James
If it was the case of gaining a good amount of sleep, Himiko would not be bothered to be up by sunrise. But ever since she and Kashikoi had delved into the void she changed. Even though the nightmares were less frequent, they had appeared in much more intense versions, ones with way more details, faces she could recognize even. Last night she saw her mothers face. That mortifying face could no longer leave her mind. But she decided that this was no reason to slack. 

So the young Kitsu, no longer wearing the proud colors of gold, but the suit of a shrine maiden, would enter the embassy. The guards would perhaps not blink at her appearance no longer as they were used to her visiting. Her hair had been braided down as it still reached her tailbone. She however would not enter without the approval of Kashikoi, after all she was still a guest, this was not her home. 

So she simply waited at the front door. A slight smile on her face, she had brought some breakfast for the two of them to enjoy after the training session. 

||
Elizabeth
"Oh, that certainly looks delicious."

_Chimed in the exact man Himiko was looking for, sitting only a couple of feet to her left, seemingly in a meditative pose. He opened one eye and glanced at the Kitsu, a warm smile forming effortlessly._

"Greetings, Himiko-chan. I see you are ready for a few extra lessons, hmm?"

||
James
*"In case you were just as hungry as I am Kashikoi-san."* Himiko had smirked as she took her welcome and bowed down to him. Offering the food to him as it revealed a bowl of vegetable noodle soup. 

As to the question of ready for extra lessons she squinted her eyes for a brief moment. *"Ready is not the correct word to describe my state of being awake. Willing is."* She admitted. Hoping that he'd understand what she implied.

*"My nightmares turn up more vivid, they died down in frequency but the detail in them is as if I am there. Right there."* She decided to tell him. He'd find out sooner or later. She trusted him.

||
Elizabeth
"Good, a good sign of awareness. As well as lucidity to understand the difference of reality and what the Void can call on."

_Kashikoi stands, gesturing to the guards to let them in as he guides her to a large room, seemingly empty, much more spacious than even a meeting room._

"Set the food down while I set up a small platter to set it on, please Himiko-chan."

_He goes about what he said, but he also spoke, the tone more firm._

"Today is a foray into _Beru Daimome_, or the Second Ring of the Void. Today we look past the illusion of reality and see that which lies underneath. What connects together and what binds it all."

_Once finished, he sits on one side, gesturing to the display with a smile._

||
James
*"Beru Daimome. So we are going to seek out the true reality behind the one we hold as ours?"* She frowned a bit as she set down the food and followed him. Sitting down when he gestures to do so. The face of her mother had been haunting her. 

She seemed a bit out of it for a moment before she grasped back to the reality they were discussing. *"Does that mean there are multiple realities?"* Himiko had questioned. She had been pestering her mind with trying to comprehend this. A reality where she perhaps didn't have Ilu. What a nightmare that would truly be. She would brush down the lose parts of her hairs and adjusted the long braid. She stood there, wiggling her toes. 

||
Elizabeth
"No, but the illusion is that reality is rigid. Stable. Tell me, is water rigid? Does it not change?"

_Kashikoi took his chopsticks and popped them apart, before softly clapping his hands together and giving thanks for the meal._

||
James
Himiko would take a seat and smirked at the display of joy within food. She would then consider his question as she shook her head. *"Water somehow even represents change, does it not?"* She pondered before sitting back a bit. It was clear she was tired. 

*"It moves. Stable but it can be set in motion to cause a disaster?"* Himiko questioned. She seemed not so sure of herself today. 

||
Elizabeth
"Close;"

_Kashikoi held up his tea, showcasing the way the water shifted and splashed._

"It begins as it is, wet and malleable. Constantly changing shape to fit the container, but leave in the cold and it freezes into Earth. Leave in the heat and not only will it return to Water, it will become Air."

_He sets the cup down, glancing back at her with a gentle smile._

"But Water cannot be Earth or Air, can it? If there is no division of the Elements, how does the world function?"

||
James
Himiko wished to fall back and grunt in order to comprehend this. But her inner self yelled at her to pay attention. *"Do they have to truly be divided? Couldn't they cooperate? We make weapons from the metal of the earth and fire. We create soup like yours out of water and fire."* She stated before rubbing her eyes. 

*"The world can function within the order of the elements, shall they not clash that is."* 

||
Elizabeth
_Kashikoi smiled._

"Already you see through the illusion: the world is nothing but the elements mixing and harmonizing. We, ourselves, are great examples of this. Within us, we have Fire, Water, Earth and Air, each with their own purpose and abilities. Now, what binds these things to what appears to be rigidity?"

