~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~
Immense power desperately sought
For the tedious conflict fought.
Exercise caution, lest your past self's left to rot.
~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~
"Is that so?" Grisia uttered. "Doesn't ring a bell."
"Hmm," Remi paid no further heed to Grisia's comments. "I am grateful for the food. Your charity is very much appreciated, and more exquisite food such as this is welcome."
"Sure."
With that, Grisia melded into the shadows, leaving the child stranger alone on the winter night.
The next morning, although the sun was barely peeking over the horizon, Grisia, Kairo, and Aisia stood at a flat, grassy area within Grisia's land where no trees or foliage could provide an alcove to those who dare conceal themselves.
It was cold and almost foggy, the humidity only added to the winter chill they felt.
"We forgot to buy you winter clothing," Grisia said, staring blankly at the field, the wind carefully blowing each blade of grass, making them dance.
"That is true. A lot of stuff happened that I've come to forget as well," replied Kairo, who ordered his hair to be tame using his hands, for the wind played with it.
Since they were supposed to be working at the bakery from early in the morning up until the afternoon, they had to start their training before that.
They weren't full-time employees, but something more akin to part-timers. Therefore, they still had plenty of time in the day to train after their job at the bakery, but Grisia thought that they might grow fatigued after a day's work. They were still children after all.
And so, for the two weeks that they would be working for the old man, they would only be doing the partial amount of training that Grisia originally planned. Grisia explained to them it was quite favorable that things turned out this way, he planned to let them get used to minimal training anyway before starting the real training in fear that they may not be able to keep up.
Grisia placed rocks around him on four sides at a throwing distance to serve as a checkpoint and made Kairo and Aisia jog laps around him by following those stones as checkpoints.
"No running. Just jog," he explicitly told the two enthusiastic children. "Jog until you can no longer move your legs. No need to be beside each other or match each other's speed. No competing to see who can jog faster either, you'll only end up running in the end instead. Do it at your own pace, where you're most comfortable. Go for as long or as many laps around me as you can. That is all," with that, they began their jog, using the stone as their crutch and guide.
He intended to use the first few days to gauge their physical capabilities. Endurance, latent talents, current skills, agility, weapon of choice, precision in handling one's body, and overall physical strength. These were the main combat capacities he intended to see for himself.
Knowing that there currently wasn't enough time to juggle all of those and actually train them, he decided that the first two qualities should be enough for now: endurance and stamina.
Eventually, they ignored Grisia's instruction and started to race each other. Grisia sighed, letting it slide, thinking that this sort of rivalry is healthy. But next time, he shall be stricter. He predicted that they'd grow tired of this exercise eventually at this rate.
"Ah, that's right," Aisia remembered. "By the way, Kairo isn't aware of any powers it seems," she told Grisia when she passed by him the first time, Kairo following closely behind her.
"That checks out. He's from quite a remote settlement anyway, around one or two months' worth of travel by foot from here," Grisia replied. "Even within the kingdom, many still don't fully understand it. Even if they have a relative or friend who wields and possesses one, they would not have the know-how to activate it. If they accidentally did, they would be regarded as an evil witch or criminal. At least in this kingdom."
Aisia grimaced at the thought of being burnt at a stake for being seen using her powers. She was already warned by Grisia and Esmeralda to only use chakra techniques inside the manor.
Grisia continued, "Politically, the nobles and the royal families want to monopolize it as much as they can, either to put a leash on the common folk, to maintain their authority, or simply to bring order and prevent chaos. Either way, noble intentions or not, that is the reality of it. It is forbidden by law for common folk to use such things out in the open inside this kingdom as it would pose a security threat. The exceptions are trained knights or workers who use it for their profession. That is probably why Kairo was unaware of any powers until now."
"I am ashamed for holding us back," Kairo responded. He thought back to the time when Aisia manipulated fire in his room and was curious to find out more about such fantastical power.
"There is no need to worry," Grisia replied. "We can take advantage of this, I haven't thoroughly explained powers to Sia yet anyway, nor will I let you practice them without first knowing about the concepts and a bit about their history. As a formal education of sorts."
And so, Grisia started explaining powers to them starting from the basics, treating them as if they had no idea about the world. The two slowed back down to jogging pace as they listened intently, finally halting their race.
