somewhere else with a perfectly aimed attack.
Apart from that she has a wonderful talent and muscle memory. She is clever at using illusion to which she adds her dirty tactics. Sand in the eyes and striking at weak points.
'All this is acceptable in a real fight but this is sparring! '
Kurumi is a description of an unfair group fight. She unleashes clones at you which if they catch you will lock you in place and if the original Kurumi had a weapon then in most cases with her accuracy it's game over .
Not to mention that you constantly have to be careful where you put your feet, if you stand in the wrong place you get caught in a mass of little hands that will lock you in place and give you nightmares.
As well as blocking your movements the clones and hands themselves are able to break your bones with their strength so it doesn't help at all. Not forgetting that this little lady is already as smart as my brother so in most fights she already has a plan for everything .
It used to be that their training was fun hand to hand without an aura. Teaching them how to put their feet and how to use their advantages. But now the black kitten has grown away from her old self and now she can scratch you hard . And the one who stands as this kitten's protector is the pink wolf.
'These girls together are in a completely different league and they are only ten and eleven years old '.
' Their sparring with me is mostly them bullying me'.
Thinking of old times I look in front of me and see three black figures running at me.
' again''
With that thought I am about to move forward to bypass her clones and go directly to the original Kurumi but when I am about to move forward I can't.
' Since when does she know how to do that'.
Looking at my legs I can only smile tartly. Several hands are gripping my trousers so tightly that there is no point in trying to tear them off I am about to cut them but looking ahead I swing my straight sword, decapitating the clone. The second clone just behind the first is to come around me from my left.
I hold the sword in my right hand and my legs are held in place as a swordsman I have no choice. Defeated I thrust my sword to my left and despite the uncomfortable position I pierce the clone's stomach .
The pierced clone, like a monster from a horror film, grabs my arm despite its condition, blocking my ability to withdraw the sword. From beneath the clone's legs other hands slide out holding the clone in place .
Unable to pull the clone off the sword or move the clone itself I am trapped in this uncomfortable position with only my free left hand.
'Always the same '
Sighing I feel two fingers touch my temple.
" Yes I know I lost ".
I say turning my head away.
' The third clone '
These fingers belong to a clone who holds his hand in a gun-like manner and applies it to my temple. The clone's mouth opens showing only the darkness inside.
" Pafff"
The clone makes a sound of itself and moves its hand as if to shoot its fingers straight at my head then dissolves into the shadows like the others.
Behind the clone I see Kurumi who was standing with Ash and Neo talking about something.
' She wasn't even here.'
' Her clones are really '.
" Unfair ".
Sighing I can only smile knowing that my foster sisters will be strong enough to live happily.