Inside the small kitchen of the castle, the air was filled with the faint aroma of sea salt and fresh seafood. Two individuals were busy at the wooden counter, examining a basket of bright red crustaceans. Bernard and Yamato were huddled over it, the former with a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"So, what's the plan for these?" Yamato asked, poking one of the prawns. "I'm fine just eating them raw."
"Well, I only know how to boil them, but trust me, they turn out great," Bernard said, grinning as he picked up one of the prawns. "A friend of mine showed me his special way of cooking."
Blackguard Big Boggart. Say what you will about the man, but his prawns are the best in the Land Between.
"As long as it's filling." Yamato shrugged. She wasn't picky; food was fuel for fighting. After her recent clash with Kaido, some proper nourishment wouldn't hurt.
As Bernard grabbed a bucket and began cleaning the prawns, Yamato's hands automatically set to preparing some vegetables, though her mind drifted away from the task at hand.
Her thoughts wandered back to a few days prior, to the rocky shores of the beach where she had once again confronted her father, Kaido, in a duel.
She had thrown everything she had at him, all her power and determination, but he had effortlessly swatted her aside as though she were nothing more than a troublesome fly. She had awoken face down in the sand outside the front gate of the castle, bruised and frustrated.
"Next time, I'll crush him," she muttered to herself, glaring at the waves crashing against the shore. The sight filled her with a longing to escape her father's shadow and set out on her own adventure, just like her idol, Kozuki Oden.
The sight of the waves crashing against the shore filled her with longing, a deep yearning to escape the confines of her father's domain and embark on her own journey, just like her idol, Kozuki Oden.
Her gaze suddenly caught something strange near the water. There was a dark, swirling spot on the shore, almost like a shadow but thicker, more alive.
She frowned, gripping her club as she walked closer. The black mass was growing larger and seemed to be moving.
"What the hell is that?" she wondered aloud.
She leaped down the rocky slope toward the beach, her club ready at her side. As she drew nearer, the black spot expanded into a swirling mist. The black mass was growing larger and seemed to be moving. Yamato's muscles tensed, ready for a fight.
The swirling mass of darkness twitched and then, in a blink, expelled a man onto the sand. He was clad in dark robes, and he lay completely still. Yamato kept her distance, watching the mist rapidly shrink and vanish without a trace.
"Is this some kind of Devil Fruit user?" she murmured, inching closer with her weapon raised.
She nudged him with her foot, but he didn't respond. Now that she was up close, She crouched down to examine the man, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his face. He was handsome.
"Guess I should take him back to the castle," she decided, hoisting him up onto her shoulder."If you're trouble, I'll just smash your skull in."
Carrying him back to the castle, Yamato couldn't shake the sense of curiosity that tugged at her mind.
Back in the kitchen, Bernard's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Hey, Oden! You ready to eat?"
"Huh?" Yamato blinked. "Oh, yeah, sure."
Bernard had set out a couple of plates piled high with steaming prawns and some other simple dishes.
"It's nothing fancy," he said, "but it should taste all right."
They dug in, and for a while, the only sounds were the cracking of prawn shells and satisfied chewing. But Yamato noticed Bernard giving her a curious look, like he'd been waiting to ask her something.
"Oh yeah, what did you want to ask?" she asked, swallowing a mouthful of prawn.
"Well, I've been wondering," Bernard said, setting down his chopstick. "Can you tell me more about Wano? This place seems... very different from where I come from."
Yamato launched into an explanation, recounting Wano's history, the tyranny of Kaido, the legendary tales of Oden, and what little she knew of the wider world. Bernard listened in silence, absorbing her words with a look of genuine interest and amazement.
When she finished, Bernard was silent for a moment, as if he was processing everything. He seemed unusually unaware of basic facts about the world, but Yamato decided not to press him on it.
"Wow," he finally said. "This Oden guy really does sound like a hero. It's no wonder you look up to him."
Yamato's cheeks tinged slightly at his words, her voice brimming with pride, "Of course! Oden is the greatest samurai who ever lived. One day, I'm going to be just like him and set out on an epic adventure!"
"Sounds like a worthy goal." Bernard grinned.
He leaned forward, his tone suddenly more serious. "This Haki you mentioned... can you teach it to me?"
"Haki?" Yamato raised an eyebrow, surprised at his request. "You're serious?"
"Absolutely," Bernard nodded.
"It sounds like a powerful tool. If I could master it, it would definitely make me several levels stronger!" Bernard let out a toothy grin.
The prospect of mastering a new power thrilled him. He had always sought ways to strengthen himself, and Haki seemed to be the perfect addition to his arsenal. With the ability to sense, defend, and attack with Haki, he would feel much more confident in combat.
Yamato's expression softened into a smile. "Well, sure, I can teach you, but I'm not exactly a teacher. I'll do my best, but don't expect it to be easy."
"In return, I'll teach you some magic." Bernard extended his hand across the table with a playful smirk. "Sound fair?"
"Deal!" Yamato's rough hand clasped his with surprising gentleness, her grip warm and firm. "Treat me well, sorcerer Bernard!"
