CHAPTER VIII: OLD WOUNDS

The next day, Mikhail could be seen watching both Ammar and Camellia holding a small knife with frustration. Numerous broken and charred knives lay on the floor around them. After the destruction of the dojo due to the two of them, Shizuka gave him the permission to train them at her personal dojo.

"Oh, come on!!" Camellia yelled in frustration as the knife turned into dust. "How long are we going to do this?"

"As long as you guys are able to channel the Mystic Energy into the knife without destroying it." Mikhail said to them with a stern face.

Camellia gritted her teeth and caught the knife that Mikhail threw. She took a deep breath and was about to channel her energy into the small blade when Ammar suddenly screamed in happiness. She turned to him and was shocked to see the small blade had become a three feet energy blade.

"Congratulations, you did it."

Ammar watched in awe and then gave some tips to Camellia. He swung it several times and watched as the energy slowly disappeared. 

"Don't give up, Camy," Camy looked at Mikhail. "The reason Ammar managed to do it first is because his energy reserve is not as large as yours. Your energy reserve is very large and it will take some time for you to successfully direct your energy into that knife smoothly. For now, keep trying."

"Hrm… Easy for you to say."

Mikhail laughed. He rested his face on his palm and said, "Do you want to know how long it took for me to successfully channel my Mystic Energy into that knife and how many knives were destroyed in that process?"

They both looked at Mikhail who smiled and replied, "It took me the entire day just to do that and I destroyed hundreds of knives. I did feel frustration and anger, but my father encouraged me to keep trying until I got it."

"Why did it take you the entire day?" Ammar asked.

"Because my Mystic Energy capacity is so vast, people like Shizuka often consider it infinite. That's why it took me an entire day just to draw it out. Since then, I have trained myself until I have excellent control over it to the point I can fight Shizuka for one day without taking a break." 

Mikhail's words made Ammar and Camellia widen their eyes, causing him to look at them with a funny expression before bursting into laughter. Ammar then noticed something and asked Mikhail if he's the weakest among them due to the low capacity. Mikhail shook his head and said, 

"What's the use of a big capacity if you are terrible at controlling it? For example, consider our Mystic Energy as being like stamina in a game and you have several techniques to use. If you are bad at controlling it, one technique of yours has a high chance to consume your entire stamina."

Mikhail then continued to explain, "Camellia has a bigger capacity compared to yours, but in terms of controlling it, you are much better. If you think there is no way for you to increase your capacity, you are definitely mistaken. By training, fighting, and resting, you will increase your capacity. But, of course, it will take some time. Consider this training as part of your investment in increasing your capacity."

Camellia took a deep breath and cleared her mind. With a serious expression, she tightened her grip around the handle of the knife and manipulated her Mystic Energy into it. She imagined the process of transferring her energy into the blade without breaking it akin to gently placing down a tofu on a plate full of other tofu.

A few seconds later, the knife's blade began to emit pink energy which covered the entire blade. The knife then transformed into an axe, surprising Mikhail and Ammar.

"Well, I'll be damned. You two are indeed quick learners. Maybe one day, either one of you or both of you will surpass me. I am so proud of you two," Mikhail said with a smile. "Speaking of quick learners, when it comes to this stuff, you two easily understand it. Unfortunately, when it comes to education-"

Both Ammar and Camellia simultaneously screamed, "HEY!!"

The three of them burst into laughter but that funny moment was quickly interrupted by a knock on the wooden door. The door slid open by Shizuka, who reminded Mikhail that they needed to head back to his clan house, much to Mikhail's annoyance.

"What is it about this time?" Mikhail asked.

"Your mother has arrived."

Mikhail looked at her and so did Ammar and Camellia. He took a deep breath, licking his dried lips and released a heavy sigh as he leaned against the wooden wall. After closing his eyes and thinking for a while, Mikhail reluctantly told Ammar and Camellia to follow him.

While Mikhail walked in front of them, Ammar and Camellia looked at one another and began to gossip which Shizuka noticed but chose to ignore.

