Despite Kato's readiness to start training early the next day, Kato wasn’t prepared for Ervin to come bursting through his room and wake him up at 6:10 AM.

Ervin: RISE AND SHINE YOU SLEEPY HEAD!!!!!!!!

Kato: (groggily) What?! 

Ervin: TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR TRAINING!!!!!! GET EXCITED!!!!!!!!!

Kato: (grumbles) What's with the chummy attitude?

Ervin: TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR TRAINING!!!!!! GET UP!

Kato grumbled and turned away from Ervin to try and continue his sleep but then Ervin flipped Kato's bed which caused Kato to fall to the ground.

Kato: (fully awake) HEY!! What did you do that for???!!!

Ervin: TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR TRAINING!!!!!!!! NOW LET'S GO!!!!!!! 

Kato: (grumbling) Alright, alright. 

Ervin led Kato to the training grounds atop the mountain behind the Hashido estate main house. To get to the top, they needed to climb a bunch of stairs which took forever and Kato thought they'd never get to the top..

Finally they did. 

As they finally got to the top, Kato saw that two men were already there. From their sleepy expressions they had on their faces, Ervin had likely used the same wake up method for them.

Ervin: Oh good. Everyone is here..

Kato: Who are they?

Ervin: They're the ones who are going to train you.

Kato: I thought that was what you were doing.

Ervin: Oh I'm still going to train you… they're the ones you'll be seeing more often.

Kato: (to himself) Then I guess I won't have to wake up this early ever again. 

Ervin cleared his throat and pointed to the first man who had faded blonde hair and a tired look which made Kato think he always carried that kind of look even if he wasn't forced to wake up early. 

Ervin: Kato, this is Kayomi. He's one of the closest people I've known. We've basically been friends since birth.

Kayomi: Shut up. 

Ervin: See? We're best buds. He's the one who's going to handle your shadow technique training. 

Kayomi approached Kato and stretched out his hands for a handshake. 

Kayomi: Nice to see you, young Kato.

Kato: It's nice to meet you too sir (to himself) Young Kato? Why's he calling me that?

Ervin then moved his gaze to the second man who had dark green hair and looked younger than Kayomi. 

Ervin: And this is Arou.

Arou also shook Kato with a tired smile on his face. 

Kato: Nice to meet you, Mr. Arou.

Arou: Please, just call me Arou. And it's nice to meet you Kato.

Kato: So why are you here with us, Arou?

Ervin: Arou is here to train you in hand-to-hand combat.

Kato: Then what exactly are you teaching me, Mr Ervin?

Ervin: I'm teaching you about Shadow energy. And I'm starting right now.

Kato: (scratches his head) Did it have to be so early though?

Ervin: I can't help it. I have important things to take care of so I had to start today. So in order to not waste anybody's time further, I'm going to start my explanation now.

Kato: (sighs) Fine. 

Ervin cleared his throat and then his demeanor changed as he spoke again.

Ervin: Shadow Energy is the energy that flows in every shadow and it can be harnessed by every shadow and used to power shadow techniques and enhance physical attacks. It's the same thing with light energy but the only difference is that shadow energy changes the nature of techniques. The same way a technique would look when it's powered with light energy will always differ from the way the technique will look when it's powered with shadow energy.

Kato: For real?

Kayomi cleared his throat. 

Kayomi: Yes. The different natures of both energies as well as the user play a role in how a technique is used and how it appears. 

Kato folded his arms, clearly fascinated by what he was hearing. 

Ervin: Shadow energy enhances techniques and physical attacks. You'll start by learning to control it and improve your hand to hand combat skills.

Kato: So what does a shadow technique look like? 

Ervin turned to Kayomi. 

Ervin: Kayomi, could you show Kato your shadow technique?

Kayomi sighed and then nodded his head. 

Kayomi: [BLACK: SHADOW HARDENING] 

Kayomi’s skin on his arms suddenly hardened and changed to a texture that resembled stone. 

Kato: WOAH!!!!!!!

Kayomi: This is SHADOW HARDENING. It hardens any part of my body like a shadow monster’s skin, making me impenetrable to weapons and reducing physical damage.

Kato: You can do that???

Kayomi nodded his head. 

