Over the next several days, Araka, with the guidance of Master Kinekama, Yon, and Hakasa, progressed fast in acquiring the improved vision spell: during the first two days, she learned striking stationary targets wearing a pair of translucent silver eye covers, while reducing the visibility each time; by the third day, even inside a completely darkened room, Araka could now locate and strike targets while fully blindfolded. While her first attempts had been hesitant, sometimes even missing by the width of a hand, but eventually she was able to do so without much trouble. 

Eventually, Kinekama decided that stationary targets were no longer enough.

“Now Araka needed an actual opponent,” she commented after seeing Araka cutting through a rolled mat blindfolded.

Yon nodded and said: “Master Kinekama, Hakasa will take care of the next part.”

—

Late that evening, the rear courtyard of Shimana Shrine had become their training ground. The lamps surrounding the courtyard had been extinguished, leaving only faint moonlight filtering through the trees.

Araka stood at one end.

A dark blindfold completely covered her eyes.

In her hands was a practice replica of her familiar weapon, made from a soft wood-fibre composite and produced to match its proportions without the weight or danger of the real thing.

Across from her stood Hakasa.

Her own enormous sword had received the same treatment: a 3D-printed practice replica large enough to imitate the reach and handling of her actual weapon, while soft enough for sparring.

Nearby, Yon, Huashin and Kinekama watched.

Huashin folded her arms.

“I still can’t believe Araka progressed this quickly.”

“Neither can I,” Kinekama admitted.

That answer surprised Huashin. “Master Kinekama, is that really the case?” She asked.

Kinekama smiled. “Then why do you think I decided to stay?”

Her attention remained fixed on Araka. “I thought I would merely help correct the foundations of an unusual trainee, but instead, I now find myself  watching the completion of a new generation of Matake sorcerers.”

Yon glanced toward her.

Kinekama continued more softly: “For some time, I wondered whether enough of what my generation preserved would survive.”

She looked toward Yon, then to Araka.

“But now…” she gently said: “I can see three generations are actively carrying it forward.”

Yon smiled. “Master Kinekama, that’s quite a compliment to put on us.”

“Good.” Kinekama’s smile widened. “Then don’t waste it.”

At the edge of the courtyard, Jinhui raised the small hand bell.

Araka adjusted her grip.

Hakasa lowered her centre of gravity.

Ring!

Araka made her move first. She sprinted directly toward Hakasa. Then, she wielded her lightsaber. Before her practice blade came forward, Hakasa stepped sideways.

Araka sensed the displacement immediately.

Right, she said to herself. She adjusted her field, and sensed something large was approaching from that direction. Araka jumped sideways just as Hakasa’s blade swept through the space where she had been standing. 

Soon after, Araka landed further away and recovered her stance.

Hakasa smiled. “Not bad, Araka,” she said as she repositioned the enormous practice sword over her shoulder. “Much better than what I saw from you during the entrance exam battle simulation last year.”

Araka smiled beneath the blindfold.

“Thank you, Hakasa-sa.” She channeled the message through her Matake field.

Yet, Hakasa didn't wait until Araka to attack this time. Instead, she began circling her.

Araka, sensing the movement, turned herself accordingly, but before Araka could react, Hakasa also changed her direction for another time. 

Araka followed again.

Then Hakasa accelerated.

Left? No — right? Araka grasped the situation in her mind while tightening her grip.

Then, she sensed something.

Behind me? How is Hakasa-sa appearing everywhere while carrying something that big?

The presence moved again.

Araka remembered the elaborate move by Hakasa during the Milo crisis, in which she was able to defeat the rogue Matake users with far more stamina than her. This time, however, Araka had to face the exact move but against her.

Where is it? Araka said to herself while trying to regain focus. 

Then Araka sensed something behind her.

There!

Hakasa had already swung her sword, with both hands wrapped around the grip as the massive practice blade descended.

Araka threw herself forward and rolled herself along the gravel ground. 

