The First Lesson (2)

The dojo doors opened, and rows of sword racks were pushed inside, then neatly arranged along the walls. On the racks, brand-new Asauchi were lined up in perfect, uniform order.

Asauchi—the name given to a Zanpakuto before it has undergone Shikai. They can be thought of as the blank-slate weapons used exclusively by Soul Reapers in the Soul Society.

At this moment, a hundred blades sat silently on display before the new students. Though there was not a sound, every student felt a jolt of shock in their hearts.

While these youths were pampered and spoiled in their daily lives, none of them—whether they were private soldiers or guards—were permitted to carry a Zanpakuto. Aside from the children of the Four Great Noble Houses, it was likely the first time any of them had ever seen one.

Gaze after gaze turned toward the racks, weaving through the air. The fervent longing contained within them was so intense that it felt as if sparks might fly from the very atmosphere.

Lin Nan, however, didn't feel particularly surprised. After all, in his past life, he had seen plenty of Bankai in manga; what was there to be excited about regarding a mere Asauchi?

Perhaps he would feel a slight thrill when he finally got his hands on one, but he estimated it would be only marginally higher than the excitement he felt as a child when he accidentally found a perfectly straight stick.

Since the distribution process hadn't begun yet, he turned his head to look around and discovered Kyoraku and Tsunayashiro, who were just as unexcited and as steady as old dogs. After a moment of thought, he immediately understood why.

Kyoraku's older brother was a Soul Reaper, and even if he were often away on missions, he would at least return home occasionally. Kyoraku naturally had the advantage of being close to the water to see the moon first; it was quite possible he had already played with a Zanpakuto long ago.

As for Tsunayashiro Tokinada, belonging to the Tsunayashiro Clan, he possessed the ancestral Zanpakuto, Enrakyōten. Even if Tsunayashiro Tokinada wasn't the most valued child in the family, he certainly possessed at least that much insight.

A mere Asauchi wasn't enough to get him excited.

Lin Nan couldn't help but feel a wave of melancholy; damn it, it really is good to be rich, being able to see so many things from a young age that others his age couldn't.

Even the mature and steady Ukitake was currently staring at the rows of Asauchi on the rack ahead, his eyes shining!

"Eh? You pervert, you don't seem very excited, do you?" Kyoraku noticed Lin Nan looking around and assumed he was doing the same thing as him. "Did you spot any pretty female students?"

"There are hardly any female students; this year's class is practically a monastery. Also, don't call me a pervert. I'm looking around because I'm bored; you're the one looking around to ogle girls," Lin Nan retorted righteously.

The person in charge of distributing the Zanpakuto was an elderly man wearing thin, rectangular glasses, who was reciting the fine print of the Spirit Arts Academy Zanpakuto Management Regulations in a monotonous, rigid tone.

"One: Except for sword meditation and live-blade trial classes, drawing your blade is forbidden under any circumstances;

Two: Under no circumstances are you allowed to point your blade at a fellow student;

Three: ..."

Because the teacher spoke so slowly, scattered whispers began to emerge among the students below, and the impatient ones had already started to grumble under their breath.

Kyoraku chimed in from the side: "The teacher talks so slowly! Honestly, next class, I'll die before I stand in the front row again; I can't see a single girl behind me... might as well finish early and go back to sleep!"

Ukitake once again took on the role of the study committee member for the trio: "Kyoraku-san, focus! The time will pass quickly!"

Lin Nan, however, was listening quite carefully, analyzing as he went: "Why does it feel like these school regulations are pointing at something specific?

No drawing blades, no pointing blades at students... has there been a history of students fighting with blades here at the Spirit Arts Academy?"

This time, without waiting for Kyoraku to answer, he cast his gaze directly toward Tsunayashiro Tokinada in the row behind him: "Do you know what's going on?"

The Tsunayashiro Clan had been in charge of the Soul Society's intelligence for generations; their information level was certainly much higher than Kyoraku's, who only heard stories from his older brother. So, he might as well try to pry a little out of him—it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Tsunayashiro remained smiling, answering softly: "Not at all. It is said that these regulations haven't changed since the school was founded. They are merely a constraint to make students more respectful of their Zanpakuto. However, there is one actual restrictive measure."

