Mika 016 (Patreon)

A while passed along as Mika spent his days focusing on his cultivation and creating various pills. On one weekend, Mika returned to his family, being tackled by his sister in a tight hug. 

“Miki! Welcome back!” 

“This one has returned, sister,” Mika replied, letting her embrace him. She needed to recharge after he had been gone for so long. He checked her soul to see how far she had come along, and it seemed the potions and pills she had been given were working far better than he expected. He should have taken into consideration that he had been siphoning his strength into her ever since he was young.

“I haven’t seen you all week!” She always said such when he returned. 

“Sorry,” Mika replied. “I’ve been busy with alchemy.”

“Hush! No talking about boring things! Come on!”

“Yes, dear sister.”

Ami dragged him away to the courtyard in order to play with him. First they did some basic training and then they played catch. 

“Dear sister, how is your cultivation going?”

“It’s going good! I can already feel myself getting stronger!” She smiled.

Since she was already Tempered Copper First, Mika thought she could finally handle the stress. “Will sister allow me to teach her something?”

“Teach me what?” she asked, tilting her head.

“It’s a secret move for the Black Hand Technique. You aren’t allowed to tell anyone about it thought, okay?”

“Okay!”

Mika smiled. “Good. Channel your ki into your fingers.” 

She nodded and then concentrated. It didn’t take long for her to focus her ki to her finger tip. “Done.”

“Now I want you to think about forming the Black Hand, but right as you do, I want you to channel as much ki as you can.”

She focused once again, forcing her ki into her fingers with as much as she could. She tried to activate Black Hand, but she noticed that only her finger tips had become black. “What’s this? Did I do it wrong?” she asked, deflating. 

“No,” Mika said, smiling. “You did it right. With the tips of your fingers like this you’ll be able to hurt others much more. It’s got more piercing power, like an arrow.”

“Oh!” She smiled. “That’s amazing! You’re so smart, little Miki.” She hugged him tight again. She dismissed the technique and pet his head. 

“I’ll teach you another technique, but you have to keep that a secret too.”

“What is it?” she asked excitedly.

“Sit down and cross your legs. I want you to meditate, but this time with three seconds of breath in, and one second out.” 

She dropped down and did so. He walked behind her and then massaged her upper back, pressing certain points in her back. He made sure to keep in contact with her before he pressed the various pressure points, taking in the pain into his own body, before he fell back. “There.” He panted with effort.

She remained sitting there in deep meditation. Since she was going to be out for a few hours, he decided to head out to the nearby Storm family.

The Storm family guard watched him approach. “Little Mika?” the guard asked. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I came to play,” he said. 

The guard was surprised. He had seen Mika very rarely, but he hadn’t taken the initiative to come alone. “Gaiden’s inside.” The guard motioned with his head. 

Mika entered, looking all about until Gaiden appeared, like a dog who had sniffed out its owner. “Mika!” He rushed up to Mika. “Where have you been?”

“I was at the Alchemists’ Guild.”

“I heard you’re already an Alchemist. I knew you were smart, but I didn’t know you were that smart.”

“Of course he’s smart,” Vidian said. “He received a perfect score on the exam, or did you already forget, Idiotden?”

“Hey! Vidian, watch your mouth! I’ll thunder slap your face!” Gaiden puffed out his cheeks and stood up taller.

“My congratulations to you, brother, for your accomplishment on becoming an Alchemist.” Vidian clasped his hands together. He acted far older than his age. “I didn’t know you wanted to be one.”

“There’s no need to be so formal. Aren’t we brothers?” Mika smiled. “I just decided on a whim.”

“That’s right, stupidian! We’re brothers!” Gaiden nodded.

“I’m not stupid,” Vidian replied, staring at Gaiden.

Mika looked to Gaiden with the same look.

“What? E-even you? Just you wait! I’ll be smarter than the two of yous!”

“Why?” Mika smiled. “You should work on your physical abilities and leave us to work on our smarts. You’ll both be near unparalleled geniuses. I’ll help you.”

“We’ve been cultivating as hard as we can.”

“Don’t worry,” Mika said, smiling. “As long as you’re with me, we’ll all become Iron at fifteen years old. That’s when we’ll begin our true training.”

“Fifteen?” Gaiden looked to Vidian. “Even I’m not that dumb.”

“Don’t you believe in your brother’s words?” Vidian asked. 

Gaiden’s cheeks puffed once more, his nostrils flaring. “Of course I do!”

Mika looked around quickly and then revealed a few pills. “Here. Take these and refine them. Your sisters will be getting all the resources, but I won’t allow you to suffer alone because of it.”

“Whoa!” Gaiden gasped. “These are…”

“Copperforge pills.” Even Vidian was surprised, eyeing Mika suspiciously.

“You really got some for us?” Gaiden asked. 

“Did you think I was going to abandon my brothers? I’m an Alchemist now. I can make a few pills to help you out. I’ll bring some now and again when I’m free.”

Ami just needed to become a legend now, and then he’d cultivate with the pair. Once she turned fifteen years old, she’d have a lot less of his attention. He and his three brothers, Jon included, would need to progress quickly too, but they’d hide their true strength until it’s required to reveal it.

“I’ll bring a pill or two every month. If you need any minor potions, let me know.”

“Of course!” Gaiden nodded. “If you need anything from us, let us know too!”

“I don’t like that this idiot is speaking for me, but he’s right.” Vidian nodded too.

“I’ll be sure to do that.” Mika smiled. With the bonds of brotherhood being formed so young, he’d be able to create two loyal warriors. He had some experience in it, though he’d need to be careful that he treated them both fairly, otherwise he’d get a knife through his second and third ribs again.

The three of them played for some times, sparring with one another. The other pair took great care with Mika. He asked them to treat them normally, but they were too good at heart.

“Little master Blackhand,” Delila called out, surprised to see him. “I have heard from your mother that you’ve already become an Alchemist. Congratulations! You’re bringing so much honour to your clan!” She smiled, though Mika could see that his mother had mentioned it quite a lot to the woman.

“Thank you, dear aunt. It was only thanks to the guidance ofmy elders that I was able to come so far. I, Mika Blackhand, will never forget those who have helped me.” Mika opened a hand. “I am just a boy now, so these are the only gifts I have for yourself and dear aunt Moth as well. When I’m older, know that I will shower you with good fortune.” Mika handed over a few pills to the woman. 

Delila looked down at the pills, wondering if he had stolen them, but she accepted them graciously. “This aunt will accept your gifts, little nephew. However, you don’t need to to do so much.”

“It would look poorly on me and my family if I were unable to look after my brother’s mother!” Mika puffed out his cheeks like Gaiden.

She smiled and placed a hand on his head tenderly, rubbing her fingers trough his hair. “You’re always welcome in our home.”

“Thank you, dear aunt.” Mika bowed.

Lidia was also around, and Mika had exchanged similar words and gifts to her. Soon these two families would also form ties with the Alchemists’ Guild within the town.