_He eats quietly after the question is posed, but he's still smiling. Already making significant progress and the lesson has already started, Kashikoi mentally chuckled. If she were trained at Starry Heavens, she'd be regarded as a prodigy._

||
James
*"The void."* She stated in a determined manner. Listening to the man speaking as she remained in awe of his knowledge. The golden and blue eye would watch his moves as if she were expecting something to happen. Maybe she was just on edge. She didn't know either. 

*"But it's like water? Stable but always changing?"* She questioned. She clearly was invested as she had leaned forward a bit in the hopes of hearing an answer soon enough. 

||
Elizabeth
"It _binds_ water. It's what keeps water on this plane and working as intended."

_He nods, conjuring a small sphere of water._

"But from this, it flows into the air and earth, making rain and growing crops. It also feeds in ways into fire, and the cycle continues. The point, is the Void is beyond all."

_He then shifts the sphere into air, then earth, then fire before forming rings of each, with a space in the middle._

"The Void is like that, but also like Earth. Like Air and Fire. It is all, it is nothing."

||
James
She would stare at the change of elements. She seemed interested but not mesmerized somehow. *"So the void is just there. People don't know it is?"* She questioned before adjusting her pose a bit. Next were her clothing that needed adjustments as they were clearly too large for her own good. 

*"It's like a wall I suppose."* She stated. *"But also like chains or something. Since it's not air. But it is not anything yet it does everything "* She seemed to understand but tried to describe it. After all explaining it to somebody would show growth and understanding. She for now failed this task. *"What else does the second ring explain?"* She questioned in a polite yet eager manner. 

||
Elizabeth
"The second ring is as put: Beyond. See beyond the world, beyond the illusion of rigidity and see the Void in its absence. See the fluidity of the Void."

_He smiled._

"It is where your progress will truly begin to show."

||
James
*"But how do you see it, if you can't really see. You said I shouldn't open my eyes in the void."* She questioned. She was wiggling her toes around in her socks. She was tracing one of the scars on her hands with the thumb of her other hand. She was thinking on how she could see the void. *"Does it mean you don't have to sink into it like happened last time? Does it mean that it will be there no matter if you decide to go to the void or not?"* She asked more questions out loud. Thinking had no use since Kashikoi would just know anyways. She wanted to know as well. She wanted to hear as well. But she was not ready and she understood. 

||
Elizabeth
"When we first dipped, I told you to keep your eyes closed because you had no experience or knowledge to protect your mind. Now, you have more, you even briefly opened them before. Now is where we begin with the fundamentals to help you see beyond."

_Kashikoi explained, singular hand emoting as he spoke; tracing a non-linear path through the air between them before pausing to continue eating._

"A little of both, the Void is absence; but also present. There are ways to enter, so to speak, the Void without diving into it, but such ways are not as enlightening or dangerous as a full dive."

||
James
*"So it's like spider silk? You grasp onto them through everything even though they're not visible. Yet you can feel their presence as they trigger the hairs on your arms and hold onto you? "* Himiko stated. *"And if you take a deep dive you'll fall into the web of a million fragments merging into one?"* She questioned. *"So you can see the whole picture instead of just one singular thread?"* 

The young girl clearly was giving herself a headache. She would watch him move and eat. She did not budge other than the occasional adjustment of clothing.

||
Elizabeth
"An apt analogy!"

_Kashikoi chuckled, nodding his head._

"Though, do not constantly liken it to spider-silk. Remember, the Void is fluid; it will shift. The greatest way to not be surprised by a change; simple have no preconceived notions. Be a cup, as it were."

_He holds up his tea cup for demonstration._

||
James
A smile would grow on the young girl's face as she nodded her head once more. *"A cup?"* She questioned out loud. *"So the void is but is not like spider silk."* She would chuckle at this as she realized how crazy this was sounding to somebody with no affinity to the void. *"I understand why people fear the void so much, it is truly a riddle to understand."* She seemed patient and joking however. 

*"So the void is here. But it's not. It can be silk, it can be earth, water, fire, air, it can be a bird in the sky, yet it is not?"* She questioned to confirm that she was fully understanding what Kashikoi meant. *"It is change but stability. It is changing."* She stated. 

||
Elizabeth
"Indeed; the easiest way many Ishiken have coined it is: It is All, It is None."

