Heart Of The Dōjō [Meninas, Mura]

To think that an arrow would knock him out and not stab him… it was a very unorthodox technique, but a surprise one too. He didn’t actually expect an archer to enter their hall, but it was a strong wake-up call to the swordsman – nobody fought like he expected them to. This green world was full of different approaches to combat, and he had so much more to learn from it.

But… she looked strongly worried for him. “N-Now, now, getting hit is part of the sport…” he explained to her… although, she ought to have known. She had to have practiced boxing for a long time – he could definitely tell by her arm muscles, and the fact that she out-height’d him – he had to have weighed like feathers to her. “Wait, t-that was your first time using that boxing arrow? How’d you even manifest arrows out of that, uh… you know, Reiryoku?”

“Hmh, it might be worth exploring. I’ve known that it was possible to exert Reishi as an energy attack, but your fighting style is very unique, McAllon-san,” the Head Master expressed his interest likewise. At least, when it came to his teachings, Reishi attacks that didn’t incorporate the strengthening of a physical body part was rare. All Mura could do was reinforce physical traits with his Reiryoku and utilize that to perform Niten Muryū. In this match, he’d even shown the capability of strengthening just his hand to grab one of her arrows, but… even so, he still couldn’t launch an energy ‘attack’ like a blast of Reishi or something like that.

The audience still clapped here and there, glad to have witnessed this event overall. It looked like it was reaching its end now, but Mura couldn’t just let Meni go before asking her about all of that arrow business. “Hey, Meni… what are those arrows? You made them yourself…?”

Maybe she trained under some secret school of Reishi-empowered archery… but maybe she wouldn’t tell him, because of that. Or maybe she would. Or maybe it was just something she cooked up herself. Then again… he didn’t really see himself carrying a spiritual bow and arrow, but… maybe a spirit sword…

Quincies use Spiritual Weapons, huh… well, Mura wasn’t a Quincy, so maybe his luck ran thin there. But it sounded deep – even the Head Master was intrigued to know more about this Quincy people and their strange practices. They could utilize something named Kreuzen – must be European – and mold weapons from their spiritual energy… but wait! They made use of a medium, according to her – maybe that was why Mura couldn’t replicate her technique earlier!

“Quincy Cross… so if that’s your medium, then maybe that’s what I need too! A medium, or something,” he wobblily concluded, “… Wait, but I’m not Christian…”

Now, she also revealed that the surfboard techni- when on earth did she use a surfboard technique? What? Mura’s eyes widened in disbelief – he had his eyes on her the entire time, and he never saw her manifest a surfboa- oh, maybe she meant the flying… no, that couldn’t be. She literally hovered above the g- but she was moving around in circles… okay, maybe, maybe not, whatever – she elaborated that the technique, as well as the blue and red veins she often appeared in, were Quincy abilities. This egged him to ask some more, but maybe his Head Master knew more about these Quincy people.

He didn’t remember if they came from a certain country, but he’d heard about Vandenreich before. It sounded German, but Meninas’ name sounded… British? The Mc- in her last name sounded somewhat somewhere English-ish, Welsh maybe…

Or Irish! Yeah!

“Regardless, we thank you kindly for putting up a show for our visitors! Your Spirit Arrows were a sight to behold, and my star pupil sure learned a lot from you,” the old Head Master bowed once again in gratitude. All in all, today was a little disappointing in the whole winning aspect, but… he couldn’t shortcut his way to greater skill. He now had an idea to try out, and techniques to sharpen, and that was all he could ask for.

Today was abnormally simple - she entered, challenged him, they fought, and she came out on top. When Mura thought back to it, she had few words relative to other fighters. At the same time, since he felt the fierce force behind each of her blows, she was not one for reserving strength. Brutally open-hearted, her desire to collide her fists with her opponent was too direct, too authentic to be misunderstood for ill intent. She was, in his eyes, a pure brawler.

Thank you, Meninas. May our paths cross again.