Matake … Sorcerer?” Tenka asked, both in curiosity and confusion. 

“Didn’t realize the SAIR also has sorcerers,” Okuri said, “I thought it is all laser here laser there.”

Huashin turned off the screen and relaxed her gaze. “Yes, we have sorcerers, but we still keep this low profile - avoiding using the Matake spells out in public, and keeping all operation details away from the public eye,” she said: “It is the same as the Networked Shrines, where even with Matake scrolls, on the surface all these shrines are still proper shrines with Pakdo or Hakuto (百道) religious rituals.”

“No wonder I haven’t heard anything about Matake before joining the SAIR,” Tenka raised her eyebrows and said. 

“So Instructor Huashin, if you were a sorcerer, does that mean you have your own spells?” Jun asked. 

“Formally, I only have one,” Huashin explained, “the way we cast spells is not through chanting some lines from an ancient script, like what you see in video games or Woninsy (Manga/comic) - the spell here is much closer to a codified version of Matake use with a controlled outcome.”

So Matake is something that has been codified and controllable. Araka, now feeling intrigued by the new facts, thought. She asked her a question.

“Instructor Huashin, can you tell us what your spell is?” 

“Hehe,” Huashin smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m going to demonstrate that after grading all your quiz papers. Before that, you need to know one thing: if I use this spell in this room, I can blow a hole right behind you.”

Wait, how could Matake be this powerful? Araka blinked her eyes, I thought it was just some kind of cognitive ability. 

“Sara-cha, that’s scary,” Tenka whispered.

“Instructor Huashin, if I remembered correctly, Matake was about manipulating cognition. So how could that convert to essentially a power beam?” Jun raised his hand and asked. 

“Good question, and that comes down to how spells work. I can go through the details of some common characteristics of Matake spells for days, but to put it simply, you use Matake to coordinate your senses and physical abilities for an output, like transferring your energy to a specific part of the body. And to put that energy in use, we typically use a medium, or a trigger, especially for attack spells.”

“So does that mean Araka could also do that?” Jun asked again, “like blasting through a wall or something?”

“Well, that’s where things get interesting,” Huashin then pulled up a blank sheet on the tablet and drew a rough sketch on that: “for us who acquired Matake ability through training, we would know which part of our body should we focus on because we were trained on that; now for Araka’s case, as I mentioned before, since I have said she is naturally Matake capable, her cognitive ability was able to shift to the optimized form without much input from her mind.”

So this was where my certainty came from? Araka said to herself, I have already been optimized for the Matake field.

“Again, this is mostly my hypothesis, though Anawa and Director Ninfo had largely agreed upon. Anawa might have a better explanation for the specific mechanism, and we can cover that in detail next week. But in summary, Araka was not yet a Matake user, even though she had the foundation to be one, unless she was able to predict where her Matake field would land and act accordingly.”

“So we’re not seeing Araka blowing a hole on the ground while running too fast on the track,” Okuri said.

Sukeo chuckled: “Yeah, at least we don’t have to pave over the track every time the track team is having a training session.”

“Fine. Whatever,” Araka said deadpan. 

“That being said,” Huashin started packing up, “all the information I had just told you was not exactly intended for the general public. Since you have already seen me in action in close proximity, and you have reviewed all the guidelines and even signed on the contract, I would assume all of you will not tell anyone else about it.” She let her words settle: “Or you would face confinement and termination of the internship, and your parents will not be happy to learn about it.”

“But how could we make sure no one else knows Araka actually is Matake capable?” Jun asked, “I mean, if they see Araka was applying Matake, they must notice that, right?”

“Actually, they won’t,” Huashin said calmly, “one thing that makes Matake special is that, in many ways, it is invisible unless it is explicitly wanted to be seen, like channeling or displaying the field in front of another Matake user. The SAIR, the Networked Shrines, and even the federal government have kept all archives mentioning Matake classified, and even if someone in the public heard the term, they would think it is a hoax - there is no systematic explanation of how Matake works available to the public.”

“But still, somehow there are sudden rises of Matake users, or those with similar power unaccounted for,” Sukeo commented under his breath.

“And that is why the current situation is concerning,” Huashin said, “and that is why we are facing a shortage of personnel - we have never seen this level of increase for 30 years, thinking all Matake users had been consolidated under one unified network. Anyway, guess all of you could go for lunch by now, and you should be able to get your grade back after lunch break.”

