After handing over nearly half of the luxury goods they had collected from the garbage heap, Renn and Machi secured three months of residence in a detached house with its own courtyard.
Machi looked visibly pained by the expense.
Seeing the expression of a little miser who had just suffered a massive financial loss, Renn couldn’t help but smile.
“Machi, you need to look further ahead.”
“Don’t focus only on what’s right in front of you. Do you really want to spend your entire life in a place like this?”
Machi looked at Renn.
“Renn, you mean…”
“Meteor City is too small. Resources are too scarce, and there are too many limitations. Sooner or later, we’ll have to venture into the outside world.”
“But before that, we need to accumulate enough strength.”
“Starting today, I’ll teach you Nen.”
Machi nodded.
Renn began explaining.
“The principle behind Nen is learning how to use the life energy naturally contained within the human body.”
“The first step is opening your aura nodes. The second is learning to control that life energy.”
The prerequisite for opening one’s aura nodes was that both the body and mind had been trained to a sufficient level.
It was possible to open them even without adequate physical and mental conditioning, but doing so carried certain risks.
“So what kind of training do I need to do now?”
“There’s no need to rush into training. Let me test your current condition first. Your body and mind might already meet the requirements for opening your aura nodes.”
“Come with me.”
Renn closed the doors and windows.
Then he moved all the tables and chairs out of the living room.
“Let’s begin.”
“Attack me.”
Machi froze.
“Don’t worry. At your current level, there’s no way you can pose a threat to me. Attack with everything you’ve got.”
“Okay.”
Machi’s expression became serious.
The next instant, she lunged toward Renn.
Renn’s eyes lit up when he saw her movements.
“Not bad. You’re pretty fast.”
Renn was beginning to understand why the Phantom Troupe had become so powerful despite being largely self-taught.
Every member of the Troupe possessed extraordinary talent.
Machi had never undergone any professional training.
And she was only twelve years old.
The other members of the Phantom Troupe were unlikely to be any less talented than Machi.
If Machi received proper training, she would become many times stronger than her canon counterpart.
However, attacks at her current level still posed no threat to Renn.
He didn’t even need Nen.
His Combat skill alone was enough.
After all, Renn’s Combat skill had already reached the mastery level.
“That’s enough.”
Machi stopped.
She was breathing heavily.
Then she glanced at Renn.
His breathing remained perfectly steady, without the slightest sign that he had just gone through an intense spar.
At that moment, Machi understood just how large the gap between them was.
Her desire to learn Nen grew even stronger.
“Renn, do I meet the requirements?”
“More or less.”
Renn nodded.
“First, I’m going to explain Ten to you.”
“Opening your aura nodes is dangerous. Once they’re opened, the rate at which your life energy leaks away will increase drastically.”
“If you can’t learn Ten, the life energy inside your body will continue to diminish. You’ll become weaker and weaker until eventually, all of your life energy is exhausted and you die.”
Machi’s expression turned solemn.
“I’ll remember everything carefully.”
“Ten is essentially the control of life energy. You keep that energy wrapped around the surface of your body instead of allowing it to disperse.”
“To give you a simple example, imagine your life energy as water.”
“Ten is like turning part of that life energy into a balloon that contains the water inside…”
Renn explained for a long time, going into great detail.
“Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“You’re sure? This isn’t the time to pretend you understand. Your life is at stake. There can’t be any mistakes.”
Machi nodded firmly.
“I’m sure. I understand.”
“Good. Then I’ll help you open your aura nodes.”
Machi stood in the center of the living room and closed her eyes.
Renn extended a hand and placed it on top of her head.
At twelve years old, Machi wasn’t particularly tall.
Then again, even as an adult, Machi didn’t seem to grow very tall.
She was just under one meter sixty—short by a single centimeter.
Aura extended from Renn’s hand and gradually enveloped Machi.
Machi grew slightly tense.
The sensation of being surrounded by aura felt unfamiliar and strange.
“Relax!”
Renn slowed down.
Machi gradually calmed herself.
“Open!”
Renn suddenly shouted.
“That’s it. You can open your eyes now.”
Machi opened her eyes and raised both hands.
“I can feel it. It’s warm… like something is covering my entire body.”
“That’s aura.”
Renn said, “Don’t waste any time. Use Ten immediately.”
“The sooner you master Ten, the better.”
“Okay.”
Machi’s expression immediately became serious.
Renn had made the consequences sound extremely severe.
Machi had no desire to die.
She had managed to survive even under the terrible conditions she had lived in before.
Now that she had finally caught a glimpse of the possibility of a better life, she had even more reason to keep going.
She wanted to see the outside world for herself.
Renn remained beside Machi and watched over her.
Time passed little by little.
Half an hour later—
“Renn, I’ve got it.”
A smile appeared on Renn’s face.
“Not bad. As long as you’ve mastered it.”
“Now try gathering your aura around your eyes.”
“Okay.”