_He hums, holding up two hands before returning to his food. He then tapped her end, motioning to a small bowl on her end._

"I will not eat alone, I am sickly, not infirm."

_He chuckled again, clacking his chopsticks nearly childishly. He sipped some tea from his cup._

||
James
*"Very well, although I do not consider you sickly nor infirm. You are very much alive to me."* She smiled politely before bowing down and thanking the kami for her food. She would pick up the bowl with both hands as she skillfully balanced the chopsticks on top of it. Starting to eat. She was more hungry than that she had noticed before. 

*"Kashikoi-san, may I ask, from what I understand I was never capable of seeing nor reminding faces in my dreams. But last night. Last night I saw my mother. After all those years I saw her face again. It makes me long for home. For somewhere I cannot return to. But my dreams were never this vivid before, do you recon the void is influencing me?"* She asked. 

||
Elizabeth
"Potentially. It may be Absence, but some Masters of Void have noted it feels ... Aware."

_Kashikoi laughed, before it became a weak cough._

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I am sickly. By product of my introduction to the Void, a heavy price paid for my current wisdom and abilities."

_He gestures to his gaunt form. He also looks over her,_

"Did she say anything? Make any odd motions?"

||
James
It was clear that this had been a sensitive subject to Himiko. *"I could hear her scream. It was like I relived the memory from back then. Back when I lost them. Her beautiful and warm face was suddenly drained from life. Her eyes would roll back. Then she vanished. Like that. But her face haunts me every time I close my eyes. Blink even."* She would quickly take a few bites of her food. As if she tried to suppress her horrid feeling connected to her face. Himiko was fragile here. Open. She had been herself, unlike the display of ambassador she had to show every day. She had never shared ideas or details with anyone. 

*"It was just like then. Exactly to in the details. I could even feel the cold of winter crawl over me."* She shivered for a moment. 

||
Elizabeth
"It could be the Void itself, or it could be your newfound understanding of your abilities. Without being there myself, I could not say for certain. Keep an eye on that though, dreams are a very vulnerable point for any samurai under Tengoku."

_Kashikoi hums, pondering the thought as he eats a tad slower, making sure not to speak with food still in his mouth._

"Remember however, tis just a dream. Even if you can tie some of your Medium abilities to your connection, it is still incorporeal."

||
James
*"The void is a strange thing, truly."* Himiko stated. She simply wanted to get that face out of her head. Therefore she decided to disconnect her feelings towards it for the slightest moments. *"So is sleep and is dreaming."* She would take another bite of food. Chewing thoroughly as she made sure that she did not rush. She wanted to continue the lesson. After all that was what she was here for. 

*"I wish to ask a brutally honest question. Do you recon I can read your thoughts as well? Like you do to mine? Or is this skill too greedy of me to expect as a beginner in understanding the void?"* She wished to know. She wanted to know what Ilu had been thinking all this time. 

||
Elizabeth
"It depends. Some, like me in my case, develop the ability naturally. Likely as a consequence of my early exposure. Or you can slowly try to develop it after some training. It's hard to determine, especially since some abilities ebb and flow."

_He answers, humming as he sips from his tea again. He raises his other hand in a wavey gesture, before setting the cup down._

"You could certainly develop the power, and it's not too greedy to expect; believe it or not, the power to read minds is not too terribly advanced for an Ishiken, mostly due to the nature of seeing into the Void. The hidden is revealed and what's underneath is suddenly on the surface."

||
James
*"So it would be better for me to see the void first."* Himiko mentioned. It was clear the child had not been interested in the power that lied beyond and within the void, more so the understanding on how to deal with it. The understanding of herself if one would truly pry. *"I fear of suddenly starting to hear voices speak to me and me being unable to tell the thoughts from what I am supposed to hear. Their voice."* Himiko would state. She would glance at her master. 

*"My home has thought me how to commune with my ancestors, how to seek them, see them and hear them. Do you recon their ways could be applied to the void as well? Much like a child shugenja learns how to speak with kami?"* The young one questioned. Leaning a bit forward as she was finally waking up a bit. 

||
Elizabeth
"It is certainly a basis that many Ishiken have used; after all, even Ishiken are Shugenja, we still heed the call of the kami as well. As for the concern; I struggle with that greatly. I often must apologize for such, when I reply to a question that was never asked or are privy to thoughts meant to be hidden; it is challenging. I imagine you might have greater control over it than I,"

_He ends with a smile, nodding to her as he sets his chopsticks aside and takes another sip of tea._

"Especially given your technique with Ancestor communion."

||
James
*"I wish not to dishonor my ancestors, but some days they are truly more stubborn than the kami are. That is an achievement on its own."* The Kitsu had slightly chuckled. Letting the compliment reach her mind. *"Do you recon? I wish to not use the ability as much. If it does not come naturally to me I will simply use it to understand the thoughts of my dog."* She smiled ever so slightly. 

