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Hun was walking on the floor, while wearing a dark blue kimono: behind him, several adult and young Inklings were walking in the same direction. Hun's irises moved left and right, as his eyebrows went a bit down.
"Uhm… nothing suspicious on sight…" Hun sighed silently.
His irises were staring at a shoji: the boy was about to pass by a round fountain, which had a miniature of the Shrine standing on a small, round, sandy ground, surrounded by water. A small mountain was standing right behind the fountain: water was coming from its snowy tip, falling on the water.
Tch tch tch…
"AH!" Hun's eyes expanded, as his irises shrunk and his feet stopped in place.
The following Inklings stopped too, either looking around or calling him.
"Master Hun?!" Chie turned behind, while frowning a bit. "What's wrong?!"
You are not as stupid as I thought… just naive! Ooooh, sooo naive…
Suddenly, changing colors who kept forming either a wave or a growing circle were surrounding the boy.
You really want to hunt me down…?
The purple Squid was pushing forward, passing the boy.
I have laid my eyes on this Shrine way before you were born… I know all of its secrets! I know the truth…
The purple Squid turned to the left, while still pushing forward and passing Hun.
Did you know I was always been in here? Yeeeesss… I watched you and your friends… even that lovely girl you caaaare so much…
Hun's eyes blinked, as his mouth flattened.
All this parade for obtaining the power to "see" me… ha ha ha! Tch, tch, tch… it's useless. There is no such power available for you… those other fools can see me quite well! You, Master… you need the time. You have to live here for a loooong time…
"… that's… not… true…" The boy frowned a bit.
Uhm? What's this…? Noooo, no, no… I'm saying the truth! Your little sister can see me… the warriors and fighters of the Shrine can easily beat me, if they really wanted to… ooooh, you are falling into their traaapp…
"… that's… not… true…!" The boy frowned a bit more.
Grrr… your power is as strong as your naivety!
The purple Squid descended in front of the boy, moving a bit backwards.
Don't go to the ceremony… what you will get is your early prison. You will not return into the sweeter waters… you will NEVER return. You will not see her again… they will make you hate her more than anything else.
"Stop it!" Hun frowned a lot, as he dashes towards the Purple Squid.
Gradually his surroundings disappeared, as he smashed against the wall. He fell down on his back.
… your power is growing too fast… I knew I should had get you down sooner… … I would still being more worried about your sister, if I was in you. Keep wasting in your time, trying to fight a Squid much stronger than you… eh eh ha ha ha! Tch, tch, tch…
"Ow, ow…" Hun's posture rose, as his right hand rested on his forehead's right side.
His face was grimacing. Inklings were surrounding him.
Master!
Are you alright?!
The Demon Squid did this!
Quick! Someone must heal him back!
Me, me!
Two hands rested on his right hand: Hun's mouth opened a bit.
"… huh…?" His head rose, watching a woman smiling back at him.
"Master, do you feel better now…?" Her eyes closed.
"… yes… I do." He smiled a bit. "Thank you…"
The woman bowed down, as she took some steps backwards. Chie went immediately in front of him, as her eyebrows were up.
"Master, tell us what happened earlier…" Her hands clasped together.
Hun stands up slowly, as he shook quickly his head.
"… I saw the monster…" His eyelids lowered to the middle. "He was saying that this ceremony is a trap."
"He was trying to manipulate you!" Chie's eyes grew, as her eyebrows went down.
That Demon Squid can manipulate a Master as well?!
You said that Master couldn't be affected!
Chie, have you seen that Demon Squid for real?!
"Wait, wait!" Chie's eyes closed, as she smiled and showed her palms in front of the crowd. A sweat drop appears on her head's left side. "I-I thought this monster was like all the others… he's much, much stronger than he looks!"
"Sis, shouldn't we give him that weapon too, instead of making him just attend the ceremony?" Eri's head rose, pointed at Chie, while frowning. "The Demon Squid could attack him again, right in the middle of the procedures or even corrupt him if he keeps attacking the Master!"
Voices raise from the crowd.
"Weapon…?" Hun turned to his right, watching the little girl and whispering.
Chie turned behind, lowering her head.
"There is no need for that, Eri! Besides, it would be useless, if the Master can't see him…"
"Ehm… can you tell me this weapon…?" Hun's shoulders rose a bit, as his right forefinger lifted slightly. "Please… I must know that! I might need it!" He frowned a bit.
Silence fell in.