——

When the interns went back to the lecture room, Huashin had already put the quiz papers on each desk the interns typically sat. She stood composed near the lectern with her tablet turned on. Araka leaned back in her chair, stretching her fingers. She grabbed her quiz paper and flipped to see the result

Eight out of ten were correct, she told herself, I’m doing better than I thought. 

But - 

“…Ah.”

She had written ‘Peni Sara' in the date line, which Huashin circled it out. 

 “Fine …”

Across the room, Jun let out a small sigh from behind his sheet, already guessing what happened.

Meanwhile, next to Araka, Tenka commented on her own result: “I forgot that part, but at least I passed - thought it could be worse.”

As all the interns were seated, Huashin took a look around the room. 

“Well,” she said. “I expected at least one person to blank on the SAIR function part, but you all surprised me.”

Sukeo, from the back, gave Araka a big thumbs-up from across the room. “Good job, Araka.”

Huashin tapped her tablet and turned toward the center screen.

“As promised, since everyone passed—yes, even with some minor placement errors or made up stuff like ‘UFO investigation task force’ or ‘Matake enhancement branch’—  ”

Araka and Tenka smiled awkwardly.

“—you’re now cleared for the full SAIR Central Division 2 internship clearance, which means I am able to demonstrate my spell in front of you.”

The lights dimmed. The screen shifted to a glowing projection of a large training complex layout—walls etched with luminous tracking lines, sensor towers in the corners, and embedded resonance fields projected like a digital haze.

“Welcome to the SAIR Skill Experiment and Development Wing,” Huashin announced. “Some of you may remember it from the entrance simulation. What you are going to see here in Bakju complex was only a fraction of that facility in Niangkee.”

She tapped again.

New images filled the screen: AR-integrated obstacle courses, target dummies laced with sensor plates, and full-body VR projection pods. 

“This is the place where everyone, even including me, trains and experiments with new techniques. This includes all branches of Division 2, not just the Combat and Rescue Branch.”

Araka sat up straighter: maybe I can finally try out the lightsaber here. 

“So is that the place you will show us your Matake spell?” Okuri asked.

“That’s correct,” Huashin said, while zoomed in on one of the images: a white tiled room with bright light, and sensor-like objects scattered around the ceiling and the corners. 

“For the SAIR, each complex is supposed to be Matake-free unless it is fully contained in a controlled environment, and any sudden surge of Matake field would immediately set off the alarm. That is not the case for some of those training rooms, like Training Room 2A,” Huashin explained as she circled on the image: “This one was specifically designed for assessment of Matake users within the SAIR and the Shrine Network. In the worst case, three Matake suppressors - the three camera-like objects you see here - will activate.”

That is more systematic than I thought, Araka gasped - the SAIR treats Matake with protocols, despite not fully knowing what the origin is.  

“As for your request about the weapons, Okuri,” Huashin switched to another image, showing glass cases with weapons in the middle: “This room, Training Room 3B, will be your place. You will not handle these weapons for today, but since you have already seen how a typical SAIR operation would work and you passed the quiz, we're allowed to show you that next week."

That will be where my lightsaber will be at, Araka said in her mind. 

“Now since all of you have strongly requested both things, let’s move on from the lecture room to the training wing, shall we?”

The group, under the guidance of Huashin, now traversed inside the extensive complex of SAIR Central Division 2. After walking through a long corridor leading to the the central block of the main wing, the group stood in front of a pressured door. 

“Welcome to SAIR Central Division 2 Bakju Training Wing.”

The training wing, divided into multiple rooms, hummed with the faint noise of Matake sensors and the simulation console. 

“Here is Training Room 2A.” Huashin tapped her keycard and said. 

As soon as the group entered, the walls adjusted to simulation mode with blue hex-lights flickering along the ceiling. Then, the group clustered around the weapon display case. Inside were trays lined with different models of Matake suppressors and sensors and compact shield units. Further away down the cluster, a small, unassuming black rod not much longer than a penlight was placed inside a separate glass case. 

Huashin stepped over to the weapons box, opened the panel, and without a word, she picked up the rod.

The room quieted as the interns focused on the rod. 

She held it in her right hand, and as she moved her thumb along the side to a bottom, the wand expanded with a round tip. 

