The thought only crossed my mind for a brief moment before slowly fading away, my attention returning to Rika and Shizuka, who were sitting right in front of me.
The moment the water bottles reached their hands, both of them grabbed them without hesitation. The caps were twisted open in a rush, the sound of plastic clicking echoing clearly through the quiet forest.
They immediately gulped the water down, their movements hurried and desperate, as if they had just stumbled upon an oasis after wandering through a vast desert.
"Drink more slowly," I said with a faint smile. "You'll choke if you drink like that."
"Haaah! That's refreshing!" Shizuka exclaimed after letting out a long breath. Her face looked far more alive than it had just a few minutes ago.
The pale color on Shizuka's cheeks gradually faded, replaced by a healthy flush that signaled her body was slowly recovering. "Uh… so is this why athletes on TV drink like this after running?"
Her tone sounded uncertain, as though she wasn't entirely convinced by the conclusion she had just reached, yet there was unmistakable excitement in her voice.
"No," Rika replied flatly, continuing to drink her water at a much calmer pace. Her movements were far more controlled than Shizuka's. "You're just copying them."
"Hehehe…" Shizuka let out a small, shameless laugh. She didn't deny it at all. Instead, she took another sip from her bottle with a relaxed smile, as if openly admitting that Rika was right.
I watched the two of them for a moment. Their breathing had begun to steady, no longer ragged and strained like before. The color in their faces was gradually returning to normal.
The physical training earlier had clearly been exhausting, even for children their age, but the results were already starting to show in their improving endurance and recovery.
"By the way," Rika suddenly spoke up. This time, she looked at me with a confused yet serious expression, as if she had been thinking about the question for quite a while. "Isn't an Innate Technique supposed to be just one? But it feels like you can use many different abilities."
It was a sharp question, especially coming from someone Rika's age—more so from someone who hadn't been part of the Jujutsu World for very long. There was a careful attentiveness in the way she observed things, something rarely seen in children.
I nodded slowly, the corner of my lips lifting slightly. "That's a good question."
I began to explain in a calm tone, making sure my voice didn't sound condescending. The midday wind drifted gently through the trees, carrying a quiet stillness that made my words feel clearer and more pronounced.
"An Innate Technique is indeed only one," I said slowly. "Everyone who has one will receive a single core type. No more, no less. However, that one Innate Technique can still be developed further."
I continued while watching their reactions, making sure each word truly sank in. "With proper training, deep understanding, and a bit of creativity, an Innate Technique can be applied in many different ways. These applications are called Extension Techniques. Even though their forms may differ, they all originate from the same source."
I took a brief breath before going on.
"My Innate Technique is Purple Forge Flame," I said. "This purple flame is the foundation. That doesn't change. But from this flame, I can develop various other applications, depending on how I shape it, control it, and use it in different situations."
"I see…" Rika nodded quietly. Her eyes were sharp and focused, as if she were truly processing every part of the explanation she had just heard, not merely nodding out of politeness.
Shizuka nodded as well, though her expression looked a little vacant, her gaze occasionally drifting off somewhere else. I wasn't entirely sure whether Shizuka truly understood the concept I had just explained, or if she was simply following along with the conversation without really grasping it.
I then shifted my gaze toward the sky above the treetops. The leaves swayed gently, and between the gaps in the branches, several small creatures could be seen drifting in the air.
Their shapes resembled flies, but their bodies were slightly larger, and the movement of their wings was stiff and unnatural. Their presence created an uneasy feeling, as if something were disturbing the air around them. They were Cursed Spirits—more precisely, Fly Heads.
"Now," I said, glancing toward those creatures. "I want to ask you something. Can you see them?"
"Huh?" Shizuka immediately followed the direction of my gaze. She narrowed her eyes, then leaned her body forward slightly. "So those things are Cursed Spirits?"
"Yes," I replied briefly, making no effort to add any further explanation.
Rika then smiled faintly.
"I only realized this earlier this morning," Rika said in a calm voice. "Ever since I woke up, I've been able to see creatures like that. Honestly, I was pretty shocked at first. It felt like the world suddenly changed overnight."
Then Rika glanced at Shizuka. "Shizuka even said right away that she was seeing ghost flies."
"Hey!" Shizuka protested immediately, half rising to her feet. "But they really do look like flies! And no one else at the orphanage noticed them at all! So they have to be ghost flies!"
I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Hahahaha… no. They're not ghost flies," I said while rubbing my face. "They're Cursed Spirits."
"Tch! You don't have to laugh!" Shizuka puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, turning her face away as if making a silent protest.
"Alright, alright," I said, calming myself and returning to a serious tone. "As I explained before, Cursed Energy exists within every human being, without exception."
I looked at the two of them with a sharper gaze. "Cursed Energy is energy born from negative emotions. Fear, jealousy, resentment, anger, regret, and other negative feelings. When those emotions aren't controlled, that energy leaks out."
I continued, my voice growing slightly deeper. "That leakage of Cursed Energy eventually gathers and forms Cursed Spirits. Creatures like those Fly Heads are the result of human emotions that were never properly released."
"Then what about Jujutsu Sorcerers?" Rika asked softly.
"Jujutsu Sorcerers are able to control their own Cursed Energy," I answered. "With that control, the energy doesn't leak out. That's the most fundamental difference between an ordinary human and a Jujutsu Sorcerer."
I paused for a moment, then went on. "The initial qualification to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer actually starts with something very simple."
"What is it?" Shizuka asked without realizing it, her expression now much more serious.
"The ability to see Cursed Spirits," I replied. "Since you can see them now, that means you possess that qualification."
I looked at the two of them, who were now sitting up straighter, their faces filled with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.
"And now," I continued quietly, "you will learn the next step."
I gave a brief pause before saying the final sentence. "That is, learning to sense the Cursed Energy within your own bodies."
After that, I began teaching them how to feel the Cursed Energy inside themselves. I didn't rush straight into technical matters; instead, I explained everything slowly, step by step.
I started from the most basic concept—how that energy doesn't always feel obvious, how it's often hidden beneath the noise of thoughts and tangled emotions.
I asked them to sit in the most comfortable position possible, their backs straight but not stiff. I reminded them not to force themselves, because the harder someone tries, the harder it becomes to sense that energy.
"Calm your minds," I said. "Control your breathing. Feel each inhale and exhale. Don't search for anything. Just let everything flow."
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