"… ah… uh…" Chie's tentacles went zig-zag, as she jerkily turned behind. "M-Master…" Her irises were shrunk, as her right cheek was twitching. "… I-I can't do that…"
"Huh? Why?" Hun's mouth opened a bit.
Chie's face went paler.
"Th-that weapon is… i-is part of the Shrine's purity. O-only a pure, kind being c-can explain it f-fully…" Her hands began rubbing together, as sweat covered her face. "A-actually, my sis was ju-just i-implying…" She swallowed silently. "W-we are not s-sure"
"If this weapon can help me in defeating the monster, then I should have it." Hun nodded. "You said that he's much stronger than he looked, right? He might still beat me, even with the power obtained from the ceremony."
Chie's mouth waved.
"… M-Master… th… eh… th-the weapon… ah…" Her eyes squeezed. "I-I'm sorry, but I must drop this discussion…"
"Why?!" Hun bended forward, frowning a bit. "It's not fair! You shouldn't be punished for"
"D-don't say that, please!" Chie tilted a bit backwards, as sweat was jumping out from her head. "Th-there is a valid reason f-for that! I-I'm not kind enough to talk about it!" Her eyes opened. "I would be forced to pass a week on Mountain Tsumetaidesu, if I say that!"
"… and why that mountain is bad…? I don't know anything about it…" Hun lifted his posture, as his eyebrows downturned.
"Master Hun, I strongly advise you to just attend the ceremony." Eri walked in front of Chie. "Please, forget what I said earlier… I wasn't thinking well at all!" Eri flattened her mouth. "I said that in fear… bu-but your skills should be enough to defeat"
"Who can mention that weapon to me…?" Hun's head turned towards the crowd. "Anyone?"
Sweat was jumping out from several Inklings' head, as they turned their sights in different directions…
"The owner can." Chie nodded. "But right now he's trying to stop the Demon Squid… unfortunately, as seen earlier, he can't do much." Her head lowered, as her eyebrows rose. "Master, it's time to enter…"
A tall Inkling man walked in front of the shoji, opening it widely. The man walked to the right, stopping and turning behind, with his hands behind his back. The boy watches inside the room: cushions were surrounding a platform of squares.
Everyone else bowed down.
"Master Hun, once you enter the room… the ceremony will begin." Chie kept her posture down. "You must enter first… you have to knee down in the middle of the platform. Don't be afraid of the voice talking to you…"
Hun nodded: slowly, he walks towards the room… his feet stepped on its floor.
Hun…
"GRANDPA?!" Hun's eyes expanded, as his mouth opened wide.
The crowd immediately rose their backs, as a loud gasp rose in the air. Voices immediately followed.
Ssshhhhh!
… let's have a quick talk, shall we? It's been a while…
"… oh… right now?" Hun's mouth downturned. "But I have"
Don't worry about the ceremony… go knee down in the middle of the platform, as Chie said.
"Ok… I will." Hun began walking, passing the cushions.
He stepped on the platform, as he turned his head around: a light smoke was coming out from a vase-looking object standing on a small table, on his right and left side. The boy knees down in the middle of the platform, as his hands rested on his legs.
How are you, Hun? Is everything fine in the sweeter waters…?
"… yes." Hun nodded, as his head rose. "I have"
Clic.
Hun immediately turned behind: the shoji was closed.
Don't worry about it… the ceremony wasn't supposed to have my participation. My presence changed its nature…
"But weren't you supposed to stop that monster?!" Hun returned forward.
For what use? He keeps deflecting my attacks… he stood in our Shrine for so long, he accumulated way too much power…
"So, it was true…" Hun's mouth opened wide for a moment. "… he was here even before!"
Yes… he manages to disguise himself as the pureness surrounding our Shrine. Ever since you brought energy back, I felt a strange presence in the air… only this morning I discovered the monster. I attacked his disguise, making him visible to everyone… unfortunately, he is about to reform his disguise.
"Uhm… you don't have this seeing power as I supposed to have?" Hun's eyebrows lowered down a bit.
I can't have it… only a Master is allowed to hold the power to see and watch beyond the pureness. Your kindness is strong, Hun… you have all the requirements for having this power. Although, you were asking more information about that weapon…
"Oh, you can tell me about it!" Hun smiled.
The weapon, as mentioned by Chie, is part of the Shrine's purity. It's used in cases when the bad energy is overwhelming. Right now, the Shrine is still stable… thus, having such weapon would work against you.
"How?" Hun's irises turned left and right.
