[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OKHLSUE.png[/img] [h3]Uzamari Ryokan[/h3] [b]Thursday, June 2nd 20XX Morning[/b][/center] [hr] Utsumi emerged from the front doors of the traditional Japanese inn with what appeared to be some paperwork, reading as he stepped outside. He was not accompanied by anyone, from today on was the student's responsibility. Some brushed past him wanting to go sightseeing, which was perfectly within their rights, however he was concerned that they chose to do that on the first day. One of the requirements was to visit any of the prior places, or to be doing in-field research, as they called it. Any form of productive sightseeing, so to speak, one that would further one's own abilities, even if it was just going around and documenting the shrines. [color=0054a6]"Well, I don't have to worry about those who are at Eiseikato... And, I expected a few here to be a bit out of focus but they'd already headed out with purpose. I suppose I've been too judgemental of some of my own students... Ahh, that's no good Utsumi, an accurate assessment is what you always aim for, it's not good to be thinking that way"[/color], he mumbled to himself. [color=slategray]"Talking to yourself again I see"[/color], the bespectacled teacher turned around and standing there was Kuuto, he had his coat worn, rather than hanging off his shoulders. [color=0054a6]"My my, I thought you were just going to be here as a teacher, but it seems there were other matters weren't there?"[/color] [color=slategray]"Murder case, due to the nature of it I was put on as it's prosecutor, curse that Motsumine... He knew something was up in this city"[/color], Kuuto didn't seem too happy about it... Was it possible he really just wanted to relax? Utsumi adjusted his glasses. [color=0054a6]"Well, given how Eiseikato is here too, it may not be a coincidence. It often avoids Kyoto unless a big event is meant to occur. Too many exorcists living here, too big a risk to visit just because they wanted to"[/color], Kuuto just sighed and walked past Utsumi. [color=slategray]"I'll be back before dinner, send out your little bird scouts and tell me what you can learn about the city"[/color], [color=0054a6]"Alright, well then, have a good day at work"[/color], and with that Kuuto left. [color=0054a6]"Now then... I suppose that would be wise, I do want to keep an eye on the students too afterall"[/color], he clicked his fingers and with that, a flock of blue glowing birds burst from him, before disappear amidst the great blue sky. [hr] [h3]Otis[/h3] [@ERode] [hider] [u][b]Kirizanto Clan Estate[/b][/u] The Kirizanto blacksmith's forge was kept on the grounds of the household, the procedures to get in here were rather strict, characteristic of their teacher who Otis had expected to be accompanying them. However, it came to the class as a surprise that following up with these places was up to them. They were also given special badges to show they were part of the school and part of this program, to which he showed the guards. The Kirizanto estate was a rather modest place compared to some other areas she had walked past, situated deep in the eastern forests of Kyoto. It's an estate with large zen gardens surrounding a single large estate, it had few attendants and there were some clan members here practicing their art too. One or two other classmates were spotted there as well. After some time walking through the estate he finally found himself in their forge. It was small, the class all visited just yesterday so he was familiar. It had all the traditional tools and so forth. Already tending the furnace was the old man he saw yesterday, and by the looks of things, Otis was the only one here to learn the forging style. [color=fdc68a]"I am Kirizanto Ishinari, the head smith of the Kirizanto family and successor to the style. So you're here to learn our ways of forging are ya? Trust me it isn't too fancy, if you know how to forge katana, you're already halfway done here. The key to our way is the inscriptions, made by the first generation of my family. But, you can't just use anything to etch them, a chisel that's appropriately blessed, and made from the right material, any iron found from places thick with oni and yokai such as at the top of mountains, or recently, meteorites, will do. Such materials conduct magical and spiritual energy very well"[/color], he explained. [color=fdc68a]"This one here is a few hundred years old, such materials have become rare, and I attended the conference today in search of substitutes from Arcanis... Well, anyway I'm sure you're not here to listen to an old man ramble on, first thing you will learn today is the patterns to etch. Take any old chisel and I'll make you some blades you can practice on"[/color], he put his current chisel down, before grabbing one from the wall and throwing it softly at the young bird boy. Hopefully he can catch it. [/hider] [h3]Ultana[/h3] [@I-Am-X] [hider] [u][b]Fujiwara Clan Estate[/b][/u] [color=f7976a]"The way of the Overflowing Flame is to flood the battlefield with flames, but the trick is to not overcommit, rather, the flames we flood the field with are not lethal. Using the haze of the fire and the confusion of our enemies, we exploit any opening we find in the chaos. Our objective is to cause fear within those who embody fear, the greatest practitioners of this art are the flashiest of us, but it is a fine art to balance flashiness with efficiency, for you see, it is a common misstep to..."[/color] It was no good, Ultana was beginning to fall asleep. There were more than just a few of her classmates here and it seems they felt the same thing. Flashiness they said, but there was nothing flashy about their lesson. [color=f7976a]"And then... Hm?"