"Why did he seem to hate meeting his mom?"

"I don't know? I don't think he hates meeting his mom. I think he hates being here and seeing his family for what they did to him."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Before Ammar could reply, Shizuka quickly interrupted them by saying, "You two will find out soon. I'll explain it later."

Arriving at the Genji Clan House, the four of them were greeted by the sight of the Genji in their formal attire. Among these people dressed in traditional kimono, there was one beautiful woman in mid 40's who wore a white shirt with long sleeves that rolled to her elbows, dark slack pants, and a pair of high-heels. Her long soft-black hair gently blew in the wind as she smiled and greeted everyone.

The moment she turned around and saw Mikhail, that woman widened her eyes. Ammar and Camellia couldn't believe how beautiful and similar she is to Mizuki. They even mistaken that woman as Mizuki. That woman quickly ran to Mikhail and hugged him, much to his discomfort. The young man reacted by slowly pushing her away, breaking off the hug and looking away.

"S-Sorry… How have you been doing, my son?"

"I don't know. Living a good life until it was fucked up by Daihachi's kid. How about you? Oh wait, why the fuck do I even ask when you are living your best fucking life in Italy?"

Ammar and Camellia were shocked to hear the offensive words coming out of Mikhail's mouth when he's talking to his mother. They knew that Mikhail is someone who respects elders, but what they just heard and witnessed with their own eyes were completely different from the person they knew.

"Brother! Show some respect to our mother," Mizuki said as she walked towards Mikhail who scoffed and looked away. "I'm so sorry, mother. Oh, I forgot to tell you. These two are Mikhail's friends," Mizuki introduced Ammar and Camellia to their mother. "This is our mother. Genji Mikayla, the previous head of our clan."

"Mother, I'll explain their appearance at our clan house later. How about we go inside the house? I've told the maids to prepare your favourite dishes."

"Just a moment," Mikayla said with a smile, looking at him. She placed her hand on his face and said, "You look just exactly like your father. He would be so happy if he was here to see you."

Immediately, Mikhail slapped Mikayla's hand away, shocking everyone. He looked angrily at Mikayla and then said, "He'll be ashamed of you for what you did to me years ago. Shizuka, do me a favour, look after my friends while I'm gone."

Mikhail turned around and angrily walked away as Shizuka asked where he's going. He just walked away without answering the question, leaving a sad Mikayla. 

"I'm so sorry, Mikayla-sama."

Mikayla tearfully smiled at Shizuka and brushed it off, stating that it was her fault. She then said that if only she wasn't consumed by the feelings of losing her husband, maybe her son wouldn't look at her with such hatred. Mizuki rubbed her mother's back and comforted her, telling her to get some rest. The head clan of the Genji Clan also instructed her own people to enjoy the celebration as she walked with her mother into their house.

"If you two want to know… Mikazuki has a bad relationship with his family after the death of his father when he was seven, specifically his mother."

"What happened?" Camellia asked Shizuka who bit her lips, pondering whether she should tell the truth.

"It's not my place to say this since I don't want you two to have a negative perception of the Genji Clan, especially his family. After all, I believe that even though Mikazuki hates someone, he won't ask both of you to hate that person," Shizuka looked at them with a visibly sad expression. She then continued, "When he was seven years old, there was an incident that claimed his father's life and he was blamed for it. Mikayla-sama, consumed by sadness and anger over the loss of her husband, chose to kick her son out of the clan and sealed his memories as well as his powers."

"Oh my God…" Camellia whispered in horror. 

"What…?" Ammar muttered in shock.

Shizuka then continued, "As for Mizuki, her memories about Mikhail were erased too to make her believe that she's the only child of her parents. Anything that was related to her brother, like pictures, clothes, and other items, were disposed of."

"How did he regain his memories then?"