Kato: AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Kayomi: The drawback is it consumes a lot of shadow energy. (deactivates technique)

Kato: Then why did you say “black” before you activated your technique?

Ervin: All Shadow techniques have to be vocally activated by saying “Black”. For Clarions, they always activated their techniques by saying “White”. 

Kato: Is there a particular reason as to why you have to do that?

Arou: It's an ancient tradition. You always do that so you can shape the energy you're about to use. I don't really get it all either but if you don't chant black or white, your technique will not activate.

Kato’s eyes widened more in amazement. 

Kato: Woah......that's amazing. Do you have a shadow technique, Arou?

Arou: Yes I do, but I'd rather not show it here. 

Kato: So, if you all have shadow techniques, does that mean I have one too?

Ervin: You should, but as of right now, you don't. 

Kato: How come? 

Ervin: Well, you just became a shadow and we don't know if you're linked to any clans so the possibility of an hereditary technique is out of the question. Secondly, when a Shadow or Clarion doesn't have a hereditary technique, it's usually their personal life experiences that shape up the kind of technique that their shadow energy ends up creating. That hasn't happened for you yet. So right now, you don't have anything. 

Kato: (gloomy face) For real?

Ervin: Nevertheless we can teach you other shadow techniques.

Kato: How come?

Ervin: Aside from those conditions I just mentioned, not everything eventually awakens a technique so they can just learn ones from others. And that's what you're going to do..

Kato: Oh… I see. 

Ervin: Did you get all of that?

Kato: (scratches his head) It all sounds really complicated but I think I got the hang of it.

Ervin: And that's not even all of it. 

Kato: Huh??? There's more 

Ervin: Yes but I’ve given you the basics for now. Arou will handle your combat training, and Kayomi will teach you general shadow techniques and you'll be doing both simultaneously.

Arou: Let’s get started, Kato.

Kato: Right!!!!

**********

The Hashido estate sat on the outskirts of Benville City, nestled near a towering mountain that locals believed was an ancient volcano capable of erupting at any moment. Because of that fear, people stayed far away, making the area the perfect place for the Hashido family to hide in plain sight.

The entire estate was protected by a powerful barrier. It detected intruders and distorted perception, preventing the estate from being seen from the outside world.

But today would be the first time the barrier failed.

At the northwest corner of the estate, hidden among thick bushes and twisted trees, a lone figure approached the invisible wall. He took a deep breath and stepped forward. The barrier rippled slightly, then let him pass.

He waited.

Seconds turned into minutes and no alarms or signals were made. 

The figure smiled.

Stepping out of the shadows, Kenny’s face came into full view. He glanced down at the pendant resting against his chest and let out a quiet chuckle.

Kenny: Getting through that barrier was easier than I thought. “_____” really came through with this pendant.

Suddenly, another presence emerged from the darkness. A second figure stepped forward, his face hidden beneath the shadows.

???: I see you made it in.

Kenny turned, recognition flashing across his face.

Kenny: The pendant you gave me worked perfectly. So what’s the next phase of the plan?

???: You wait.

Kenny frowned.

Kenny: Wait? Why would I wait? I can take Kato Hamura right now, just like we planned.

???: Ervin Hashido is on the premises.

The moment Kenny heard the name, his expression changed.

Kenny: I see… So how long am I waiting?

The man in the shadows raised a single finger.

???: One week.

Kenny: One week? Why?

???: The estate is crawling with high-level Shadows. You can handle them. But the moment Ervin Hashido gets involved, it’s over. You won’t make it out alive. Taking Kato while Ervin is here is impossible.

Kenny clenched his jaw.

Kenny: First y'all break me out of custody and now this? Seems too much, don't you think? Then what am I supposed to do?

???: You wait. Within a week, Ervin will have a reason to leave the estate. When he does, I’ll tell you where Kato is. You take him. If anything feels off before then, you retreat immediately. Understood?

Kenny thought for a moment, then nodded.

Kenny: Understood. I’ll stay here and wait.

???: Good. That pendant should keep you hidden from the barrier. But if it stops working for any reason… run.

Kenny gave a short nod.

The man in the shadows vanished, leaving Kenny alone in the heart of the Hashido estate, waiting for the right moment to strike.