Chapter 2.3 "Instinctual Ideas"

Ren lumbered in soft feet behind his sister and teacher. They walked down the mountain through the route most used, one Ren hadn't gone through in a while since, being honest, seldom was he allowed to leave the manor. Only if he would go to their library and even that wasn't in the city. Instead, it was roughly located at half the mountain's height.Not even its feet but the mountain's stomach, he laughed. Funny he sometimes reasoned himself to be the clan's nutrient so it could keep living or something like that so it would explain the restriction on him. A bit pretentious yeah, but in the fun of his head it wouldn't hurt a soul he thought."Fuuh..." He soughed with the breeze whistling, his breath gelid and condensing, and he recalled the feeling of his feet sinking into snow whenever he stepped was as odious as ever. The crunchy sound it made too. It gave him the irk.Regardless, the snow's depth kept lessening with every tree they passed and he thanked the damp wouldn't stay in his step much longer.Now about the library, he remembered. It was their famed library, the Library of the Ashikagas as it was named, one where scholars in the whole country would die for just an hour inside, though it was mostly kept private for members of the clan.A while had passed since he had last seen just the look of it. He used to take this path every day a few years back. Now it was just memories. Foggy but they were still there.He huffed, air and feet weighing, and wondered how these two monsters ahead of him never lost their pace. Ugh, some unnatural-born creatures are what they are. I can't even lie out of this one if they ask why I'm dragging as much as I am. Guess, I will have to... stall!He thought of what he hated most and instantly the word studying came home. And since his memory was always terrible, his mother's favorite subject was his most hated since it relied on that for the most part... History oh History. And all that branches off of it...Finally he decided the subject with some hurry and held from stumbling on a harder bunch of snow as he spoke, "Teacher... huff... I don't understand... Why is it important for me... to take as many classes as you guys require me to when really... I only need some strength and... uh, huff... and some good intuition as the heir... I guess? Huff..."In response, his teacher turned to him with a raised brow and he asked funnily back, "Who said that?""Uh... huff... I guess myself?" he instantly replied, pulling his lips and shoulders.His teacher turned his stare back and continued walking down the road, however.Ren had no option but to wait until the man would decide to speak in goodwill.And... it didn't take long before he heard him again."Well, it doesn't matter anyway. I will explain it to you simply, so look at it like this..."He nodded for him to proceed."Knowledge is an important weapon for one to have, it being just as reliable as your blade." His teacher turned back at him as he spoke the last, and Ren's doubtful eye gave away the uncertainty he had on his words."Don't believe me? So you think being the guardians of Wano means a single thing..." The teacher grinned, and he looked like he would begin reciting a whole book afterward.And sure he did."Look... everything from the likes of strategies of war to how even geography plays a part in the battlefield. The history of your predecessors and how they thrived until what we are, their choices. The very important medical insight for first-aid and country-scale health issues. How you would understand the way our society births structural mayhems daily and how you would solve them. And, even these annoying political affairs your father goes through every day... that would then not be as annoying."All of these are areas our eyes are at first opened to through word of mouth, or through these beloved books we have, and trust me, these will help you even when you become just the heir, now imagine the patriarch to the very important clan that is the Ashikaga Clan. And, regardless, since you will lead a country that goes through these problems every day and off, you must, at least to a degree, have some knowledge in these areas so you can exert your help for those in need. Or what kind of leader would you be if you were incapable? And even if forgetting the fact that studying and forcing yourself to learn is a way to keep these neurons in your brain strong, you will in turn be more diligent in doing what you like if you put in the effort to do something you dislike first. You'll be more rigorous, more attentive, and principally, your cognitive abilities and thinking process will go up some stages too."And, those two are of great importance in a battle where decisions must be taken within a split second... and well, from what I heard, it seems that our dearest Young Leader's been encountering trouble when dealing with what to do in combat when in short clocks." He raised a brow at the boy. A got you moment he would dare say.And correspondingly, the boy threw his arms up, face scrunched. He gave in. All points made were valid. There was no way he could find a way to refute his words with his all-brawn brain."He gave you no opening, Ren," Sen spoke, her eyes pitiful as she patted her brother's shoulder."Those were words only! I won't be persuaded by them." He crossed his arms, mocking and scoffing away."Oh, if that's what you think, then I will make sure to have a more practical example to give someday. On why wits are as important as blades." The teacher chuckled and his pupil sighed as they resumed walking at a faster pace.Ren this time chose to trail behind.