"First of all, powers. These are attributed to a god or a demon of yore, or sometimes none at all. They have varying ways of expression, but they are generally for the same purpose: to enact the will of the user."
"Enacting the will of the user..." Kairo muttered to himself. Something like that was definitely going to come in handy in case he had to clash against supernatural foes.
Grisia continued, "Some are prepared through long rituals, some are called upon using incantations, some are activated through immense concentration. There are those who are able to use multiple powers, and some who are restricted to only one. But if you are greatly unfortunate, you might not have one at all."
Kairo gulped. He prayed that he had at least one power resting inside him, or else, he'll be at a complete disadvantage and would have to resort to focusing on physical training to overpower his opponents through brute force.
"There are three... no," Grisia stopped himself as he suddenly had the idea to save「 Ki 」for last. "For now, you only need to know about these two common powers. Magic, or the arcane arts as it is sometimes called, and chakra, the ability to manipulate the natural elements."
"Chakra is the one that I used last time, Kairo," Aisia interjected.
"Then let's start with that, that's the simpler power anyway," Grisia then cleared his throat, as if to prepare for a long monologue. "First, you must know about the demon of yore that this power is attributed to."
"A demon for the first power? Not a god?" Kairo thought to himself.
"Demons of yore are essentially old demons that rival gods. Demon gods. This one's name is... Sxchykrazgraamut, the origin of chakra. As you may know, those with the letter 'y' in their name are considered to be evil, or at least a bad omen. Legend has it that this absurdly strong demon was known to have indiscriminately devastated areas with natural disaster levels of wrath. When it was slain by some gods and fellow demons of yore, its entire being somehow assimilated into the natural world, tainting living beings with its essence by entering the food cycle. This gave many creatures, including us humans, the capability to manipulate the natural world through the elements."
"Wait, what? What the hell is a chakraz-gramoot again?" Aisia asked. "That was too long."
"It's the strong demon where all chakra originated from apparently," Kairo answered.
Grisia nodded. "Yes, simply put. Again, that is only how the legend goes. You can choose to believe it or not, but chakra is very much real. Good job listening, Kairo. As for you, Sia, you have to learn to listen more."
"Ugh, okaaay!" Aisia grumbled loudly. "But it's also because I'm getting tired of going around in circles!"
"Too bad, so sad," Grisia mocked Aisia with one of her catchphrases, which made her pout audibly.
Grisia continued his explanation, "There are points in the middle of the body where a sign will appear to reflect a living being's capability to use chakra," he lifted his finger during his lecture, as if it made it easier to understand his point. "The higher the position, the greater the magnitude and control. The highest point and the rarest being the crown, or on top of your head, and the lowest being squarely at your crotch area. Though, the highest position being the rarest doesn't mean that the lowest point is the most common one. Having the sign at the lowest area is also quite rare, but not as rare as the crown."
"How powerful are we talking about?" asked Aisia.
"Well... if we consider those who have it on their navel area as the standard—"
"Navel?" Aisia interjected.
Kairo quickly answered, "Stomach or belly button area," to which Aisia mouthed her grasping the word.
And so, Grisia resumed his sentence, "If they have it on their belly, it would take around... a thousand people to measure up to a single person who has the sign on their crown."
"Huh. Well, that's just absurd," Kairo commented. "What, if three of those who possess the sign on their crown joined forces, will a storm occur?" he joked on impulse.
"Hmm... actually, there is a rumor akin to that."
"Wait, what? It was merely a jest..."
"Well, let's see... if I remember correctly..." Grisia closed his eyes and tried to remember. After a while or so, he finally spoke, "Ah, yes. They say that something might happen when a hundred creatures with the chakra sign on their crowns cross paths. But it's a mere rumor, an old wives' tale if you will."
"Creatures?" Kairo further inquired.
"Apart from us humans and the other creatures who are capable of communicating, animals and beasts have also been reported to possess chakra signs somewhere on their bodies. It's quite fortunate that you haven't encountered one of them in your travel, Kairo. Since they possess a sign, they are able to use chakra, which makes them more dangerous on top of their wild strength."
"Huh. I see..."
"Continuing on. Since the signs represent your ability to use chakra, it only follows that those who do not have a chakra sign anywhere on their body cannot manipulate the elements."
