Author's notes :

Hello!

Those who have been following my novel might be surprised by the number of the chapter.

Last week, I PMed some people and asked their opinions on my novel. Then I took a small break to think about it.

Even though most figured out the things I wanted, some readers felt a bit lost or simply disappointed by my choices. I wanted to advance a bit on the plot. It would probably have worked out this way but I started doubting. It wasn't good.

Then I remembered Sanderson's words : "Journey before destination."

It took me some time to figure out how to change the story without it feeling like fillers. I tweaked an arc I previously intended to start later, and put it there. I had to incorporate the major events of the MC's childhood in the subplot and develop the training parts.

So I restarted at chapter 9 and previous 9-10-11 will be moved for later (I'll probably remove them for now).

As you can see, I made a poll. I'll be waiting for the results and maybe some feedback.

Another thing.

I didn't write the poem in this chapter. It's a translation of the Iroha by Ryuichi Abe. Wiki it if you are curious.

Thank you for reading!

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Kira was seated on the exterior hallway of his family’s residence in Okachi. The boy was arranging brushes in a black box while he observed a tree in the garden. Two squirrels were fighting on a high branch of the cherry tree, just outside the house. The rodents squeaked as they rolled over each other, quarrelling for some unknown prize.

After the youth closed the black case, the two animals glanced at him before they fled among the greenery. Kira scratched the back of his head and watched the cloudy sky. The morning was still young and a fresh breeze conveyed the many scents of nature.

“You should get going soon or you will be late,” a soft voice said behind him.

“Yes, I know.” Kira answered as he looked over his shoulder.

In the common room, Kaguya was knelt beside her working table and several writing tools were placed before her. His mother’s condition had improved and her complexion had returned to normal. So her son could attend to his lesson, she had given him some of her tools. The woman was now painting a landscape on a piece of thick paper. After a light stroke, the lady gazed at her son.

“It is important that you learn words and numbers,” she declared with a solemn expression.

Kira nodded. It had been three days since they returned from Namuya. The day after the ceremony, they had left the town and came back to Okachi to allow Kaguya some rest. During this time, they had only seen Ren a couple of times. His sister was busy with matters relating to the Tsuchiya’s clan and only came to take news of her mother’s health.

The boy stretched himself out and stood, the box in his hands. As Kira was about to leave, he heard a cough coming from the room. Kaguya was looking at him with an eager look. The youth hesitated for a moment before he went over to his mother’s side. After he knelt, the lady hugged him tightly and then smoothed his clothes.

“I cannot leave if you hold me, you know.” Kira announced, awkward. “I thought you wanted me to learn. How indecisive you…”

“You are cuter when you do not talk.” Kaguya said as she put a finger on his lips. “Have a safe trip,” she added with a gleeful look.

The boy gave a smile to his mother, before he went on his way along the rocky path. Soon, the young man reached the garden’s walls. The white fortification was three meters high and dark blue tiles crowned it. When he approached the gate, the soldiers guarding it let him through without any question.

After he passed under the portal, Kira found himself in the busiest area of the estate. The field was clearer than the residential sector of the domain as only a few trees surrounded a huge sandy courtyard where men attended to their business. Merchants, artisans and farmers waited in lines around elegant Japanese-styled buildings to present their grievance. The atmosphere was lively and people often shouted to confirm their presence.

The area seemed busier than usual. In the yard, many officials passed him in a hurry as he approached the exit. Farther away, Kira could see the main edifice of the domain. It was a five-floored Japanese castle with ivory walls and dark tiles on its roofs. The edifice was magnificent and towered above the whole city of Okachi. Even after the few days he had been here, the boy was still amazed by its grace.

Kira reached the doorway leading to the town. Two soldiers were waiting for him and bowed upon his arrival. The guards were wearing the Tsuchiya’s garb, the Fan pinned on their chest.

“Master Kira, we are here to escort you.” One of the men declared, a hand resting on his sword.

“Very well, thank you.” Kira said after he nodded.

The soldiers accompanied him through the town. They walked in the richest district of the town. Ladies and gentlemen were spending their morning in fine taverns. Shops presented luxurious articles and various scents filled the streets. Several times, Kira stopped to observe a stall with curious eyes. The shopkeepers often invited him to look at their wares but he refused their offers in a polite fashion.