The three of them became instantly interested upon hearing this. Even Kyoraku put on a pious expression, as if begging for the details.

"Actually, there are several permanent barriers within the Spirit Arts Academy. One of them, the 'Blade-Sheathing Decree,' exists to prevent new students from drawing their blades recklessly and causing accidents before they know how to use them."

Tsunayashiro Tokinada didn't care at all about leaking such an inconsequential secret.

"There's a barrier? Doesn't that mean we can never use our Zanpakuto at school?" Ukitake asked.

Kyoraku shook his head slightly and said: "No, it must be a relatively simple barrier so that it doesn't interfere with the Academy's teaching."

Tsunayashiro Tokinada glanced at Kyoraku Shunsui with a subtle look and laughed: "Exactly. This barrier only restricts low-grade students with weak spiritual pressure.

In reality, when we take sword meditation classes and are able to successfully communicate with our Zanpakuto, our spiritual pressure will be roughly enough to break free from the barrier's restraint."

Lin Nan nodded earnestly after hearing this, muttering to himself: "That way it's easier to communicate deeply with the Zanpakuto to complete the Shikai?"

The other three looked at him in unison. Tsunayashiro Tokinada looked at Lin Nan, smiling without a word.

Kyoraku was somewhat surprised: "You already know about Zanpakuto? I didn't even know this... Ah, the old man must be giving you private lessons! I'm going to go argue with him tomorrow!"

Ukitake chimed in with a timely jab: "If the teacher actually shows up, would you still dare to say that?"

Kyoraku stiffened for half a second, then gave Ukitake a sheepish look: "Whose side are you on? I'm your roommate!"

Seeing the three of them still looking at him with suspicion, Lin Nan quickly explained with a straight face: "I was just guessing. Didn't I just say that you can only draw your blade during sword meditation and trial classes? If the barrier were too strong, how could we even have sword meditation class?"

Just as the three were chatting, the teacher on the podium finally finished his announcement and began distributing the Zanpakuto.

The teacher stood on the podium, took out the roster, flipped through it, found it troublesome, and closed it again. He simply announced that they should come up to receive their blades in the order of their rows!

This was where the advantage of standing in the front row became apparent. Lin Nan and the others, standing in the first row, gained the first-mover advantage.

Although Kyoraku had acted indifferent earlier, he now rushed forward in a few quick steps. Looking at the sea of Asauchi, he rubbed his hands together and asked the teacher: "Can I pick one first?"

The teacher gave him a look of annoyance: "They are all the same! Take them in order; you get whichever one comes next!"

Kyoraku said "Oh," grabbed the first blade on the rack, and did a little hop as he turned to return to the queue. As soon as he stood steady, he held the blade and began to examine it carefully from top to bottom.

Ukitake went up, greeted the teacher properly, picked up a blade, and walked back to the queue in a steady, composed manner.

Lin Nan took the opportunity to mock Kyoraku: "Look at Ukitake; that's what you call having a proper bearing. Girls like his type; you should learn from him."

Kyoraku was unimpressed and continued fiddling with his blade: "What's the use of learning that? This young master is destined to have a house full of wives and concubines..."

The third to go up was Lin Nan. He nodded slightly to the teacher and then walked toward the sword rack.

To be honest, the swords up there were truly monotonous. They all featured black scabbards, and the ito wrapping on the hilts was a uniform, dull yellow.

They all seem exactly the same, Lin Nan thought to himself. I'll just follow the order and take the one right after Ukitake.

He grabbed the next Asauchi in line and turned to leave, but a strange feeling suddenly stirred in his heart. He stepped forward again, walked toward another rack on his right, and reached out to grab a different Asauchi.

The instructor, waiting to call the next name, grew impatient when Lin Nan didn't return to the queue after finishing his selection. "I told you already! No picking and choosing! Hurry up—"

His gaze had only just turned back when the sight before him forced him to swallow the rest of his words.

At this moment, Lin Nan stood before the rack with his chosen sword tucked into his waist, while his hands were in the process of drawing the second Asauchi from its scabbard, revealing the blade.

The instructor's face turned as sallow as the blade itself—

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the blade of that second Asauchi was made of bamboo.