"So, you want to join a Nature Breathing academy?"
Shivansh sat beneath the shade of a large tree at the edge of the training ground, watching me carefully.
"Yes!" I answered immediately.
I was hoping he'd say yes.
Instead, he tilted his head.
"Do you even know what you're asking for?"
"Y-y-yes, sir."
"Do you?"
I looked down.
"...No, sir."
He sighed.
"Then let me explain."
He leaned back against the tree.
"Nature Breathing was one of the two original breathing techniques."
I looked up.
"The other was Star Breathing."
My eyes widened.
"From Star Breathing came Sun Breathing. From Nature Breathing came several other techniques—Water, Flame, Thunder, Stone, and Moon."
I listened carefully.
It actually made sense.
Senjuro had used Nature Breathing.
If he really was my ancestor, then maybe that was why I could use it too.
"But there's a problem," Shivansh continued.
"Nature Breathing and Star Breathing required an enormous amount of physical strength and control. Over the centuries, people began modifying the original techniques to make them easier to learn."
"So the original techniques disappeared?"
"Exactly."
He looked directly at me.
"Nature Breathing and Star Breathing eventually became almost forgotten."
My heart sank.
"And you're..."
He paused.
"...apparently the last person capable of using Nature Breathing."
My brain froze.
The last person?
Then who was going to teach me?
How was I supposed to defeat Katsuo if I couldn't even learn the technique that was apparently part of my bloodline?
"Nooooo!"
I grabbed my head.
Shivansh blinked.
"Tom?"
"How am I supposed to learn Nature Breathing if nobody knows how to teach it?!"
Shivansh raised an eyebrow.
"You could always learn another technique."
"No!"
I immediately shook my head.
"I want Nature Breathing!"
"Then you're going to have a difficult time."
I groaned.
But then Shivansh continued.
"If you don't want to learn another breathing technique..."
He paused.
"...you could learn shooting."
I stopped.
Shooting?
I thought about it.
Then another thought hit me.
My eyes widened.
IDEA!
If nobody could teach me Nature Breathing during the day...
Maybe I didn't need someone to teach me.
Senjuro.
The strange figure from my dream.
He said he'd return when my breathing became steady.
Maybe I could learn from him.
And during the day, I could train with the Wing Corp.
Shooting could be useful too.
I looked at Shivansh.
"Sir."
"Yes?"
"I'd like to learn shooting."
He nodded.
"Alright. I'll assign you to an academy."
"Really?"
"Yes."
He reached for a small piece of paper beside him.
"Your instructor's name is Dronna."
I nodded.
"Okay, sir."
I turned and walked away.
At least I was going to learn something.
I had no idea how difficult Dronna's training would be.
And I definitely didn't know what was waiting for me at that academy.
But one thing was certain.
My journey had finally begun.