Although Damon knew better than to take food from strangers, he could not tune out the hunger pangs. His mouth began to water as he took a few steps forward, staring at the woman with doubts. "I thought we were going to meet the other visitors?"
"I planned to let you meet them but sadly our little friends have already left on their next hunt." The woman raised a cup from the wooden tray and held it out towards him with a sigh. "I'm sure you'll see them later for now let's enjoy a meal."
"I am hungry…" Damon gave a forced smile as took a seat on the lush grass.
He accepted the humble gesture with both hands then stared into the cup momentarily. The golden hued liquid inside was of course tempting however he was more concerned about what would happen were he to indulge.
Among the eastern tribes, being served a drink or meal was a common form of establishing hierarchies between elders and juniors yet there were many tales of men and women using such acts to employ fortes specializing in mental manipulation.
With this in mind, Damon shook his head anxiously. "I-I'm grateful you saved my life miss, but I can't accept this."
"Ho? Why is that…?" The woman asked tilting her head slightly to the side.
"Well I-I don't even know your name."
Suddenly a brightened light bulb, the old woman suffused a smile, "Ah! That's right! I forgot to introduce myself"
As she spoke, she placed her cup down and shifted her posture into a kneeling form. The tops of her feet flat on the floor, and her butt resting on her heels looked uncomfortable to watch. Yet with a slight bow she said, "My name is Tomoe Akemichi. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, child."
'S-he she's one of them…!?' Damon's pupils dilated, and his mouth went dry.
In history class, he had learned about a south-eastern nation of warriors who resided beyond a great fog and could cut men down in single swift strike. He thought they were merely a myth used to motivate the children of the Huaren tribe, at least that is how the librarian described it.
'Ah! What was it called again? Nippon? It's said they were lunatics who wielded weapons they believed were blessed by forgotten gods that existed before the founding of the three churches.'
Damon's expression was fearful as he stared at the top of the woman's head. He bowed, darting his eyes around nervously. "My name is Damon Redhill, I'm sorry for entering your home without permission, great master. It's an honour to meet someone from the warrior nation, Nippon!"
His speech became stuttered, but Tomoe did not seem to mind.
"I'm not sure what you've heard about us, but there's no need to be afraid. I won't hurt you." She smiled warmly, changing the subject as she straightened her body. "I haven't seen someone of Desterian descent in a while. Empress Nadia was quite the ruler, so I assume the empire is still holding up?"
"Wait… How did you know I was Desterian…?" Damon asked subconsciously. His physical characteristics were rarely seen within the native Desterian bloodlines, and they were both speaking the same Aegis language.
"It's your attire boya. You may have white hair but your clothing aligns with the styles adopted in a more stable land," said Tomoe as she picked up a set of short sticks beside the fish.
"Most Eirosians prefer oversized clothing to conceal their weapons and physics while you made no attempt to conceal yours as I stood behind you."
Unable able to refute her words, Damon nodded in a vague acknowledgement. He already speculated one of his biological parents had to be an immigrant.
It was a core focus of the Diversity Inclusion Act to provide safe passage and opportunity to any survivors of hostile lands. And although the legislation was signed during the rule of the Desterian empire years ago the law was upheld by every governing body on the continent of Ethiopia
There were few who protested against this as it brought in more soldiers to fight beast and strengthen the gene pool. However, the imbeciles who did were ironically immigrants themselves or descendants of immigrants.
'Idiots like that led to the orphanage's creation.' Damon felt his chest tighten as he mused on his own place in said history.
Seeing the woman start eating, he sighed before grabbing a piece of bread then said, "There weren't any records on what happened to the empress, but the empire hasn't existed for sixty-four years now. It's the year 4046 of the twilight era"
"Such a shame." Tomoe tersely replied.
Soon after they both settled into silence as they were too busy chewing. Damon wanted to rush but every time he did, he found a fine fish bone poking his gums. Surprisingly both the bread and the fish were nearly as sweet as the fruit but the soft texture of the bread was delightfully enhanced by the golden tea.
Twenty minutes later, the basket had been cleared of all its content, and he took another glance at the surroundings. He could not help but ask, "Where or what.... is this place?"
Tomoe looked off to the side when she heard his words. Her smile then widened in amusement as she lowered her empty cup, "Hmm.... That's not a bad question, but what you truly wish to know is why you're here."
"Are you going to teach me how to awaken my forte…?" Damon sunk into contemplation before replying with a tone of uncertainty.
"Forte?. .pshh" Tomoe immediately burst out in laughter as she clutched her stomach. While she had already discerned from the boy's expression that he had no idea, she was not expecting such a response.
