Chapter 11:

Chapter 11: An Unexpected Decision

The Deserters of Akami

Among the inhabitants watching from a distance, the silence lasted barely an instant.

-What kind of living being is that? -one of them murmured, eyes still wide open-. I never thought something like that was possible.

The one beside him couldn't take his eyes off the platform.

-Definitely... they are superior beings.

On the platform, Jojiro and Renir were still on the ground.

Processing.

Zianya watched them from where she stood. Her mouth was slightly open but no words came out. For the first time throughout the entire training, she had nothing to say.

Renir was the first to get up.

And he did so with the irritation visible in every movement.

He turned toward Joshido.

-What's wrong with you? -he demanded, with a coldness that couldn't hide the agitation behind it-. I almost lost my life.

Joshido looked at him without moving.

He had no answer. Not even he understood what had just happened.

Jojiro tried to intervene.

-Renir...

-No -Renir cut him off, without taking his eyes off Joshido-. He's the one who made that attack. He almost killed me.

From below, the group watched in silence. No one spoke. No one moved.

Then Zurame arrived.

She approached without rushing, with that calm of hers that needed no raised voice to make itself felt. She positioned herself in front of Renir and looked at him directly.

-Calm down -she said-. Joshido is not at fault.

Renir looked at her with disbelief.

-What do you mean it's not his fault? He's the one who made the attack.

-Joshido awakened a power -Zurame responded with the same calm-. An energy he didn't know he had.

Renir didn't respond. But the irritation on his face didn't disappear.

Zurame turned toward Joshido.

She looked at him with an expression that wasn't reproach but something much closer.

-You shouldn't feel bad about what happened -she said-. This was going to happen at any moment.

A brief pause.

-Your father Yasudo had been waiting for it to happen for a long time.

-My father knew? -said Joshido, with a voice that couldn't quite find its tone-. Why didn't he tell me anything? Why didn't he warn me?

From below, Yuzo was asking himself the same question in silence.

Why did father decide not to say anything?

Zurame observed Joshido with calm.

-Your father didn't tell you anything because he wanted you to go through it yourself. As he did. Besides... he thought he was going to be present when it happened to you.

Joshido tightened his jaw slightly.

-But he could have said something. Even just warned me about what would happen. Or what to do.

-That's for you to discover -Zurame responded with the same calm-. To find out what that energy is. And what to do with it.

A brief pause.

-Unfortunately, none of those present have a substantial weapon. We can't be of much help with that.

Jojiro joined the conversation.

-I know a living being who might be able to help you. He doesn't have a substantial weapon, but he could guide you on how to fight better with yours or how to handle it.

Joshido looked at him.

-Who is that living being?

Jojiro looked at him directly.

-His name is Draval. The leader of the Ghost Territory.

Renir frowned when he heard that name.

-Is it necessary for him to help? -he asked his father.

-Yes -Jojiro replied without hesitating-. He's the best option to help Joshido improve his movements.

A brief pause.

-And you as well, Renir.

Renir didn't respond. But something in his expression changed.

Joshido looked at Jojiro with an expression that mixed curiosity with some skepticism.

-I had never heard of him. Or of a territory called Ghost.

A pause.

-Is he really that good?

Jojiro looked at him with that calm of his that needed no embellishment.

-Yes. His ability with weapons is far superior to most. Also...

A faint smile appeared on his face.

-I think he's going to be excited when I tell him you're Yasudo's son.

Joshido frowned.

-What do you mean? Did Draval know my father?

-From what I've heard, yes -Jojiro replied-. And the first time they met... they fought.

Zurame nodded slowly.

-What Jojiro says is true. I was present when that happened.

A brief pause.

-It was a... quite intense fight.

Joshido processed the words in silence.

He stood up to my father.

A spark ignited somewhere in his chest.

It'll be interesting to see how skilled he is.

Jojiro turned toward everyone present.

-It was a good start for all of you -he said calmly-. Tomorrow the real training begins.

A pause.

-Until then, let's rest and eat.

No one protested.

The group headed toward Jojiro's home. When they entered, two things welcomed them at the same time.

Amiria, placing food on the table with that serenity of hers that made everything seem simple.

And Mozir, already awake, helping her without anyone having asked.

Amiria welcomed them with a kindness that needed no effort to feel sincere. A smile, a few brief words, the gesture of someone who knows exactly how to make a space feel like a home.

Jojiro entered behind everyone.

And stopped for an instant when he saw Mozir.

How is it possible he's already recovered?

He looked at him a second longer, without anyone noticing.

The blow I gave him was no small thing.

A pause in his mind.

These young living beings are truly remarkable.

The others didn't take long to react. Their expressions changed at the same time, a mix of relief and genuine joy at seeing their friend standing, moving, as if nothing had happened.

No one said anything. There was no need.

Everyone sat down to eat.

The silence that accompanied the meal wasn't uncomfortable. It was the silence of those who have lived through too much in too little time and are grateful not to have to speak for a moment. Just the sound of plates, the slow movement of those eating without hurry, and the warmth of Jojiro's home doing its work in silence.

When they finished, Zurame took a deep breath.

-The moment has come to explain... almost everything.

The young ones looked at each other without saying a word.

Zurame observed them one by one before continuing.

-What we have lived through these past days is regrettable -she said calmly-. But together we can keep moving forward.

A brief pause.

-I'm going to explain to you the origin of your stellar abilities and the substantial weapon.

The silence became different. More attentive.

-A long time ago, when I, Yemon and Nokio lived on Planet Akami, two spheres appeared. Not very large, but they drew a lot of attention because of their color. One was a transparent white. The other, red.

She paused, letting the words settle.

-Over time it was discovered that those two spheres grant abilities and weapons. The red one grants substantial weapons. The white one, stellar abilities. All it took was to touch them... and the ability or weapon would manifest. It's believed that they choose their bearer.

No one spoke.

But everyone was processing the same thing.

All of this comes from two spheres?

-You have a stellar ability or substantial weapon because of your parents. At first it was thought to simply be inherited. But it's not only that. If someone who possesses one of the two has a child, the stellar ability can mutate. Change. Become something different from what the parents had.

A shorter pause.

-With the substantial weapon it can also happen. But not in every case. Only in some very specific ones.

Her eyes stopped on Joshido.

-Like yours.

Joshido processed the words for a moment.

-So... my substantial weapon by mutating is stronger than my father's.

Zurame looked at him with that honesty of hers that needed no embellishment.

-Not necessarily -she responded-. Everything depends on the bearer. If the bearer is weak... their weapon or ability will be too.

Joshido didn't respond.

But something in that answer kept turning over in his mind.

Heliya was the next to speak.

-Who created the spheres?

Zurame looked at her calmly.

-No living being so far knows their origin.

The silence that followed was one of more questions than answers.

Yuzo didn't take long to take advantage of that silence.

-Do those who attacked the Intellectual village have anything to do with those spheres?

Zurame looked at him for a moment before responding.

-If your parents are still alive -she said with the same calm as always-. And if at some point they reunite with you... I'm sure they will explain everything.

Zurame continued.

-Although I, Jojiro and Zianya are not experts in how to train stellar abilities or the substantial weapon... we will do everything possible to help you grow stronger.

A brief pause.

-Because the moment will come when you'll have to face powerful living beings. It's only a matter of time.

Mozir frowned.

-If there are living beings as strong or stronger than those who attacked our village... it's going to be very complicated.

Eldren looked at him.

-You're right. But if we don't want to witness something similar to what happened to our village... we have to grow stronger.

No one argued.

One by one, in silence, each one accepted giving their best.

No one said it out loud. But everyone felt it equally.

The destruction of the village, the living beings who lost their lives...

They felt the responsibility to make those responsible pay.

The silence that followed was different from all the others.

It wasn't sadness. It wasn't fear.

It was determination.

Jojiro broke the silence.

-The training will be in groups -he said calmly-. Zianya will be in charge of Naiden, Yuzo and Eldren. I'll take care of Mozir and Heliya. And Draval... of Renir and Joshido.

Heliya raised her gaze.

-And will Master Zurame help us too?

The silence that followed wasn't normal.

Jojiro, Zianya, Amiria and Zurame went quiet. Without looking at each other. Without saying anything.

The young ones noticed immediately.

Eldren frowned.

-Is something wrong?

Zurame exhaled slowly.

-I would like to help you grow stronger -she said-. But I can't.

The young ones looked at each other without understanding.

Zurame continued.

-I don't enjoy helping others grow stronger.