Chapter 7: training
"Sure, you're not so dumb after all," Rin said with a pissed-off expression, her eyes narrowing as she tried to gauge Akira's reaction. The weight of her past decisions and the current predicament pressed heavily on her, adding layers to her frustration.
"To survive in this world, you need to avoid anything that hints at foolishness," Akira responded, his voice cold and indifferent. His gaze bore into Rin, reflecting a lifetime of training, discipline, and the harsh realities of a sorcerer's life. He stood firm, unwavering, a stark contrast to the turmoil Rin felt inside.
"But I cannot accept a lifetime pact. What about three years?" Rin countered, her voice tinged with a mix of annoyance and determination. She weighed her options quickly, her mind racing through the possible consequences. She considered the future, the slim possibility of finding a way to go to the modern world in the future. The thought of being bound for life, especially if this city turned out to be Tokyo one day, was suffocating. Making a rash decision due to ignorance would be beyond foolish—it could be her downfall.
"What? Do you think you can dictate the terms now? We're not afraid of you, you little Bitch" Kanzaki raged, his voice loud and aggressive, his face twisted with anger. His outburst was a mix of bravado and genuine fear, reflecting the tension that permeated the air. The other sorcerers shifted uneasily, their weapons at the ready, their eyes darting between Rin and Akira.
Akira's eyes tightened as he looked at Rin, his expression unreadable but intense. The tension between them was palpable, the weight of the decision hanging heavily in the air. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slowly, as he carefully considered her counteroffer. His mind raced through the implications of her proposal, the risks and benefits, and the potential consequences for his group and the city.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Akira spoke, his voice measured and deliberate. "Three years," he repeated, as if testing the words. "A binding vow for three years." He paused, his gaze never leaving Rin's. "We will teach you the Simple Domain. In return, you will not harm this city or its people for the duration of the vow."
Rin smirked, her eyes glinting with a mix of cunning and resolve. "One more thing," she added. "You and your group will not harm me either for those three years."
The other sorcerers murmured among themselves, their voices a mix of skepticism and reluctant acceptance. Kanzaki glared at Rin, his anger still simmering beneath the surface, but he held his tongue, deferring to Akira's authority.
Akira considered her added condition for a moment, his gaze never wavering. Finally, he nodded. "Agreed. For three years, neither you nor this city and its people will come to harm by the other's hand."
Rin nodded slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Agreed," she said, her voice steady. She extended her hand, the makeshift bandage still wrapped around her wounded palm, to seal the vow. The gesture was symbolic, a testament to the uneasy alliance they were about to forge.
Akira stepped forward, clasping her hand firmly. The binding vow took hold, a surge of energy sealing their agreement. For the next three years, their fates were intertwined, bound by mutual necessity and a shared understanding of survival in a world filled with danger and uncertainty.
"We will be together for a whole month, let's get along," Rin said mockingly as she moved closer to Akira, so close that it seemed they might kiss.
"Back down from the young master, you little fox! Don't try to seduce him!" the entire group screamed at Rin, their voices filled with protective fury.
"I'm just admiring his beauty. I didn't expect to find someone this handsome in this place," Rin said shamelessly, her eyes roving over Akira's muscular body. She reveled in the reaction she was provoking, enjoying the power she had in this moment of forced alliance.
"Of course, you would fall in love with the young master's handsomeness. He is the most wanted man in this city. Rumors have even spread to other cities about how cool and handsome he is. And what do you mean by 'this place'? Are you looking down on us?" one of the sorcerers said, admiration for Akira evident in his eyes, while he looked at Rin with disdain.
"Eh? You're quite famous, I can see why though," Rin said, looking into Akira's eyes and placing her hand on his chest, feeling the strength beneath his clothes.
Akira removed her hand slowly, a hint of disdain in his voice as he spoke. "What do you mean by one month? Don't tell me you think you can learn Simple Domain in such a short duration?"
Rin smirked, her confidence undiminished. "Well, I'm a fast learner. Besides, I don't plan on spending more time with you than necessary. I have other things to do."
Akira's eyes narrowed. "Learning Simple Domain isn't just about speed; it requires discipline and control. I doubt you have the patience for it."
"We'll see about that," Rin replied, her tone both challenging and seductive, her eyes locked on Akira's.
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The next morning, Rin awoke early, the first light of dawn filtering through the small window of her room. She stretched, feeling the residual ache from the previous day's encounter. Determination set in her features as she prepared herself for the day ahead.
Rin changed from her pajamas into her training clothes, which were modern, sleek, and functional—perfect for rigorous physical activity. As she left her room after making herself a quick breakfast, she met Akira, who was already outside, his expression filled with complete disdain.
"What's with that look?" Rin asked, genuinely curious as to why he seemed so disapproving.
"Why are you waking up so late? And what are those clothes? Do you have no shame at all?" Akira's face twisted in disgust as he spoke.
"Oh, that's what it is," Rin replied, realizing the source of his disdain. Her outfit, while perfectly normal and practical for training by modern standards, was considered too revealing and inappropriate in this old era.
"These are just my training clothes. They let me move more freely," Rin explained, her tone a mix of arrogance and seduction. "Don't tell me you're saying this to hide your lust for me. I won't blame you—I'm just too beautiful," she added with a sly smile, shrugging off his disapproval.
Akira's face tightened, clearly unamused by her teasing. "Your beauty isn't the issue. It's about respect and appropriateness."
"Can we just start training?" Rin asked, ignoring Akira's comment and focusing on the task at hand.
Akira sighed, shaking his head. "Very well. Follow me."
They arrived at the open field, the morning mist still lingering. Akira checked her cursed energy control first to make sure she had the qualification for Simple Domain because it required making her cursed energy as steady as possible.
