29 got up and, not seeing Aka around, went to the training grounds to look for him. He found him there, and they started talking.
"Hey," 29 said."Aaah, did you wake up, love? Welcome back," Aka replied.
"I knew you were studying poisons, but how did you manage to apply poison to a dagger without pouring any liquid on it?""It was simpler than you'd expect," Aka said. "I dried the poison, crushed it into powder, and sprinkled it onto one of my daggers. I didn't think it would be very effective, so I didn't make it my main weapon, but even like this it turned out pretty strong."
"If it's this powerful even in powder form," 29 said, "then the liquid version could probably kill someone.""I don't know," Aka replied calmly. "I've never tested it."
After a brief pause, Aka continued, "Anyway, I more or less know how we'll get rid of everyone now. Have you figured out how you'll deal with your teammates?""They don't have any obvious weaknesses," 29 answered. "So I'll separate them and kill them one by one."
"That makes sense," Aka said. "My only concern is how long it'll take before we're sent on a joint mission. If too much time passes and they start valuing us, they might send people after us.""We're seen as fighters with weak abilities," 29 replied. "Not valuable enough to warrant that."
"Shall we warm up a bit?" 29 suggested. They sparred lightly, since Aka's physical energy was still low, and neither of them was serious. They only wanted to get their bodies moving and burn off energy. The fight began abruptly and ended just as quickly, after which they returned to their room and lay down.
Aka opened his eyes, rose from the soft and inviting bed, put something on over his bare body, and left the room. His attendant, Meili, immediately approached and asked if anything was wrong. When she said everything was fine, Aka began his usual walk through the palace.
The palace was massive and crimson, decorated everywhere with gold inlays and dragon motifs. It was connected to an enormous garden filled with medicinal herbs, a bamboo water clock, and flowers stretching as far as the eye could see.
The palace itself consisted of around twenty rooms, each door engraved with a dragon. All but one room bore this mark. That room mattered greatly to Aka, because inside lay a weak and exhausted man under his care.
That man was Wang Chen, the eldest son of the most powerful family in the city. Despite his status, he lived trapped in a frail body barely able to stand. Aka's duty was to keep him alive and prepare medicine for anyone in the palace who fell ill.
His true mission, however, was to assassinate the current lord of the palace and shift the blame onto someone else, thus completing the task assigned to him by the Nest. For now, though, Aka had a different goal. He intended to restore Wang Chen to the position of heir, and the fastest way to do that was to make him stronger.
When Aka felt the time was right, he gave Wang Chen a medicinal herb known as the Ten-Year Ginseng and helped him sit upright. The herb allowed a person to sense and awaken their physical energy more clearly. According to Aka's theory, consuming it at the moment of total exhaustion could greatly expand one's energy vessel, but for that he would need at least thirty percent of the herb, which was currently impossible.
Wang Chen consumed the ginseng, and Aka placed both hands on his back, sending a warm wave of energy into him. As he did, Aka sensed toxin-like impurities clustered inside Wang Chen's body, though he couldn't identify them. Empowered by the ginseng, Wang Chen easily perceived the energy and, for the first time in years, stood up and began punching the air in inspiration.
Though ill, Wang Chen was still an heir. He lacked real combat experience, but his training was refined, and his movements looked more like a dance than a fight. Aka seized the opportunity, stepped forward, and began sparring with him, aiming to understand his techniques.
After nearly two hours, Wang Chen suddenly collapsed. Aka quickly carried him back to bed and fed him a healing herbal mixture from a bowl on the table. Once he was sure Wang Chen had swallowed it, Aka left to inform the steward.
The steward showed no reaction, simply telling Aka he could leave. On his way back, Aka stuffed as many herbs from the garden into his robe as he could and returned to Wang Chen's room. He sat on the floor and began circulating his own physical energy.
Neither of them knew how much time passed. Eventually, Wang Chen woke up, and Aka immediately stood to speak with him.
"Sensei," Wang Chen said, "this is the first time I've felt this good since that day. Was that a healing spell?""No, Chen," Aka replied. "To put it simply, I only helped you sense the energy inside you. You grasped it quickly and used it through inspiration, but your body couldn't endure it, so you fainted."
"I know this may sound greedy," Wang Chen said, "but please be honest. With this energy, can I regain my former position?""I don't know," Aka answered. "But I do know this—if you put in the effort, it won't betray you."
As they continued speaking, the steward entered without knocking and informed Aka that the palace lord wished to see him. After checking on Wang Chen, they escorted Aka to the lord's chambers and left.
"I am Wang Tao, current head of the Wang family," the man said. "This is our first meeting, Sensei Aka. For the help you've given, I grant you the right to call me Lord Wang and offer you a reward. What do you wish for?"
"Thank you, Lord Wang," Aka said respectfully. "My only wish is to remain by Wang Chen's side until he grows stronger. I've never formed such a deep bond with a patient before, and though it may be greedy, I wish to serve as his mentor in physical energy for a time."
"Physical energy?" Wang Tao asked. "Is that what healed my son?""Physical energy is a force present in every human," Aka explained. "Once sensed and refined, the body changes. As the vessel expands, the body grows stronger, and the energy can be used in many ways."
"Where did you learn this?""It was recorded among the abilities I gained after my first ritual," Aka replied, "and taught to me by my master. I assumed everyone was the same until I came here."
"Can you sense it in me as well?""Only through direct contact," Aka said apologetically.
Wang Tao extended his arm, and Aka placed his hand on it, sending a thread of energy through."You've already awakened it," Aka said. "Through your deep connection with your body. You must have felt a surge of strength in dire moments—that was physical energy."
"So it can be used in other ways…" Wang Tao murmured. "Very well. Continue caring for Wang Chen and the palace. I'll send word through the steward soon."
After leaving the chamber, Aka gave Wang Chen his medicine before returning to his own room. He contemplated the difficulty of his mission and reassessed his enemies. Wang Tao was strong enough to defeat at least two or three men like Aka with ease, and surely had hidden assassins at his side—at least one of whom was likely as strong as Aka himself.
Even though he wasn't entirely alone, with only 29 at his side, the mission felt isolating and heavy. Still, Aka felt hopeful about the years ahead. If nothing went terribly wrong, he would leave this place stronger than ever before.
Hey guyyys, sorry it's been a long time. I've had exams and a ton of extra work to deal with. Anyway, if you're still reading and wondering what's next, thank you so much—I really appreciate every one of you. I hope I'll be able to keep writing. See you soon!