Master… have you felt in power, when you mentioned it?
"In power…? Uhm…" His eyes closed. "… they told me it was powerful… I guess I do." His eyes opened.
That's what I was afraid to hear. Master, you have the noble intentions to use your powers to bring back peace in our Shrine… but a true Master never relies too much on it. Being surrounded by food, makes the stomach always hungry: this is an old saying told in the Shrine countless times.
"I see…" Hun's head lowered. "… that monster told me that I would be as mean as he is, if I defeat him." His eyebrows went up. "I would definitively look like that, if I ask too much…"
Hun… even a Master can be wrong. Even a Master can learn.
"Learn… how can I learn from this mistake?" Hun's head rose, as his mouth downturned.
Patience. Will. Experience. You will never have those… but you can try reaching for them. Not all can keep the pace… but stopping is never good. The possibilities might come in a large number… but the true answer is always one. Everyone is coming from different positions… but at the end, everyone is walking towards the same point.
"… I-I don't get it…" A sweat drop appears on Hun's right side of his head.
You will… eventually.
Hun's mouth flattened a bit.
Hun… are you ready to grow?
"Grow…?" Hun's mouth opened a bit.
This is the first time you will battle a Demon Squid… things will be different from now on, until you have succeeded. This fight will give you experience… your powers will grow, your wisdom will expand.
"Bu-but if I let my powers grow, I-I might start wanting more!" Hun's eyebrows went up. "I-I can't let that happen!"
… are you ready to grow?
"N-no!" Hun's head shook.
Hun… what are your fears?
"… to become meaner…" Hun's mouth downturned.
You know your fears, Hun. You know what to do to not let them happen.
"Do I?!" Sweat began jumping out from Hun's head.
Yes. When you grow, your powers will grow… including those who can fight mistakes.
"Oh…" Hun's eyes grew.
Growing is something we all do… some don't seem to, but that's because they grow more slowly than others. You, on the other hand, have proven to grow rapidly. You understood what I mentioned earlier… and after this battle, you will understand even more. You have the requirements for never letting your fears become real.
Hun's head lowered.
Hun… are you ready to grow?
Hun was inhaling from his nose silently, as his eyes were staring at the platform. His eyes closed for a moment… before raising his head back.
"… yes." Hun nodded.
… once you walk out of this room, don't be afraid of what you will see. Move forward and find the Demon Squid: you have the power to see pure energy.
"Ehm… how did I got it?" Hun stands up.
This room was made to give Masters such power, by letting them stand on the platform you are on. The ceremony is more of a celebration, but in such case it's not really important…
"Oh… I see!" Hun turned behind. "Then… I guess I'm good to go: thank you for the discussion and skill!" Hun smiled, as he began walking towards the shoji.
The boy reached the shoji, as his right hand opened it towards the right side…
"YIKES!" Hun's eyes expanded, as he jumped backwards while his hands went up in the air.
Master!
What's going on?!
Why that face?!
Hun was staring at crowd of small Squids standing above each Inkling: their respective colors were matching the respective Inkling's pupil color.
"Be quiet, please!" Chie turned to her left, watching several adult Inklings. "Master Hun must get used to his new power!"
"Wh-what are those Squids floating above your heads?!" Hun's right forefinger pointed at some floating Squids, one at time.
Those are representing an Inkling's pure energy. Only Inklings possessing affiliations with the Shrine have one of those: when you see one, you can do more than just seeing them.
"Really?!" Hun's eyebrows lowered a bit.
Yes… unfortunately you need more experience with such activity, in order to even know how to use them. However, there is an ability you can get quite easily. It's called Examine. Have you heard of it?
"No…" Hun's head shook.
There are two versions… the normal one can only read someone's mind for that moment. Yours can order a Squid to stand on the Inkling's head and let the Squid speak instead of the Inkling.
"Oh… and how can I do that?" Hun's hands were moving a bit around, as his head tilted upwards.
Since they cannot understand or communicate with our language, you must know how to speak their own language. That's something you have to figure out, unfortunately. Not many Masters knew very well this type of language.
"Ehm… ok…" Hun sighed, as his head went back down.
His eyes were staring at a blue Squid floating above Chie's head.
"… can you understand me?" His eyes closed, as a sweat drop appears on his head's left side. "I… I really need you to stay on her head and"
Chie's eyes expanded, as her mouth flattened.
"Excuse me?!"
"Ah!" Hun jumped, as sweat came out from his head. "I-I… ehm…"
Talking normally doesn't help, Hun.
