The next morning found him having breakfast alone in a corner of the dining room, his gaze lost on the plate. He wasn't hungry, but he knew he needed to eat well to face the day ahead. He was looking forward to one of his most anticipated classes: Reiki Studies.After finishing, he got up and headed to the designated classroom, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness. He had heard a lot about reiki, the vital energy that flowed through all things, but he had never had the chance to experience it for himself.What would it feel like to manipulate it? What secrets would it hold?The classroom was the strangest he had seen yet, having already visited a good portion of the academy. It was a circular room, surrounded by mirrors reflecting the light from the floating spheres that lit the walls. The windows were covered with white cloths, creating an ethereal and mysterious atmosphere.But what caught his attention the most was the smell. Or rather, the lack of it. The classroom smelled of nothing, absolutely nothing. It was as if the air had been purified of any impurity, or as if he had entered a void.He sat down in one of the chairs arranged in a circle around the center of the room, where there was a small altar with a Buddha statue and a bowl of water. Beside him were other students, some as expectant as he was, others more relaxed or bored. Of course, Katsuo and his cronies were there, frowning upon seeing him.Shortly after, Professor Norio Fukumoto, the warrior monk who had greeted them upon their arrival at the academy, entered the classroom with a firm and graceful step. He was dressed in an orange robe, wearing a rosary around his neck, with a golden belt and wooden sandals. He held a fan in his hand, which he opened and closed with grace. His face was serene and kind, but it also conveyed an undeniable authority.The professor stood in front of the class and bowed."Good morning, aspirants," he said with a soft and melodious voice. "I am Professor Norio Fukumoto, and I will be teaching the Reiki Studies class."The professor stood up straight and continued speaking."Welcome to the most important and fascinating class you will take in this academy. Here you will learn to know and control the energy that flows through everything that exists, from stones to stars, from plants to animals, from your bodies to your souls. Reiki is the force that gives life and shape to the universe, and also the one that can destroy it. It is the most powerful and dangerous power there is, so you must treat it with respect and caution."He paused and looked at all of them."Reiki is not a game or a toy. It is a tool and a weapon. It can heal or hurt, create or annihilate, bless or curse. It depends on how you use it and for what purpose you use it. Therefore, you must be aware of your intentions and their consequences. Reiki is neither good nor bad in itself, but it can be used for good or evil. And that depends on you."He paused again and then continued."In this class, you will learn the theoretical and practical foundations of reiki. You will learn to feel it, channel it, shape it, and project it. You will learn to use it to heal your wounds and those of others, to strengthen your physical and mental abilities, to communicate with other living beings, to alter matter and energy, to create art and beauty. But you will also learn the risks and limits. You will learn to protect yourself from external and internal attacks, to avoid exhaustion and overload, to respect natural and moral laws, not to abuse or waste this power."He finished his speech with a final warning."Reiki is a long and difficult path, full of obstacles and temptations. Not everyone will be able to successfully navigate it. Some will stay on the way, others will get lost or become corrupted. Only those who have the necessary willpower, discipline, and wisdom will be able to reach the end and become true masters."Ritsu listened with attention and respect. Although he found the professor's exaggerated appearance somewhat suspicious, a burning desire to learn about reiki consumed him. He remembered the book of legends given to him by his aunt, where legendary heroes mastered vital energy, using it for good, and he longed to be one of them.However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm. An impertinent and challenging voice broke the silence that followed Professor Norio's speech."What the hell is this?" Katsuo exclaimed arrogantly. "Is reiki the breath of the gods, the fire of the stars, the heartbeat? What kind of absurd tales are these?"Katsuo stood up, facing Professor Norio with a scornful look."Professor Soda told us that reiki is a tool to fool the fools, that only the weak-minded resort to it," he expressed with sarcasm. "That true skill is based on reason, logic, and the laws of nature. That reiki is nothing but an illusion that makes us confident and foolish."Katsuo crossed his arms."So, tell me, Professor Norio," Katsuo demanded defiantly. "Why should we waste our time with this rubbish? Why don't you teach us something useful, something real, something worthy of our attention?"The professor closed his eyes and smiled at Katsuo's provocation. He remained calm and composed. Then he opened his eyes again and looked at Katsuo with a penetrating gaze."Do you want a demonstration, young Katsuo?" he asked in a serene voice. "Do you want to see the power of reiki?"Professor Norio raised his right hand and brought it to his mouth. Then, he blew gently, as if he were blowing out a candle. But instead of air, what came out of his mouth was a small reiki sphere, light blue in color.The