CHAPTER II Feeling

Nino and Karen walk back after their encounter with Kawa's forest-dwelling Monster, Lycan. The monster was actually a human being consumed by Seisui's hunger from within. Can be said that the Seisui of that owner who ate the owner himself, the probability of that happening is around 10 percent.

It was within a fairly normal estimate.

"That was really dangerous Ren, you shouldn't be walking home alone in the middle of this forest." Nino said. The young man carried Karen behind his back, "You're getting heavier and heavier too." Nino smiled as he said that. "I know, but it can't be helped, I'm out of money." Karen replied. The two of them were very close like they were brothers. "But that was really cool, Bro. You slashed that Lycan like—swoosh-swing-shooos!!" Karen smiled broadly while holding Nino's navy blue hair. He swung his body slightly, and nearly knocked himself off Nino's back. "Wow—" Karen tugged at Nino's hair. Ouch—ouch. Nino felt like his hair had just been pulled.

The young man was one of the residents of Kawa village, formerly.

Mangetsu Nino is the name of that young man.

His family was one of the Clans that moved from the Land of Heaven to the Land of Trees during the Rinka users' war.

"Karen!!" A woman called the name 'Karen' with full of worries. "Mom!!" Karen called out to her mother while waving his hand. "Y-you're not coming home. after the afternoon so-so." Rin sighed as she took her breath back. "But thank goodness." Rin said while looking at Nino and also Karen.

"H-hi Sensei." Nino greeted Rin in a nervous voice. "You must be tired aren't you? Nino." Rin replied meekly with every word. Even though she was exhausted herself, "Let's go home." She said. Remembering that lingering in the Kawa forest is not a good thing, the three immediately rushed to the tree house.

…

"Hmm. So that's what brought you home." Rin said. The woman is preparing dinner. "Yes, Sensei." Nino replied. Karen was sitting at the dining table. The boy was smiling broadly while looking at Nino the whole time, it wasn't unusual. Nino had been going to Rinka Academy in Sakae town for four years. Leaving his home, village and friends behind.

Nino has neither relatives nor family.

And, the thing he could call family was in the village he lived in. "Karen, go get changed first." Rin said. Ahhh—, man. Karen thought as Rin told the boy to get change.

"Okay." Karen replied to her mother lazily.

"Uhm-uhm." Nino pretended to cough. "Actually I was just promoted to Horseman." He continued. "Really. That's really amazing Nino, congratulations." Rin proudly said that. She reminisced a little about the days when Nino was still her student in elementary school.

"Yes." Nino replied with a grim smile. "What is it?" Rin asked. "I… was ordered to go secure the northern area." Nino said that with some hesitation, and it showed on his face. "That…" Rin held back her words. "There are rumors that Rinka of the Horseman level would try to take over the northern area. That's why I was assigned there." Nino said. "That's clearly a trap!!" Rin patted the table furiously. She was a little frustrated at being unable to do anything.

But,

Maybe there was something she could do. "Is that an order from Mikoto?" Rin asked sternly. "No, it was actually a direct order from the Queen." Nino explained the situation, and it wasn't what Rin expected.

"Queen." Rin struggled with her thoughts. "I am one of the best Horseman. That's why I was chosen to go there." Nino leaned his back on the wooden chair. The two people were silent without saying anything.

The atmosphere at that time can be said, quiet.

"Okay, okay!! I've already changed." Karen sounded enthusiastic, he came down the stairs excitedly. Surprising Rin, so did Nino. "Nah Big bro Nino..." The boy took a chair and shifted it in front of the blue-haired young man, "Please tell me what is In." He whispered. "Hmm??" Nino raised half an eyebrow. "Ohhh! So that's how it is." He smiled. "But before that did you know…" Nino held back his words as he stood up, his right hand clenched into a fist, holding his left chest confidently.

"I." He bent his neck. "Already a Horseman." Nino sounded proud as he said that. "What!!" Karen was surprised. "Is that true!??" He continued. "Yes. Tomorrow is my first job as a Horseman. I was sent to the northern area…" Nino bowed. "So that's how it is, buddy. What kind of gifts do you want Ren?" He asked Karen.

But the boy still opened his mouth.

"Wow cool." Karen muttered with an amazed face. But his ears didn't mishear the word 'gifts' he thought about what kind of gifts he could ask for, I don't really understand the northern part of the Land of Trees. He thought.