"Bu-but this language is the only thing I know!" Hun's arms opened wide.
The Squid swam upwards. Hun's mouth opened.
"… eh?!" His arms went down.
The Squid swam back to the previous position…
"… I think I got it!" Hun smiled widely.
His hands rose, as he began pushing down several times. A sweat drop appeared on everyone else's right side of their heads.
"Uhm… maybe…" Sweat covered Hun's forehead.
Hun began pushing his arms down, several times… as more sweat drop appeared on everyone else's heads.
"Ehm… …" Hun's mouth opened a bit. "Ah! Yes!" His right forefinger rose.
Hun's hands went on his head. The Squid went down, resting on Chie's head.
"I did it!" Hun smiled widely, as his hands went down.
The Squid rose away from her head.
"Nooo, w-wait!" Hun's teeth gritted, as his hands went on his head. "I-I told you this! Please!"
The Squid went back on the woman's head.
"… uhm… can you understand me…?" Ink was dropping from the top of his head.
"Uh? Of course I can hear you, Master…" Chie nodded.
"Huh?!" Hun's mouth opened wide for a moment. "Aren't you the little Squid?!"
"Why yes, I am…" Chie smiled.
"Eh?!" Eri's eyes expanded, as her head turned to her left. "Wh-what did you just said?!"
A little Squid?!
What kind of power is this?!
I want it tooo!
"Hey!" Emi frowned, staring at each Inkling. "Silence, please! Master Hun is trying his hardest to help us!"
"Ehm… I was trying to ask you to stay on her head…" Hun sighed.
"I knew that, but I couldn't help you out…" Chie's mouth downturned. "Your gestures were controlling my positions."
"Huh?!" Hun's knees bended a bit.
… it appears I was wrong. Sorry, Hun.
"Ah… it's… is…" Hun's head shook quickly. "Listen: have you seen a purple Squid?"
"He corrupted me!" Chie frowned. "I hated that so much… I don't even want to talk about him."
"No, please!" Hun's eyebrows went up, as his feet walked in place. "I must know where he went! I want to stop him!"
"… are you willing to pay for it…?" Chie's eyelids went to the middle, as her smile reached her cheeks.
"… pay?" A single sweat appeared on Hun's right side of his forehead.
"Yes." Chie nodded. "I would get scared to even remember it, so the damage would be high… buuut the reward might make up for it." Her eyes sparkled.
"I see… well, if that's what you want… I guess I can't just pretend everything." Hun cleared his voice, as his eyes closed for a moment. "Ok, how many coins you need?"
"No no, I don't want currency…" Chie's hands clasped, as her head rose, her opening mouth smiled a bit more and her eyes sparkled even more. "I want… chocolate."
"Oh, that?" Hun chuckles a bit. "Ok! I'll give you chocolate… … actually, I don't have it yet." Hun grins, as his eyes closed. "Can you tell me where I can find"
I'll get it!
No, you will not! I have better ones!
Mines are healthier!
I can find a chocolate bar with candies on it! Much better!
The crowd began sprinting forward.
Get out of my way!
No! I was the one who said to go!
You liar! I'm the responsible: the Master even nodded at that!
Don't stop me!
A huge dust covered the Inklings' backs: Emi and Eri were standing near Chie, watching her.
"... Chie, you know you are this close to go on a real diet." Eri's eyelids lowered to the middle. "Why making things worse?"
"But chocolate makes me happy, Eri!" Chie frowned, turned to her right. "I can't keep my happiness forever… unless I eat chocolate once a day."
"That's garbage from the sweeter waters, you know?!" Eri frowned too. "Garbage who makes people very unhappy!"
"But Eri, I like chocolate too…" Emi's eyebrows went up, bending a bit forward, while her mouth downturned.
"Do you want to get near her same problems?!" Eri turned behind, keeping her bow.
"No, never!" Emi's head shook quickly. "You can eat it occasionally and not become unhappy…"
"Ehm… could you please stop talking about that?" Hun sighed silently, as his mouth downturned a bit.
The twins' heads turned towards him, as both girls smiled widely. Hun's shoulders turned towards Chie.
"Chie, can you tell me something more? I could really use more information…" Hun's head turned to his right for a moment.
"I know nothing more, aside from that…" Chie turned behind. "Well?! Why they are taking so long for that chocolate?!"
"Uh…" His arms bended a bit. "… I wonder how I'll locate that monster with this power."