When moon started to walk away from the traning group a middle aged man spotted him
"Your father wishes to speak with you," he said after a moment. "He's waiting in the main hall."
"Thank you, " and moon gave him a respectful bow then
As he walked away, he felt Yuna's gaze following him in concerned, perhaps even sympathetic. But like everyone else in the compound, there was a distance there, a caution.
After a while moon found his father in the main hall, standing before the great tapestry that depicted the Tensura Clan's arrival in the Dream World the embroidered scene showed both the chaos of that first day and the subsequent establishment of their community a visual reminder of how far they had come in four short years
Sung didn't turn as Moon approached, his gaze was fixed on the tapestry "You performed well in the competition ! "
"...? Thank you, Father." Saying that moon stood beside him
For a long moment a silence stretched between them but sung broke saying
"Tomorrow, we travel to the Hall of
Records" moon's heart skipped a beat
" The Hall of Records "
It was a one of the five ancient libraries scattered throughout the Dream World. Children approaching their tenth birthday were taken there for the Awakening Ceremony, where they would learn if they possessed the potential for a Forbidden Technique
"So soon?" Moon asked, unable to keep the surprise from his voice "My birthday is still two days away."
"We must arrive early," Sung replied his voice remained level, but Moon detected an undercurrent of tension "The journey to the Western Hall takes most of a day, and we will need time to prepare once we arrive."
Moon nodded, processing this information. The Western Hall of Records was the closest to the Tensura compound, but it was still a significant journey one typically made with ceremony and fanfare as the clan celebrated another child's coming of age
"Will others be accompanying us?" Moon asked, thinking of the usual procession that followed children to their Awakening.
Sung finally turned to look at him, his red eyes so like Moon's own unreadable "No ! They will follow later on
"I understand," Moon said quietly and turned to look at tapestry
"Do you?" Sung's gaze intensified "I don't believe you do... sometimes simple meanings are too hard to understand
Saying that he gestured to a low table set with tea "Sit there are things you need to know before tomorrow "
Moon complied, kneeling on the cushion across from his father sung poured tea for them both and Steam rose from the cups, fragrant with herbs unique to the Dream World pungent greenwhistle and sweet skybloom that the New Ones had learned to cultivate
"What do you know of the Halls of Records?" Sung asked, setting down the teapot
Moon recited what he had learned from his lessons "They are the five great libraries of the Dream World, built in ancient times to house all knowledge each is dedicated to different fields of study science, art, history, philosophy, and magic they are neutral ground, protected by ancient pacts that forbid violence within their walls."
Sung nodded. "That is what is commonly taught but there is more to it " He took a sip of his tea before continuing "The Halls are not merely repositories of knowledge they are kind of alive....hmm you can say that !
Moon leaned forward slightly, intrigued
This was not part of the standard teachings
"When a child turns ten in the Dream World," Sung continued, "they undergo a significant transformation not only physical, but also mentaly that is the period of there body becomes capable of handling the forbidden technique because of that when you own the forbidden technique a ambient energy is produced in your body by the existence of forbidden technique, what the Old Ones call 'Rahi Energy "
"Is that why the mark appears at ten?" Moon asked
In that instant a shadow passed over Sung's face. "For most children in the Dream World, no mark appears by owning a forbidden technique in a dream world owning a forbidden technique is as common as breathing by owning it they simply develop the ability to produce and sense and eventually manipulate energy
But..."
With that word he Stoped for a while then he took a deep breath and continued but for us.. the process of owning the forbidden technique remains the same but..the awakening of mark is completely different the mark is only awakened by us the new one's "
He set down his teacup with deliberate care
"The mark is not a curse, that's all you need to know for now... it's better that way "
Moon stared at his father face for a while then shaking the question off he had off he maintained his flat face once again before his father and continued the conversation of forbidden technique's
"And the Forbidden Techniques?
"Ah..." Sung's expression shifted to something almost exciting
" The Forbidden techniques are not that simple as they sounds they have there own ranks and most important of all they differ by each individual each forbidden technique holds different ability to it, and the most interesting part about that is they choose their wielders on there own will "
He rose and walked to a cabinet at the far end of the room, after a while he returned with a long wooden box inlaid with mother-of-pearl opening it, he revealed an beautiful one-edged long blade
It looked like a traditional blade with a straight and single-edged with a high-carbon steel and a dark wood handle, fitted with engraved with a broken moon crest and the scabbard was crafted from matching darkwood with golden fittings and a ceremonial tassel
" Take it ?" sung said looking at moon " from now on you will need to use real blade.."
It a best piece of blade you could have for someone at your age, it was crafted by one of the famous weapon craftsman by one of the major clans
Without hesitation moon accepted the blade with both hands, feeling its weight and balance. Despite its size proportioned perfectly for someone his age it had a substantial heft that spoke of quality craftsmanship. He drew it partially from its scabbard, and the steel caught the light, revealing a subtle pattern along the edge.
"It's beautiful," Moon said quietly looking at blade
Sung nodded once. "A proper weapon for what may come the wooden practice swords serve their purpose for training, but where we go, you may need something with an edge "
With that moon carefully returned the blade to its box then sung said
" you should go and prepare for leaving tomorrow "
Moon nodded and give a respectful bow to his father and left him alone