11 The Luminary Arts

As Arata ran through the building, Akari was in a state of shock as she was cradled in his arms. She was panicking as he had just swept her off her feet and ran off. She was weakened and thus he couldn't do anything. She was also scared at the speed that he was moving at. He ran extremely fast.

She was also extremely close to him. Her head was close to his chest and she could see the sweat on his neck. Arata was completely oblivious to these thoughts that Akari was having, instead he was running extremely confused as he suddenly came to a stop outside, which shook Akari out of her thoughts. They were outside in the courtyard between the buildings. She looked up at Arata's face which had suddenly changed. The arrogant demeanor was now gone, and in it's place was a gentle young boy's face. Akari was stunned at this face that was so close to her. Arata looked at Akari with an embarrassed face.

"I said I was gonna take you to the infirmary, but I just realized I have no clue where anything is, ya know?"

Arata laughed at his silliness. Akari was taken aback by Arata's change in personality. He seemed so carefree now. Also, she thought that his laugh just now sounded rather....pleasant. Arata chuckled softly and looked around with a lost face.

"I can't really take you somewhere that I don't know the directions to. But I did injure you, so it is my responsibility. And I don't want your father killing me. Heck, my father would probably kill me too, ya know? Oh right, I can just heal you. That works."

Arata found a bench and placed Akari on it. Arata stretched a little before coming closer to Akari. Unsure of what he was doing, she stopped him.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Arata looked at her confused.

"I just said that I was going to heal you, it is my fault that you are like this."

Akari stared back at him confused.

"You can heal me?"

Arata nodded and took Akari's hand. Akari blushed and turned a light shade of red. Arata had his eyes closed and didn't notice. He then sent his energy into Akari and allowed it to circulate through her. She gasped as she felt a soothing energy flow through her. As it moved through her body, it strengthened her meridians and released a force that began mending her muscles.

The Seventh Sempiternal Art: Chaos Cells.

By evoking the hidden Dark cells and dead cells within the body, one's strength and recovery speed increases. This Sacred Art turns these cells within your body into Chaos Cells which continually strengthens and helps the recovery process within your body. When you reach a certain Mastery, you can then send those Chaos Cells out of your body and into another person, allowing the Chaos Cells to send energy to recover and strengthen that person. This was how Arata had healed Oishi and also what he was now using with Akari.

She stared in shock at Arata who just stood there quietly with his eyes closed. His energy then entered her arm and circulated there. She felt her arm sting where she had hurt it in the battle. She then felt that the recovery process was being sped along. Her energy was surging as it caused her recovery speed to increase at an alarming rate. She could sense her power stabilizing as well. Just how was he able to do this?

She was stunned in an instant as something seemed to click in her head. This process felt familiar. Her Father was a powerful figure in the Kingdom, and even with all their wealth, she had never met a healer with this level of power to help her recover this quickly. But she has felt this energy before and it wasn't from a healer. She then noticed sweat had begun to form on Arata's forehead. He seemed to go a little pale as he let go of her hand and took a few steps back. He then fell backwards on to some grass.

Akari got up quickly in a panic but then as she rose she stopped. She realized that she had been completely healed. She thought it would take a few days to completely recover yet she was perfectly fine now. She looked over at Arata who was spread out like a starfish on the grass. Arata let out a sigh as he stretched out.

"Oh man. Twice in the space of two day's. I really don't have Father's capacity to do this yet. I should probably stop pushing myself, ya know?"

Akari didn't know how to feel. She was angry at how disrespectful and arrogant he was in the class. But now, he was a gentle young boy who seemingly weakened himself to heal her. Arata sat up and looked over at Akari.

"How're you feeling? Did I heal everything?"

Akari nodded shyly. She had never been a shy person before, yet in front of this young boy she was confused. Arata gave her a warm smile which made her heart skip a beat.

"Well that's good."

Arata fell back and continued to splay out contentedly. Akari stood there silently for a second before coming over and kneeling next to Arata.

"How do you know my Father's Luminary Art's?"

Arata opened his eyes and saw the curious look Akari had on her face.

"Simple, Uncle Aki taught me."

Akari saw red and was annoyed again. She hit Arata's arm.

"Don't talk about my Father so casually."

Arata groaned at being hit.

"What the heck? I just healed you and the first thing you do is hit me? Just what kind of manners has that old man been teaching you?"

"Who're you calling an old man?"

Akari went to hit Arata again, but Arata dodged it.

"OK, I'm sorry. But he's the one who told me to call him Uncle Aki. I have been calling him that since I was 7."

