Not so Ordinary World

[Liddo-kun]

The shaking calms, evening out.  Though it's not as strong as before, it still hums while in your grasp.

[Kwokinator]

Curious, he decides to take the sword to where someone more qualified can give an answer to the sword's behaviour.

Exiting the room, he navigates his way back to the dining room he was at last night, hoping to find maybe Isegami or the Master there.

[Liddo-kun]

You don't get very far in your journey when a familiar aged voice suddenly cuts in, "You're up early today, hmm?"

Master Horai is sitting on a rock in the middle of the yard to your left.  He has bread crumbs scattered on the ground with birds pecking away furiously, sating their appetites.  One seems intent to simply roost atop the man's head in spite of the meal spread before it, lending to an air of lightness - if not a comedic one.

[Kwokinator]

"Good morning," he bows politely to the elderly man.  "The reason I'm up is this..."

He holds out the sword for Master Horai to see.

"I heard ringing sounds coming from the sword which woke me up, and then I found it quivering.  I was wondering if you know what's happening."

[Liddo-kun]

The older man's eyes open to fully take in the sight of your blade, but then a content smile settles on his feature.  "Mmm.  Very interesting," he comments, then beckons you closer.  "Would you like to see why it's doing what it's doing?" he asks, an amused twinkle is in his eyes that studies you for a reaction.

[Kwokinator]

"Of course," Maki smiles in reply, then gets closer to the elder as instructed, and presents him with the sword. "That's why I was looking for you."

[Liddo-kun]

The birds take to the air as you approach, settling onto the roof behind you, seeming to glare down at you - as much as a bird is able - at having their meal time disturbed.  The prickly, low-cut grass is cool and a little moist from the clinging dew - which helps to hit home how early it still is.

When you get close enough, he withdrawls his hands from the confines of his robe - where he'd kept them for warmth - and holds his index finger up in front of him.  You pause and wonder what he's doing when a swirling ball of what you now know to be spirit energy collects - it's a brightly pulsing blue-white orb, about the size of a marble.

It's bright enough to make you squint, but then it forces you to close your eyes when he draws nearer, touching the middle of your forehead.  An odd jolt shoots through you.  Starting from the middle of your back to the base of your skull then looping over and down the front of your chest, there's an odd, almost ticklish sensation, that then pools in your gut.

"Open your eyes now, child," Master Horai tells you.

[Kwokinator]

Slightly alarmed by the odd sensations, Maki opens his eyes, mentally preparing himself for whatever shocking visions he may find.

[Liddo-kun]

Your vision is fuzzy at first - it's oddly similar to when you try to open your eyes while underwater.  It's only temporary, though, as already your sight is focusing and clearing enough for you to see.

In the middle of your sword blade is a circular opening where a single blue-white flame burns brightly.  At the hilt is a long thin chain that snakes up your arm, the end of which, dissapears into the middle of your chest.

[Kwokinator]

"Ack!" Maki cries in shock as the sudden appearance of a chain going up his arm, and drops the sword on the ground to pull at the chain to see if it gives.

[Liddo-kun]

The chain actually extends as it sinks effortlessly into the soft grass by your feet.  Your efforts to pull at the chain are fruitless though, as your hand merely passes through it.

Master Horai chuckles at your antics, clearly amused.  "The chain you see around you is not material - you cannot touch it unless you surround your hand with spirit energy.  It shows the connection the weapon seems to have with you, but the flame there in the middle... well, that's rather unique."

He trails off with a hum as he strokes his chin thoughtfully.

[Kwokinator]

Maki picks up the fallen weapon and marvels as how the chain adjusted itself in length to fit with its current distance from him.

"So any idea what the flame in the middle is?"

[Liddo-kun]

"Hard to say without some poking and prodding," the old master tell you with an amused smile.  "Once you get up to speed on channelling and controlling your energy, we can explore its abilities further, hmm?"

Master Horai seems almost as eager as you to find out what the sword does.  He eyes your father's sword as if it's an intriguing puzzle just waiting to be solved.

The tingling sensation from when Master Horai touched your forehead returns, but when it passes, you notice that you don't see the chain or the flame now.  It's reverted back to an ordinary katana, as far as you can tell.

[Kwokinator]

"I can't see the chain anymore," Maki inquires as he makes a few careful swings with the sword. "I take it that was you channelling spiritual energy into me to make me see it?"

[Liddo-kun]

He nods.  "I injected just a small fraction of my own spirit energy into your 'Spirit Eye' so that you could actually see what I was seeing.  With training, you'll be able to do so on your own without needing me to do that."