As Jin and Rin walked through the long corridors of the castle, the silence between them was soothing, a sort of unspoken communion after their intense conversation with their father. Both knew that this day would mark a turning point in their lives within House Runcandel. However, their thoughts were interrupted when they saw Mary, leaning nonchalantly against a wall, clearly waiting for them.
"Hey, prodigies," she called out with her usual predatory smile, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "I have something for you."
Before they could respond, Mary stepped forward and held out an elegant, dark wooden suitcase, engraved with the Runcandel sigil. Jin and Rin exchanged a curious look before Jin reached out to retrieve the box.
"What is this?" he asked quietly, though his curiosity was evident.
"A gift," Mary replied, crossing her arms. "Let's say… an incentive."
Rin, who knew Mary's personality well from his memories of the future, gave an amused smile. He knew she wasn't the type to give gifts without a second thought.
"A motivation?" he repeated. "I guess it has something to do with your thirst for battle, doesn't it, big sister?"
Mary burst out laughing, a clear, vibrant sound that echoed through the hallway. "Exactly. You're starting to understand me, Rin. You're both interesting. Too interesting for me to ignore." She took a few steps forward, her smile widening. "But know this: one day, I want to fight you. Not now, of course. You're still kids. But when you're older, stronger… don't disappoint me."
Jin lightly gripped the wooden suitcase, his dark gaze fixed on Mary. "You want to test us, don't you?"
"Test?" Mary raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. "No, not a test. I want a real fight. Not a demonstration, not a practice duel. I want a battle where each of us puts everything we have on the table. And trust me, I won't hold back."
Rin laughed softly, her eyes shining with a calculating glint. "Then you better not be disappointed, Mary. We promise to make you strong enough that you won't regret your wish."
Mary seemed satisfied with that answer. She turned on her heel, but before she left, she called over her shoulder, "Take care of what's in this box. It's rare, and it might just help you reach the level where you're worthy of facing me."
Jin and Rin watched their sister walk away before continuing their way back to their quarters. Once they arrived, Jin set the box down on a table, and the two brothers sat down across from it. Rin, who already knew the contents from his previous life, nevertheless felt a shiver of excitement upon seeing the object in front of him.
"So," Jin murmured, his fingers sliding over the smooth surface of the wood, "shall we open it?"
Rin nodded. "Yes. But prepare yourself, Jin. What you're about to see is not ordinary."
Carefully, Jin unlatched the clasps of the box and lifted the lid. Inside, nestled in a black velvet case, was a phoenix heart.
The organ seemed almost alive, pulsing softly with a glowing golden light. Ethereal flames danced around it, but they emitted no heat, only a strange feeling of pure vitality. A vibrant energy filled the room, making both brothers shudder. Jin leaned forward, his black eyes staring at the object with intense fascination.
"A phoenix heart…" he murmured, almost incredulously.
Rin, despite his knowledge of the future, was also slightly surprised. Even knowing what awaited him, the reality surpassed his memories. The heart gave off an overwhelming power, a raw source of life that seemed to be able to bring back the dead or instill unmatched strength in its user.
"Mary wasn't kidding," Jin said as he looked at his brother. "This is more than a gift. I could summon a phoenix, perhaps."
Rin gently placed his hands on the edge of the table, his calm gaze settling one last time on the phoenix heart, its light pulsing softly, almost in response to the tension between the two brothers. Jin, for his part, kept his gaze serious, hesitant to accept such a precious gift without Rin sharing this treasure with him.
"Brother, I'll leave it to you," Rin said with a relaxed smile. "I don't really need it, and besides… I don't aspire to be a mage like you."
This response made Jin's eyes widen slightly, though he quickly regained his composure. "So you already knew," he said with a mixture of astonishment and admiration. "You're much more perceptive than I thought."
Rin crossed his arms, an amused smile on his lips. "Since I acquired astral ki, my senses have been heightened," he explained. "I'm more sensitive to the energies around me. It's as if each living force, each essence, leaves a unique imprint in the air. I felt a trace of mana flowing through you, something subtle but distinct. That's how I understood that you're a mage."
Jin narrowed his eyes slightly in thought. "This astral ki… it's much more useful than I thought."
"Indeed," Rin replied, still confident. He took a step back, his arms falling to his sides. "It's allowed me to see and understand things I would never have noticed before."
A faint smile played on Jin's face. "I have no doubt about that. But still, it's a huge gift, Rin. Are you sure you don't want even a part of it? Even if you don't want to become a mage, a phoenix heart might come in handy later."
Rin, who had already started to turn on his heel, stopped mid-stride. He turned to look at his brother, a glint of confidence in his eyes. "You really don't have to worry about me, Jin," he said softly. "And I truly believe that you'll be surprised by what I'll have to show with my own abilities, over time."
Tia, who had been standing discreetly to the side, stepped forward slightly to accompany her young master. Before leaving the room, she bowed respectfully to Jin. "Young master Jin, I'll see you later," she said in a courteous and calm tone. Jin nodded, but he couldn't help but stare at his brother, his thoughts racing. Rin was already impressive for his age, but there was something about him, a quiet, almost prophetic confidence, that intrigued Jin. He wondered if Rin was hiding even more than he let on.
Rin, meanwhile, turned to his brother one last time before leaving the room. "Take care of that heart, Jin. It suits you better than it does me."
With a slight smile, he left the room, accompanied by Tia. As they walked away, Tia watched her young master with respectful curiosity. "Young master, you really trust your brother, don't you?"
Rin nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Jin is made for great things. I don't need this phoenix heart to become strong, Tia. What awaits me is… different."