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Ten days passed, and Rin improved day by day. Akira was shocked at Rin's rapid improvement, her determination evident in every move she made.
One evening, after a particularly grueling session, Rin, breathing heavily, leaned on Akira and asked, "Hey Akira, I want to learn Falling Blossom Emotion. Can you teach me?"
Akira, with a swift movement, dodged her lean. This was her usual annoying behavior, shamelessly leaning on a man who wasn't her husband—how shameless, he thought to himself. He responded, confused, "What's that?"
"It's not made up yet?" Rin said to herself in a low voice.
"What about Hollow Wicker Basket? is it like simple domain?" Rin asked again, her curiosity piqued.
"Hollow Wicker Basket is not from our school, and it's not considered a domain like Simple Domain. Although Simple Domain is not a real domain, it's still a type of domain," Akira responded, his tone instructive.
Rin suddenly froze all of her sweat, a playful smirk forming on her face. She looked at Akira with a challenging glint in her eyes. "Hey, Akira, let's fight. I want to see how strong you are. We can make a bet to make it more interesting," she suggested, her tone laced with excitement.
Akira raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. "A bet, huh? What kind of bet are you proposing?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Rin's smirk widened mischievously. "If I win, you have to be my partner to train my kissing skills. And if you win, I'll do whatever you ask for the next week. Deal?" she proposed confidently, her eyes sparkling with playful challenge.
Akira considered her offer, his expression unreadable for a moment as he weighed the stakes. After a brief pause, he nodded in agreement. "Deal. But don't think I'll go easy on you," he replied, a small smile quirking his lips, betraying a hint of amusement and intrigue.
"Wait, are you implying you've never kissed before?" Akira said, looking at Rin skeptically.
"Yes, I'm a virgin. Don't tell me you think I was some kind of... promiscuous person?" Rin replied, her tone shifting to mock sadness as she feigned offense.
"Your actions don't really imply that," Akira responded.
"Ah, is that so?" Rin replied, making a fighting pose.
Akira and Rin faced off in the open field, their energies charged with determination. Akira's Simple Domain activated around him, while Rin focused her cursed energy into her techniques.
Rin struck first, her voice resonating with power as she chanted, "Ice Formation: Frost Clam!" A wave of icy energy surged towards Akira, encasing him in frost in an instant. But before the ice could hold him, Akira reacted swiftly, invoking his Batto Sword Drawing technique. With a flick of his wrist, he shattered the ice, freeing himself from Rin's grasp.
Undeterred, Rin conjured an ice spear, spinning it rapidly between her fingers. With precision honed from days of training, she launched the spear at Akira with deadly speed. Akira's response was immediate, channeling his New Shadow Style - Evening Moon Sword Drawing. In a fluid motion, he drew his sword with lightning speed, intercepting the ice spear mid-flight. The clash sent shards of ice scattering in all directions, the force of their collision reverberating through the air.
Akira assumed a focused stance, his sword held firmly as he activated his Simple Domain, its energy expanding swiftly to encompass Rin within its protective barrier. Sensing the impending danger, Rin reacted swiftly, conjuring ice walls around herself in a desperate attempt to shield against Akira's next onslaught.
The air crackled with tension as Akira's aura surged within the domain, enhancing his speed and precision. With a determined gaze, he launched into a series of rapid strikes, each aimed with deadly accuracy at breaching Rin's defenses. His sword blurred as he executed the Evening Moon Sword Drawing technique, the blade humming with cursed energy.
Rin gritted her teeth, focusing her own cursed energy to reinforce the ice walls. The clash of their abilities created a tumultuous scene, ice shattering and reforming in response to Akira's relentless attacks. Each strike tested Rin's concentration and control, forcing her to push her limits as she redirected her energy to reinforce the weakening barriers.
Akira pressed on, his movements fluid and calculated. He exploited openings in Rin's defenses, each strike intending to wear her down. Despite the pressure, Rin remained resilient, her determination fueling her efforts to hold her ground against Akira's skillful assault.
Rin knew that defending alone wouldn't turn the tide. With a decisive shift in strategy, she summoned her resolve and gathered her cursed energy for an aggressive counterattack. Channeling her power, she chanted, "Ice Formation: Ice Fall!"
Above Akira, the air shimmered as frost gathered, coalescing into a swirling vortex of icy shards. With a swift gesture, Rin unleashed the icy tempest, sending a cascade of sharp, frozen projectiles hurtling toward Akira from all directions. The onslaught aimed to overwhelm his defenses and force him into a reactive stance.
Akira's eyes widened briefly at Rin's sudden change in tactics. Reacting swiftly, he shifted his Simple Domain's focus, reinforcing its range just in time. The barrage of ice fell upon the domain, each shard intercepted with precise slashes of his sword. Despite his defensive prowess, the sheer volume and ferocity of Rin's attack tested the limits of his concentration and agility.
As Rin ceased her ice barrage, she launched herself at Akira, her nails now icy and razor-sharp. Akira, though momentarily taken aback by her unexpected move, knew Rin well enough by now not to underestimate her decisions.
With a smirk, Rin swiftly attacked, aiming her icy nails. Akira opted to parry rather than counterattack, mindful of their binding vow that restrained him from delivering a lethal blow.
In a surprising twist, Rin caught Akira's sword in her grip and activated her Freeze Lock technique, freezing and shattering the blade. Akira's eyes widened briefly in surprise before settling back to calm resolve.
"Let's end this now," Akira declared, his speed increasing as he swiftly grabbed the handle of the shattered sword. With a deft move, he employed "New Shadow Style: Hazy Moon," a technique that recreated part of the broken blade with cursed energy, appearing as if he had teleported behind her.
"You lose," Akira stated firmly, pressing his sword against Rin's throat.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone