Chapter 9: Seekers Path (2)

Tamura, who had been listening attentively, raised his hand to ask a question. "What happens to those who accept the invitation?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Ishima's gaze swept over the class, his expression grave. "Those who accept the invitation will enter the heart," he explained, his voice tinged with solemnity. "Using soul ores, soul chunks, or other soul-infused objects, they will transport themselves to a miniature world of their own soul, where they must confront the essence of their being."

'So does that mean we are the creators of that world? Come on, Sensei, tell us,' Reyoma thought, turning to see all his classmates. He noticed Aimi's blush and her subsequent turning away. 'Weird, why is she blushing? Wait, that's not important. Why is no one asking the question I have? Am I the only one who wonders if we are the literal creators of that world or not? Sigh... Looks like I have to find out myself.'

Ishima Sensei's voice filled the room, commanding attention as he began to explain the stages of becoming a seeker. The students leaned in, eager to absorb every detail.

"Stage one," Ishima began, his tone measured, "is the understanding of affinity. Every seeker receives both a mental and physical invitation. Those who ignore or reject this invitation for twenty days lose the chance to progress, which I just told you before."

Beside him, Tamura leaned over, his eyes wide with curiosity. "I wonder what it feels like to receive those invitations," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the classroom.

Ishima Sensei continued to explain. "Stage two," Ishima continued, "is entering the heart. Seekers who accept the invitation place a soul stone close to their heart, allowing it to consume them in all physical, spiritual, and mental forms."

Reyoma's eyes widened in realization. 'I think I understand why it's done in solitude. For instance, if we do it publicly and our enemy gets notified that we are consumed by a soul stone, all they have to do is crush the stone. But even if the stone is very hard to crush, all they have to do is set a trap around the soul stone. Because we enter the soul's world when we bring the stone closer to our heart, when we teleport back into this world, we must teleport around the stone. Also, that means the egg-shaped stone mother gave me must be one of the soul's objects. I should keep this in mind and ask mother later. She is also a seeker, so she must clarify a few of my answers. Wait, does that mean that I am getting an invitation?' Reyoma thought, connecting the dots.

"Stage three," Ishima continued, his voice taking on a somber tone, "is feeding the soul."

The students leaned in, their attention rapt as Ishima delved deeper into this crucial stage.

"After entering the heart," Ishima explained, "seekers are transported to a miniature world of their own soul. But this world is not without its challenges. Seekers must confront the beings that pollute their soul's world."

Reyoma furrowed his brow, trying to grasp the magnitude of what Ishima was saying. "But how do we know who or what is polluting our soul's world?" he asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

His classmates' gazes fell on him, some with horror, some with understanding, and some with empathy, while a few were unconcerned, not even turning back to look.

Ishima's gaze met Reyoma's eyes. "It is different for each seeker," he replied, his voice calm yet firm. "You will know when you encounter it. It will feel like a weight upon your soul."

Shoco nodded in understanding, her expression determined. "And once we confront it, what then?" she asked, her voice steady despite the lingering uncertainty.

"Only by annihilating the cause of pollution can you exit the soul's world," Ishima answered, his words echoing in the quiet room. "But be warned, lingering too long in the soul's world can drive people mad."

'Mad, huh?'

"And finally," Ishima concluded, "stage four is the breakthrough. Mastery of newfound power marks the end of this stage, though many choose to skip it due to its taxing nature."

"Now remember," Ishima continued, his gaze sweeping over the attentive faces of his students, "you could stop at this stage and not progress, or you could wait at stage to delay it. This stage is the best resting place in the seeking journey."

Ishin nodded thoughtfully, considering Ishima's words. "It's like climbing a mountain," he murmured, his eyes distant as he pondered the analogy. 'Sometimes, you need to stop and rest, to gather your strength before continuing the ascent.'

Ishima Sensei stood at the front of the classroom, his gaze steady as he addressed his students. The air crackled with anticipation, each student leaning in to catch every word.

"As you progress through the stages of becoming a seeker," Ishima began, his voice carrying a weight of solemnity, "you will encounter the soul lobby—a realm that exists within the depths of your own being."

'Wow, today's class is really introducing us to too many new things, but can't you explain it slowly, giving a pause in between. It's troublesome,' Aimi thought while writing down everything Ishima sensei was explaining. However, because Ishima sensei was explaining things too fast to write, her handwriting was not that good, but she tried to maintain it at least.

The students exchanged curious glances, their interest piqued by Ishima's words.

"In the soul lobby," Ishima continued, "two things will remain constant for each of you. The first is your tombstone."

Ishin's brow furrowed in confusion. "Tombstone? What does that have to do with anything?"

Ishima offered a reassuring smile. "Think of it as a metaphor," he explained. "Your tombstone will display every ability you learn and every piece of equipment you earn as you feed your soul. It serves as a record of your progress, a tangible reminder of how far you've come."

'It could be helpful.' Reyoma thought.

Understanding dawned on Ishin's face as he processed Ishima's words. "So, it's like a marker of our achievements," he mused, a sense of clarity washing over him.

"Precisely," Ishima confirmed, nodding in approval. "Now, the second constant in the soul lobby is your heart itself."

Aimi's eyes widened with curiosity. "Our heart?" she said while constantly writing everything down.

Ishima nodded. "Yes, your heart will serve as an indicator of how close you are to the breakthrough—the final stage of becoming a seeker."

Tamura leaned forward, his expression intent. "But what about the dangers of staying in the soul's world for too long?"

Ishima's gaze grew solemn as he addressed Tamura's question. "Indeed," he said, his voice low with gravity. "This is where the concept of inner demons and angels comes into play."

The students exchanged wary glances, a sense of unease settling over the classroom.

"These beings will always try to corrupt your tombstone," Ishima continued, his voice firm. "If your tombstone becomes corrupted, your inner demon or angel will take over your body, trapping you in the soul's world forever."

'Nice, now not only do I have to eradicate corruption, I also have to stop a demon or angel from trapping me in my own soul's world. Wait, did he just say forever?'

A chill ran down Reyoma's spine as he contemplated the gravity of Ishima's words. The thought of losing himself to his inner demons or angels was a terrifying prospect.

"As we conclude today's class," Ishima's voice resonated through the room, his gaze sweeping over the attentive students, "I must impress upon you the gravity of allowing your inner demons or angels to take control."

The students leaned in, their curiosity piqued by Ishima's solemn tone.

"Your inner demon or angel," Ishima continued, his voice grave yet authoritative, "is a manifestation of your deepest desires. It will stop at nothing to fulfill those desires, regardless of the cost or consequences."

Nobunaga furrowed his brow, his mind racing with questions. "But what if we don't know what our deepest desires are?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ishima nodded thoughtfully. "That, Nobunaga, is precisely why awareness is so crucial," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "By understanding your inner demons and angels, you gain insight into your own desires, even those buried deep within your subconscious."

Shoco's eyes widened with realization. "So if we allow our inner demons or angels to take control..." she began, her voice trailing off as she contemplated the implications. 

"Your very essence," Ishima interjected, his tone solemn, "your hopes, your dreams, everything that makes you who you are, will be at risk of being consumed by those desires."

The gravity of Ishima's words hung heavy in the air as the students absorbed the dire warning.

"Now, as the class comes to an end," Ishima concluded, his voice firm, "remember this lesson well. Guard yourselves against the influence of your inner demons and angels, for the path to becoming a seeker is fraught with challenges, both external and internal."

As the class came to an end, the students filed out of the room, their minds buzzing with newfound understanding and determination.

...

Meanwhile, soldiers tasked with bringing the chained prisoner were sent back to the military district. Sword Hiro spoke with stoicism, "You may leave. We will take the prisoner to the clan leader," to their cohort leader. Sword Daiki remained silent throughout the entire process. The cohort leader simply obeyed the order.

Throughout the process, they didn't leave their mount, Toju Ekitai. Both Swords took the prisoner's leashed chains and escorted him to the upper stories of the clan hall. A spacious hall came into view, surrounded by rooms with sliding doors. Incense burned, spreading its fragrance throughout the hall. Due to the limited number of windows, the room was dimly lit, with only a few candles casting long shadows on every object present.

The Akatsuki Swords brought the prisoner with them, bound in chained leashes, making him stand in front of an elderly man. The elderly man had a weathered but angular face, with a sharp jawline adorned with a white goatee. His long white hair nearly reached his shoulders, at end of each strand of hair painted cyan and tied in a knot at the back of his head. He wore a simple white kimono as he sat on cushions atop a low bed.