"I was hoping to hear more about spirit animals, myself," you say. "What about you, Altria?"
"I was more interested in learning why it is that Master Shiden believes that I might be considered a relative of his associates, despite being European when they are most likely Japanese," the blonde replies.
"As it happens," Shiden says, "I can answer the latter. I have some knowledge of the former topic, but my wife is much better prepared to discuss it. If that is acceptable to you?"
It's fine by you, and by Altria.
Shiden proceeds to explain that the clan that he has been referring to are indeed Japanese - now. Centuries earlier, however, they were known to intermarry with other families that had similar associations with the dragons, as a way of diversifying and strengthening the bloodlines, as well as personal and political ties between the various groups. The majority of these marriages were with dragon-blessed clans from the continent, but others had more distant origins - he knows of a Roman gladius that the clan preserves as an ancestral relic. The practice waned as the old bloodlines failed, some of them dying out, others losing their traditions to the great tide of history, until only this one clan remained intact, but there has always been the hopeful possibility that some distant descendant of one of the lost clans might reawaken their lineage. It's true that Altria's powerful aura and ability to channel it as a weapon are not traits exclusive to or even indicative of the dragon lineages - your own capabilities in those fields, and those of competitors like Kurokami Medaka and Shuzen Kahlua, prove otherwise - but when combined with a report that the girl has a dragon in her soul, it was something that had to be looked into.
It doesn't take too long for Shiden to finish his explanation, and once he's done, Ayame begins talking about spirit beasts. As she said earlier, it's quite rare for anyone to see their animal guide so clearly; usually some sort of ceremony is required to notice the entities at all. Ayame describes a variety of animal forms and the traits associated with them, and mentions how those qualities can differ from culture to culture, yet still be "correct" even when they are flatly contradictory. The Boar, for example, is considered an aggressive, even warlike totem in some Western cultures, while from an Eastern perspective, it is seen as a sociable, patient spirit that prefers to avoid conflict; both traditions acknowledge its stubborn nature, as well as a certain tie to the mystical world, but make no allusion whatsoever to the popular perception of pigs as dirty, gluttonous creatures. In fact, the Boar is often a symbol of hospitality and generosity. When you ask about it, Ayame confirms that all humans have animal guides, even if they never make contact with them, and that part-humans, as well as nonhumans whose species are native to Earth, also have spirit beasts - though such heritage can interfere with the connection, or restrict the animal spirit to certain forms. A hanyou, for instance, would almost always have his youkai parent's true form as his totem spirit - this example is followed by a brief sideline about Japan's shapeshifting phantom beasts, which you're informed are not demons, despite that being the common Western translation of their collective title. Ayame confesses to uncertainty about whether or not actual demons can have spirit beasts, or what form they would take. She also tells you that the shape and nature of one's animal guide is not a clear indication of the person's own nature; it's not uncommon for the two to be drastically different.
Aside from the general overview of animal guides, Ayame also describes a couple of methods she is familiar with that would allow you or Altria to consciously invoke the image of your spirit beasts. She cautions that these are not guaranteed to establish contact with your guides, let alone a dialogue, since each spirit has its own requirements for allowing itself to be seen and spoken with, and those can vary widely even among people who share a totem. Still, the techniques will at least let the spirits know that you are ready to hear them out, if they wish to reveal themselves, and can be easily built upon to establish more potent and lasting connections.
Ayame talks for quite a bit longer than her husband; the subject matter is clearly of interest to her, and the easy manner in which she discusses it makes you think that it's not a topic her family considers to be in any way secret. Odds are you could have found out this much, if not more, just by poking around in the right library - but this way, you get to hear it from someone who is at least a knowledgeable enthusiast, if not a professional. She's also much nicer to listen to than most of your teachers at school.
Gained Totem of the Raging Boar F++
Gained Totemic Knowledge F+
Perhaps half an hour on, you notice Hayate - who has to this point been listening to his mother as intently as you, Altria, and Kasumi have - glancing at a nearby digital clock and frowning.
"What is it, Hayate?" Ayame asks, pausing.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Mother. It's just that my next match is coming up."
"Has it been an hour already?" Ayame looks a bit embarrassed. "Goodness, I completely lost track of the time."
She's not the only one. Checking the clock, you realize that it's almost a quarter after two.