The Cursed Iris

Sprout 38: Kikyo's Path

Kikyo woke up and she saw that she was in Inari's shrine again. She felt something on her chest, "Oh good you're awake," Shizuko said.

Shizuko was sitting flat on Kikyo's chest like it was a chair or something, "Would you get off!?" she yelled, trying to swat Shizuko away. She felt a sharp pain similar to hot nails shoot through her body.

"You should rest dear," Inari stated.

"What happened? Last thing I remember was defeating that thing and then I woke up here."

Inari gave one of her endearing smiles again. "You indeed did, although I must say you are quite hasty on the draw. That last move was a little too reckless dear."

"I know," she responded, but she had no other choice. She had to prove herself to the both of them. "So, that was the trick behind using life force. Is there anything else I might be able to use in conjunction with my eyes?" she asked.

"I thought you'd never ask!" Inari exclaimed.

Shizuko hopped off Kikyo with a sigh as she sat up to see the scroll Inari was carrying. It looked old, it also looked important, "This scroll here tells each branch a user could take. From spirit energy to chi to gears to holy. Each one has a different path depending on them and their aptitude at learning," Inari explained.

Kikyo tried to read it, but she couldn't understand any of the strange writing. Only the pictures for the most part.

"Do not fret about the reading, I'll explain everything in full detail," Inari assured.

Kikyo nodded.

"Very well, firstly we have spirit energy. I'm sure you've gotten multiple explanations about it up to this point but there's somethings they had left out such as how it is replenished or the other forces that play into it. Such as the natural spirit energy," she explained.

"Natural spirit energy, what's that?"

Inari smiled. "Natural spirit energy is the energy that flows through the natural world, not to be confused with the Dragon Vein. Everything in nature has a soul thus everything in nature has spirit energy. The air, the ocean, the land, the trees, the grass, flames, metal. If it has physical form, then it has spirit energy."

Kikyo nodded as if she understood, but she clearly didn't, "Now the spirit energy of those natural beings who share a similar affinity are drawn in by each other and expelled by the ones who have an opposite affinity automatically which creates the flow of natural energy. It's like a toxify and detoxify at the same time," Inari continued.

"I am so confused."

"I see," Inari chuckled. "So how about this. You eat something your body clearly doesn't like what do you do?"

"Vomit," Kikyo replied like the answer was obvious. Then she began to realize the answer, "Oh, I get it now!"

"I'm glad you do. Now the four natural elements fire, water, earth, and air are the most abundant ones, but some of them can mix to make different elements such as: earth and fire to make lava, water, and air to make ice or snow, water, and fire to create steam. This will cause them to emit and absorb two types of spirit energy."

Kikyo nodded. "Sounds simple enough, so I'm guessing that wizards with a certain affinity air for instance can replenish their spirit energy by drawing in the natural spirit energy from the air?"

"Yes," Inari smiled, "but there's a certain limit the person can take in and the body knows when it reaches that limit due to a vessel that lies within the central aura point. The body automatically cuts it off. Now don't misunderstand there are still ways to help you utilize spirit energy when you reach your limit."