"Dear Diary,
Harumasa Sakae... His movements are fluid, and that is all there is to his gimmick. There's almost absolutely no power to his swings. All they are is just speed, and sheer precision of his edge alignment. So far though, I've learnt nothing from him, he only ever drove concepts into my head. If i recall, he told me that assassination is all about timing, and not letting your target know where you are, where you'll strike, when you'll strike. I blindly believed him, then he told me that it was all a lie. He said that the target shouldn't even know 'you' exist. It was an abnormal point, but I can see the validity behind it.
One thing I'm starting to notice is that... the visions I get are usually those of the future... Which, if that's the case, is quite unsettling. Most my nights are spent worrying about my future... all while not knowing how the feeling of worry feels. I don't know how to describe it but, I've seen me 'worrying about my future' so much so to the point I've... become dulled to it.
That being said, because of these future premonitions, his trainings weren't anything too challenging... And that's all thanks to me having rehearsed them so much times... Albeit, involuntarily. While training, he kept this feeling of smugness around him... How bothersome.
Yours,
Shellyne"
...
I put down my pen, after rereading my words. I truly don't understand the thrill behind a diary. It's just someone who has no experience writing books trying to conjure up their own life... well, the very few moments that they remember, and try to conjure them up into words... and all of this for whom to read? For yourself?
Looking up, I see the lantern slightly diminishes, a sign that he's directly to my right behind me. I turn around, and lo and behold...
"Sakae."
"Hoo boy. You should be proud. Not many can notice me like that."
"It was my innate ability."
"Hahahaha! Like I thought, you really will be quite the fine specimen! Hahahaha!"
"Honestly, I hate how smug you are."
"Well, get used to it."
I get off my seat, and face him. He has something in store for me, but I guess he wants to test me.
"You want me to come with you to assassinate the Duke of Frostveil, and learn from how you pull off the assassination."
"Yep."
"Why this particular mission?"
I ask, as i watch him sit on my chair.
"Money."
"Really?"
"You don't really expect me to be one of those assassins who do jobs and requests to make the world a better place, do you?"
"..."
"If so you expected too much from me, young lass." He says, before pausing
"Besides, there are only so much concepts I can teach you, so the best way for you to learn is to get first hand experience in the art of assassination. Come come."
With that being said, I'd seen first hand what was going to happen... perhaps one 53 million too many times.
He would sneak into the manor, literally hidden in plain sight, get into the room of the duke, and slit his throat...
And in reality... the exact same thing happened.
"What are you teaching me from this, exactly?"
"Hehe...! Try to learn how to do that! I call it... Absolute Presence Concealment!"
"Real cool man"
"Wh-what's up with that sarcastic tone?"
...
Absolute Presence Concealment, huh...? Looking back at his approach, it's not as though he walked straight in... He blended in with the maids, and other people around... then as he went in for the kill made no noise...
Oh...? unless he's talking about how he completely hid his weapon from the prying eyes of everyone...? Cause even my Future Premonitions... Not a single one caught onto his weapon until the very moment he pulled it out...
"H-hey Shellyne? Could you answer my earlier question" (muffled)
That's quite tricky. My eyes blare all over the place, as I see many instances of me attempting it, and failing, and failing, and failing... before finally succeeding.
...
How handy.
"Borrow me your weapon"
"Huh?"
He hands me the knife. I take it, then I form a weird symbol with my left hand to divert his attention. Once diverted, I hand him back the knife.
"Huh? What's this? Fist bump?"
"Take your weapon back."
"Oh...! WHAT THE HELL! YOU DID IT ALREADY?! DID YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT DAMNED THING TOOK ME?!?!"
"12 years."
"Damned Future Premonition. Keep this up and I'll throw you into assassination straight away."
"You were already planning to, I don't need to keep anything up"
...
...
"Familiar with the phrase-"
"Some things are better left unsaid? Could the same not be applied to you?"
"You are one ruthless kid, lass. Anyhow, maybe you're up for lesson 2 of assassination, by Sakae-Sensei! Clap clap clap clap clap!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Am I talking to a wall?"
"..."
"Anyways, lesson 2. When compromised, make quick work of the target. Do not give the target any second to think, nor counter attack."
"Why are you so stuck up on not letting the enemy know you're there, even?"
"Well, everybody's got a plan until that person doesn't show up. In this case however, we only appear to not have shown ourselves, even though we've already killed them."
"And how will this contribute to assassination?"
"Calm down, Shellyne. This is only ever lesson 2 out of 10 grand lessons by yours truly! What I'm doing is teaching your discipline, before I move on to the practical stuff, like how to actually kill. Emotionally detached or not, you're still a kid, Shellyne. And unlike you, I actually have a conscience, and that conscience is telling me to NOT teach a kid to kill without proper discipline, else my guilt will eat away at me, so capuche?"
"You know full well I'm not any normal child, Sakae."
"Well, even then, I'm the teacher, and I know what's best!"
"Even if there are future premonitions stacked against your statement."
"Hey hey who's the teacher here?!?!"
"I'd rather lean on facts, than teachings that lead me astray"
"But at least I have a sense of humour."
"Your whole life is a sense of humour."
"Yep, we're going back to camp. Damn. I'm the assassin here but I feel like I'm the one constantly being assassinated."