Akari widened her eyes. As she stared at this boy who was rubbing his arm, she started to wonder if he was saying the truth. Could he really have learnt it from her Father? Arata saw the disbelief in her eyes. He could tell she was still wondering how he could know her Father's Sacred Arts.

Much like the Sato Clan's Nine Sempiternal Art's, the Ise Clan had their Nine Luminary Art's. They were equally powerful and could only be taught by the Current Head of the Clan's. Usually only the heir's would be taught directly, while those in the subsidiary families of the clan would learn a watered down, impure version. What Arata demonstrated in the fight was the Fourth Luminary Art: Illuminate Movement and the Sixth Luminary Art: Righteous Discharge.

The Fourth Luminary Art: Illuminate Movement was an extremely hard move to use. By creating a large burst of light, usually built up and released through the eyes, it allowed the user to transfer through the light particles in the air, dispersing themselves into energy which made the flash of light grow and shine extremely bright, blinding everyone in view. They could then travel through the light, completely unseen, and reappear somewhere else. The higher one's Mastery, the longer the person could stay within the Light. This was how they disappeared in a flash during the fight they had.

The Sixth Luminary Art: Righteous Discharge was used by absorbing the light in your surroundings, converting it into energy and then releasing it in a burst of energy. If you have Light Energy within you, then that can be used within the punch as well. The hardest part of this move was the conversion of power as it purifies the Light Energy and the force at which it bursts out of your fist is incredibly powerful so you need not only a deep understanding of the conversion process, but also the physical capabilities to not be destroyed by the Light Energy's discharge.

They had displayed both of these Art's in their battle previously and Akari didn't understand how Arata could not only use both of these Art's, but he also had a better understanding of them than she did. She was known as a genius throughout her Clan, having been able to learn her first Luminary Art at the age of 7. And yet in front of her sat someone of the same age that could use those same Art's at a higher level than her. He was able to stay within the Light for a longer time than she did when they used Illuminate Movement, and he had defeated her, which showed that his power and understanding of the Sixth Luminary Art: Righteous Discharge was at a higher level than hers. But how was that possible?

Arata inwardly laughed at Akari's face. She was as easy to read as paper. Her emotions and thoughts were so clearly written on her face. He smiled.

"Although I won, I technically only did because I used your Clan's techniques. You are also the first person I had to go full power at to defeat. Besides of course my Father and your Father. But I never defeated them. Never even came close, ya know?"

Arata laughed. Akari was confused by his words. He just admitted to using her Clan's techniques but he said it in a way that meant he wasn't in the Ise Clan. So how did that make any sense? How did he know the techniques.

"Plus, I'm certain that your power and affinity is on another level to mine. Technically, you have more power than I do. However, in terms of conversion, the understanding of the Art's and how the body works, I probably have you beat."

Akari was stumped. His explanation made sense. She could feel that she was indeed stronger than he was in terms of Light Energy and its purity. But she was still defeated, which confused her. But knowing that it was because of his higher understanding that she was beaten, she realized that he was a true genius. She wondered what kind of level she would be if she had his level of understanding in regards to the Elements and the Luminary Art's. Arata chuckled. He knew that he owed her a proper explanation.

"I said I would give you my full name and title if you could make me. Seeing as you made me push for my win against you, I think it's only fitting to tell you, ya know?"

Arata sat up slowly.

"Arata Sato. 11 years old. Son of Azrail Sato, the Angel of Death. Heir to the Sato Clan. It is a pleasure to meet you, Akari Ise."

Akari froze. Sato? Did he just say the Sato Clan? Heir of the Sato Clan? This was the son of the Angel of Death? Akari started stuttering as she tried to process the information she just received. She was in a state of panic. Her thoughts started running wild as she tried to focus. How could this disrespectful kid be the son of one of her most beloved figures? Someone she admired a lot. Someone who was on par with her Father. She then began to piece together how he knew her Father's Luminary Art's. If he was the son of Azrail Sato, then that would explain how he knows her Father. And how he healed her. Akari looked at her arm. The way he healed her was similar to how Azrail healed her when he visited for training when she was young. That was why it felt so familiar.

Arata watched as Akari seemed to not be responding. Arata got worried.

"Oh no, did I break you?"

Akari didn't respond. Arata moved closer waving his hand in her face. She still didn't budge. He moved in closer, bringing his face right in front of hers. He shouted loudly right in front of her.

"Akari!"

Akari finally reacted. She was surprised to see him so close and panicked. She screamed and through a punch, sending Arata flying backwards.