[/color] the room was suddenly flooded with fire, the class was absolutely jolted awake by this maelstrom of fire, the center stage in front of them was instantly engulfed in flames as even the lecturer was surprised, before appearing before them was Motsumine himself. He was dressed differently, which wasn't a surprise, yesterday was a ceremony, unlike today. [color=fff79a]"I sensed people were falling asleep in my own estate, I had to come and take a look"[/color], it was unclear if he could actually sense that or he was joking. [color=fff79a]"I knew I should've made my schedule clear today to teach this class, Master Urayama you do have a talent for putting people to sleep, as good as you are at our arts"[/color], he then turned back to the class. [color=fff79a]"Then a special lesson today for all of you, I can't be here long, so I will quickly impart you to practice any of the skills you wish. Don't worry, I've already placed wards all around this room to contain any possible damage that might happen"[/color], he flipped his wrist a moment as some talismans of his were pulled out at the ready. Those who were studied in the Fujiwara arts might recognize them as containment, sealing, and defensive seals. [color=fff79a]"Ah yes, your scrolls and study material, feel free to experiment them immediately"[/color], he stated, making a hand seal with his other free hand, causing a scroll to appear in front of every student. [/hider] [h3]Lorelai[/h3] [@Lonewolf685] [hider] [u][b]Modest Blacksmith's Hut[/b][/u] [color=9e0b0f]"Hmmmm",[/color] Lorelai was sat in the modest blacksmith's hut, accompanied only by the blacksmith himself, a rather young lad with a serious scowl, and his younger sister, who seemed to be amazed at Lorelai. It appears she had never met a foreigner before. [color=9e0b0f]"The material is surprisingly brittle... Perhaps... Hmmm no, it's luster is in that same material... Maybe I could... Yes, that could work"[/color], the boy's name was Muramasa Kenjo, the Muramasa family had once made fine blades, so fine and so full of bloodlust they were considered cursed or demon blades. Now though, not so much. However with such little material, none of the other blacksmiths at the expo seemed interested, but when this boy saw it... There was a certain glint in his eyes. [color=9e0b0f]"Truly though, this material is curious and it's properties interfering with magic are astounding. Those other smiths were not interested because there was not enough, but I see that this is incredibly rare material. Any weapon made from this will be more than helpful to it's wielder... Though, with this much, I'm afraid only a spear will do"[/color], ah, right, he didn't know Lorelai used a spear anyways. [color=9e0b0f]"If that is alright, how would you like it? I can make a naginata, or a yari. I'm afraid if I use too much ordinary steel to make it into a sword, it will lose it's abilities"[/color], it was amazing he could understand that just from inspecting the material. No tests required... [color=9e0b0f]"I'm quite eager, if this turns out good, then you can tell all about who made your weapon, and perhaps I'll finally get my name out there... Perhaps I had said it before, but my dream is to make the Muramasa name more than just an old legend of demon blades"[/color]. [/hider] [h3]Aurelius[/h3] [@Kal-El] [hider] [u][b]Kifune Shrine[/b][/u] Aurelius and his accompaniment Lady didn't find any of the presented teachings to be really interesting, so today they elected to go sightseeing. Something about a small shrine up in the mountains interested him, so that's where he went. It was a pretty standard tourist affair, the lush green forests of Japan with the occasional small shrine and some Inari shrines as they ascended, the long staircase with torii gates too, was rather atmospheric. They spent some time just enjoying the tourist attractions, souvenir shops, food stalls, and so on, rather quiet up here all things considered, but soon they ran into something that piqued Aurelius' interest. [i]"There you are, Akimoto"[/i], [color=ed1c24]"I won that duel fair and square, and more importantly, the deal was if I won you'd drop the debt"[/color], [i]"Shut up! That's not how it was supposed to go, I'm ruined if I don't get that money back"[/i], he had more than a few men with him. The man in the red yukata and straw hat just sighed. [color=ed1c24]"Alright fine, but bringing a few extra bodies won't help, but if it makes you feel more confident, maybe you'll do better this time"[/color], [i]"You...! Kill him!"[/i], the men charged forth, raising their weapons, whether it be clubs or bats or whatever else they could find. The man in red though did not draw the two blades set upon his hip. Instead he picked up an old stick laying next to him, kicking it up and wielding it. No one's eyes could follow completely where he had struck. The first men when down, appearing to have only taken one hit, then the second, third... Until they were crumpled upon the ground. Aurelius could look over the bodies, and it appeared as if each one had taken several blows, yet... He only saw one. [i]"Goddamnit! If I don't kill you they'll kill me!"[/i], the panicked man pulled out a pistol from his person, in his frantic state he fired rather quickly, three shots. In that instant they expected to see the red man take a bullet or two, but by the time Aurelius' eyes looked back to him, the man had drawn his sword, with it held up high in one hand to his side. The sounds of some metal falling onto the stone pavement was heard as Aurelius spotted a bullet roll towards him. It was cut clean in half down the middle. Akimoto relaxed himself as the man stumbled backwards, not believing what he just saw, then scrambling to get up again to run. [i]"I-I'll! I'll be back! You hear me?! You'll pay for this!"[/i], and with that, he was gone. [/hider]