No Need For Sakura Academy: The Truth Hurts

Tairen: “Now Welpen, what do you know about mana?”

Welpen: “Well, mana is a circulating lifeform in you. That’s what Clara taught me. I think someone told me once in school that there are 7 different forms that mana can take, which is what produces powers, but I don’t remember what they were. Hmm, I don’t know. Ryoko, do you know?”

Ryoko: “Nuh uh. No clue.”

Rynjuro: “Good. Forget everything you know about mana. That is a common misconception among many people that you are compatible with certain mana, and that there is only a certain amount. That has been taught that way for hundreds of years and everyone will always give you a different answer. Abandon those thoughts and listen closely. Mana has no specific ability. It is a stability that keeps your body alive. Think about it like this. Blood circulates through you. It has one job, to bring oxygen to every organ in your body. Mana has a similar function. It is more like a core of life that brings forth supernatural abilities through weapons and acts as a separate entity to your body. It is like another individual living inside of you. Think about it as a ghost and when it dies off, so do you.”

Tairen: “It is like a best friend in you that has connected their life to yours much like a covenant with swords. Mana has no specific abilities. People believe that you are born with compatibility for light, water, earth, fire, or whatever else. Schools teach this in a wrongful way. When kids grow up, their bodies change and shift with their mana core, so a small amount of natural abilities is produced as it changes, but that does not mean you are more compatible with just that ability. For so many years, people have believed that this is what determines what sword you should use. However, that is false. If that were true, then we would be no different from witches. What do you know about witches?”

Welpen: “I know they are really strong and can use some crazy abilities. One came to my hometown once and her presence was crazy. Clara told me to stay inside, but it was like she was glowing white. Now that I think about it, she didn’t have any mana lines though.”

Tairen: “It’s true that witches are powerful, but they are not as strong as you think. They are just like swordsmen. There are weak ones and there are really strong ones, but the only difference is that they do not use mana. They are not born with it, but instead are born with Cryen.”

Welpen: “Cryen?”

Rynjuro: “Cryen to them is what mana is to us. That glowing white aura around that woman was her cryen. Witches that have weak cryen are visible to everyone just like how swordsmen can conceal their mana. However, Clara probably allowed you at the time to see that witch's cryen with her abilities. If you ever encounter a witch and have to fight and can see her cryen, all you need to do is hold out until it lowers. You will be able to see it start to diminish. At that point, they won’t be able to use it anymore without the risk of killing themselves. You better hope that they have control of some lower chaplets though. They can control up to 3, but it doesn’t mean they might not have more on them also.”

Welpen: “I see. Well, what about mana though? I can use certain abilities. I have before. I used Dragon’s Breath with this sword. A fire ability.”

Tairen: “Yes, but you did it with the sword. Let me simplify this for you. There are a total of 100 swords in this world and there are a total of 70 chaplets. Swordsmen are not born with any abilities. Even if you can produce something, even a little bit on your own, it is probably your mana adjusting to your body’s growth, which is where the misconception comes from. Swords can be crafted together to make another sword, however there are only 100. You cannot make more. The more swords you put together, the better chance you have at crafting a good sword. The swords you see from strong people, specifically the Great Swordsmen, have the top 10 swords that have been found throughout the years and passed down to them or they have found them, themselves. The other 40 swords range from common to rare. Legendary, mythical, and ancient swords all fall into the category of the top 10 swords. Anything below is considered common, uncommon, or rare. However, many rare swords have abilities that can combat even the best swords…I’m sure you have seen a number on your sword for how many exist in the world.”

Welpen: “Ohh, yes I have!”

Tairen: “Sorry, I’m getting off topic. Enough of crafting. Let’s go back to the basics. Witches cryen gains over time like mana the more you train it and over exhaust it. Now, they are born with abilities like I said before. They use chaplets abilities only, although some people have been able to create new abilities based on chaplets throughout the years. It’s not often you see this though. They are special cases. You’ll never know what witches have what chaplet abilities, however if they have an extremely rare chaplet ability and low cryen, then it’s likely that they won’t last long in a fight after one use.”

Rynjuro: “You’re getting off topic again Tairen. Dull it down for him even more.”

Tairen: “Ah sorry, sorry. I have talked all of your ears off. In the most basic sense, witches use chaplet abilities and swordsmen use swords abilities that already exist and swordsmen can also use chaplets that they find. The more you practice with your sword, the less you’ll have to focus so much on relying on its ability.”

Welpen: “I-I think I understand. I did not know that there were not that many swords that existed though.”

Rynjuro: “Think about it. Think back to the past. How many people have you seen with different swords? If they had different swords, were they pretty strong?”

Welpen: “Well, the leader of my hometown didn’t even use a sword against Isara. Although, those other people had some interesting weapons. I guess I never really looked at that closely.”

Tairen: “Bear in mind what I said. Just because a sword is not labeled as legendary, it does not mean it isn’t strong. Especially if someone forms a covenant with it, although we will get to that later. Basically, if you do form a covenant, then that is the only exception where an extremely powerful ability is created specific to what your body can handle and boosted mana. We will discuss that later though.”

Welpen: “So, what if a Great Swordsman is attacked by a person with a common sword? Could the Swordsman lose?”

Tairen: “It’s possible depending on the technique of the sword, however it’s pretty unlikely.”

Welpen: “It just doesn’t make any sense. No matter how hard I train, I can never improve? It’s all based upon my sword? What is the point of the color of mana lines that everyone has then?”

Tairen: “I do not mean to make you upset Welpen, however that is the truth. You can increase your mana for defense and to tolerate attacks more, but that is it. Do not blame me for telling you this. It is simply the truth from the scrolls. As far as the mana lines go, that is just a link to your mana core. Everyone is simply different. There is no connection to anything.”

Saikou came over and hugged Welpen from behind, followed by Ryoko. These were things that Welpen had essentially been lied to about his entire life, however, it was because of the false knowledge acquired throughout the years by others.

Ryoko assured him that they would still get strong enough to protect Clara and people from getting injured. Although he was upset, there wasn’t much he could do at the moment but believe in their words.

Tairen and Rynjuro could teach them the art of the sword though. The three of them trained and trained till nightfall under their teachings on how to master it…

A dark shadow appeared at night unseen by any as Clara walked with Ren outside.

Yureth looked down from a tower somewhat in the distance and scanned the area to see any problems that exited. Moonshadow Village was the last place that he needed to check before the invasion started. He had been here before, but never inside. Nothing out of the ordinary ever seemed to take place here. It was a normal church in his eyes, and most people’s eyes. ‘Interesting,’ he thought. ‘A Great Swordsman is here. A strong one at that. Is she religious? Who is that man she is walking with?’

Clara kept walking, but slowly turned her head past her shoulder, looking behind her directly in the direction of Yureth. Yureth didn’t move, trying to blend in with the night before she smiled and turned back. ‘She’s looking right at me. She’s the first person ever to notice me. I can’t even tell how much mana she is concealing. Hmph, this is definitely one for the books. Well, this is not my place to mess with. Although, I’m certainly intrigued. What an interesting woman. I think I might just fall in love.’