With that agreement, they finished their meal and settled down for the night, each in their own corner of the castle. Bernard lay on a thin mat, his thoughts drifting back over his journey as he was staring up at the ceiling. From the struggles and hardships of the Land Between to this moment of peaceful respite. For the first time in a long while, he felt... content. This wasn't home, but it felt good.
The next morning, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the beach. Bernard stood on a rocky outcrop near the shore, listening to the waves crashing gently against the sand. Yamato was in front of him, leaning on her club like a cane.
"Let's get started," she began, shifting into a teacher's tone, "Haki is a power that exists within every living being in this world. However, not everyone has the potential to awaken it."
She held up three fingers, "There are three main types: Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki."
"Start with Observation Haki," Yamato instructed, "It's about sensing the presence of others, their emotions, and even their intentions. Skilled users can predict their opponent's movements before they happen."
"Sounds like a sixth sense," Bernard commented. "How do I start?"
"Close your eyes," Yamato instructed, "Try to feel everything around you. The breeze, the heat of the sun, the sounds of the ocean. Focus on those sensations, then reach out beyond them. Feel my presence."
Bernard did as instructed, shutting his eyes and tuning in to his environment. He could sense the air moving across his skin, hear the distant cries of seabirds, and smell the salt in the air.
But to detect another living being? That was entirely different. He reached deeper into himself, trying to extend his awareness outward.
At first, there was nothing but the faint hum of his surroundings. Then, just as he was about to grow frustrated, he sensed something—a bright, warm presence burning directly in front of him.
That's Yamato. She's surprisingly stronger than I thought.
He thought, focusing on the feeling. Her energy was powerful and unwavering, almost like a roaring fire. He could sense it moving, growing stronger as she took a step closer. Then, suddenly, he felt a small flick of energy, followed by a light touch on his shoulder.
Bernard opened his eyes with a jolt. "I heard that!" he exclaimed. "It's like… I sensed, no, hear what you were going to do."
"Good job," Yamato said, grinning, "You've taken your first step in mastering Observation Haki."
They moved on to Armament Haki next.
"This is the ability to use your spirit as armor," Yamato explained, coating her arm in a black metallic sheen, "It allows you to harden your body or weapon to increase the force of your attacks and block incoming strikes."
She gestured for Bernard to try. He closed his eyes again, concentrating on his inner spirit, and tried to force it outward. He envisioned it like a layer of armor, protecting his skin.
A slight tingling sensation crept over his arm, but the metallic sheen never formed.
"Keep practicing," Yamato grinned and encouraged, "It's like hammering metal. You need to work at it before it takes shape."
Finally, they talked about Conqueror's Haki.
Yamato's expression got more serious, "This one's different. You can't just train for it. You either have it, or you don't. It's about using your willpower to dominate others."
She released a burst of her own Conqueror's Haki, and Bernard felt an intense pressure weighing down on him. The air seemed to vibrate with intensity, crackles with energy whipped out randomly.
Bernard's surroundings grew dimmer, as if reality itself was bending under the force of his will. He had to steady himself to keep from stumbling.
When she pulled back the energy, the crushing sensation lifted. The air around them returned to normal.
Bernard took a deep breath. "So, it's like a power play, where you crush other people's spirits?"
"Exactly," Yamato confirmed. "Haki isn't just a tool in combat; it's an expression of one's spirit and determination. The stronger your resolve, the stronger your Haki."
Bernard took in a deep breath, his eyes shining with determination. "I understand. Thank you, Yamato, for teaching me this."
Bernard's mind began thinking of ways to examine himself to see if he actually possessed the ability to wield Conqueror's Haki. You need a strong willpower and desire for one's inner haki to emerge and dominate others.
"I still don't know if you'll be able to awaken Conqueror's Haki," Yamato gave him a guilty smile and said with a hint of apology in her voice, "but you've already made good progress with the others."
"You've already taught me a lot," Bernard assured her and smiled charmingly. "And now, it's my turn to teach you magic."
Bernard sensed a considerable amount of mana within Yamato. She definitely had the potential to use basic magic, but whether she could reach his level remained uncertain.
Not to brag, but Bernard had always been among the top sorcerers in the Land Between. He hadn't received a standard education in magic—after all, the world had gone to shit, but he had learned from a few skilled mentors, especially his teacher, Sellen.
A wave of sadness washed over him as he remembered Sellen's tragic fate, even if it had happened decades ago.
Yamato's eyes sparkled with excitement, her eyes literally lit up like a star. She immediately sat down, she had a beautiful smile on her face as she patted the ground in front of her, beckoning for Bernard to join.
"Bring it on!"
Seeing her childlike enthusiasm, Bernard couldn't help but smile warmly, pushing aside his brief sadness. For the first time in a long while, he felt like more than just a wanderer—he felt like a mentor and a friend.
Author: Heyo, thanks for reading the my story, I'm still dipping my feet in writing, any tips or ideas are welcomed. I wanna improve so don't hold back!
