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Chapter 7: Shinigami Academy II
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The reality is that Izuru was born into a family of lesser nobility. He was good, but Akashi must've certainly noticed someone better... He just needed a tool to help him fit in.
"You're from Rukongai, huh?" Shin raised a brow. They had reached the Academy's dining hall, Akashi taking a seat with the nobles.
He certainly noticed some scoffs and was clearly being looked down on by most of them, but that didn't seem to matter to him... They are just useful toys.
"Yeah, for a couple of years," Akashi nodded while tasting the Academy's meals. They were quite nutritious.
Food seems to be a vital piece of a soul's life, and it seems to somewhat contribute to their growth.
"How is it like out there?" Shin showed much curiosity, and to be fair, so did most of his fellow nobles.
"Death. Starvation. Thirst. Torture, and bits and pieces of insanity," Akashi chuckled as he recounted the briefest summary of his experience.
"Insanity? What does that mean?" A different noble asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
"You know, when you live in such an environment for so long, you start to hear them," Akashi smiled and continued, "The Voices."
"Do you hear them? Is your mind messed up?" A different noble questioned.
"Eh, sometimes," Akashi shrugged, "Don't worry tho. They only ask me to kill myself... Hahahaha," His laughter made it clear that he was just joking... Right?
"You've convinced me to visit Rukongai, my friend," Shin commented with a laugh.
"I'd come along."
"What if we target some poor soul there, and whisper them words without them able to see us?" A noble suggested.
"Oh hahaha, that'd be hilarious."
"Think we can drive someone to suicide doing that?"
"Hahahaha, we should definitely try that!"
Akashi's smile widened, finding their antic amusing, to say the least. They remind him of the Voices.
The Voices are always with him, speaking to him. There are too many types of voices, but if there is something in common between them, it has to be that word.
"When do you all get your Asauchi? I assume nobles get them sooner?" Akashi awaited for them to end their amusing conversation before asking.
"Tomorrow. Oh, yeah, I noticed your interest in Asauchi in class. Just learn sword zen and some energy control and they'll give it to you," One of the nobles suggested.
"I think they'll start teaching sword zen tomorrow. right?"
Akashi started what he was there for, advice, mostly about spiritual power control, and basically every other thing he could think of.
He only stopped when he noticed that his endless questions were starting to get on their nerve, 'Oh well, I will ask more questions when their cooldown resets.'
Akashi had his meal, showing no signs of enjoyment, his mind too caught up in other things.
The classes in the afternoon were composed of a general knowledge class and something that did interest Akashi, Kido.
The first-year students of the Shinigami Academy assembled in a wide, circular courtyard dedicated to Kido training.
The space was bordered by tall stone pillars etched with runic symbols, designed to absorb stray spiritual energy and prevent accidents from spiraling out of control.
At its center stood Instructor Kiyomura, a middle-aged woman with a stern gaze and a commanding presence.
"Good evening," Kiyomura began, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade.
"Today marks your introduction to Kido, the cornerstone of a Shinigami's versatility. Some of you may find it thrilling. Others will struggle. And a few of you may wish to avoid it entirely."
Her gaze swept over the crowd, "But understand this; in battle, Kido can be the difference between victory and death. You will learn to respect it."
At least, so she wished, but the reality is that many do not even involve themself in Kido.
The Academy was once called the Shinigami Academy.
It was then changed to the Spiritual Arts Academy when it developed into an institute for the next generation of the Kidō Corps and the Onmitsukidō, as well as the Shinigami of the Gotei 13.
Although, it is still referred to as Shinigami Academy in Rukongai.
It's for that reason that you do not need to excel at all classes to pass. Even if someone knows little to no Kido, they may still be able to pass for the Gotei 13 and the Onmittsukido.
Kiyomura extended her hand, and a faint blue light began to swirl around her fingers.
With a whispered incantation, followed by a loud, "Hadō #4. Byakurai!" she was able to generate a concentrated bolt of lightning, striking a nearby training dummy.
The result of the impact was a blinding light, the lightning leaving the dummy with only its bottom half, scorched into oblivion.
"This," She said, "Is the foundation of Kido; the ability to focus your spiritual energy and shape it through incantations."
"There are two primary branches; Hado, which focuses on offensive techniques, and Bakudo, which centers on binding and protection."
"Today, we begin with the absolute basics; focusing your energy into a projectile and releasing it with stability and intent."
She stepped aside and gestured to rows of dummies lined up at the edge of the courtyard, "Approach a dummy. Stretch out your hand and visualize your spiritual energy pooling at your fingertips."
"Do not attempt an incantation yet; focus solely on condensing your energy and releasing it in a controlled manner. Begin!"
Well, she was certainly able to capture their attention with that clear display of power, and most importantly, just absolute stylishness.
The students scattered, forming loose groups around the training dummies.
Akashi found a spot near the nobles, preferring to avoid distractions but also to observe their methods.
To a certain extent, they were his training dummies as he found it easier to just mimic others than to learn things himself when his own energy makes itself unintuitive to control.
Closing his eyes, he exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar hum of his spiritual energy thrumming beneath his skin.
He stretched out his hand, picturing the energy pooling at his fingertips as Kiyomura instructed.
A faint dark glow began to gather in his palm, flickering like a flame. He focused harder, compressing the energy into a tighter form.
With a sharp motion, he thrust his hand forward, releasing the energy in a quick burst... It was like a tiny drop of water falling to the ground.
Akashi wasn't discouraged one bit. Instead, he turned his attention to the nobles on the side and just watched, then blatantly asked, "What do you imagine when you do it?"
"Huh?" The noble was stunned at the voice, glancing at Akashi and obviously recognized him, so he gracefully answered, "I just imagine a wound spring. That's how I was taught."
"Oh," Akashi blinked and tried again. He imagined the energy as a tightly wound spring, compressing it further before release.
When he fired, the slow bolt struck with more force, making an audible sound upon impact... Much better.
Akashi showed no shame nor hesitation as he walked to the others, seeking advice. As long as the Instructor allowed it, he would do it.
After an hour of practice, Kiyomura clapped her hands, drawing the students' attention.
"Now that you've grasped the basics, we'll move on to your first Hado spell: Sho. This is the simplest offensive Kido, designed to push an opponent back with a focused burst of energy. Watch carefully!"
She turned to face a dummy, her expression calm. Raising her hand, she spoke clearly, "Hado #1: Sho!"
A shockwave of energy erupted from her palm, slamming into the dummy with enough force to topple it backward.
"Sho requires three things; a stable energy focus, precise intent, and synchronization with the incantation. If any of these elements are lacking, the spell will fail; or worse, backfire."
The students lined up to attempt the spell under Kiyomura's watchful eye. The students performing their first Kido must be under her careful supervision, thus why they were attempted one by one.
Akashi pretty much sealed his place as the weirdo of the class. No, of the school; when he didn't join the line but stood by the instructor, and simply observed how the students performed.
"Very brave, aren't you," The instructor, Kiyomura commented calmly, not having much of a reaction to his antics.
"I'm sorry, but my talent is lacking, so I have to explore my options," Akashi scratched his head before muttering, "Thank you, teacher."