The blade passed narrowly behind her, and Araka could feel her shrine robe move against the wind produced by the swing. 

As soon as Araka recovered her balance, she jumped up  around and raised her own weapon.

Then, the two practice blades collided. Araka, gritted her own teeth, tried to push her blade against Hakasa’s wide blade.

“That’s not how you should use your laser blade,” Hakasa whispered, “In actual combat, my blade would have cut through yours easily and head directly toward you.” She then pushed Araka’s practice blade away and sent Araka backward. 

Araka’s expression went blank beneath the blindfold: is … is that the case Hakasa-sa didn’t even try her best? 

Before Hakasa could attack again, Araka shifted sideways and retreated to a further ground using her speed. She let her mind focus under her blindfold and started thinking about her next move. 

Hakasa could sprint while carrying the sword this heavy, and swinging it freely, and even use its width as a shield, at close range — at close range, my thin lightsaber wouldn’t even hold up against the enormous weight of Hakasa’s blade.

So what’s the weakness? Araka thought, there has to be one. 

Her pace is already compromised because of the blindfold on her eyes—

Araka stopped, and she let her spark of idea sink in. Then, a small smile appeared on her face.

If Hakasa-sa knew I could sense her, but also knowing me being blindfolded — right!

Araka deliberately hesitated as Hakasa approached. Just before the blade landed on her shoulder, she stumbled half a step as though she had detected it at the last possible moment. As Hakasa pressed forward, Araka retreated again with another narrow dodge.

From the side, Kinekama nodded: “It seems like Araka is developing her own technique on surviving attacks from someone stronger than her.”

Huashin nodded: “I never really thought Araka could survive all these many attacks from Hakasa, let alone being blindfolded.”

After dodging another swing, Araka’s Matake field vision landed on somewhere further — a large tree on the southwest corner of the courtyard, with its roots sticking out from the ground. 

That’s the place I’m looking for, she said to herself. 

Before Hakasa could launch another attack, Araka suddenly sprinted toward the edge of the courtyard 

Hakasa quickly followed. So she’s trying to get to somewhere I can’t swing properly. Hakasa thought, I have to intercept Araka before she reaches the corner.

Araka heard the approaching footsteps behind her.

Just one more second, she said to herself while sprinting.

Then, Hakasa entered Araka’s Matake field. 

Now! 

Just before reaching the tree, Araka suddenly dropped low as if she tripped herself. 

Hakasa’s eyes widened.

With the momentum of the heavy sword on her hand, stopping wasn’t an option. 

She jumped high

The enormous practice sword passed over Araka as Hakasa cleared her body — exactly as Araka had hoped.

As Hakasa moved past Araka, Araka planted her hands against the ground, and with one push, Araka launched herself upward and back into motion.

Before Hakasa could regain her balance, something was touching Hakasa’s back. When she turned around, she found Araka's practice blade pointing at her. 

“Gotcha,” Araka said with a small smirk.

Further away, Yon had already raised his hand. “Great work, both of you.”

The match ended.

For several seconds, Araka remained completely still. She pulled off the blindfold, letting the moonlight return to her eyes.

She looked toward Hakasa: “Hakasa-sa, I didn’t mean to do that, but … I couldn’t think of a better— ”

“It’s okay, Araka,” Hakasa stuck her sword to the gravel ground and brushed off the sweat and said, “I mean, your trick works this time — which is good cause not many people could realize that is actually my weakness.”

“So I passed?”

“For this part, yeah,” Hakasa let out a breath and said, “But from now on, if we work together, I’m expecting you to cover for me as well.”

In the distance, Jinhui poured another cup of tea for Kinekama. Before the cup went half way full, Kinekama gestured Jinhui to stop.

“Master Kinekama?”

Kinekama took a sip of the tea and said: “If this is how the future of Matake sorcerers would look like, then I guess the elders shouldn’t worry too much about the future of Matake.”