"Can you buy me a pod player??" Karen said while stroking his chin. "We can buy that in the city." Rin interrupted them. "Yeah, but still not bought." Karen muttered as quietly as possible. Rin knitted her brows together. From the way she looked, Karen didn't want to create any new trouble,

So,

He looked elsewhere.

"Yeah of course." Nino said. "You don't have to bother." Rin turned to Nino who was still smiling gently at Karen.

"Bro. Can we go fishing like we used to?" Karen said it hopefully. "Of course buddy." Nino stroked Karen's hair like an elder brother who loves his younger brother. "And about In..." He whispered to Karen.

"Here." Nino held the center of Karen's chest. Uh, uh? Karen didn't understand it at all.

After their conversation with Mangetsu Nino. The young man left in the middle of the night. The sound of crickets and fireflies decorated the path in front of him. The villagers from that place approached the young man. Karen saw Nino's figure from afar, he seemed to be talking to the villagers. The sound of their laughter he could hear, it was a happy day.

Karen saw the dark sky above him,

The stars in the sky looked like tiny specks of light from beneath the village where he lived. And the world was huge, wider than little Karen imagine.

"I'd better find out what In is." Karen muttered. His homework still haunts him, and it sucks. He thought. Karen was in his room, still thinking about what Hanahata Ai did. The boy looks at his palms, come on In come out. Karen focused his attention only on to his palm like Ai did before. Veins began to appear on his forehead, his brain felt like it was going to burn. "Huuuuh… like I thought, this is impossible." All the sense of focus that had been centered began to scatter everywhere. He was exhausted, his encounter with Lycan drained his strength.

Karen covered himself again with the blanket.

"Geez." Rin closed the door to Karen's room which was slightly ajar. She could see her son struggling, she glanced at him through the gap in the door. And apparently, he didn't listen to what I said in class. Rin sighed.

A week had passed since his homework.

And it seems that there are no students who can expel In yet.

"Okay, has anyone been able to get In out?" Rin said. Her students in the class stared at each other, but. "I'm Sensei." Kodama Yoko said. Karen glanced at the girl, is she able to get In out. He was curious about it.

The bespectacled girl, "All right." Yoko muttered. She began to center herself, focus. She thought. At that instant, some kind of ancient writings began to appear on her right forehead. "Is that all?" Karen said. He had little hope for something extraordinary to happen.

But.

"Not only that." Rin replied to Karen. "That's really great Yoko." Rin said. The students in the class didn't understand, "Was that In??" They wonder. "Yes..." Rin said. "That's a Tane-type In." She continued. "What is Tane type Sensei??" The students asked. "That type is a rare type." Rin answered in detail. "The Tane type can be cast as an element, but for now it can't." She continued. "Huh?? why?" Karen asked. "Yes. Because the Tane type requires contracts with Beasts, Spirits, and Monsters as well." Rin answered.

"Eh?? Monsters!" A disciple was surprised to hear that word, about Spirit and Beast he could understand but when it came to "Monsters. Right." Rin said. "For now we all have to focus on our respective In. And how to get it out, then only then can we distribute the types and explanations." Those words really bore almost half of her students. "How are you feeling Yoko." Rin asked Yoko. "My feelings are fine Sensei." Yoko responded with polite manners.

But all those explanations, are quite reasonable. Thought Karen.

"Remember the homework, Children." Rin said.

"Huuuuahhhhhhhhhhh." The voice came from within the forest, and it was loud.

Amethyst Karen,

Practice taking out Seisui near his house. The forest is near the lake, the place is where Nino used to take him fishing before. He with the same stance tried to get his Seisui out. All the efforts he has made, how exactly to expel In. Karen focused his thoughts again, but a word in the back of his mind made him replay one more word. "Feeling." That's roughly what Rin always said in every explanation. Karen opened his arms. "Feelings…" He mumbled. "I feel." He continued.

Something started to come out of his body.

A small yellow thread began to knit together, making him gawk at the incident. "Woooah!!" Karen started screaming loudly like he had just discovered something new, but couldn't quite understand it.

PWFFFF!!

A lion, Uhhhh… Karen holds his forehead. A yellow Lion Doll as small as a keychain strolled under his feet.