No Secrets

Under the eave of that massive mountain, Yellen is quiet this night. Rajin men and women sleep in their homes, and their children lie awake in bed, secretly reading or crafting tools of mischief. Guards patrol through the city, some on foot and others on the back of Skoans, spears, and swords on their persons.

Near the back of the city, two others are wide awake, the slumber that others enjoy far from their minds. Cage and Yoru stand in the garden behind the ladder's home. A stone wall surrounds them, and lanterns hang along it. Between the stone paths leading through the garden, rows of colorful plants and flowers breathe with life.

"Alright, we're away from prying eyes now," Yoru says, hands on her dress-covered hips, "Show me this power that you spoke of."

Cage nods, raising a hand, palm open to the color-laden sky. Black tendrils, like solid darkness, flow from his hand, coalescing into a solid object. The tendrils retreat into pale skin, and a glowing red crystal is left behind.

Yoru furrows her silver brows, staring at the glowing rock in her student's hand, "A Rage Stone?" she mutters, "It just... Appeared? From where?"

"Inside of me, I guess you could say," Cage responds, the tendrils taking the Rage Stone again, "I can absorb things and summon them back to me. Objects like this, and dead bodies too."

"I see..." Yoru says, humming. She gazes at her student, and just as expected, can read nothing from those black eyes, "How did you find yourself in possession of a Rage Stone?" she asks.

"I had to help Kyro. He was too big to fit in the cave," Cage says, furrowing his brows, "He hasn't asked me about it since then, so maybe he's trying to stop them now."

Yoru raises her brows in surprise, and her lips curl after a moment, "He's trying, at least," she says, expression suddenly hardening as she locks eyes with Cage, "Even if he does ask, you will not give them to him, understood? I will not have you facilitating his addiction."

"Of course. I didn't plan on it in the first place," Cage responds.

"Good," Yoru says, "Now, from what I read in that notebook, you have been testing your powers, correct?"

"You read it?" Cage asks, bewildered.

"Of course I did," Yoru responds, "I had to make sure I wasn't letting a murderer or rapist into my home."

Cage cocks his head back, "Even if I was, why would I write stuff like that down for someone to see?"

"Many crooked individuals record their deeds, for others to be disturbed by, or merely for recollection. It is not so uncommon," Yoru says, "Enough of that though. You say that you can... absorb living things, those that are dead at least. Do you know why you are unable to absorb people or creatures that are still alive? It would be convenient if you could just take me and the other two and slip away unnoticed."

Cage chuckles, "That would make things too easy," he replies, scratching the back of his head, "But I'm not exactly sure. There's a place inside of me, and when I absorb something, it appears there. Yet every time I've absorbed a dead creature, it just disappears. I'm pretty sure the bodies act as my food, and that's why I can't eat normal food like everyone else."

Yoru narrows her eyes, "But you've been eating my cooking for nearly a week now," she says, "You even said it was good."

A nervous chuckle escapes Cage's lips, "Ah, that. Um... I usually throw it all up as soon as I leave the city for training. You seemed happy to be feeding me, and I didn't want to muddle that with my... strangeness," he says in an apologetic tone.

Yoru pauses, one brow raised, "You're a little too considerate, Cage. If something is bothering you, then speak up. Especially with something like this. I'm not going to ostracize you for things beyond your control," she says, earning a nod from her student. Yoru returns her own nod, "It's good that you understand."

"We will return to your absorption of living things later. The main thing you need to worry about now is your proficiency with that black smoke, as that is how you will save my brother and that big purple oaf," Yoru says, "If you think you can extract the tracker, then I will assume that you can absorb parts of things, rather than swallowing it whole. Have you tested this at all?"

"Kind of," Cage responds, a blank look in his eyes, "I paralyzed Ingen today."

Yoru is startled by his words, "You what?" she questions.

"Oh no, don't worry. He's okay now," Cage waves his hand through the air, "I didn't mean to, but during our spar, I paralyzed his leg and hand. It only lasted for a few minutes."

"Oh," Yoru huffs in relief, a lithe blue hand to her chest, "Explain first next time," the Head Scribe says, "Anyway, that is rather interesting. Perhaps it means that you can extract every component from living things. Hearing, eyesight, taste, and even neural reactions like pain and pleasure."

Cage smiles, "That's exactly what I was thinking," he says, "But I'm not sure if that translates to absorbing physical aspects of things. I'll need to extract the tracker while avoiding their actual bodies."

Yoru nods, humming. She walks closer to Cage, raising her hand and looking him in the eyes, "Do it," she says bluntly.

"Do what?"

"What you did to Ingen. Try it on me," Yoru says.

Cage cocks his head back, face twisted in hesitation. However, by the solid expression on her face, Cage can tell that the woman is being serious, "Okay..." he says slowly, raising his own hand and grabbing Yoru's gently.

Cage closes his eyes, thinking back to his sparring session today. When he had kicked Ingen's leg, he thought about taking the Rajin's legs from him, bringing him down to Cage's level. Then, as if his powers reacted to his thoughts, that exact thing had happened. A little late perhaps, as Cage was quickly struggling to swim from the river with his one arm.

Cage focuses on Yoru's hand, thinking of taking away her ability to control it. A moment later, he feels her soft hand relax in his own. Cage opens his eyes, letting go of Yoru's hand.

Yoru stares at her hand as it hangs limply from her wrist, silver brows raised, "Wow..." she says, grabbing and pinching it with her usable hand, "...I truly can't feel a thing."

"I'll have to avoid touching people," Cage says, "I didn't even mean to do it to Ingen."

"Yes. You should definitely be careful," Yoru says, still inspecting her hand with fascination in her eyes. The Head Scribe glances at Cage, smiling slightly, "Alyra would be very interested in this."

"Alyra?" Cage asks with an incredulous expression, "Why are you mentioning her?"

"Because I think you two could be good friends," Yoru responds as her hand twitches, the feeling slowly coming back, "Maybe even more than friends."

"You mean like... a relationship?" Cage asks slowly.

"If you get along with her well enough. I am not forcing anything," Yoru says, "A romantic partner can enhance every aspect of life. You, me, Kyro, Ingen, we all hide things from each other, whether the reason is good or bad. That secrecy can put stress on even the strongest minds."

"However, the best relationship between a man and woman is one where there are no secrets. Everything can be shared, good and bad. If there is love and trust, then even the most terrible secrets will only strengthen the relationship," Yoru says with soft words, meeting Cage's black eyes, "And from the words of a man, there is nothing in this universe that can match the comfort and safety felt by a woman's touch."

Cage listens to the words intently. The idea is alluring, certainly. However, something still bothers him, "Is it even legal for Rajin women to be with a foreigner?" he asks.

"It may be looked down upon by the older generations, but yes, it is legal," Yoru says, "Plus, Alyra has all but given up on finding someone of the same race. Many Rajin men hold certain... tendencies. And Alyra has experienced those tendencies far too many times."

"I see," Cage responds, studying his teacher's grim expression at her own words.

Yoru sighs, straightening her back, "Anyway, I have an idea for increasing your precision with those powers," she says, gesturing to the rows of plants surrounding them, "I have plenty of fruit for you to train with."

"Fruit?" Cage asks, "How am I going to train with something like that?"

Yoru laughs, "Open your mind up a little, will you?" she says, "You'll be extracting the seeds from the fruit. That should help you until we find another way."

Cage nods slowly, "Sure."