"So…why am I here then!?" Damon's facial muscles twitched. All things considered, he did not think the question was a foolish one.
"Instead of explaining how about I demonstrate." And so she did. Tomoe raised a hand before he could blink, pushing a strange force towards him.
In the next second, Damon held his breath and felt his hair rise with no wind. His face then turned deathly pale, and with a pained groan, he suddenly covered his mouth to cough.
"W -What was that…?" Astonished, he stared up at Tomoe, catching his breath. "Was…was that your Consciousness field?"
"Not quite. What you felt was my Spiritual energy." Tomoe laughed and explained, "I focused the thought matter on the soul where the field is being formed and attacked you directly from there."
Damon was at a loss. "But that shouldn't be possible. No scientist has been able to pinpoint exactly where or what the s—"
"Because they refuse to look beyond what their eyes can see." Tomoe lowered her hand and cut him off before he could finish, "Have you ever experienced the sensation of paranoid dread?"
Damon nodded as he quickly caught on. It was a psychological concept in which the brain detects ambiguous stimuli in the environment and projected a cognitive illusion of an unseen observer." So it isn't an illusion? There is something actually watching..."
"The idea of spiritual energy sounds like folklore but think of it as the natural evolution of thought matter. With practice contact with the soul allows for greater mastery and a Specter is one who wields this power."
Damon listened attentively as she spoke. His world view had just been shattered and a strong urge to embrace this mysterious power began to overwhelm his mind. "W -what should I do to become a Specter?"
"I've already given you the first push but for the next step you'll have to close your eyes," she said.
'That's all…!?' Damon felt like he was about to be scammed.
He intended to probe for more, but on second thought, he felt she would not elaborate until he followed along. Knowing he had no other options, he shifted his body to mimic her posture, and closed his eyes as instructed.
Immediately after the woman softened her tone and said, "Normally if one wishes to become a Specter, they must join the churches of either the Goddess Olympia, the Lord Destined Death, or the True Sun God, but your freedom becomes the price for their teachings."
"The churches have Specters?" Damon's eyelids fluttered as he realized this.
Tomoe caught a butterfly on the tip of her finger, and replied unhurriedly," It's been that way since their inception however the majority of mundane civilians will not meet one in their entire lives. If they do, it's someone who hasn't made that pledge and was labelled a Heretic for it. Some live to that moniker, while others exist in different parts of society such as guilds, courts and tribunals seeking to contribute to humanity from the shadows."
"Miss Tomoe are you the latter?" Damon closed his eyes once more and asked in passing.
"Hahah, if the answer came that easily this would be no fun. Am I a religious zealot, a sinister heathen or simple warrior? I'm afraid you'll have to decide that for yourself." Tomoe replied with a laugh.
'I should decide?' Although he could not see her expression, there was a hint of coldness in her words that made Damon shudder involuntarily. He tried to suppress the trembles as he replied, "Alright"
"There's no need to be nervous boya. Your mental fortitude is impressive so trust in it." Said Tomoe. It was unknown when and how she had arrived beside him, but he was certain her breath was pressing against his ear lobe.
"Though you have yet to perceive it, your soul is connected to the physical body through a plane called limbo. I'll be teaching you to perceive and manipulate it.
Damon sat in silence, trying to feel it. He focused, slowing his breath. The wind faded, and the sounds of the birds dimmed. And then a flicker.
A soft pulse, like a second heartbeat, emanated from his head.
"There you go, now compress it. Imagine a fist closing around it slowly. Don't crush it, or it might collapse instead; contain it."
His face tightened as sweat beaded from his temple, but his pulse wavered then steadied.
"Good you've begun creating spiritual energy" she murmured. "Now direct the flow. Pick a limb, an arm, a leg, it doesn't matter. Imagine an open facet flowing then circulate it like blood with purpose and precision."
Choosing his right hand, Damon sensed the warmth slowly shifted through his shoulder, elbow, and wrist. His fingertips tingled.
"Remember that feeling. Later, you can also try compressing it inside; doing so will hide your spiritual energy concealing your presence."
Caw! Caw!
Just then another voice interrupted their conversion, "Reporting! Reporting! An Icelandic saber has been seen wandering outside the frozen zone!"
The duo looked up and Damon's was flabbergasted. Above their heads a bird with midnight feathers flew in circles, shrieking at the top of its lungs, mimicking the tone of human man.
"You've returned early Kuroushi. Are Rudy and the others returning as well?"
"Lady Tomoe, they spotted an Icelandic saber in the green forest and wished to report it as they decided not to engage."