The next morning, the boys are already waiting in front of the house.
Around the house there is an empty square with stone tiles, there's quite a bit of space. Surrounding the house and the empty space is a great wall. A clearer stone path leads straight from the door of the house to a large gate, on the wings of which figures are carved. On the left wing, a warrior fighting hand-to-hand, and on the right, the same one. They are in attacking position, and where the gate meets, their elbows collide.
Mafin stands in front of the door inside the house, ready to leave, and in the background at the table sits Desu, drinking some beverage from a cup.
Mafin closes his eyes.
*Mafin: How about we train them together? – he asks suspiciously.
You were my student, I'm sure you'd manage as a master of one of them.
Desu sips and silently ignores the old man.
Mafin covers his mouth with his hand and turns his head toward Desu.
*Mafin: Oh my, I wonder what Mizumi would say if she saw a certain someone training a child, and on top of that "taking care of him".
She probably would've wanted to have children someday…
But probably with someone who knows how to take care of them, too bad there's no one like that here…
Mafin turns his head back toward the door, then smiles wickedly.
Desu, with a vein already bulging on his forehead, grabs his katanas and passes Mafin in the doorway, grumpily.
He closes the door behind him, leaving Mafin inside.
Mafin follows Desu.
Desu walks up to Uso, who is already waiting in front of the house and looks at him from above, with disgust.
*Desu: Can you walk?
Uso looks up at Desu, surprised.
*Uso: Uhhh, yes?
*Desu: Then let's go.
Desu turns and walks confidently through the gate leading off the grounds where the square in front of the house lies, and Uso runs after him.
A moment later, Jigoku is already standing next to Mafin.
*Jigoku: Dad, where did they go?
*Mafin: Hopefully to get some sense hehe. – he smiles.
*Mafin: They went to train. We will too.
A moment later...
Mafin stands in front of Jigoku and looks at him.
*Mafin: Do you know why all of this? Why we train?
*Jigoku: To be strong!
*Obviously, that's what men do — a man has to be strong!
*Mafin: Exactly. And more precisely, I'll teach you everything so that you survive.
*You've already heard the story that Uso lived through — the world isn't as colorful as it may seem to you.
*Jigoku: You mean bad people?
*Mafin: People are people, sure, but there are far worse things in this world.
*Mizumi taught you how to write, read, and count. She also taught you history, right?
Jigoku jumps, punching upward with his fist.
*Jigoku: Yes!
*Mafin: Then tell me, what is Mujo?
*Jigoku: They are beings whose origins are unknown. They are powerful, brutal, and anti-human. *They are the main threat to humanity and rule over the northern part of the planet.
*No one knows where they came from — since the dawn of time, they have sown chaos and devastation.
*Legend says they are so powerful they can tear apart the sky and the earth.
*At their peak stand the Gishin, who have achieved absolute domination.
It is said that the more they resemble humans, the stronger they are — but that's just a rumor.
*Mizumi mentioned it to me, but no one has any proof. No one has ever survived an encounter with a Gishin, which is why their appearance, abilities, or even number remain a mystery.
*There are legends that say the Gishin are the creators.
*Mafin: Very good, but know this — if every Gishin is a god, then certainly not a good one.
*Mafin: Alright then, what is Jiko?
*You talked about it with Mizumi, right?
*Jigoku: Yes! Jiko is the core of our power — it's our heart.
Jiko is the type and shape of our power.
*Everyone has their own, their own heart, so everyone has different abilities and possibilities.
*Mafin: How do we shape Jiko and its potential?
*Jigoku: Through hard work and training.
*Mafin: And?
*Jigoku: Creativity and imagination.
*Mafin: And the mind.
*Very good. I'm proud of you for remembering so much.
Jigoku smiles and looks down, blushing.
*Mafin: Everyone should know what they're capable of, what kind of Jiko they have. After all, it reflects our disposition.
*I specialize in hand-to-hand combat, as you know, I can spot vital points and read everything around me with aura.
*Desu, on the other hand, fights using a large number of katanas and can control shadows.
*Try doing something.
Jigoku jumps, punches the air, and twists around.
*Jigoku: I'd like to have lightning powers, I'll destroy everything in a second.
Jigoku stops in place, stretches his hand forward, clenches it into a fist, turns it, straightens it, extends each finger one by one.
*Jigoku: Dad, nothing's happening.
Mafin stands deep in thought.
*Mafin: Hmm, that's strange, Jiko should be released instinctively, like breathing.
*Maybe it'll work after a while. Let's keep trying a bit more.
Two hours pass and still nothing.
*Mafin: Alright, we'll start with meditation.
*Jigoku: Meditation? But that's boring, we were supposed to fight… – he says disappointed.
*Mafin: Through meditation you'll find yourself, improve your senses, reflexes, awareness of your surroundings, and you'll be able to notice what's happening within and around you.
*There are also people who can train during meditation, but that's a very rare talent.
Jigoku sits down and begins to meditate.
*Mafin: Pff… not here, that would be too easy…
*Jigoku: Then where?
15 minutes later, somewhere in the forest.
Jigoku is sitting under an icy waterfall, which flows into a hot spring where Mafin is lounging.
*Mafin: How's it going?
Jigoku, frozen and annoyed, meditates under the waterfall.
*Jigoku: What?? I can't hear anything! This is stupid! Stupid training!
Jigoku shivers from the cold.
*Mafin: No pain, no gain. Maybe later I'll let you into the spring.
*Remember, focus, you shape yourself! – he shouts, unbothered.
The next day Mafin stands in front of the house with Jigoku.
*Mafin: Today we'll practice fighting. One day we fight, and the next day we meditate, and so on in a loop.
Worn-out Jigoku stands with a grimace.
*Jigoku: Oh no, this again tomorrow? And every other day? Not meditation again…
*Mafin: You'll get used to it.
*What do you want to fight with?
Jigoku stands thinking.
*Mafin: A weapon could even be a hairpin. Think carefully.
Jigoku looks at his father, surprised and smiling.
*Jigoku: Don't be silly, dad…
*I think I'll stick with my hands. A sword is cool, but I won't always have a weapon with me.
*I feel like I should become the weapon myself.
Mafin stands in shock, raising his eyebrows, surprised.
*Mafin: I'm impressed you have thoughts like that.
*Alright, I'll teach you hand-to-hand combat.
*Attack me!
Mafin stands still, hands behind his back.
Jigoku charges at him with a clenched fist.
Jigoku throws a punch but stops his fist in front of his father's face.
Mafin hits him in the stomach, slightly bending his knee at high speed, and Jigoku falls and curls up in pain.
*Mafin: Why did you hold back your punch?
*Jigoku: Oww, why did you do that? You weren't defending yourself. I didn't want to hurt you.
Mafin looks at him seriously and menacingly.
*Mafin: You're too weak to do anything to me. If you hesitate during a fight — you'll die! — he yells.
*Remember that! — he shouts.
*Jigoku: Yes, sir!
Jigoku stands up, determined.
*Jigoku: I won't give up!
*Mafin: That's right! Men don't give up!