Tia didn't answer, but a small smile appeared on her lips. She knew that Rin was unique, and her inner strength only grew stronger with each moment spent by his side.
Back in the room, Jin stood motionless in front of the phoenix heart, his thoughts focused on his brother's words. He gently brushed the black velvet case, feeling the soft, reassuring warmth emanating from the legendary organ.
"Rin…" he murmured to himself. "You truly are a mystery."
But he finally smiled, reassured by Rin's trust in him. He gently closed the box, feeling a wave of determination rise within him. "I will not disappoint you, brother," he thought silently. "I will become worthy of this gift."
Rin, comfortably settled on his bed, closed his eyes, letting his mind sink into silence. The room, bathed in dim light and the faint whisper of the wind outside, seemed like the perfect place for such concentration. Although he had asked Tia to leave him to "rest," he had very different plans in mind.
"System, are you there?" he asked inwardly, his calm tone masking an excitement he could barely contain.
[Ding. The system is here, host.]
A smile touched Rin's lips. "Perfect. I want to know more. How exactly does the process that allows me to integrate techniques via my memories work? From what I understand, it's a unique ability you're giving me, right?"
[Indeed, host.] The system's neutral, mechanical voice echoed in his mind. [As mentioned earlier, your ability to recreate powers or techniques is directly linked to your memories. The system acts as a bridge between your detailed memories and your current energy, transforming imagined concepts into actual abilities suited to this universe. The fundamental rules of this world are taken into account to make each power viable and coherent.]
Rin nodded slightly, thoughtful. "And it works for any memory? No matter how complex?"
[To a certain extent, yes. However, each technique or power requires a deep understanding of how it works. The clearer and more detailed your memories, the smoother the integration will be. Vague or incomplete elements can result in errors or limited abilities.]
Rin smiled wider this time. It was exactly what he had hoped to hear. "Good, that's the answer I was waiting for. Listen to me carefully, system. Go through my memories and recreate two major concepts: chakra as in the Naruto manga and breathing techniques from the Demon Slayer manga. I want to be able to use them here, in this universe."
The system was silent for a moment, as if processing the request.
[Analyzing.]
A slight shiver ran through Rin's body as he felt a strange activity in his mind, as if someone or something was searching through the smallest corners of his memories.
[Chakra detected in the host's memories. Recognized concept: a hybrid energy that mixes physical and spiritual energy, accessible through specific points on the body. Associated techniques: elemental control, ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, etc.]
[Breathing techniques detected in the host's memories. Recognized concept: an advanced mastery of oxygenation and internal energy flow to amplify physical and mental abilities. Associated techniques: Sun Breathing, Water Breathing, Thunder Breathing, etc.]
[ Both concepts can be recreated in this universe. Adaptation in progress. ]
Rin listened attentively, his excitement growing. "Explain to me the steps to recreate these powers."
[ Chakra: Chakra will be recreated by merging your natural life energy with your astral ki, creating a new form of hybrid internal energy. Here are the necessary steps:
1. Enter a deep meditative state to feel and synchronize the two energy flows.
2. Identify the main energy points in your body (similar to meridians).
3. Unlock each point gradually, which will increase your ability to manipulate this energy.
4. Once mastered, you will be able to use chakra for combat, defense, or support techniques.]
[ Breathing Techniques: Breathing techniques require total control of your breath and heart rate. They will be adapted to amplify your astral ki, thus strengthening your physical and mental power. Here are the necessary steps:
1.Learn Total Breathing, a method of completely synchronizing breathing and internal energy.
2.Adjust your breath according to different patterns to access the variations of breathing techniques (Sun, Water, Thunder, etc.).
3.Train your body to withstand the physical constraints caused by the intensity of advanced breathing.]
[Note: Both concepts will be integrated gradually to avoid energy or body overload.]
Rin nodded, the information etching itself into his mind. "Very well. Let's start with the chakra. I want to merge my astral ki with my vital energy right away."
[Ding. Process initiated. The host must enter a deep meditative state. Please close your eyes and focus on your internal energy flow.]
Rin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He visualized his astral ki, a silvery, bright energy flowing through his body like a luminous river. Then, he turned his attention to another sensation, more subtle, but just as powerful: his life energy. It was a gentle and constant warmth, like a golden flame lodged within him.
Slowly, he tried to bring the two together. It wasn't easy; the two flows seemed to react differently, like two opposing elements. But Rin persisted, adjusting his breathing, calming his mind.
"Come on, unite…" he murmured in his mind.
[ Merging in progress. ]
Suddenly, an intense heat invaded his body, followed by an icy sensation. Rin clenched his fists, feeling the two energies intertwine, swirling inside him like a miniature storm. He felt as if a lightning bolt was crossing his mind, illuminating a part of himself that he had never explored.
In his mind, a vision appeared: a dark and infinite space, where a luminous figure floated, similar to himself, but entirely composed of pure energy.
[ Ding. The fusion is complete. Thanks to the host's heaven-defying understanding, Chakra is now accessible to the host. The host has an affinity with all chakra natures. This includes, Katon (Fire), Suiton (Water), Fūton (Wind), Doton (Earth), Raiton (Lightning), Hyōton (Ice), Mokuton (Wood), Yōton (Lava), Futton (Steam), Ranton (Storm), Jinton (Dust), Shakuton (Heat), Bakuton (Explosion), Koton (Steel), Yin, Yang, and Yin-Yang.]
Rin's eyes snapped open, panting. A light, vibrant aura emanated from his body. He felt different, stronger, more aware of every part of himself.
"This is… incredible," he murmured as he looked at his hands. "And this is just the beginning."