(Just say it... that you don't want the responsibilities. Like the wuss' you are. The coward... the pushover you are.)"No... I'm not..." Ren mumbled."Mm? Said something?" Sen spun around, gaze tilted toward her brother expecting some fun tea from him."Nothing at all," he answered right back and she pulled her lips."Umm, well, okay then..."Gotten a bit weirded by his response, she turned to look ahead at her teacher. "Well, Teacher... something I heard is that the fruit was only seen by as many people as you can count on your fingers... Is that true?!" She was already enthusiastic back."You shouldn't mention it so casually my dearest pupil," the man said tersely. "Its existence is not known by many... And may this serve as a lesson that even the snow can have ears."Sen looked at him squinting, looking confused as to what he meant. But Ren behind her saw the man, their teacher, had glanced at a random location on the snow path while his lips, O devilish grin, curved into the tiniest smile.‎ .........‎ A gigantic structure came into their vision. He and Sen looked beyond the verdant trees to the letters highlighted in the building. It read Library of the Ashikagas.He took a long breath and, "I haven't come here since... well... huff... since I stopped taking classes," he spoke short of breath from the walk.Sen nodded while now walking behind her brother. "Mhm, it's also been a while for me," she said, bright eyes not as bright as she scanned the compound of a place. Even she wasn't so enthusiastic about studying.On that intricately built building in their front laid just as intricate knowledge—hundreds of years of it, to be precise. Be it their family's history or the country's, there was a bit of everything there. And with it being as important as it was, guards were on heavy on the vicinities at all times. Perhaps a good one-fifth of the clan's troops standing stationed around the area right now.So really, it would be insane just the thought of anyone even daring to attempt something to it or in it, Ren noticed. And history attested to its invincibility."Ugh... only bad and I mean, horribly bad memories of studying hours 'n hours nonstop are popping up now," Sen said, face scrunching. "I think... I might not be able to do it, Ren..." She held her belly and faked mulligrubs the best she could as she dragged her walking."Oh, of course... some are popping up... for me too..." he replied while smiling back, eyes without any rugs."We have arrived my students. No running off now." Their teacher was behind them as he pushed their backs just slightly so they wouldn't run. Naturally, they groaned at that.Approaching the entrance, two guards met the trio in their stout method, each standing on one side of the door with faces unchanged. They carried spears as big as their bodies, and these weapons were similar to one another too. Only the pattern of one was a dragon and the other was a tiger. Their bodies also appeared particularly similar beyond their armors, so much so that even through their helmets one could argue they were brothers.And well, they indeed were. Called Spear Twins by many, their title was a way to show respect toward their skill amongst even the best within the clan.Coming off their reputation as well, their professionalism fell not short as the two promptly bowed when the trio came by the door and they welcomed them inside afterward. One would then go to guide them while the other stayed behind to guard the entrance.Ren eyed the one at the entrance for a second and the bloke's face was unkept off its stoutness even as his to-be liege passed by. Ren then lost his face as the setting changed when through the door and said for himself: They must and well... should take their job very seriously.Eventually, he turned to look around and the punch in the eye came. The motley of beautiful carved wood as pillars, colorful stained-glass windows, noble green and red tapestry, and the enormous shelves extending above the head never failed in exploding the sight of first-timers. Even he was barely spared from the headache that usually came afterward the shock. Of a library being this grandly decorated out of all things.He realized the voices of his sister, the guard, and his teacher