Ichi let the matter drop after Myon's cheerful admission of mass murder. He had enough, forgoing the early morning magic breakfast Myon pulled out of nowhere for bed. Talking it slow like an old man, he crawled up stairs, into his room, and collapsed on his bed.

The sun rose from beyond the horizon, painting the town amber then gold. Evening came, and with it a calm warm breeze. Ichi awoke, then pulling on clothes he went downstairs. The breeze flew through the house. Grandpa sat on the patio drinking tea. Ichi could see the garden outside. Green and gold covered Grandpa in a shining blur as Ichi approached and sat down.

"So?" Was Ichi's first words.

"You're so hasty."

"Had enough time in bed. Got to get back to work." Ichi stretched.

"That's some good work ethic. Well, then, would you like to hear about why you're here?"

"Please."

"The seer's council," Grandpa gestured towards a building in the distance, "is Myon and Syon's employer. Like a business, they own this village, they guard it." Grandpa pointed towards the forest. "Deep within there is a shrine. It's known as a Spirit Gate. These lie all over the world, connected to the spirit world beyond ours. Sometimes, evil spirits leak out, sometimes good ones. There organizations protecting these spirit gates all over the world, not just here. Together, it's known in our community as the Shadow Society. People who rule the world from behind the scenes using magic and magical artifacts. Myon and Syon's job as spirit hunters extends to collecting the wealth the spirits leave behind. Most of their job is raiding powerful individuals in other countries, taking their weapons for the benefit of the seer's council of this village."

Ichi mulled it over, stroking his chin.

"So there's not only one seer's council? And that magic knife Myon used to cook breakfast. That was something Myon 'took;, you said? I shouldn't tell anyone about that, I think you said this morning."

"The seer's council of this village is suspicious that many powerful weapons over the years were lost during fights. Because of that, they send they on more dangerous missions, and Myon is put under pressure to retrieve ever more powerful items to present to the council."

Ichi's mind brought the armory Myon showed him in the kendo dojo last night to his attention. All of those were 'missing'? How many did they have to kill, if those are the ones they stole?

Grandpa rambled on.

"The seer's council permits them some of the lesser weapons from time to time, I taught Syon to not be so greedy. If it were up to her when she was younger, she would have stole every magic weapon they retrieved from their job. See, she likes to see Myon get hurt. It's just how she's been since she was young. Girl doesn't like being touched. Syon's different."

Ichi nodded. Very different. The bad kind of different.

"Anyways, Ichi. Myon clued me in before she went off to work. Dangerous job this time, she said. She wants to train you. Myon will be here all week. Do your best to win her affection so she doesn't go too hard on you, alright?"