???: "Rule number one – Never turn your back on your opponent."

Opponent? Wait, what?! Sayuri didn't move. What was held to her throat? A knife? No. Nothing sharp. Just what should she do now? The aggressor was way too close to her. She even could perceive his scent, but somehow it made her feel a little less concerned. The unknown person luckily let go of her eventually. Snaplike Sayuri turned around to the dark male voice that had just threatened her.

Sayuri: "W-who are you?"

???: "Who I am?", he sighed while circumambulating her, spinning something around his fingers. "I've been assigned to a little dummy it seems. I'm your tutor, Vincent. Isn't that obvious?"

Sayuri examined him. Pretty tall, dark hair, dark clothes, a deprecating posture. Why didn't he wear the school uniform? Vincent definitely looked down on her already and stared at her through serious green eyes. He stopped the flipping thing in his hand and now the girl could see what was held at her throat earlier: A small rod, looking almost alike with hers. So he told the truth. But no need to be so mean just from the start, right?

Sayuri: "Okay, hi, my name is–"

Vincent: "Sayuri Kobayashi, necromancer, Momaina. I'm aware of it. What leads us to rule number two – know your enemy."

Sayuri: //E-enemy? What's with this guy?!// "Oh, well, if the teachers already told you everything, I won't need to say anything myself." She rolled with her eyes. This guy seemed so arrogant and that was a trait she couldn't stand.

Vincent: "It's better if you're quiet and listen to me anyway. Sit down …" He grabbed a folding chair from the wall. But not for Sayuri, he sat down himself, sitting on it the wrong way round with crossed arms hanging over the backrest.

Sayuri, not surprised about this behavior, also took a chair and sat down across from him. His presence unsettled her a bit. Despite her first aversion to him, Sayuri immediately did what she was told. Vincent surely had a strong presence. She didn't even know what to do with her hands or how to sit. She crossed her legs, undid it, crossed them again and folded her hands in her lap. As soon as she had found her position, Vincent began to speak. Would she have to hear a homily about her inexperience and uselessness? 

Vincent: "You're surely aware of being a special snowflake. At least here at the Northwind. A Momaina would never attend this kind of school. You're not only a problem for the teachers with being behind in all lessons, but also for yourself, if you're not learning how to use your tang."

Sayuri: "Yeah, I know … and I really wanna strain to get better, but–"

Vicnent: "Did I say, you can interrupt me?"

Sayuri: "N-no, I–"

Vincent gave her an intense glance that immediately made her quiet again.

Vincent: "So, what I've been talking about? Ah. Well, it's my job to smooth out these differences fast. And that's why they had no other option than matching you with me. Me as a necromancer myself will make you learn and master your tang. But before we can start, I need to teach you something else – Seclusion. Usually this is something parents teach their children, but well … you get the point, right? It might not be easy for you as a Momaina, but this is an important basis for everything. Any questions so far?"

Sayuri: "Actually yes. What do you mean by matching? I thought this would be random? What is this whole stupid Momaina thing all the time? Could you all just stop calling me like that? And what's … Seclusion?"

Vincent: //We may as well expect the worst.// He sighed again. "About your first question: Usually everyone is matched randomly, yes. But they had to make an exception for you. Tutors are here for training your skills, giving them an individual style and acting as a kind of mentor. But how should that work with you? As if any other Shinteki but me could teach a Momaina how to use your necromancy! You're lucky I'm even here and in graduation class. //I also could still be in grade D or not here at all …//

Sayuri couldn't deny that. He was pretty right. But even though … Why did she have to get special treatment? Was that fair? What would the others think about that? Probably they wouldn't care or even be happy. Hana surely never wanted to be matched with Vincent anyway.

Vincent: "About the term »Momaina«. I didn't invent it, it's just how it is. You have lived over 16 years without even using or knowing your tang for once, let alone that things like tangs exist at all! People like you normally are just too dumb to activate their skills and are unable to connect with how other tangs work, are seen as disgrace for their clans and would never ever get accepted into a prestigious school like this! So if you want people to stop calling you Momaina, then you should stop being one. Prove them, prove me wrong and we'll talk again."

This hit hard. A disgrace? Too Dumb? This all wasn't even her fault! She would definitely make them watch!

Vincent: "And about Seclusion … Are you even aware there are so many people having tangs they can use to meddle with your brain?"

Toki came to her mind in an instant with his ability to visit other people's dreams. Even Kira, her own roommate, could read other people's minds or send messages in their head just like that … Sayuri nodded.

Vincent: "There you have it. Telepaths, Brainwashers and what not. If you don't want others to just read what you're thinking or worse things by far, you need to learn proper Seclusion, shutting your mind down, building walls. Actually anyone can learn this, even normal humans. But our barriers are way better. Usually you start learning this after your tang shows up first with around 3-5 years. Let's see how it will go for you …"

Sayuri thought about what had happened to her in just two days. Would things have turned out different, if she would already be able to use Seclusion? Not really, maybe Toki would not have visited her dream, but no one else even told her about this before. On purpose? Or because it's just a far away part of their daily life? But who knows which people already messed with her mind the past 16 years? Read her secret thoughts? How embarrassing! The fact that this school was a gathering of tons of this kind of people didn't make it any better. That was hella scary!

Vincent: "What? You're nervous?"

Sayuri: "W-what? Are you a mind reader as well?!"

Vincent: "No, but your body language tells me. Rule number three – don't show your weak points."

Sayuri had not noticed her hands playing with her skirt's seam and biting her lips. She felt caught and her face turned to a hot tomato. She immediately stopped. What was up with this lesson? That was not what she had expected.

Vincent: "So, we don't have forever, let's finally start."