had all been drowned as he focused on the never-ending shelves in his around. Books of all sorts were organized in mosaic form or as puzzle pieces that would complete a much larger piece of art when seen from above. He could also see so much accumulated dust on the book's capes that if the wind decided a whipping in here then a sandstorm would be borne.Everyone's been working hard on the training grounds to show off at the ceremony lately and these books are so old and there are so many of 'em, so I don't blame them. But shouldn't there be people cleaning these? Ren thought and brushed himself off it. Rather he focused on what he cared more for. Anyway, where is the martial arts area again?He looked at both sides and found in a distant corner lots of kids about his age if not a bit younger sitting there and reading through the books. Well, case solved. Children and fantasy will always be pairs.Or kids will always be children, he thought and chuckled.He kept observing and saw some of the ones reading looked disinterested. Others he saw didn't seem to appreciate or know the value those books held. And others looked as if they didn't care or were simply forced there. However, he noticed a small group in their circle that read through the books carefully, treating them as if an extension of their limb."We might have some promising warriors on the clan soon." Suddenly, his teacher spoke ahead on the stairs they had begun going up.He immediately cocked his head back to look ahead. He was embarrassed to have been caught prying.The awkward silence‎ continued as they went up the stairs. Though he was sure it was only uncomfortable for him. Or maybe he still couldn't hear their voices and had been ignoring their questions. Or maybe he wasn't even being mentioned.All of it felt deafening, and this silence was given power while overlapping with the constant stepping of the four when going up the stairs.He sighed and, I should try thinking about good things, he thought, eyes only on his feet as he walked. Or maybe the ground as he felt embarrassed.What about the time I studied here with Sen and Mom? There should be some pretty neat memories... He started a whole search through his memories but nothing came.How stupid... why am I feeling nervous at a time like this? Sen is probably feeling nervous too, right?And then. It all hit. He looked at her and saw on his sister's face only a powerful grin. It suddenly made him remember who she was.Oh right, the chosen one. She probably doesn't even feel nervous anyway.Her hair was of the color of a lotus, resembling a bit if half his head of purple and red were to be mixed in one and given bright and purity. Because hers shone whenever sunlight came upon it. And her ensemble was of a queen and her poise was incorruptible. And confidence solidified with her every step and her will to do as she wished and cared was incomparable—he thought it.And she was only one year older than him.He had always been the target of people comparing. Ever since his baby eyes caught their first feel of this worldly light. Light that wasn't meant for him. Because every accomplishment of his after trying his hardest was always bound by the inevitable:"Well, that's nice, but your sister did this better when she was younger than you are now.""Oh wow.... but I remember when your sister did it thrice the amount you did when even younger.""What? You can't do it? But your sister...""But your sister...""BUT YOUR SISTER!"He stopped on the stairs. Some wind gentle enough it wouldn't cause a sandstorm inside chose to carry his hair instead as it floated on his back."What's wrong, Ren?" Sen asked as she looked at him from up the stairs.Ren?Panting a bit, he smiled thinly and reassured her, "Nothing, go on ahead. I'll... I'll accompany you right after checking something out.""Don't try to run away without m— I mean... don't go out there running away, eh?! Hehe." She spoke in her mischievous smile of always."The kids picked your attention, huh? Well, go on. I will stall for you with your mother," the teacher added playfully.Believing his words, they went on ahead and he stayed behind.And finally, he allowed himself a gaze inside. To everything wanting out.(Finally some action after a whole while! Just let it consume you! No need to fight the inevitable!) Ugh... why must it happen right now, he thought with his hand clasping his chest.(You see how unjust it is that they ignore you and what you do simply because she is the one chosen, right? You feel it is unfair too, right? You feel this anger boiling inside you because of it, right?!)What bullshit. His eyes went grim as he tried fighting back non-welcomed thoughts.Memories that once faint now came back to mind stronger than ever. Knocking so they could rumble inside and awaken everything.He felt like he was remembering something so important, but—(Don't fight it. Let me take control.)His consciousness began to slip. --- [2697 Words]