“This,” she said, while pointing at the further end of the room, “is my primary weapon and my spell medium. It’s not a blade or a gun.”

“Wait, Instructor Huashin,” Jun cut in, “Are you going to shoot out a beam from the rod?”

Huashin didn’t respond. Instead, she spoke out: “Weimin, set up the targets for my demo.”

“Copy that,” a young man’s voice passed through the speaker, “should be ready in 3 minutes.”

She then turned toward the five interns: “Now I’m going to show you how my spell works - no chanting, no coloured explosions, only bursts of energy and light.”

Jun furrowed his brow. “But Instructor Huashin, if people saw this on live TV, how would you explain it without bringing up the term Matake?”

“All SAIR operational details, especially the Matake uses. are not required to be fully disclosed to the public,” Huashin said while watching the target - a white wall - raised from the further end: “Everything you see now could be reframed in public as drone uses and impacts of specialized energy rounds.”

From aside, Araka’s mind sensed something moving in Huashin - a cluster of energy started to gather around the torso and started moving toward the rod. 

Then, before Araka could track down where the energy goes, a small spark emerge at the tip of the rod, and then -

A blue beam, emitting from the spark, went straight toward the wall without taking detours. Within seconds, the beam passed clean through the obstacle, leaving a visible hole on the wall without a burnt mark.

Tenka’s jaw dropped. “What - what was that?!” She gasped. 

Jun squinted his eyes and said: “This - this has to be something else.”

As the room calmed down from the bra, Huashin lowered the rod slowly. However, instead of talking in her analytical tone, her voice slipped. 

“…Ugh—” Huashin moaned, with her voice softened like a young middle school girl: “Su-Sukeo?”

“Yes?”

“Can you grab that orange can from the side fridge? The one with the triangle logo. I—I need that one. Not the—uh—the green thing, that one’s gross…” Huashin said, barely holding the rod.

Sukeo grabbed the can. “Wait, you drink this? Something with 500SK energy? That’s a whole meal.”

“Just give it to me,” Huashin, barely standing, extended her other arm, gesturing to Sukeo.

As the can was passed to Huashin, she cracked it open, took two long gulps, then exhaled like someone who had just fought a war with her mortal enemy.

“…Thanks. That’s better,” Her voice gradually returned to normal as the sugar and chemicals kicked in. 

She straightened up again and looked at the class: “That,” she said, “is why I only have one spell and I don’t use that spell unless I have to.”

Jun raised an eyebrow: “Does it drain your focus?”

“Drain everything,” Huashin muttered. “Basically I just used this wand here to convert my Matake field into an energy beam through activation mechanisms inside the wand. In simple terms: a fireball powered by the energy of my Matake field.”

Tenka blinked her eyes and commented: “That sounds energy consuming and even painful.”

Huashin nodded. “It is, and while I’m good at it, I’m also exhausted.”

She looked over her shoulder with a voice now a little more grounded: “That’s what happens when you're the only sorcerer who also has to do all conventional investigations, paperwork, and teaching at the same time.”

Sukeo leaned against the console. “So that’s why you’re carrying pistols all the time.”

“Exactly. For me, the spells are a last resort, or at least the hidden card. Not just because of the damage it could cause, but also the energy it needs and the cost on the sorcerers.”

“…But Marinda from the SAIR-North never mentioned that kind of energy cost,” Jun said, “she seems quite normal.” 

Huashin gave a tired chuckle, the kind that barely escapes a throat still aching from the exhaustion.

“Well,” Huashin said, “If you’re talking about Otanaku Marinda, then she’s an exception."

Araka blinked. “Otanaku…?” 

Huashin shook her head before the connection was fully drawn: “Ah, I see. I need to be more careful here - not everyone who carries the surname Otanaku is part of this lineage. The one I was talking about was the Kenzan Otanaku clan (琴山烏海家), the founder of the Shrine Network. All foundational theories me and other certified Matake users learned are largely based on their archives.”

Otanaku Leana, Araka repeated the name in her mind again. Even with Huashin’s clarification, Araka still didn’t seem to be convinced - Leana also speaks with a Kenzan accent, her mind was also sharp, and more importantly she looked surprisingly similar to Marinda at first glance other than having long purple hair. Could she also know more about the origin of Matake? 

I’m going to find out, Araka told herself.