"From the Inquisitors?" Klad asked sounding curious. "How do you even know that? Wait, I'm not in danger because I saw you perform it, aren't I?"
"Hahaha, no, don't worry they won't come after you for seeing the technique. I've been practicing once in a while, and they never came after me."
'Wait, doesn't that mean that she's —'
"Hey, don't look at me like that. I'm not an inquisitor so stop it with the dubious look."
"I don't want to sound suspicious but, how can I be sure?" Klad said as a cold sweat started running down his spine.
"How can you be sure? Well mostly because I wouldn't have shown it to you if I was one."
"Then, how do you know it? I doubt they teach them at school."
'Not that I've ever been to one.'
"It's a secret." She said behind a cheeky smile while covering her mouth with her index finger.
"Fine. Have it your way, I suppose Cherry must have done her proper research before letting you in."
"She did. We used to do more background checks when joining the gang, but as you know our current situation is not the best one."
"Yeah I've been told that multiple times. Also, why don't you use that technique? When you were sparring with Mers?"
"Mostly because I can't use it on a realistic combat scenario."
"Why not? It's not like you guys are very discrete with your matters."
"Oh because we are not discrete, but we are not noisy either. You know how many Inquisitors would come in rushing here if they saw me performing that technique? Besides, it's easier when you fight using a style that was made by yourself."
Klad pondered for a few moments while staring at the sky.
"How do you even create a technique? Can't you just inherit one like the Inquisitors?"
"Yes you can. But it is not as powerful as crafting one yourself. Granted, inherited or taught ones are more resilient and don't have many openings as one created by yourself."
"But?"
"But one created by yourself can and will evolve with you. As you become quicker and stronger, your style will help you grow and adapt instead of restricting you."
"That sounds super fancy. Do you have a guide on how to make one by any chance?"
"Ha! You make me laugh Klad. Don't worry, you will figure it out. Is mostly a inner process so there's not much I can do about it."
"Any hint that you can give me?"
She sat right beside Klad with her palm on her chin while frowning her eyebrows.
"Hmmm… I suppose that when you are about to do an attack and you feel an 'This is it!' moment you should take it. Or at least that worked for me. Maybe it's the opposite for you? I don't know."
'So is or isn't? Which one?'
Unfortunately their conversation got interrupted by the figure of Cherry entering the inner yard.
"How is he doing Jika?"
"I guess it's fine, chief. He can take out some low caliber guards if we give him the proper indications."
"That's good enough. We will meet here tomorrow to discuss the next step of the operation."
And so they both left, now with the setting sun and his muscles aching Klad parted towards his house not before picking up food from a stall for himself and his probably starving little sister.
As he walked through the streets, now filled with many less people than before, Klad noticed a small alley, poorly illuminated that had a beautiful street art painted on it.
Maybe because of everything he had been through that day or maybe because of simply curiosity, Klad decided to take a look at the art.
And he was stunned by the quality of it, which was not very normal in that city but not terribly uncommon.
The art depicted what Klad supposed was an Angel, a pristine figure bathed in golden light that fell from the eternal blue sky while a silver text wrote on top of it.
"Do not trust those who speak in Blessings, as for they are the Cursed of them all."
A small laugh came from Klad's throat, as it was the first time he had actually seen something in the open talking about Curses, and even more after everything that had happened to him and for what probably waited for him in the future.
And so he continued his walk to his home, now with the sun fully down and the endless darkness of the night filling most of the streets, Klad walked, again, to his house.
'At least I don't have the fear of someone chasing me down today…'
And so he reached his destination, but unfortunately the lights were on, which could only mean one and only one thing.
'Father is here.'