However, the city was restless. Kira could hear people whispering at his passage as they noticed the emblem on the guards’ uniforms. The boy frowned while he tried to understand their words. Without doubt, the news about his mother’s condition had already reached their ears. It even eclipsed the story of Namuya in importance. He remembered the horrors of the event and could not help but shiver.

Some minutes later, the three of them reached a large building surrounded by a wall. “Homura” was written on a wooden sign beside the gate. When one of his escorts announced their arrival, a male servant opened the door. He looked down at Kira and bowed.

“The master has been waiting for you. Please follow me,” the attendant announced while he gestured them to enter.

The group crossed a small garden and entered the residence. Though the house was smaller than his family’s, it was of large size by normal standards. The estate was well kept and gave off a peaceful atmosphere. After they reached the other side of the building, the two soldiers stopped and took position just outside. The servant led him to an open chamber and invited him to enter.

Inside the room, a bearded man was reading scrolls. The whole place was a joyful mess. Half-finished works were spread all around the study. Books were piled up on the floor and scrolls were arranged on shelves. Kira could see that the documents were written not only in Japanese, but in different languages as well.

When the youth entered, the scholar raised his head before he stared at the boy. The man’s wrinkles emphasized his merry expression and his brown hair was tied in a disordered fashion. His ink-stained hands put down a writing brush and he stood. His fast movements betrayed his apparent scrawniness as he came to meet the child.

“Good morning, I am Tsuchiya Kira” the boy said after he bowed.

“Good morning, young lord.” the man announced after he answered the child’s greeting. The scholar then pointed at a cushion near a low table. “Please take a seat.”

After the servant saluted his employer, he left the room. Kira sat cross-legged beside the desk and laid his black box before him. The teacher took a seat in front his new student and observed him at with an affable look. The man seemed in his forties, but his eyes were joyful and young.

“I’m Homura Shigeru and you are here to learn how to read and write.” The man eventually declared while he put his hands on his knees.

“Nice to meet you.”

“I often work for your family as a scribe or translator. Believe it or not, I’m rather well known.” The man declared while he scratched the back of his neck. “I taught your sister, a hundred years ago. She was brilliant, though a bit too earnest if you ask me.”

As Kira had not been aware of that fact, his expression betrayed his surprise. What’s more, he had never asked Ren’s age. Though he had guessed she was older than she looked, the confirmation made him chuckle.

“So she was always this serious?” the boy asked.

“Ren actually softened during the last decades,” the man answered after he rubbed his chin. “Well enough about her. Let’s get down to your lessons.”

Shigeru stood and moved toward a shelf. While the man was searching, Kira examined the room. The place emitted a warm atmosphere. The documents were arranged by theme all around the study. They covered several subjects like literature, science and medicine. The boy was quite interested by all the volumes, but the theme that held his interest was Wills. The rack was small compared to the others.

Eventually, the man came back with scrolls in his hands.

“You will start by learning the kana,” he said while he uncoiled a parchment on the table. “This is a poem you will have to remember. It’s called the Iroha and our country is named after it. It contains every syllable only once. Its author is unknown.”

Kira looked down at the piece of paper. As usual, he could understand the words. When the child raised his head, the scholar closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Soon after, he began to sing in the slow and steady style of Shigin, the art of reciting Japanese poems.

“Although its scent still lingers on

the form of a flower has scattered away

For whom will the glory

of this world remain unchanged?

Arriving today at the yonder side

of the deep mountains of evanescent existence

We shall never allow ourselves to drift away

intoxicated, in the world of shallow dreams.”

Meanwhile, Kira listened to the verses with an amazed expression. The tone was unusual for him but he could not help but be touched by the words.

“Well, I’m not that good at singing but it is a good manner to start learning.” The scholar declared after he finished reciting the song. “We’ll sing together at first so you can remember it.”

The boy stared at the man with a dubious expression. He then looked down at the scroll on the table and frowned.

“Don’t be shy. It’s only the two of us anyway,” Shigeru stated after he chuckled.

“It’s going to be horrible. You’re going to regret it,” Kira told him with a pout.

“I have a really high tolerance, trust me.” The teacher said as he grabbed a shamisen. “Let’s try.”