sphere flew through the air, like a soap bubble, and headed towards Katsuo. The fool didn't take it seriously and scoffed."What is that? A game? A trick? What do you intend to do?" he questioned with contempt.But before he could continue questioning the professor, the reiki sphere reached him and touched his chest. In an instant, an invisible force lifted him off the ground, suspending him in the air like a puppet. Katsuo was perplexed, not understanding what was happening. He tried to move, but his efforts were in vain. He was a prisoner in the air, as if held by an invisible thread."What… what is this?" he stammered in panic. "What have you done to me? What the hell is this!?"Professor Norio looked at him with an ironic smile."This, young Katsuo, is the reiki of air," explained Professor Norio with a clear voice. "The reiki that can blow, carry, or renew. The reiki that lifted you off the ground and left you at my mercy."The professor gestured with his left hand, and the reiki sphere moved with him. Katsuo also moved, following the sphere's motion. The professor spun him in the air, as if he were a marionette."Do you see how reiki is not an illusion?"Katsuo could not answer. He could only desperately move in the air while everyone looked at him with amazement or mockery. Ritsu felt good to see him humiliated like that, but he couldn't help feeling a certain admiration for Professor Norio.Even though Katsuo was from an important family, the professor did not care and put him in his place.After a few more seconds, the professor let out a sigh and lowered his right hand. The reiki sphere vanished.Ritsu saw Katsuo fall to the floor like a sack of potatoes, and the professor made no attempt to lighten his fall. Moments passed, and Katsuo did not get up; he lay face down, showing no sign of life.He wondered if Professor Norio had killed him or only left him unconscious.The professor dusted off his hands and said in a sugary tone:"Well! Now let's continue with the class."The monk walked towards the Buddha statue in the center of the classroom. It was a stone figure, with a serene expression and a meditative posture. It held a bowl of water in its hands, reflecting the light from the floating spheres. He knelt before it and joined his hands. Then, he recited something, in a soft and reverent voice. Ritsu did not understand what he said, but it seemed like a prayer or a mantra.The Buddha statue began to shine with a white and pure light, filling the room with a sense of peace and harmony. Then, the professor stood up and turned to the students."Aspirants, form a line," he demanded. "We are going to discover your affinity with reiki."Everyone hurried to obey, even Katsuo's lackeys.No one wanted to end up like him.In a few minutes, there was an orderly line in front of the statue. Ritsu took his place at the end, waiting his turn with curiosity."The first step to controlling reiki is to know your affinity," the professor explained as he walked down the line. "Everyone has a basic affinity with one of the four types of reiki: fire, water, earth, or air. Your affinity determines your potential, your ease, and your style in using reiki."Professor Norio stopped in front of the first student in line. She was a girl, her skin was radiant white, not pale, but delicately pink. Her deep brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. Her slender figure was dressed in elegant and refined clothes.This was the first time he had seen her at the academy, and her presence immediately captured his attention.She did not fit the pattern of the usual aspirants.Common women were forbidden from the imperial examination, which meant she must be the daughter of some influential minister or high-ranking noble."To discover your affinity, you must go to the Buddha statue and dip your hands in the bowl of water it holds. Then, the water will react to the reiki flowing through your veins and change color according to your affinity."Professor Norio gestured for the girl to advance. She approached the statue nervously and timidly dipped her hands into the bowl. The water turned blue."Water," indicated Professor Norio with a smile. "You have an affinity with the reiki of water, the reiki of healing, calm, and storm. You are an inscrutable person. You can use reiki to generate water or heal the wounds of the body and soul."The girl took her hands out of the bowl and dried them with a towel given to her by the professor. Then she stepped aside, making way for the next student.Thus, the others followed, one by one, dipping their hands in the bowl and discovering their affinity. The water changed color each time: blue for water, green for earth, gray for air.Ritsu watched the process with fascination, wondering what his affinity would be.Would it be water like the girl? Or maybe earth? Or air like Professor Norio? He did not know, but he was eager to find out.He wanted to know more about reiki, about himself.Finally, it was his turn. Nervously, he approached the Buddha statue and dipped his hands in the bowl. He felt the cold water on his skin and tried to concentrate. He searched for reiki within himself, felt it as a heat running through his veins, guided it to his hand, released it with an impulse.The water began to bubble.Professor Norio nodded in approval."Mhm... interesting, very interesting. Well done," he congratulated him. "Your affinity is with the reiki of fire, the reiki of heat, passion, and transformation. You are a fiery, impulsive, and creative person. You can use reiki to generate flames or heat."He felt relieved and proud.He had passed the test.He had taken the first step.