Daigo crossed his arms but pricked up his ears. He never enjoyed indulging in speculation, but a prodigious young scholar like Shigeo had his way of making others listen. Daigo had developed respect for Keiji and Yuuki over the past month after their displays of power. The two preceptors were young but highly accomplished. Daigo valued strength and ability above all else.

The girls were already tuned in to Shigeo’s explanation.

Hajime and Yuuta were made aware by disapproving glances that they had been disrupting a vital discussion. They stopped badgering Megumin and became attentive.

Shigeo: “Spare me a few minutes first to explain the essentials. Has anyone here read the book, ‘Kinheni- The Provenance of Kitsu’ by the late shuzen healer Ogino Ginko?”

“Anyone?”

Kafu scoffed but said nothing. The name of the late healer had irked him somehow.

As nobody else chimed in, Shigeo pricked his spectacles up his nose again and began.

Shigeo: “We have been taught for years that kitsu is the art of channeling raiki and giving it physical form. Right? The technique is very… uh… fundamental for us. It is the heart of all our economic and military activity. Be it running a sugar mill, sailing a boat, building a house, conveyance, agriculture, mining, fisheries, or carrying out military defense. Kitsu plays an integral role in almost every trade and activity.

“But, the origin of raiki which is the substrate of kitsu, has always been ambiguous. We lost a great deal of knowledge during the previous centuries when incessant wars destroyed valuable records and research materials.”

“For ages, it was believed that raiki came from our life force. But, Ginko-sensei suggested that we draw raiki from an alternate world. He named the theoretical world as Meido.”

“Meido is a plane where all entities are inherently made of condensed, tangible energy. This energy, which we know as raiki, is several times more easily molded and manipulated, as compared to the rigid energies of our world. We can transform it into the elements and give forms and shapes according to our will.“

The audience listened intently. Most of what Shigeo had explained until then was taught to warriors from an early age.

Shigeo: “Let me summarize. Our ancestors developed the art of kitsu, which is a key to opening the gates of Meido, amassing raiki and turning it into an element. In basic civilian tasks, kitsu is useful in the form of essence. However, when we are dealing with military matters, a compact form of kitsu is necessary. A sword, a dagger, or a bow and arrow. A kitsu user does not need a metal weapon to fight.”

“Then there is bestial-kitsu, an intelligent manipulation of raiki that manifests animal forms and gives them live attributes. The kitsu mimics live animals while obeying the commands of the creator. Since we are the descendants of the progenitors of kitsu, all such abilities have flowed to us. We can make raiki surge within our bodies and perform kitsu-manipulation with a bit of practice.”

Daigo: “Get to the point already, Shigeo.”

Shigeo: “I’m almost there. So, how wide the gates to Meido can be opened and how much raiki an individual can endure without frying their insides, that differs from person to person. The better one's ability to possess raiki, the stronger the kitsu form. While someone like Kafu can manifest small animals like fire-shrews and earth-moles, someone like Lord Heydrian can summon a gigantic armored whale. The Overlord, Senju Mikashita, has been away from battles for a long time, but I have heard legendary stories about him. He was one of the leading generals during the Great Zenmetsu War. Enemies paled in front of his onslaught; he summoned seven fantastic elemental beasts, one of which was a mammoth! We can only imagine the extent of his powers. Ah, yes. It is also worth mentioning Oki. He belonged to the now extinct, traitor clan, Ishigami. It is said he could summon a fire dragon as giant as a citadel tower.”

Nadeko, Masaki, and Illumi looked wonder-struck. Akako, who revered warriors of legend and aspired to become a General one day, seemed electrified as well. The history of Kinheni resounded with references to mythical worlds, all-mighty entities, and supernatural events. Even the most recent war saw the mightiest of the continent going head-to-head, bringing genocide and destruction in their wake.

The legends had culminated into bedside tales after decades of their fabled occurrence.

Kento: “But, what does Meido have to do with Keiji-sensei’s ability? Isn’t he kitsu-blind?”

Shigeo: “Exactly. He cannot open the gates to Meido.”

Kento: “Then how did he accomplish what he did, without being able to use kitsu?”

Shigeo: “Let me first tell you that we know very little about Keiji-sensei. There is very little information in the public domain. My theory was that he was a foreign mercenary for the Legacy Unit. Because of his military accomplishments and loyalty towards Karasuma, he was admitted into the Daigaku. The same goes for Yuuki-sensei of course. I think we can all agree that both of them are too young to be Daigaku preceptors. I’ll provide proof for my theory shortly.”

Hajime: “I certainly agree. Yuuki-sensei is merely three years older than me. But he looks and fights like a seasoned warrior who has been through a hundred battles. Even Lieutenant Yorokobi appears diminished in his comparison.”

Chiyo: “Perhaps they were just very gifted from birth.”

Kafu: Gifts from the goddess you mean?”

Yuuta: “Give it a rest, Kafu!”

Shigeo: “Hmm. Mercenaries enter battle at a very young age. That is common knowledge. But, I was lucky to have spotted Keiji-sensei’s name referenced in a Daigaku correspondence with the Overlord. I looked him up in the citadel library’s warrior index last month, and interviewed some old retired clerks and travelers from other villages. And this is what I learned.

“Keiji-sensei was a popular mercenary in the past, known to his foes as Tabei-tenma, or the soul-devouring demon. Very few have lived to tell the tale of facing him in battle. Those who survived, have left behind terrifying stories. They say a curse possesses him. Not only does he kill his enemies, but also consumes their souls. He has killed hundreds, maybe over a thousand mercilessly.”

Daigo: “I have heard of tabei-tenma. The name is a myth.”

Shigeo: “Look over there. He is a man, not a myth.”

The group looked towards the leading boat.

Keiji, on the stern seat, with his slender back turned towards them, appeared like a vanguard, alert and unmoving. As if he realized the collective attention, Keiji turned around and faced the children. His chestnut hair splayed in the breeze like a whip-blade. He smiled feebly back at them. Perhaps he meant to reassure the young ones that they were not in danger as long as he was around. But at that moment, he had a contrasting effect on them. They felt shivers run down their spines.