That phrase made Kairo's heart skip a beat. He didn't remember finding any marks or signs on his body. He thought that maybe it could also appear behind him. He hadn't looked there as far as he could remember.
"Grisia, can I take a break? I'm getting tired," Aisia pleaded, slowing down her pace.
"No, you may not. You can slow down, but don't stop until I say so," Grisia insisted.
"Whaaat?! But, but—"
"What do I always tell you?"
"...'but's' are for pooping."
"Then run, my poopy daughter," with that, Aisia continued to run, forming icy clouds with her desperate huffs. Her head was wobbling from left to right, which her body followed. Kairo was also feeling it, his legs and arms were getting tighter and harder to move, as if the air had suddenly become thick, muddy liquid.
Nevertheless, Grisia noticed this and thought that it was going as planned, so he continued, "Through time and training, the sign or mark can move higher, but with neglect or other external circumstances, it can also move lower. I've heard of rumors that some dubious methods are being used to gain or remove the sign, and consequentially, the power of chakra."
"So, there is a way to gain it if you don't have it naturally..." Kairo thought. He was still able to listen even though his throat was dry from desperately breathing in the cold air.
As if Grisia knew exactly what Kairo was thinking, he added, "Though, you need not worry about those unreliable methods. I know of quite a simple way to attain a sign with the help of someone who already possesses it. It can be undoubtedly acquired with pure will and effort. With the right knowledge, even someone like Sia with only a sign on her belly could make a chakra user out of anyone."
"Hey, too much information," Aisia pointed out.
"What, do you also want me to say that it first started on your—"
"PRIVACY!" she yelled as she panted from jogging. Grisia gave an arch smile. Kairo realized that Grisia never intended to say it out loud, but he could assume that Grisia meant her sign started from her crotch area, the lowest area, and since then, it had ascended a level higher.
Knowing that it was possible for him to attain the ability to use chakra, Kairo would have liked to let out a sigh of relief, if he wasn't too focused on letting air inside his tired body.
They had been jogging for quite some time now, listening to Grisia's explanation distracted them from the weariness that was slowly but surely catching up to them. Their lungs felt like they were burning with cold flames every time they inhaled and their limbs were already numbing.
"We're done with the concept of chakra. Next is magic—"
"I can't anymore!" Aisia halted completely, gasping for air as she bent down and rested her entire body weight with her hands on her knees.
"Why did you stop?"
"Well," she suddenly plopped down on the grass face first, but still able to turn her head to speak. "I literally can't move anymore. And I can't listen to any more lectures. My head's already filled."
"Oh. Well, I suppose that's enough for now. We'll save the next part for tomorrow. Remind me where we left off the next time we train. You two should rest at the mansion then head on to the old man's bakery."
"Certainly," Kairo said competently, but even he fell to the ground from exhaustion. "Ahahah... I can't move."
"Fine, then I'll show you an application of the arcane arts for now. Normally, you'd have to perform an incantation for any spell to work, but I'll show you what is achievable with magic," Grisia snapped his fingers, and a glowing, ethereal circle appeared in midair near both Kairo and Aisia, with strange symbols written in its outer and inner rings.
"Incantationless magic. Cool..." Aisia weakly noted before dozing off. She snored happily now that she got to rest her small body from all that jogging.
"What is this? Is this magic? My body feels... better," Kairo examined his hands and arms. He was able to move them more easily, though it still felt quite sluggish and numb.
"I cast a minor physical enhancement spell. Makes you stronger and faster, hence why you feel lighter. But you're exhausted, so it can only do so much," he said before snapping his fingers again, this time, an ethereal circle with different symbols appeared but only near Aisia. Her body began to float with her limbs limping down. "She's unconscious, I could carry her, but... it's another spell I can show you. That's all."
"I see."
"Walk it off, Kairo. If you follow my instructions, you'll soon graduate from this warm-up for the pre-training. The actual training begins once your job at the bakery for two weeks is up."
Kairo looked at Grisia flabbergasted and yelled, "This is only a warm-up?! For the pre-training?!"
"Heh," Grisia snickered and started to walk home with Aisia's levitating body beside him.
Kairo muttered to himself, "Shit. I suppose the path to revenge is a long and arduous one," before trying to catch up to Grisia with his slow and unsteady advance.