Spirit Silhouette

Time flew by, and within a few days, Ao had uncovered new pieces of information from the advanced magic guide. Though much of it was extremely complex, outside of a good amount of vocabulary Ao didn't know of, there was the sheer amount of advanced knowledge and techniques he didn't even know where to begin with, he managed to break down the basics of what he already knew and apply it to the material. His approach was simple, yet practical—taking the familiarity of what he already knew and using it as a bridge to the gap of what he didn't know.

One of the most significant things he learned about, well already knew of, was about the signatures—the practice of mimicking the flow of an element with spiritual energy without actually manifesting the element itself. It was something Ao already knew how to do, but he didn't know what it was called before actually pulling it off. Not to mention, Ao only knew of the former, Earth, Wind and water signatures, so he was quite ignorant.

There were many others, for instance, light signature. By aligning his spiritual energy flow to mimic light, Ao discovered he could induce healing within his body. The process was rudimentary—he could only heal what he knew was injured. If he had a broken bone and recognized it, he could direct his light signature to accelerate bone meal production and enhance the healing process. But if there were torn muscles around that bone and he wasn't aware of them, the light signature would do nothing.

The limitations were a pain in itself. Ao's understanding of anatomy was virtually non-existent, so applying this technique felt like aiming in the dark. The guide made it apparent that the main thing he needed was visualization—knowing exactly what needed healing and picturing it with precision. Without that clarity, the technique was mostly useless.

And then there were the individual techniques tied to each spiritual manifestation. The guide outlined basic techniques for every element—fire, water, earth, wind and light.—but they all hinged on one crucial prerequisite: knowing and manifesting one's elemental affinity.

It was as if the book dangled treasures just out of his reach.

You've got to be kidding me. All of these juicy techniques... and I can't use a single one unless I know how to conjure my element. What is it that I'm missing?

Ao's fingers flipped through the pages, he wanted to find at least something to help give him a pointer to how to manifest it, whether it was just a hint or even a picture showing what to do, but all in all, nothing. Not to mention that he hadn't even touched the Spirit Knight Techniques book yet, which was shocking since that was one of the things he wanted to learn about as well.

The advanced guide was precisely that—advanced. It assumed the reader already possessed the fundamental knowledge of elemental conjuration. The pages explained what to do, but only for the technique, never explaining the how, only the what and why. It was as if conjuring an element was as basic as breathing, a skill so ingrained that no explanation was needed, like it is as natural.

Yet, there was one glimmer of hope.

The guide did explain that spiritual energy could be moved to specific parts of the body to enhance physical or sensory abilities. The example given was Spirit Sight—a method where one channeled energy into their eyes to enhance vision. This allowed practitioners to see spiritual energy, perceive the essence of others, and even see through physical objects.

Ao sat back, connecting the dots. So that's what my dad used when we were fighting. It explains how he could still see me despite the dirt and dust clouds. The realization was a small victory. He had seen it in action and now understood the mechanics behind it.

Over the last few days, Ao practiced this technique, it wasn't difficult, it was basically taking what he usually did with channeling spiritual energy throughout his entire body and only focusing that on a specific part of his body instead. Pouring energy into his eyes until the world around him shifted. He saw spiritual auras—soft glows around living things, the faint pulse of spiritual energy in the walls, the lingering traces of his parents' presence in the room which he assumed was the spiritual energy that leaked from their bodies.

It wasn't perfect. Sometimes the strain made his head ache, and maintaining the vision for too long left his eyes dry and irritated. This was due to the fact that his mind needed to process the new information flooding into his head, it wasn't just seeing the basics, his eyes were starting to break down spiritual energy and what made up what and feeding said info into his head at high speeds.

I'll continue working with spirit sight later, I can't really do much with light signatures until I learn more about my anatomy. I need a book about that... or some kind of visual representation if I can find one.

Satisfied for now, Ao closed the book and let his small body relax against the cool wooden floor. His eyes traced the grain of the wood, his mind still buzzing from both the information his mind needed to process and the sheer amount of techniques he needed to try, but he needed to take it all one step at a time.

