Chapter 646: Hunger
That particular day had left Northern hungry for more. The rate and seriousness with which he approached his training changed tremendously.
What he had experienced was the first technique of the Moonlit Whisper style: Ripple Cut.
However, since that flawless execution that granted him a glimpse into the transcendent realm, he had continued to chase the feeling again.
So far, it only looked like Northern was chasing his own tail.
Bairan explained to him how perfectly he could already execute the first technique, but even during the explanation, he knew Northern wasn't going to listen.
Hence, he said all he needed to say briefly but convincingly. As expected, it had little to no effect. Northern just relapsed for a few hours, and the next day after coming back from school, The picked up the tempo again.
At that point, Bairan knew there was nothing he could do to stop Northern.
But at the very least, he would be there to protect Northern from walking into his own downfall in his stubborn attempt to look into the realm of transcendence again, perhaps even dwell there.
The morning was cold, colder than usual. The sun still hadn't gained the strength to show up, yet Northern was already in the Void Palace.
His routine had become almost mechanical: school, Void Palace, sleep - if he slept at all.
The glimpse of that transcendent realm had become an obsession that consumed his thoughts.
'Just one more time.'
The phrase had become a mantra, repeating in his mind with each draw of Stainless.
The odachi's blade caught the Palace's ethereal light, creating patterns that seemed to mock his efforts.
Three hundred and twenty-seven.
Three hundred and twenty-eight.
Three hundred and twenty-nine.
Northern had started counting his draws again, hoping that perhaps understanding the numerical progression would reveal some pattern, some key to unlocking that elusive state he had touched once before.
Bairan stood at his usual post, his white hair ghostly in the Palace's light.
His eyes held a complexity of emotions - pride at his master's dedication, deep concern for his growing obsession, and something else... something that might have been recognition.
"Master," Bairan's voice cut through the rhythm of draws, "perhaps we should discuss the second-"
"No." Northern's response was immediate, his eyes never leaving Stainless's blade. "Not yet."
The Void servant fell silent, watching as Northern continued his relentless pursuit.
Each draw was technically perfect - better than perfect, even. They had evolved beyond mere technique into something that should have been impossible for someone who had only been training for weeks.
Yet Northern saw only failure in each attempt.
His draws had become faster, more precise, more powerful.
Any other swordsman would have been ecstatic at such progress.
But for Northern, each improvement only highlighted how far he remained from that singular moment of transcendence.
"You know, Master," Bairan spoke again, his voice careful, measured. "Sometimes the hardest part of mastering a technique is accepting that it masters you in return."
Northern's hands paused on Stainless's hilt, the words finding purchase in his mind despite his resistance.
"The Moonlit Whisper isn't just about the cut," Bairan continued, seeing the slight crack in Northern's concentration. "It's about understanding that some moments can't be forced, only invited."
For the first time in days, Northern turned to look at his servant fully. There was something in Bairan's words that resonated with a truth he had been trying to ignore.
But before he could properly process this insight, his hands were already moving again, drawing Stainless in another attempt to touch that unreachable realm.
The Void Palace's light seemed to dim slightly, as if sighing at its master's unwavering stubbornness.
And somewhere in the shadows, Bairan watched, wondering how long it would take for Northern to understand that some transcendent moments couldn't be captured - they could only be experienced when they chose to reveal themselves.
But for now, the sound of steel sliding against scabbard continued to echo through the Palace, marking time in the rhythm of Northern's relentless pursuit of perfection.
At least until a sudden disturbance made Northern pause.
Bairan didn't think he would ever be joyful at the thought of his master being distracted during training.
"Someone is knocking on my door," Northern muttered with a slight frown.
The frown was from surprise. In the dormitory, he moved with no one, talked to no one, and had been absolutely fine on his own.
So, who would have the audacity to knock on his door? Could it be a mistake?
Northern held the odachi's hilt again, thinking the person might turn away.
However, just at that moment, he heard the knock again.
'Looks like the person is sure they're at the right place.'
He sighed and shimmered out of appearance. Bairan wiped sweat from his forehead and
shook his head in worry.
Just beside him, Revant appeared and said:
"Why wear that lame sign of exasperation? Our master seeks perfection and will stop at
nothing to get it."
Bairan cocked his head to the side, his gaze holding a mixture of disdain and dismissiveness towards Revant as he walked away.
Revant frowned sternly. "I do not like the look on your face."
He followed Bairan, who just threw a dismissing wave at him and went on without looking
back.
Meanwhile, Northern walked towards the door and opened it. When he saw who was there, he was surprised and not surprised at the same time.
"Aster..."
The blabbermouth he had met on his first day, Aster let out a short chuckle, smiling with his
eyes as he waved to Northern.
"Hey fella... you still didn't tell me your name, huh."
Northern hadn't expected Aster would come back to him despite having expressed that cold and oppressive atmosphere of void aura. Even though he had reduced it by half, that half was still a lot for a fragile human like Aster to endure.
At the same time, it was Aster; for some reason, given the nature of the person Northern had known him to be, he wasn't really surprised the guy was standing before his door right now.
However, something was strange.