[h3]Starbird's Training | Day 2[/h3]
The sounds of Kyuuten's intense training could be heard from quite a distance. Crashing and explosions riddled the mountain with echoes and startled the wildlife. Flying rapidly in a serpentine pattern Kyuuten closed in on his shirtless master. [color=royalblue]"Now you're mine!"[/color] Orin flexed his muscles and punch the ground beneath him sending a chunk of earth up and striking his student in the abdomen and knocking him back. [color=royalblue]"Ngh! Damn...he countered with nothing but brute strength...he never fought this seriously before. I guess he really wants me to get stronger this time around. Geez, and I still haven't done Merrian's training for the day..."[/color] Kyuuten removed his coat and tore what remained of his sweater vest away. The determination in his eyes flickered and he pushed forward towards his master, intent on completing this training.

[color=gold]"That's right Rallis. Give your inner light form and create your own magic art!"[/color] Orin flexed him muscles as sparkles littered his visage. Kyuuten smirked. [color=royalblue]"I'll never get used to that~"[/color]

[h3]Day 6[/h3]
Kyuuten collapsed to his knees panting heavily. This was the routine of the last few days. He sparred with Orin using his Heavenly Body and then he'd practice summoning spirits until he forgot what it felt like to have magic energy flowing through his body. [color=royalblue][i]My head is on fire. Every part of my body feels like they weigh a ton...I...[/i][/color] Merrian's words echoed in his mind. [i][b]You've come a long way as a Celestial wizard and I'm so proud of how much you've discovered about your mother's magic. I'm sorry I haven't been able to help with that. But I'm not gonna lie down and let you struggle to progress on your own anymore. Your master told me his idea for your Celestial Unity. Honestly, I think it's insane--he's a very "passionate" man isn't he?--but...I think you can make it work. You'll have to master summoning to degree you've never thought possible to do it. Summoning will become as easy as breathing when you're done~[/b][/i] Kyuuten couldn't help but let out a strained chuckle. [color=royalblue]"Heh, easy...as breathing huh...? Well, breathing's a little...tough...right about now but..."[/color] The snowy haired wizard's ragged breaths slowly but surely settled. [color=royalblue]"With each summoning...hmph~"[/color] Kyuuten shakily stood to his feet. He looked at the Key of the Proxy that rested on his belt. He unhooked it and held it out in front of him. [color=royalblue]"Open!"[/color]

From a distance Orin watched as his pupil pushed himself further and further. [color=gold]"When your training is done I have something to tell you...[/color]

[h3]Day 7[/h3]
Kyuuten stretched, preparing for today's spar with Orin. Though his master still outclassed him greatly these spars were fine tuning all of his skills and with every blow he was coming up with new tactics using his Heavenly Body magic. He'd even discovered some new techniques. [color=royalblue]"As harsh as it is it really is paying off~[/color] The Starbird smiled brightly until a sudden pain turned it into a grimace as a black box bounced off his head and landed at his feet. [color=royalblue]"Owowowow! Hey, don't throw stuff while people aren't paying attention!"[/color] Kyuuten scolded his master as he held his head and held back tears. [color=gold]"I'm sorry. I thought you were. You've been waiting a long time to put those to good use."[/color] Kyuuten gave his master a puzzled look and turned his gaze to the box at his feet. [color=royalblue]"This is..."[/color] Orin began to remove his shirt. [color=gold]"Yesterday you forced me to use my own Heavenly Body twice and Miss Merrian's training has done wonders for your stamina as well as your magic management. That item was especially crafted for you and I believe you're ready to add it to your arsenal. Whenever you're ready Rallis.[/color] Orin took his stance preparing for what may come of his student's new item.

Kyuuten stared at the black box for a moment. It had been so long since his first disastrous attempt at mastering it that he'd nearly forgotten about what was inside. Back then he wasn't a third as strong as he is now, maybe even less than that. Orin and Merrian's training was really something else. Kyuuten ran his hand over the box and smiled before undoing the clasp. [color=royalblue]"I'm ready."[/color]

[h3]Day 9[/h3]
The flashes of light receded and Kyuuten stood with Getsu on one side and Kara on the other. The young wizard looked at them both, Kara grinning wildly back at him and Getsu gave him a rare wry smile. [b]"Congratulations Starbird~ You've mastered the double summoning."[/b] Kyuuten smiled thankfully at Merrian. [color=royalblue]"Thanks to you~ But we're not done yet, are we?"[/color] The tone of his voice told her that he was more than ready to move on to the next step. Merrian nodded. [b]"You're not wasting any time are you? Good~ I have no clue how viable Orin's idea is and my lack of knowledge about Celestial Unity doesn't give it another leg to stand on. Nonetheless it's the only theory we have to go on so it's worth a try. Go ahead and send one of them back and merge."[/b]

Kyuuten closed Getsu's gate and unfurled his tail from under his coat before the unity circle appeared beneath him and Kara. Engulfed in a blinding light the two emerged as one. Kyuuten stood with black streaks in his hair, pointed ears, fanged teeth and two blue flames resting open his forehead. [b]"Let's begin."[/b] Merriam said never unimpressed by the young wizard's magic. Kyuuten nodded and waved his hand opening two gates at once.

[h3]Day 11 | R&R[/h3]
The warm waters of the mountain hotspring washed away the bulk of Kyuuten's exhaustion. This day of rest wasn't just to prepare him for the final days of his training but to also give him time to reflect on everything he's done so far. The training with the special item was coming along. He was able to control it but he still far from mastery. Orin's theory seemed to be sound but it wasn't as simple in practice. That said Kyuuten wouldn't give up on making this work without a better reason than it might not be possible. [color=royalblue][i]This is a chance for me to give something to my mother's magic. All these years and I haven't discovered anything of significance about Celestial Unity. I didn't exactly inherit your mind did I mom? If I can further what your worked so hard to create then I'll keep moving forward.[/i][/color]

[h3]Day 12 | The Sun Shines in the Dark[/h3]
[color=gold]"You'll spend these last days training on your own."[/color] Kyuuten looked at his master bewildered but had no solid reason to question him. Orin genuinely wanted to make his student ever stronger and Kyuuten didn't doubt that. [color=gold]"I've taught you everything I can about being a Heavenly Body mage. It's up to you to take that knowledge shape a magic art completely your own."[/color] Orin removed his shirt and sparkled, speaking the words passionately. He then turned around and cocked back his arm, unleashing a mighty grunt as he punched aside an immense boulder. Displacing the large rock revealed the entrance to a cave. Kyuuten gazed into it but could barely make out the walls of the deep cavern. [color=gold]"This cave system cuts all the way through the mountain. There are dangers that will not only test you physically but mentally as well. You'll make this journey alone and only one of two things will happen in there: either you and your magic will emerge from the other side radically stronger than you were at the start of this training or...you don't emerge at all. I have complete faith that you'll come back to us~"[/color] Orin placed a hand on Kyuuten's shoulder with a smile barely visible beneath the golden mustache. [color=royalblue]"Bet on it~"[/color] He turned to Merrian who had her own words to offer. [b]"Don't forget, your spirits are always there for you. If you need their help don't hesitate to ask. The relationship between the Celestial wizard and their spirit is the what makes our magic so special and even more so yours. Whatever you need to complete your magic you'll with there help. So, I'll see you soon~"[/b] She gave him a motherly smile and Kyuuten opened his mouth to thank them once more but shook his head and smirked. [color=royalblue]"I'll save it for the other side~"[/color] With that the snowy haired wizard stepped into the cave and disappeared into the shadows.