Camellia's question made Shizuka close her eyes. She slowly opened her eyes and then stared at the spot where Mikhail was walking away. Taking a deep breath, Shizuka grimly said, "Your friend regained his memories when he watched Amaris and Zuan die in front of him. The loss of them triggered his rage and destroyed the seal that surpassed his memories and powers, giving him the chance to overpower and kill Daihachi."

"Maybe because of that pain, he stopped relying on his divine eyes or his Mystic Energy because it reminds him of his failure to protect the two people he really cared about. I also believed that if he tried to unlock his Mystic Energy, the result would be a disaster."

"What do you mean by that? Didn't he say that he had perfect control of it and his energy capacity is infinite?" Ammar said to Shizuka.

"The first time he used his Mystic Energy after regaining his memories and powers, not only his energy terrified and shocked the Royal Clans and Daihachi, but also shook the entire world. If he tries to use it now after years of not using it, God knows what will happen," Shizuka took out a pack of cigarettes and then continued, "What I told you two stay with us. Do not try to persuade your friend into reconciling or forgiving his family. Let him do it by himself. Let time decide it. It is up to him if he wants to forgive them or continue hating them. Some wounds are not meant to be healed regardless of how long it takes."

For a moment, the two students remained silent until Ammar said, 

"Wounds would definitely heal regardless of how long it takes and even if you deny it, you can't deny the fact that your wound will heal itself, leaving a scar as a reminder. Be it in a positive way or negative."

Shizuka was surprised and gave a small smile. She was impressed by Ammar's words and tapped his shoulder, remarking how his quote reminded her of Mikhail back when they were teenagers. She then left the place, searching for Mikhail which she eventually did half an hour later.

"You are lucky that I am able to sense a very small amount of your Mystic Energy. If I couldn't, God knows where you are wandering aimlessly in this city," Shizuka said to Mikhail who scoffed and looked away, glancing at a happy family with a clear sad expression on his face. "I get it. It hurts, trust me. I understand-"

"What do you even understand, Shizuka? You have had your parents since you were a baby, you didn't need to sleep in a box or a piece of log. Or even looking for food inside a garbage can just so you can survive for the next day," Mikhail clenched his fist angrily. "You have a family that loves you even though they are strict and you grew up with them, receiving love from them whereas I… I… was alone since I was seven…"

"I just don't want you to lose the chance to reconcile and forgive your family for what they did to you," Shizuka stared at her former enemy and then continued, "Have you ever wondered why I live alone in that big house?"

Now that she mentioned it, Mikhail did wonder. Where were her parents? 

"To answer your question, they died years ago. My father died due to the wounds that were inflicted by Daihachi after he saved you and no, Mika, I didn't blame you for his death. My mother passed away in her sleep a few days after because she missed her husband so much."

Shizuka looked down with a sad smile and said, "I didn't get the chance to reconcile with them. To forgive them, especially my father. You know my childhood was a very terrible one. Ever since I was five years old, my father has decided to train me so that I can be the strongest and perfect head clan to destroy your clan."

"That was my father's dream until you bested me in the Purge, sparing my life even though he coldly ordered you to end my life, and even saved my life when Daihachi almost cut off my head."

Taking a deep breath and resisting the urge to cry, Shizuka continued her story, "On his deathbed, for the first time, he apologized to me and told me how proud he was of me and how he regretted making my childhood terrible. Instead of forgiving him, I coldly told him that he was a fool and weak. It wasn't until my mother's death that I finally felt regret for not reconciling with my old man. That pain of losing your parents and the loss of a chance to reconcile with my old man really hurt me for more than a year."

Katagiri glanced at Genji with teary eyes and softly said, "I don't want you to feel that pain. I don't want you to feel another pain after losing two friends that you really care about. I understand that it takes time to heal old wounds. Believe me, Mika, I do. But for your own sake, don't hold that grudge for so long."

Mikhail said nothing and just looked at the family in front of him. Her words really struck him deep as he placed his hand on Shizuka's shoulder, squeezing it gently but firmly to comfort her.

"Thanks, Shizu."