*"So communing with the void is equal to communing with the kami? Other than it not clearly giving an answer or not clearly showing its presence? Do I have to sink in every single time I wish to learn things?"* She questioned again. She wanted to hear it. Her thoughts told the Ishiken as well.

||
Elizabeth
"I do not actually know if the ability works on animals! I have never tested that, just ever on people."

_Kashikoi responded, surprised at the thought, blinking owlishly as he ran the scenario through his head._

"Somewhat, and no, you can just as easily learn by glancing. But, sometimes the truth is hard to see, like trying to see in murky water or on a foggy night. Therefore, the necessity arises to dive into the Void and peer through it. If anything, communing with the Void is harder than the kami, perhaps even more dangerous."

||
James
*"Because the void also takes. When the kami don't answer. The void takes."* Himiko understood now. The scars. The poor physical state Kashikoi had found himself in. *"So if the void wishes not to answer, you shouldn't follow through unless it is a necessity?"* The young girl questioned. She seemed not concerned, just wanted to make sure that what she said made sense. She rummaged through her belongings to show him her spellbook. Even though not normal she had written down all the spells she recognized. But couldn't find the origins of some. Last time she sneaked into the library here but got busted by a Shiba, therefore couldn't continue to find it. 

*"Much like you know I have lost much of my memories. I however remember some spells. But some of them I couldn't find the origin of."* She would open the book and pointed at the following spells: reach through the void, echoes in the void, sense void, unraveling.

*"Although I never use these spells because I don't understand their origin or their ability, I know these. Do you recognize them?"* 


||
Elizabeth
"I do, at least at first glance. I recognize the stylizing we used at Starry Heavens Sanctuary. You are wise, not using Void spells so openly; many have been accused of _mahō_ due to the lack of knowledge about the Void."

_Kashikoi reads over the spells again, making sure to keep them in mind as he ran through their uses and powers. He does glance at Himiko, nodding._

"And what the kami demand, is usually tamer than what the Void takes. As you can see,"

_He gestures to himself._

"Be very wary whenever you do touch the Void or delve into it, and yes, make sure you have exhausted most of your options before you do."

||
James
*"I have used it once, this one!"* She would point at the spell called sense void. *"I used this one to find Ilu. I used it in front of Utaku Kazuko-sama once. But it was clear she was more impressed than understood that it was a spell of Maho or Void. I suppose their culture is strange enough to not consider danger like that?"* Himiko would state. Once again the Kitsu could not lie. 

*"But I suppose I could work on my recall skill with Ilu much better than constantly exhausting the void for my own will."* Himiko smiled. It was very clear she understood the consequences of using the void. After all she had feared it, perhaps still feared it. But decided to conquer it for the good of understanding herself, the lineage and her capabilities. 

*"Kashikoi-san? May I read your mind? I understand that the void should not be used for greed, but my curiosity cannot hold itself to find out what it sounds like?"* She would fold her hands together, even though she had felt shameful for even asking, she dared to look him in the eyes with a kind smile. 

||
Elizabeth
"I suppose it would, the Unicorn have an odd affinity for magic, at least that foreign magic they brought with them from the Burning Sands."

_Kashikoi blinked, before smiling and gesturing her to go on, allowing his mind to be open. The result is ... Chaotic. Odd thoughts, trails ending and restarting before ending again, snippets of thoughts from others around him and a singular, unending mantra nearly drowned out by the sea of chaos around it._

"I apologize for the state of my thoughts, I find myself ... Used to not being entirely organized a majority of the time."

||
James
Himiko hadn't even cast the spell yet and the Isawa had already apologized, for what exactly? The young girl would adjust her way of sitting to a bit more strict form. Folding her legs, straightening her back, brushing back her hair. She would look at him for a moment before closing her eyes. Inhaling deeply as she inhaled the incense that was burnt behind them in the room. She would speak the words of the spell. Focus on his voice before he stopped speaking. Alas she did not know he had stopped. 