🔹

Vincent: "You're hopeless!" He took a deep breath and placed his hand on his face. "Why can't you seclude your mind? The gauge doesn't even deflect a millimeter … "

Sayuri: "I'm sorry, I just … don't know how to do it or what I'm doing wrong." After almost a whole hour her barrier did not exist anywhere near! But she was trying so hard and still it wasn't enough.

To determine someone's mind barrier's strength, they had a small device placed on a table. It looked like a very old clock with a dial and a pointer, but no matter what Sayuri did, the indicator didn't hit out at all. Was she really this useless? She wasn't satisfied at all.

Vincent: "Okay, Little Miss Kobayashi, we've got only another 30 minutes left for today …" He creased his face. "Seclusion will be your homework. I wanna see some results next time! For now let's focus on the baton, okay?"

Sayuri: "Can't we do an extra lesson, please? I really wanna learn it. And you said it yourself, I'm 16 years behind, so …"

Vincent: "We can do extra training, if you got the basics at least. You know, my time is precious. I have better things to do, than babysit a Momaina the whole day." He sighed.

Sayuri: "But …" Actually she didn't know what to respond to. //He is so arrogant, I can't believe it!//

Vincent: "What are you waiting for? Get your rod."

Sayuri: "Yeah, yeah …" she fetched it from her bag. "And now? What should I do?"

Vincent: "Before you do anything, I'll tell you the basics first. I guess you know nothing?"

Unfortunately she had to agree. After she started having these hallucinations, her parents immediately enrolled her in this fancy residential school, but didn't bother to give her any explanations. But maybe this supercilious guy could answer some of her questions at least. She currently had no other choice than depending on him. And Sayuri gained some knowledge that day. In particular, some different necromancer clans exist, but always try to stay unnoticed, act on their own and not much is known about them in general. Also not every necromancer has a rod, just the ones who use it to fight and actually claim and control spirits. All batons were made from black titanium with gold ornaments. And Sayuri's was very similar looking to the one Vincent had, but with a different pattern. Mastering its handling is not easy and even then you had no guarantee to be able to control and fight with spirits. On top of it, the rods are extendable and will grow according to its wielder's strength during active use. Legends say, there are batons with 3 meters in length.

Sayuri: "So, how long is yours?" //Wait, that sounds weird.//

Vincent: "You'll see it soon enough, when we fight."

Sayuri: "F-fight?!" Her eyes got big.

Vincent: "Sure, what did you think? We're having a tea party instead?"

Sayuri had to gulp. Fighting was something you do in movies or watch others do it. But thinking of how everyone casually fought in town, while she was just getting in everyone's way … She wouldn't be able to avoid it. Vincent would beat her down in seconds, though. Or would he go light with her? No way!

Vincent then showed her some different poses for handling the baton and some moving combos with a wooden stick. That seemed to work way better than anything else they had tried out today.

Vincent: //At least there is hope …// The corner of his mouth winced for a second. Was he about to … smile? No sighing? No complaining? That must have been Sayuri's imagination! "That's it for today. Don't forget to get your Seclusion problem fixed and practice your posture with the baton."

Sayuri: "I'll give my best!"

Vincent: "That's the minimum you should do! Well … bye then!" He waved goodbye and went to leave.

Sayuri: "W-wait!"

Vincent: "What?" He stopped and turned slightly around to her again.

Sayuri: "Uhm … I …" //His glance makes me so nervous, what the heck?!// "What if I have questions or anything? How can I contact you?"

Vincent: "Just keep them for next week, see ya!" And he was gone.

Sayuri: //This guy …!// She was pretty annoyed. He surely fancied himself too much. Sayuri packed her stuff together and left the room. Before making her way to the dorms, she looked back. Despite his haughty and blatant behavior, Sayuri still learned many things today.

 🔹

Hana: "So my brothers were right! An arrogant douchebag!"

Sayuri: "Well, he is super arrogant and not very likable either, but … offending him? I don't know. At least he taught me things and could answer some questions I've been having for some weeks now. And to be fair, he is more patient with me than I first would have assumed. I'm so useless." Now she was the one who sighed.

Hana: "Aah, it'll buff out! You'll catch up soon enough, I know it!" She patted Sayuri on her shoulder with a big smile. "Also Kira will help you with your Seclusion! She's better than that stupid gauge! Maybe it's broken after all?!"

Kira: "I definitely can teach you some useful things about hiding your mind to others." She looked really confident. She truly believed in Sayuri.

Sayuri: "Thanks so much, Kira! I really appreciate it!" Suddenly Sayuri's phone vibrated. "Oh, I'm getting a call, see you tomorrow then!" She picked up after closing her door. It was her mom. "Hey."

Anzu: "Sayuri? I'm happy to hear your voice! How are you? How is school?"

Sayuri: //I don't want her to worry already. I can't tell her what happened until now!// "It's really … exciting so far! And everyone is really nice and considerate here. I think I even found some friends." She tried to smile through the phone.

Anzu: "Ooh, that sounds so good, I'm glad and relieved! Is the food okay? Is your room big enough? Do you already use your baton?"

Sayuri: "So many questions! Uhm … The food is quite good, but of course no match to yours, my room has enough space and no, I didn't really use it yet. I'm too far behind currently. But I'll be fine!"

Anzu: "So, no need for taking you back home?"

Sayuri: "No, not yet." She laughed. //Let's see …//

Anzu: "Okay, okay. That's good! Your father will be satisfied hearing this! But I already miss you, darling. And remember that we love you! Just don't forget to call or write sometimes!"

Sayuri: "Alright, I won't! I love you, too! Bye, Mom!"