A bell rang in the city could be heard by Gin while he laid on his new bed in dejection. He had tried several attempts at cheering himself up with false hopes so he could fall asleep, but the hopes were shattered when his mind insistently produced the mocking laughs of certain 5 legends. When he had finally managed to sleep, it had been fitful, and unpleasant. Right then, he was simply angry, his body full of aches and his mind a cobbed mess.

If he was at home at that moment, he would still be asleep, charging himself up to handle the farm, and after, he would read or take a walk at his leisure; that was if Agi didn't come to pester him. When the lass came into his mind, he didn't wonder at how she would have taken him meeting the five, or the fact that he may learn the Divine Art. Her reaction would have been horrendous; questions after questions, shifting moods from jealousy to downright murderous. Thinking of this, he was frightened at how fast his life and small aspirations were crumbling into dust.

A crisp knock on his door threw Gin off and made him throw a vicious glare at it.

“Gin, it's Spear, open up.” Spear's muffled voice passed through the wooden door.

Gin deliberated whether to open or not, but that would serve no purpose. If the man wanted, he could probably break the door with a single tap of his knocks. Sighing and then groaning, he got up and made his way sloppily to the door. Opening it, he saw Spear's bright smile, and it made him want to shut the door in his face.

“Come in,” Gin supplied and turned, making his way back to the bed. He heard Spear close the door as he plopped himself right back on the bed.

“My, someone is moody,” Spear chuckled as he went to the small table and pulled up the chair closer to Gin and made himself comfortable.

“You would be too if your life was turned upside down,” Gin mumbled in a lazy, but remorseful tone.

“I guess I would be, but nothing much you can do now, right?” Spear shrugged. He really couldn't be bothered much by the situation since it didn't involve him directly, not even his money would be raffled.

“No, I guess not,” Gin gave Spear a sideways glare for his nonchalant response. “Anyway, what brings you here so early in the morning.”

“Early? Tuh! This is right about the time work starts, young Gin. From this moment on, by this time, you should be in the Training Hall.” Spear instructed with a raised finger, his nose high in the clouds with a sniff of authority.

Gin groaned as a response.

“As for me, I supervise the goings of the servants and businesses to make sure everything is in order.” Spear added proudly while leaning back in the chair, crossing his legs, and hands rested on knees for a majestic pose.

“Shouldn't a Housekeeper or, what are they… Stewards, be doing that?” Gin asked curiously, propping his chin on the back of his hand. He knew of wealthy households that had servants with such occupations. His father had scoffed at the prospect.

“Yes, but why waste money in such a manner when I could do it myself and save said money,” Spear laughed heartily.

Gin nodded. It definitely sounded like something his father would say. He could swear if Spear had an opportunity to gloat on how he saves money, it would have been a show of the decade, too. After that thought, Gin snorted in contempt at the uncanny resemblance between Spear and his father.

‘What spending money?’

His father's voice drifted in his head like an insidious melody. Gin buried his face in his pillow and released a muffled moan startling Spear in the process.

“Are you unwell?” Spear asked in concern. He had ignored Gin's negative reactions towards him since he was all too used to them from people he had met and interacted with over the years, but the following groans from the boy didn't seem good.

“Yes, quite fine." Gin declared as he raised his head from his pillow. "I will bathe and change, after, I will head straight to the Training Halls,” Gin announced, getting up resolutely. Those halls will be his battleground against Il San; a fitting location, actually.

“Good, good." Spear cheered with a clap of his hands. He had no idea what motivated the young one, but it served well as he didn't have to meddle in the troublesome emotions of pubescents, and, importantly, caring about them. "But first, head to the Dining Hall, breakfast will be ready in 20 minutes.” Spear got up ready to leave.

Seeing Spear about to exit his room, Gin asked something he was curious about since last night when he had enough time to mull over the crisis. Say he was unsuccessful at his second attempt at convincing the old man, and he had to delve into the Art... “Will the training be hard?” Gin asked cautiously.

Spear, who was already at the door, paused and turned to give Gin a once over. His bright smile that had slipped for a second came right back up ever brighter. “It will be hellish.” Spear closed the door at the image of a rigid Gin and went well on his way.

Gin threw himself back on the bed heavily. He sighed and grunted. He didn't doubt Spear's words, he had no basis to. Sure, as a farmer's son his body was a semblance of fit, but if the training was indeed ‘hellish’ then it meant little to nothing. But then again, what did the training entail? How would he acquire the Divine Art? Would it be painful? What was it again… Gin scrambled his brain to think of something about the Art he had forgotten. The enchantment of bestowing the Art so some such? Ah, never mind...

Gin stared at the door Spear had walked through and hardened his resolve. Those were questions he wouldn’t have to worry over if he settled the matter with the old one. Quickly rushing to the dressing room, a separate space designated for his bath and toilet, he washed up, and returned to his bedroom in a timely fashion. He got his clothes from his unpacked case, making sure to pick from his hemp collection for maximum comfort, and got dressed. He deftly straightened up his bed as well before leaving.

Getting to the dining area wasn't hard, Spear's directions were helpful. He quickly looked for the right color and followed the corridor towards the Dining Hall. Gin paused at the screen door, he silently breathed in and out while offering a prayer to the gods of courage and devastation. Please give the former and spare me the latter, I've already had more than enough devastation. After making his mind firm, he pushed the screens aside and entered the room. To his surprise, the only ones there were the Master and Spear. He could have bet his near brilliant, crushingly brilliant, future that those four would milk all they could from the old man, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Clearing his throat lightly, Gin neared the Master at the head of the table and bowed deeply while offering his greeting. "Master, may your day be bright. I'm sorry for being late, it will not happen again. I'm looking forward to your lessons today." Not if I have something to say about it...

With a satisfied humph, Il San started, "That is fine, I had you rest for longer due to yesterday's events. For today, I'll be taking you through a brief history and uses of the Divine Art. But from tomorrow onwards, the training will be more demanding. Take this time to rest more and educate yourself."

"Yes, Master." Gin bowed again before he went to sit by the table. To his surprise, Il San indicated for him to sit by his right side again. Gin, with nothing to say, gingerly made his way to the seat and settled down.