The training slowed. It wasn't that Obai wasn't practicing, but recently Nova would occasionally leave for a few days before coming back to teach him. It didn't happen much, but it became much more noticeable over the past year.
Riruka didn't seem to mind. She snatched at the opportunity to learn more while Obai's progress stunted. She'd constantly ask him to spar or nag him with questions on how to perceive energy. It had been eighteen months, yet Riruka still couldn't figure it out. Her desperation had grown stronger too, eventually resorting to begging Obai for everything he knew.
As much as Obai loved to be better than Riruka at something, he couldn't get why she was struggling so much. Even though Nova wouldn't allow her to learn anything, Obai had ended up spilling on some of the lessons he'd been given.
Riruka was annoying, but he wasn't going to be cruel.
It was a hot and sunny day when the two children sparred for their hundredth time in the field outside their house. Although the sun burned ruthlessly into their skin, they preferred the open grass to the rough dirt of the fruit farm.
Wood smacked against each other repetitively as the bokken smacked against the other after each marvelous swirl. Obai sweated as he swung his bokken back and forth like a brute, blocking each attack with a second to spare. Riruka made effective cuts and jabs, attempting to dance her way around Obai's frustrating defense.
But he was always one step ahead of her.
As her thoughts drifted, her form worsened, and suddenly, Riruka's hand was empty.
"That's my tenth win in a row now. Admit it, I'm better," Obai teased.
Riruka huffed heavily as she allowed her body to collapse to all fours.
Every fight had gone like that. The two of them would match each other's attacks, prolonging the fight as long as possible. Then Riruka would get disarmed.
Obai's energy perception had grown exceptionally, reaching the point where he could confidentially predict each of Riruka's moves, giving him an extra half-second of reaction time. However, he couldn't grow arrogant. Riruka's skill and technique with the sword outclassed his in every way, thanks to the self-training she gave herself whenever Obai ran the trial with Nova.
The young girl sighed. "You... have worse skill than a panda."
Obai's face reddened. "Then you move slower than a sloth!" he shouted.
The wind rushed past them as they glared into each other's eyes. Riruka's face puffed up as she held back the air that desperately wanted to burst into laughter.
She failed spectacularly.
The girl giggled a storm as she pushed herself back up to her feet. The power from her laugh overwhelmed Obai, forcing him to break too.
"Ah man... what'd I miss?"
A glowing young woman with long, white hair stepped out from nowhere to greet the maniacal children. The air chilled as she glided closer to the two children, and her eyes glowed as she forced a smile to illuminate her face.
Obai caught his breath as he turned to greet Nova, bragging about his new winning streak. Riruka continued to defend her performance, but it was no use as the three of them continued to chat until the heat became unbearable.
Nova led them behind the house to a shaded area surrounded by the nearby fruit trees and a stable for the horses. Riruka jumped onto a stack of crates piled next to the back entrance and sat on the top one.
Nova kept pacing as she swung her body around to face Obai, who followed last.
Then, her pale demeanor turned serious.
"Obai, I have a favor to ask you."
The young boy slumped down on the ground, resting his back against the wooden wall of his house. He glanced up at his tall sister, noticing the light shift in a strange way across her body.
"Sure. Is it more training?"
Nova responded quickly. "Partially."
Riruka glanced at the two of them, her interest already piqued. Brightly, she interrupted.
"What's the training?"
Nova's eyes swirled as she glanced at Riruka. The cold increased, however, her expression didn't change. Glancing back at Obai, she answered:
"I wanted to tell you that we're going on a... field trip."
Obai raised his dark eyebrows.
"A field trip?"
Suddenly, a wooden crate crashed to the ground.
"Aaa! So exciting! I can't wait! Where are we going? What are we doing? How does this help the training?" Riruka couldn't contain her excitement. Her feet scrambled against the dirt until her face squeezed up against Nova.
The ghost gently pushed her back by the shoulders, looking down at her with a hint of annoyance.
"Sorry, Riruka, but you're staying behind."
Her face immediately drooped and her voice cracked. "What? Why?"
"Because... it might be a little dangerous."
At those words, the world silenced and the shadows grew darker. The mystery behind this abrupt field trip suddenly became overwhelming, drawing Obai out of his slump. Lifting himself off the ground, he glanced at Riruka, who suddenly wore a worried expression.
"How dangerous?" He asked, looking back to Nova's eyes.
Nova's lips curled upward.
"Not much. I'll be in the most danger, but it's still possible something bad could happen. Most likely you won't even get a scratch." She sighed. "I just need you to come along, so I'm telling you now."
Obai paused, searching the depths of the gray swirls hidden within Nova's glare. Seconds passed as he thought about the strange implications brought up by his sister. Nova liked to talk in strange and mysterious ways, but she never gave Obai the impression that she was trouble. He very much enjoyed spending time with his sister.
But something in his gut told him that these words were different. That they were... untrustworthy.
Although the feeling had sparked within him, the danger was minuscule. His brain didn't even care to notice, already full of newfound excitement at Nova's prospect, and so, Obai smiled as he responded with his own question.
"When do we leave?"