He had made progress, no doubt about that. But the gnawing frustration remained. So much of the guide was still locked away, the knowledge barred by his inability to manifest his element. It was like standing in front of a door, key in hand, only to realize the lock required a completely different mechanism.

No use beating myself up about it. He thought as he sighed, trying to let the tension in his body melt away. Tomorrow, he will start training with Shiro. Swordsmanship—so he wouldn't need to busy his mind with any of the stuff stressing him out today. The thought filled him with a bubbling excitement that sat warmly in his chest, it was his first time trying out the sword.

As the room darkened with the setting sun, Ao remained sprawled on the floor, lost in his thoughts. He barely noticed when soft footsteps approached, and the usual humming that followed suit with those gentle steps.

Koi stepped into the room, her smile was as always, warm enough to brighten the whole room. She chuckled as she found Ao surrounded by open books, his small form tucked against the floorboards. She lowered herself into a squat, seemingly not at all hindered by the growing belly she now had, and held out her arms.

"It's late, sweetie," she said, her voice soft as she waited for Ao to climb into her arms. "I let you read for a while, but it's time to head to bed."

Ao looked up, his light blue eyes slightly glassy from hours of reading. He hesitated, a part of him wanting to keep pushing reading, to see if there was more he could learn or figure out from the guide. But the comfort in Koi's voice pulled him in. Causing Ao to let out a small, gentle yawn, it seemed his body was tired and even he didn't know that.

He pushed himself up and shuffled into her embrace, his small arms wrapping around her neck as she lifted him effortlessly. Koi held him close, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat was like a gentle lullaby.

"Did you learn anything interesting today?" she asked as she guided them back to his room.

"A little," Ao murmured, his cheek resting against her shoulder. "I'm still trying to.. figure.. things.. out…"

Koi chuckled, the sound a soft vibration against his ear. "You're always so curious. Just like your father."

Ao didn't even notice nor hear what she said, before he knew it, he was already passed out asleep against her chest.

As they reached his bed, Koi laid him down, tucking the blanket around his small frame. She sat beside him, her fingers brushing through his hair, and began to hum a gentle melody.

_______

The next day marked the beginning of Ao's swordsmanship training. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and the soft rustle of leaves. The sun had only just begun to peak over the horizon, painting the world in shades of gold and green.

Ao stood outside with his father, the cool grass tickling his bare feet. Shiro had insisted they start early, saying that the best warriors began their day before the rest of the world woke, Koi was still in bed but she was starting to wake up to begin her usual morning routine of washing up and cooking breakfast.

"First things first," Shiro began, his voice steady but not harsh. He was standing in the middle of the long grass field of the lawn, making sure to not be too close to the flower garden. "Before you learn how to swing a sword, you need to understand why you're swinging it. What are you aiming for? What kind of swordsman do you want to become?"

Ao sat cross-legged on the ground, his small hands resting on his knees. His light blue eyes were wide, focused entirely on his father. He considered his father's question deeply. That is a good question.. Why do I wanna learn the sword?. I could say that it was because it looked cool, but it was more because of the fact it just… felt right… like I needed to learn..

"There are a total of four sword styles," Shiro explained. "These styles were created by a group of world-class hunters born a few hundred years ago, during what is known as the Golden Age of Dragons."

Ao's ears perked up. "Golden Age of Dragons?"

Shiro chuckled softly. "Yeah. It was an era when dragons still roamed the skies. Back then, hunters weren't just warriors—they were legends. They fought beasts, conquered dungeons, and protected kingdoms, but mainly, fought dragons. Many of the sword styles we use today come from those very hunters."

Ao mins started to wonder, there was a lot to learn about this world, he already knew that. But the fact that there were dragons, whatever those were, was crazy enough as is. And then not to mention, there were people fighting them? But all in all, Ao still didn't know what hunters were, he only heard them get brought up from time to time."Dad," Ao said slowly, "what are hunters, exactly? You've mentioned them before, but… I don't really understand."

