Daigo crossed his arms but pricked up his ears. He had never enjoyed indulging in speculation, but a
prodigious young scholar like Shigeo had his way of making others listen. After their displays of power,
the former had developed a respect for Keiji and Yuuki over the past month. They were young but
highly accomplished, and Daigo valued strength and ability above all else. Hajime and Yuuta stopped
badgering Megumin and became attentive. They had become aware that they were disrupting a vital
discussion. The girls were already tuned in.
Shigeo: “Spare me a few minutes first, to explain the essentials. Has anyone here read the book-
‘Kinheni- The Provenance of Kitsu’ by the late shuzen healer Ogino Ginko?”
“Anyone?”
Kafu scoffed but said nothing. The name of the late heasler had irked him somehow. As nobody else
chimed in, Shigeo pricked his spectacles up his nose again and began.
Shigeo: “We have been taught for years- that kitsu is the art of channeling raiki and giving it physical
form. The technique is very fundamental for us. It is the heart of all our economic and military activity.
Be it running a sugar mill, sailing a boat, building a house, conveyance, agriculture, mining, fisheries or
carrying out military defense, kitsu plays an integral role in almost every trade and activity. But, the
origin of raiki- the substrate of kitsu, has always been ambiguous. A great deal of knowledge was lost
when valuable records and research materials were destroyed, during the incessant wars of the
previous century. It had come to be believed that raiki came from our lifeforce. But, Ginko-sensei
suggested that raiki is drawn from an alternate world, which he named Meido.”
“Meido is a plane where all entities are inherently made of condensed, tangible energy. This energy,
which we know as raiki, is several times more easily molded and manipulated, as compared to the rigid
energies of our world. It can be transformed into the elements, and given forms and shapes according
to our will.“
“Our ancestors developed the art of kitsu, which is a key to opening the gates of Meido, amassing raiki
and turning it into an element. In basic civilian tasks, kitsu is useful even without a non-living or life-like
form. A compact form of kitsu is necessary for military matters- a sword, dagger, or a bow and arrow. A
compact form of kitsu is essential for military matters—a sword, a dagger, a bow and arrow and so on.
Then there is bestial-kitsu, an intelligent manipulation of raiki that manifests animal forms and gives
them live attributes. They mimic original animals while obeying the commands of the creator. As the
descendants of the first kitsu-users, we can make raiki surge within our bodies and perform kitsu-
manipulation with a bit of practice. But how wide the gates can be opened and how much raiki an
individual can endure- differs from person to person. The better is one’s ability to possess raiki, the
stronger is the kitsu form. While someone like Kafu can manifest small animals like fire-shrews and
earth-moles, someone like Lord Heydrian can summon a gigantic armoured whale. The Overlord,
Senju Mikashita, has been away from battles for a long time, but I have heard stories. He was one of
the leading generals during the Great Zenmetsu War. Enemies paled in front of his onslaught as he
summoned seven fantastic elemental beasts, one of which was a mammoth. It is also worth
mentioning- Oki, of the now-extinct, traitor clan, Ishigami. He could summon a fire dragon as giant as a
citadel tower.
Nadeko, Masaki and Illumi looked wonder-struck. Akako, who revered warriors of legend, and aspired
to become a General one day, seemed electrified as well. The history of Kinheni resounded with
references to mythical worlds, all-mighty entities and supernatural events. Even the most recent war
saw the mightiest of the continent going head-to-head, bringing genocide and destruction in their wake.
The legends had culminated into bedside tales after decades of their fabled occurrence.
Kento: “But, what does Meido have to do with Keiji-sensei’s ability? Isn’t he kitsu-blind?”
Shigeo: “Exactly. He cannot open the gates to Meido.
Kento: “Then how did he accomplish what he did, without being able to use kitsu?”
Shigeo: “Let me first tell you- very little is known about Keiji-sensei, in the public domain. It is most
likely he was a foreign mercenary for the Legacy Unit, and due to his military accomplishments and
loyalty towards Karasuma, he was admitted into the Daigaku. The same goes for Yuuki-sensei of
course; both of them are too young to be Daigaku preceptors.”
Hajime: I agree. Yuuki-sensei is merely three years older than me. But he looks and fights, like a
seasoned warrior, who has been through a hundred battles. Even Lieutenant Yorokobi appears
diminished in his comparison.
Chiyo: “Perhaps they are just very gifted from birth.”
Shigeo: “Mercenaries are sent into battle at a very young age and that is common knowledge.
Nevertheless, I was lucky to have spotted Keiji-sensei’s name referenced in a Daigaku
correspondence, with the Overlord. I looked him up in the citadel library’s warrior index, last month, and
interviewed some old retired clerks, and travellers from other villages. And this is what I learnt- Keiji-
sensei was a popular mercenary in the past- known to his foes as Tabei-tenma, or the soul-devouring
demon. Very few have lived to tell the tale of facing him in battle, and those who have survived, have
left behind terrifying stories. They say he is possessed by a curse. Not only does he kill his enemies,
but also consumes their souls. He has killed hundreds, maybe over a thousand.”
Daigo: “I have heard of tabei-tenma. He is supposed to be a myth.”
Shigeo: “Look over there, he is a man, not a myth.”
The group looked towards the leading boat. Keiji, on the stern seat, with his slender back turned
towards them, appeared like a vanguard, alert and unmoving. As if he realised the collective attention,
Keiji turned around and faced the children. His chestnut hair splayed in the breeze like a whip-blade.
He smiled feebly back at them. Perhaps it was meant to reassure the young ones that they were not in
danger, as long as he was around. But it had a contrasting effect on them. They felt shivers run down
their spines.
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