After a while his words seemed incoherent, strange and it was just many thoughts. She had never opened her eyes, she was in full focus. Hearing the sea of chaos was at first overwhelming, but then again what was she looking for, not an exact thought. Therefore she'd consider to go along with the flow of chaos, just simply listening. She was silent, she remained silent, but it was clear she succeeded as a small glimpse of a grin had grown on her face. 
||
Elizabeth
_There is one sliver of thought that seems to make itself more known; a starry void with whispers of varying intensity, among them all, a young boy's scream as something seems to be known. Kashikoi does not react overtly, noticing the focus demonstrated by Himiko, but a single thought crosses his mind into hers._

'_Beware that memory._'

||
James
Yet with caution came curiosity. But she did not pry. *"May I hear it? I'll keep my eyes closed."* She stated. After all she had not once opened her eyes. But if he had told her to not approach she would leave. It was something in his mind. Strange how it was so shattered and chaotic at the same time. Just floating all over the place. How could Kashikoi truly think? 

Himiko had wondered. 

||
Elizabeth
'_You have been hearing it. All the thoughts? Whispers of what could be and is? That is what that is just ... Before I was ready._'

_The sliver vanished, as if batted away with a stray hand. It did not immediately vanish, but it did eventually disperse into the sea of chaos,_

'_It is not so bad, once you get used to it. Sometimes I have to focus more to keep a particular line of thought going, but other than that, tis just whatever crosses my mind._'

||
James
*"They are here yes. I don't think I'll be able to pick out all of them separately. But is everyone's mind like this? I don't think Ilu-san would have thoughts this many."* Himiko had mentioned as she had let go of the spell. Opening her eyes as she clearly felt dizzy for a moment. Rubbing her eyes and trying to orientate herself. After that she would check her hands on more scars, it seemed clear. 

*"Do I think like that too?"* She questioned. Brushing back some of her hair as she took her cup of tea. Sipped from it to hydrate herself again a bit. *"I suppose this spell is not that bad."* She stated. 

||
Elizabeth
"From what I've heard, it depends on the person. A shugenja tends to have a few lines of thought going at once; prayers being recited to invoke the kami and keep casual conversation. Bushi are easier, they are strict, more worldly and have less lines of thought."

_Kashikoi simply blinked, chuckling._

"By the by, you don't have to close your eyes. Unless that helps you concentrate, but otherwise? You don't need to close your eyes."

||
James
*"I wanted to close my eyes in case I accidentally sunk into the void."* Himiko noticed his chuckle and granted him a light one as well. She would rub the back of her head. Adjusting her pose back to a more casual one. She would give him a smirk. 

*"I am going to try to read Ilu's thoughts tonight. Perhaps she'll only think about food but that's alright. "* Himiko mentioned before looking at him. 

*"So I should only use these spells when I am in danger? May I practice them with you? I am afraid I'll hurt myself when I just... Randomly do it."* Himiko mentioned. 

||
Elizabeth
"An excellent idea of training, and yes, mostly with me. Thought reading should not be too harmful in general, but be careful with that, as it can and will bite back."

_Kashikoi nodded, humming as he understood Himiko's caution._

"I see, good precaution. You should not have too much of a problem with that, but it's good to be cautious."

||
James
*"How will it bite back?"* Himiko questioned him, her head ever so slightly tilting towards the left. Blinking her eyes twice as she not awaited the answer to this, it would be eventually. Her eagerness to learn these spells properly had taken over. After all how would she guard herself when it would be a near death experience. Not that she expected to be into one very soon, but like said, the void is strong, perhaps even stronger when fueled with the fear of losing everything and the adrenaline to remain alive. 

She would grasp onto the book of spells. Carefully rummaging trough it, finally finding the next spell on her list. Reading the spell out loud she would state *"The empty voice."* Then glanced over to Kashikoi if he was content with the intensity or even was familiar with this spell. She would skim the spell, take a deep breath, close her eyes and spoke her prayer to the Void. Soon she would peak with one eye. Nothing had happened. *"Did I do it in the wrong manner? What is supposed to happen?"* Himiko felt a bit ashamed that she had so sudden cast a spell that could potentially harm somebody without even considering the consequences. She would rub the back of her head and just stared at her master. 

||
Elizabeth
"Those unfamiliar with our arts call it a great many things; the worst of all ... _Mahō_."