Shiro nodded, his expression softening. "That's a fair question." He shifted, sitting down in the grass across from Ao, their knees nearly touching. "Spirit hunters, as they are officially called, exist to maintain balance in the world. They kill spirit beasts, keep their populations in check, they also clear out dungeons and the monsters that sometimes come through. When wars break out, they often serve as military reinforcements. Their job is dangerous, but vital. Without them, the world would've ended a while ago and be overrun with beasts."

"Spirit beasts… dungeons… monsters…" Ao's head spun slightly. He figured it wasn't gonna be a simple and quick explanation, but the sheer amount of new information thrown at him was enough to make him sick.

Shiro reached into his pocket and pulled out the small wooden carving—the same wolf-like creature Ao had played with before. He held it up, letting the morning light cast long shadows over its carved fur and sharp fangs.

"This," Shiro said, "is a spirit beast. They come in different forms, shapes, sizes, like any other animal but most are born from negative spiritual energy. When people die violent deaths or when grief, hatred, sorrow all linger in a place, negative energy gathers. If it builds up enough, it can take shape—giving birth to a spirit beast."

Ao's ears twitched as he took Shiro's words into heart. Negative energy can take shape?

"Every living being leaks spiritual energy," Shiro continued. "Normally, it's a mix of positive and negative, keeping things balanced. But when only negative energy remains, it corrupts the area, feeding off despair and darkness. Spirit beasts born this way are often filled with rage and violence. They exist to destroy."

Ao's fingers traced the damp blades of grass beneath him, his small nails digging slightly into the dirt as a way to try and help his mind ease and take in what was being said to him. "Are there… other kinds of spirit beasts?"

Shiro nodded. "Yes. Some spirit beasts evolve from regular animals, gaining spiritual energy over time. Others are born from purely positive spiritual energy. These creatures are usually gentle, living in isolation or in small colonies. We call them blessed beasts. Spirit hunters rarely interfere with them unless absolutely necessary."

Ao's mind whirred, piecing together the new information. So, depending on how they are formed, spirit beasts could either be killers or peaceful? That's an odd.. life.. to be determined by your at birth.. that must suck.

"Why do the positive ones stay away?" Ao asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shiro's expression turned thoughtful. "Positive energy brings peace, and creatures born from it are naturally inclined to avoid conflict. They build their own sanctuaries and avoid unnecessary drama and issues. They dislike most humans, and tend to avoid them and avoid conflict unless necessary. When you see a forest where the air feels light, or a lake that shines brightly and clearly, usually showing it's free to drink, there's a chance a blessed beast calls it home."

Ao tilted his head, the fact that beasts lived so peacefully and others lived for the thrill of killing was like yin and yang. "So… hunters don't hurt them?"

"Not unless they have to," Shiro assured him. "Hunters are meant to protect balance, not destroy it. Taking a blessed beast's life is a last resort—something done only when it threatens the safety of others."

Ao nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

For a moment, they sat in silence. The world around them seemed to breathe, the rhythmic sounds of nature a backdrop to the stories of ancient hunters and the creatures they fought.

Shiro leaned back, resting his hands on the ground. "You see, Ao, being a swordsman—or a hunter—isn't just about swinging a blade. It's about understanding what you're fighting for. It's about protecting those who can't protect themselves. And sometimes, it's about knowing when not to fight."

I guess there was a lot more to this than I thought, but I never said I wanted to be a spirit hunter, so all of this just came with wanting to learn a sword style.. that's kinda nsane. Ao thought to himself.

"And that leads me to my next point, Dungeons," Shiro continued, "are places that form when beasts or monsters invade and take over an area. It could be a labyrinth, a cave, a massive castle—anything, really. When they do, they kill anything inside, and their spiritual energy begins to saturate the environment. This energy not only strengthens the beasts over time but also causes the dungeon to become a breeding ground. The creatures reproduce quickly, and it doesn't take long for a dungeon to become a serious threat."