Next, the two of them sang the poem while the teacher played the three-stringed instrument. A few times, Kira glanced at the document to read the words. He was rather surprised by his performance, in a good way. His child voice was quite different from his old one. The child was intrigued by the music, and stared at the man as he plucked the wires. The notes helped him to find the correct rhythm and he began to enjoy the exercise.

For some minutes, they repeated the verses until Kira could sing by himself.

“See, it went well!” the scholar claimed, joyful. “You remembered that quickly.”

“So you’re not just a weird old man.”

“Hey! I’m an experienced teacher! Have some faith,” Shigeru said as he put down his instrument. “Now that you know this, you will have to learn to recognize and write the characters. That part is up to you.”

The man unrolled some piece of paper on the low table and his student opened his box. He picked up a brush and began his work.

For a few hours, Kira memorized the signs. Since he already knew how to understand them, he found the task quite easy. Writing was quite different than simply reading, so it still took him some time to organize the information in his mind. The boy held his tool with an uncertain hand as he reproduced the characters.

Once, he paused and observed the garden.

“The people in town don’t speak about the real problem,” Kira stated as he stared at a couple of birds flying around.

“Even though most don’t care that much about who governs them, they appreciate the stability offered by the Tsuchiya.” The man said while reading a book. “They know a shift in the balance means trouble.”

“Did they forget the circumstances behind the events?

“They do not feel concerned by them, since they do not affect them directly, unlike Lady Kaguya’s condition. That’s really a shame,” Shigeru answered after he glanced at the boy.

The youth resumed his assignment and his mind wandered. He was not exactly sure on the course of action he should take. Even with all his goodwill, he was still powerless. As a lone child, what could he possibly do?

Eventually, Shigeru looked at the boy’s sheets.

“Did you already take lessons?” the man asked while he rubbed his chin.

“No, I don’t think so.” Kira answered, uncertain.

The scholar dictated a few sentences and his student wrote the characters without mistake.

“Well, it seems you know most of them. That’s surprising to say the least. How old are you?”

“Five years old,” the boy answered with amused eyes.

“Your writing is horrible though,” Shigeru said after he grumbled.

The man positioned himself in front of his student and uncoiled a blank scroll. He took a brush and soaked the tip in an ink bottle. He straightened his back.

“Relax your shoulders. If you are too tense, you will tire your arm quickly and loose accuracy. You have to be delicate, like when you are caressing a woman.”

Kira sneered at the man and crossed his arms. “What do you mean?” he said in a mocking tone.

“Well, you might be a bit too young for this comparison.” The man’s brushy eyebrows curved in a frown. “Steady your breath and hold the brush lightly, without putting too much force. Do not think about the characters. Feel.”

The teacher wrote a few characters with an effortless grace. The strokes had certain sharpness in them, empty of any hesitation. It almost felt like he was holding a sword rather than a brush. Every move was assured and radiated confidence.

“Your strokes must be flowing and unrestrained,” the man declared while he gazed at garden. “Your mind should focus on your task while still being aware of your surroundings. One with nature, peaceful.”

Kira compared his notes with his master’s. The characters were the same, yet they seemed different. He had considered words only as a mean to convey information or data. For some time, he tried to copy the figures but he could not match the man’s strokes. He felt annoyed but he persisted, stubborn.

At lunch, the two of them ate simple dishes before they returned to the study.

For the rest of the day, Kira practiced his writing. He tried to empty his mind of all his worries, of all his unanswered questions. He realized that he had drowned in an ocean of doubt and uncertainty. More than physical strain, his own thoughts had exhausted him. As the hours went by, the boy felt his hands untie. With every breath, he freed his consciousness.

When the sun had touched the horizon, Kira put down his brush and exhaled slowly. The man was staring at his student.

“That’s the Void,” Shigeru said with a smile.

******************

The next morning, Kira felt something heavy lying on his chest as he woke up. When the boy opened his eyes, he saw a black form curled on top of him. As the youth moved on his mattress to examine the intruder, green irises appeared and glanced at him with an annoyed expression. The cat yawned before it licked its lips. The feline stretched itself out at full length and his paws tickled Kira’s nose. It then settled its slender body in the hollow of Kira’s elbow.

“What are…?” the boy said in a low voice.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” a voice echoed in his mind, interrupting him. “Start petting, I’m a cat.”