_He says the word with equal amounts trepidation and disgust. Shaking his head, he watches her apply the next spell, when she looks around expecting results, he chuckles._

"Behold, Himiko-chan, _The Empty Voice_,"

_He places his hand on her shoulder, speaking nothing as he casts **Elemental Ward** Over her, waiting to see her reaction._

"A more simple spell as well, but extremely useful in its application."

||
James
*"Eh?!"* Himiko exclaimed as the clear confusion grew on her face. There was no form of panic but the young girl clearly showed a surprise from beyond any expecations. She would look at the Isawa and started laughing. *"H-how? Wait? It's the spell."* It took Himiko a solid 5 minutes to finally put the links together and find out what had happened. She would point at the following spell, one she knew how to use. The spell that she had cast many times before "Sense void". She did not speak however and to her surprise the void had listened to her words. Her eyes would be closed yet she could feel the presence of many within the embassy. 

She would smile grantly as she opened up her eyes once more. *"That's a sneaky spell, nobody would know you communed with the void."* Himiko chuckled. But soon she would turn to Kashikoi with a more serious tone. 

*"Maho... Is the void strong enough to battle it? I think that if anything would be more dangerous it would be that."* She questioned. She almost not dared to speak the word however. 

||
Elizabeth
_Kashikoi let out a loud laugh at the confusion shown by Himiko, mirth spilling from the usually reserved acting man. He does quiet as she pieces together how the spell works, nodding._

"The Empty Voice is more of a passive spell, allowing the ability to call upon the kami without vocalizing a prayer. It can make for an effective tool, especially if you intend to win a _Taryu-Jiai_. The best part, it need not be Void spells."

_He says, holding a hand up to the Kitsu, snapping and causing a tiny candle of flame to burn above his thumb. He does sober, dismissing the flame as he glances towards the Lion._

"All things done in righteous are superior to the corruption of the Taint. Even the Void, with its pitfalls, is a better path to madness than _Mahō_."

||
James
Himiko had followed the motions of her teacher. It was of importance that she knew the skill she was about to acquire and perhaps use if the wheel tried to challenge her hard enough. The strange colored eyes sparked up as the laugh of the man in front of her made her smile. It must have been a long time since she even heard him laugh like that. Listening to his words clearly made her thoughts sound like his. Everywhere all at once, all random and all of some sort of concern. What the concern had been differentiated to hurting others on accident to actually standing eye to eye with maho as her enemy. She knew he could hear them but didn't forcefully shut them up nor mention it. Instead she would look at him. 

She would hold up the scraps of her spell book as she skipped a few spells, ones she wanted to try out for herself as she had never cast those before. Her finger landed on something called "Rise from the Ashes". Holding up the book towards the man as she was unsure what it did or what it could do. *"This one? It sounds unlikely I know it but..."* She wanted to try anyways. She wanted to know what this was. But it was clear the young one was already tired. Castings spells, void spells to be specifically, fast enough could tire one out swiftly. 

||
Elizabeth
_Kashikoi's eyes widened as he read over the spell, shaking his head gently as he looked to Himiko, gesturing her to rest a moment._

"That spell ... Is exceedingly difficult to cast correctly, not even I would dare attempt a casting so frivolous, because that spell ... Effectively makes death unable to take you."

_He sighs, expression one of pondering as he tore over how best to word this spell._

"When you cast this spell, initially you notice nothing. It is when something would fatally wound you and even kill you, that it shows its effect. It ... '_resets_' you back to the moment you cast the spell. Exactly as you were, even if you had died."

||
James
Himiko settled down again as she seemed tired enough to fall back to sleep. She would listen to Kashikoi as she tilted her head ever so slightly. A confused frown, this time with a much more serious undertone, grew upon her face as the childlike energy she just displayed faded completely. There was something about her past that was completely missed. How could she even know of this spell. *"Kashikoi-san? How does a spell like this end up in my spell book? Do non void shugenjas even know of this?"* Himiko stared at the man. She felt more bitter now. There was something he was not telling her, even though he was probably not even aware of it. He knew there was a blockade of some sorts in her mind. He had seen it. The question was. Was he smart enough to keep Himiko away from that information? 

||
Elizabeth
"No, they do not; rightly so. If they were to learn we can rip someone from Emma-Ō's hands and preserve them, it would cause many to try and selfishly abuse that power for negative ends."

_Kashikoi nodded, pointing to the spell._

"We allow it to be seen as a testament to the power we can gain, and because it can be necessary. There was tell of an Ishiken using this ability on a samurai who could pray directly to Amaterasu-dono and call upon her sacred flames against an Oni. When this warrior fell, the Ishiken held on to the technique as long as he could before he brought her back to surprise the Oni."

||