Ao nodded, taking in Shiro's words. "So, hunters have to clear out all the creatures in the dungeon to stop them from spreading?"

"Exactly," Shiro nodded in turn. "Spirit beasts are drawn to places or objects that leak high amounts of pure spiritual energy—things like runes, enchanted weapons, or even certain people. When hunters raid dungeons, there's often a chance to find valuable loot. Weapons, artifacts, sometimes even rare spiritual crystals. It's dangerous work, but the rewards can be worth it, but be careful, the rarer the loot and older the dungeon the more dangerous it most likely is."

Ao's mind whirred, trying to connect all the new information. "And monsters… are they different from spirit beasts?"

Shiro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Monsters are... a bit more complicated. We'll get into that later. For now, focus on the basics."

Ao nodded slowly, his small hands gripping the wooden sword he had in his hand, almost forgetting it was there due the perplexity of the conversation.

"The point is," Shiro continued, "you need to understand what it is you want to learn. There are currently four sword styles, each created by one of the strongest spirit hunters in history who were a part of the group called The Veilwalkers—Cedric, Thaddeus, Balinor, Ronan, and Pantheon. These hunters weren't just warriors; they were legends. Any one of them could take down a dragon, clear entire dungeons alone, or face off against armies of spirit beasts."

Ao's eyes widened, these were real people, not just myths, yet they sounded like something straight out of a fairytale. "If they were so strong... What happened to them? Did they die of old age?"

Shiro's expression shifted, the light in his eyes dimming slightly. He hesitated, the silence hanging heavy between them. "They were killed. All of them. Except for one."

"Killed?" Ao's voice was small, the word was foreign in his mouth. "But... what could be strong enough to kill hunters like that?"

A shadow passed over Shiro's face as he took a deep breath before finally wandering Ao's question. "The Dragon Queen. Avylen."

Ao's breath caught. "A... a dragon queen? She killed them all?"

"Nearly," Shiro said, his voice rougher now. "Avylen wasn't just a dragon. She was the ruler of her kind, said to be as old as the mountains themselves. Her power was... unimaginable. She was the one responsible for the fall of their group and she alone almost put an end to the spirit hunters association as a whole. Only one hunter survived—Pantheon. And he was the one who eventually brought the dragons to extinction and ended the golden age of dragons."

Silence settled over them, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. Ao's mind reeled. The idea of a single being powerful enough to end an era, to wipe out dragons—it was almost too much to comprehend.

"Is it... is it true?" Ao asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did Pantheon really do that?"

Shiro's shoulders relaxed, the hard edge of his expression softening. "No one knows for sure. It's mostly myth now. Stories passed down through generations. The truth might be hidden somewhere in history, or it might be lost forever. But myths or not, the sword styles they created remain. Each style was developed by these hunters—except for Pantheon. He wasn't a swordsman."

Ao stood to his feet, his small frame casting a short shadow on the grass. He held his wooden sword at his side, the weight of it grounding him. "So... what styles are there?"

Shiro's lips curled into a smirk. "The styles are named after the regions they originated from—the Southern Style, Eastern Style, Western Style, and Northern Style. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Some focus on speed, others on power or defense. Luckily for you, your papa here knows all of them. I'll start you with the simplest style first. Once you've mastered that, we'll move on to the next."

Ao's tail swayed slowly behind him, the anticipation building. "What do I need to do first?"

"Before anything, you need to build your body," Shiro said, his smirk growing as he got up to his feet. "Swordsmanship isn't just about swinging a blade. You need strength, agility, and quick reflexes and most importantly, experience. We'll go hunting, and you'll follow a workout regimen. You'll train your body to match your mind. Only then will you truly be ready."

He pointed his wooden blade toward the dark line of trees just beyond their fence, the dense forest that Ao hadn't even thought of exploring since he was born. "We'll start there. The forest is full of creatures—wild animals. It'll be a test of your senses and stamina."

"You've got to be kidding me..."