Mentor and New Powers

He gazed around the aghast faces around him, all in a mix of confusion and alarm at the sudden change in demeanor the people around him had.

Hainan's face morphed into a shocked face, his eyes widened like saucers and his mouth open wide like the start of a waterfall. Ingridt's barely changed, save for the raised eyebrows and the slightly widened eyes, while Rinita stood there with an almost elated expression.

"I-I can't... believe it!" Exclaimed Hainan, "An actual dual core possessor, here in the flesh!"

"Indeed, this is quite a shock to behold," Ingridt added.

"This explains a the magic!" Hainan said again.

"Umm, what is going on?" Adaceus said, with a hint of nervousness, disrupting their excitement. 

"Here, stand up," Rinita spoke, holding him up by his arms for him to stand, whereupon Hainan grasped at his shoulders tightly, looking at Adaceus with a manic face, with more widened eyes .

"Adaceus, what do you mean what is going on!? You have a dual core! Do you not know what the significance of this is?"

"No, I do not, know of you please calm down I would like to learn why," Said Adaceus, becoming uncomfortable from the iron tight grip Hainan had of him-for how slender his arms were he had quite the strength put into his clutching.

"Dear, stop," Ingridt said. Upon looking at her face, a realization came to Hainan, and he released his hold on Adaceus, coughing to himself presumably from his somewhat of an over reaction.

"Right, sorry," Hainan said, his face embarrest.

"Now, Adaceus, what do you mean you do not know?"

"I do not know what a Duel Core is, Miss Ingridt."

"How, though, you demonstrated quite the capabilities earlier."

"My abilities are just from what I learned naturally from experiences, not from proper teachings."

"So you were never taught about the powers you hold? Even the basics of the basics of it all? None?"

"I am uneducated, Mr. Hainan."

Hainan was taken aback by the statement, and a twinge of his face appeared, an almost awkward and embarrassed expression.

"Right, noted, well we'll have time for learning later, right now we should get you fixed up and tidy, that bout must have taken a toll on you."

They proceeded to exit out, with Rinita and Hainan taking the lead to the exit. Adaceus went to follow, but was suddenly stopped by a hand on his shoulder, and when he turned he saw Ingridt.

"Just a moment, Adaceus," she said.

Rinita and Hainan turned back, and Ingridt shot them a look, prompting them to continue on their way. 

"What is it, Miss Ingridt?" Adaceus wondered.

"Please get rid of the formality, just call me Ingridt, at least for now; anyway, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Of course."

They now stood face to face, and Adaceus waited for what was to come. 

She stared into him in her vast height, within his mask and into his eyes in an intense focus. 

"How would you like to stay here, indefinitely?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, would you like to live here, make it your home."

"B-but, why?" Adaceus stuttered, baffled at the proposition.

"Did you know the reason why I brought you here?"

"Yes, I think, Is it because you wanted to spar with me?"

"Part of it, but there was a reason for it. Firstly it was to gauge your strength, and from earlier, I can say you are strong, surprisingly so, even the moves you performed were fit to be called masterful, and this pertains to the second reason," she let out his arms and pointed a finger to him.

"Would you like to become my student?"

Adaceus was surprised from the statement, and in bewilderment and after a chance to process, asked her why.

"Well, take it as a personal interest in you, and as I am now I would very much like to take you under my wing, although as you are now you are certainly formidable, there is potential in you to improve your capabilities more."

"W-wait, you are basing this as if I have already accepted the offer, why would you think I would do it?"

A glint in her eyes appeared.

"Didn't you say you were a runaway? You have nowhere to go as it stands, don't you think this offer would do you good?"

Adaceus couldn't reply back at the blunt comment. She was right, he and the girls had nowhere to go, and if he accepted he and the girls would have a place to say. He should accept it, it was logical that he should, but something kept him, and with a heavy breath, unsure, he asked a question.

"But what about-" he said this as he was about to raise his arm, the one he showed her, but was cut off by a raise of Ingridt's hand.

"You don't need to worry about that, Adaceus."

"Well-"

He was cut off again.

"Like I said, don't worry about it, I care more about the things you do than what... your predicament is. I'm sorry, you said it was a curse, right?"

"Yes."

"Right, that's good, I mean, not that a curse is good, but," she sighed, stumbling on her words, "I'm sorry."

"Haha, It's alright," chuckled Adaceus

"Anyway, I can commission a suit that conceals your skin specifically for you if need be, and just to be clear, your curse doesn't matter, okay?"

And he held her hand to him, "So, do you accept?"

Adaceus looked to her hand and paused for a moment, he pondered and thought, and as seconds passed he reached out his hand, clasping at hers and shook it.

Ingridt's stoic expression altered, and a smile rose from her face, wide and clear, revealing her fanged teeth. 

"Good, that's good," she said, slowly raising her hand with the blade to the sky. She unlatched the handshake, and stepped back a short distance. 

"Kneel."

"What?" Hainan wondered, questioning why she has her sword out.

"C'mon, I said kneel, there's a process in taking a disciple so just bear with it."

"A-alright," and skeptically did as told. 

He knelt, and Rinita brought down the raised sword and hovered it over his head. He raised it up and down a couple of times, before moving on to his shoulders, tapping the blade to each one before finally stopping.

"Rise."

Adaceus stood and looked to Ingridt, "Is it done?"

Ingridt widened the smile, her expression happy.

"Yes, it is done, student."