CHAPTER 21
There was a bright smile on Megumi's face as he exited the waterfall. His left hand was fitted into his pocket while the other clutched the obsidian charm he was wearing.
He had his fingers endlessly running through the facets of the black item while his mind wandered.
He had tested the item's limits for a while back at the waterfall, and though it still had its drawbacks, it was still worth it.
And luckily for him, the pain he received from using external energy didn't accumulate; it was still harrowing, but no matter how long he went on, the amount of pain remained the same.
And also, it didn't leave any lasting effects, much like a headache. It was only a handicap that persisted as long as he was actively using external energy, which meant that as long as he had enough external energy left to keep the charm's enchantment active, he would be fine.
He would choose the talisman over learning the shadow strike a hundred times. If Rikiyo had him come all the way so she could help him get stronger, then this was more than enough.
He could now call himself a full-fledged sorcerer…
"I have so much that I have to note down when I get back home, and then I should talk to Mum about how abilities and attributes work."
He chuckled at the thought of actually having a talk with his mother about abilities and attributes when he already knew how they worked.
As far as he knew, abilities—or rather talents, depending on how one wished to call them—were something a sorcerer could either be born with or acquire. Abilities could be anything from being able to use simple elemental attacks to being able to see and manipulate the very threads of fate.
Attributes, on the other hand, were the different skills tied to a sorcerer's ability. Each was unique in its way—two sorcerers with flame abilities couldn't possess identical attributes—and thus it made for a perfect balance.
Only fifty percent of the world's population of sorcerers was born with abilities, ones they would usually awaken the moment they became Awakened sorcerers. He was supposed to be one of them, but for so long, even after awakening, nothing happened.
And now that he had the necklace, he would not only be able to channel external energy but also be able to use abilities by merging innate and external energy.
******
He returned to their resting point atop the mountain soon enough. Every one of them was busy doing their thing…
Far below the path up the mountain, he passed Tsukina on his way to the plateau where she was practicing with a long, curved sword. An uchigatana, and a dark weapon at that—a weapon crafted with the cores gotten from dark beasts.
As usual, at the plateau, Yuki was reading a book; however, it wasn't historical tales or fantasies aimed at promoting mostly pointless propaganda. Instead, it was a scroll showing illustrations of how the art of the Great Dragon Sway worked.
Coming closer to take a proper look, he was able to see just how seamless the details of the book were. The length gone to illustrate and describe most of the techniques that made up the legendary battle style was flawless.
However, no matter how intricate it was, only the most basic aspects of the art were left there—she would have to meet a master to help her hone her skills further and, more than anything, train with the style on her own.
Another thing he saw, something that he had already known for a while rather than just taken notice of—the very reason why his inability to voluntarily summon his system made him gnaw at himself—was the fact that the Great Dragon Sway was a style that worked best with the attribute of flames.
It was a sophisticated dance that involved the movement of the palms and feet; these movements allowed for seamless elemental attacks to be woven into the intricate dance, and of all the elements, fire was the one best suited.
And to think that barely three years ago, on a graceful weekend afternoon while training with him, Yuki had awakened her innate ability, and it was one of flames, nonetheless.
He had received the boon of the new achievement, but the messages left by the system when it was time for his appraisal left him stunned and, more than anything, made him furious with himself and with the system.
He could still hear the voice that lingered in his head after the runes appeared…
[Host is bound by the shackles of fate.]
[Final appraisal: ??? Ability: Crimson Flames]
[Unable to receive increments!]
Not only was the rank of the ability left undefined, but the system hasn't shown itself again since then. He had done numerous experiments with the system in the past and had a faint idea of how it worked, but now, not even his binding worked.
So he was just about stuck with Yuki and was going to be for a while.
Saying hi to the little girl and Gekka, who were by her side, he proceeded further up the path, stopping just a few meters away from the further narrow path up the mountain.
There, his sister Rikiyo was standing atop the sloping, icy path of the mountain, staring into the distance with a dreary gaze.
Her attention instantly shifted toward him the moment he arrived, he demeanor still as cold as ice.
"Well then, brother, I guess I still owe you the basic foundation of how shadow strike works. Are you perhaps… ready for some more training?"
'Wow, Rikiyo! Straight to the point! I should really get her something as a thank you after this.'
Thoughtfully smiling, he nodded his head as he tensed his fist and raised it forward, affirming her question.
"Let's get back to training!"