𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗔𝗚𝗘

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 - LEARNING

"Okay..." Maki flicked the top of a aluminum can, opening the soda with a relaxed sigh. She settled herself before me and crossed her legs over one another taking a swift sip of her soda. "What makes shamans different from normal people — and don't just stare the obvious fact." She clarified pointing at me with her sharp eyes. I but the inside of my cheek, a short spar had quickly changed into a class about all the things I needed to know. I wasn't complaining, I should know at least the basics — but I didn't even know that.

"Shamans can recycle their energy." I stated with a little more confidence than I had expressed before. "What type of energy?" She asked before tapping her lips with the can.

I blinked a few times before speaking, "Oh — negative energy. By doing that they have no way for creating a cursed spirit, like non-shamans do naturally." I explained in a matter-of-fact tone, my voice hinting with a observing undertone. "Right..." She said and I sent a small smile her way, though it wasn't returned. Awkwardness rushed through my bones making me tense up and look down, I avoided all eye contact most of the time and didn't speak very loud. I wasn't ever sure of myself creating this nervous manner I seemed to wear a lot more now.

"You catch on pretty fast..." She commented to ease the awkward pressure. I looked up briefly, my hand picking at the strands of green that stuck up from the ground. "I'm trying."

She lifted her body from the ground, standing above me with a slight smirk. "Good." She said lifting her hand to me. "Then you can try and get better." She added when I placed my hand in hers, pulling me from the grass easily — I was almost surprised by how much strength she had. "Otherwise I'll make you train with Okkotsu."

"Is that bad?" I asked with a slight head tilt. She lifted her staff calmly and handed me my own weapon. "Depends on whether or not you can defend yourself." She shrugged as I firmly held the weapon in my hands, tense and stiff joints turned white at my knuckles. "Until you figure your technique out, you're stuck with cursed tools — the least you can do is defend yourself."

She lifted her staff gracefully, her quick movement making her look like a professional.

"And don't hold the weapon so tight, if you don't loosen up you won't be able to move as quickly." I was hit in the stomach, an ache sent through my entire body making me wince and squeeze my eyes shut.

"Keep your steps clean and make sure each movement counts — even the simple ones." I fell to the ground, her tool taking my feet from under me and making me clash to the ground where a thud echoed through my body sending a bruise into my veins.

"Don't keep aiming for one area, your opponent will catch on." She disarmed me of my weapon, letting it fall to the ground with a simple swing of her hand — swiftness traced her every movement. I couldn't seem to get a grasp on what I needed to pay attention for — I couldn't see a pattern. She's unpredictable, which is what makes her dangerous, I can't react very quickly either.

I crouched to the ground picking up the tool with dismay on my face, I wasn't exactly enjoying the bruises and losses. I let out a sigh when I stood back up and my eyes focused back in the tool. Perhaps it wasn't a pattern I was looking for, at least not a easily visible one.

A simple facial expression may be the case... if I could take a moment longer to just study her movements. "Do you think we can..." She stood tall, looking aside with narrowed eyes as I began to make a request in a small tone. "Let's pack up." She spoke over me nonchalantly, her head turning to gaze at me. I faltered, my suggesting hand falling as I blinked at the sudden declaration. "Oh." I managed to mumble out, suppressing the slight shock from her simple and blunt words. "The other students should be returning from their missions soon." She sheathed the tool coolly and pushed it around her shoulder. "Do all students have missions?" I pondered following her actions, but handing the weapon to her.

"It's how we improve." She simply said, shrugging as she spoke without expression. "Huh..." I raised a slight brow. That part differentiated this school from all others. Usually, we have a lot more before a field trip, but when being put on a field to decide between life or death, there's not a single permission slip. That sounds crazy.

"You improve by learning the basics." She stated watching as I looked up to her. "You need to learn how a cursed spirit forms, how to exorcise it, and certain precautions to take so jujutsu isn't revealed to anyone it's not supposed to." She elaborated as we began to walk to the main building. I followed her with eased steps, listening to her words with interest and keeping my thoughts on the matter specifically. "You know almost enough to start figuring your jujutsu out, but I'm sure what you know will be fine for some other occasions."

————

'Fine for some occasions', Maki had told me. And I took that seriously. I figured there were certain levels of assignments best suited for certain shamans. I assumed that meant I wouldn't be sent on an assignment for some time — maybe not until next year. I'd be stuck learning the things I needed to know and practically reciting the terms in my sleep from how much I tried to memorize things.

But I was wrong. Very wrong. I hope three days of knowledge will suffice for what I am forced to do on the field.

Within seconds I had my uniform on my body without a crease or imperfection, I still carried those deep blue colours under my eyes — reflecting on the sleep I couldn't catch — and a chapped feeling on my lips that told me I wasn't being very healthy. Though, I couldn't tell if maybe the lack of food I ate or the the very little water I drank had been the reason for being so nauseated or if it was just the race of my heart and the rise of my blood pressure from the ominous intensity of my surroundings.

I practically shielded behind my partner, Okkostu Yuuta, who graciously offered his kindness to accompany me in hopes of dissipating my worry.

He stood right next to me, a silent assurance walked with him from how close he kept himself to me — a quiet confirmation he'd stay nearby, is what I hoped. I definitely didn't want to be alone — not in the darkness of this abandoned property. "Yuuta?" I tilted my head towards the boy catching his gaze quickly. He seemed a little surprised and I instantly took a slight step back, pausing and looking away nervously. "Sorry, Maki said — "

"To call her by her first name?" He interrupted stopping a little bit further from me. I nodded a little and looked back to him with a nervous laugh. "Yeah... I wrongfully assumed it went for you as well." I scratched the nape of my neck, a little rush of embarrassment made my skin heat. "Well, we have known each other for a bit..." He chuckled a little and I relaxed, a soft smile. "I suppose that's true." I hummed looking aside. I fell silent as he turned his head back in the direction we had previously been waking in.

"With that in mind, can you trust me when I say there's no reason to be scared?" He suddenly asked. I looked up from the ground and blinked at the back of his head. "What...?" I questioned aloud, walking in slow anxious steps. He must've noticed how tense I was. "We're strangers who accidentally met — multiple times — but the last time we had talked, you made it a point to say that I have your trust." At his calm words my shoulders sank and my face heated up. I couldn't respond remembering the last time we talked with a flush — I didn't exactly know what I should say.

"Can you trust me now when I say you don't have anything to be afraid of?"