Kumi returned to the top deck. The ship was swaying now and the Southern Continent grew distant.
She could still see Ayaka on the port, speaking with a few of the guild members.
Kumi couldn't focus on the glow of the sun reflecting on the water or the beautiful view of the city, her mind occupied by what was to come after Hilde found out about her escape.
"You seem to be taking this well, ay?"
Her thoughts were cut short.
"Thursdon." She called out after a second of silence.
"Present."
"What is Prominence?"
"Oh? Ya don't know, lass? That's fun."
"You won't tell me?"
"No. It would ruin the surprise, you see. What, are ya curious?"
Kumi looked at him with her usual blank expression.
"I am."
Slightly, Thursdon's eyes widened.
He let out a chuckle before speaking.
"You're going to have to be more careful with your words, lass. Wouldn't last a week in Central, you."
"Thursdon."
"Yes?"
"Your fake accent is bad. You should practice more."
Thursdon froze for a few seconds.
Covering his mouth, he tried to stifle his hearty laugh but failed.
"Is it that bad? I've been training the accent for this character for years!"
"It is not that good, no."
Thursdon wiped away a tear.
"You're hilarious, lass."
Kumi didn't respond to the compliment, moving the topic to something else.
"I don't need to know who you really are. I won't ask anymore. But could you answer other questions?"
"I don't mind either way, there isn't much to do during these trips other than talk. What I'll answer... depends on the question, lass."
Kumi sat down on the deck, thinking to herself in silence.
"But you've triggered a bit of my own curiosity, so I'll be lenient with what questions get answers."
"Thank you."
Kumi slightly bowed her head.
"No problem."
"Then..."
Kumi stood up and walked next to Thursdon, still keeping him in her sights but getting close enough to clearly hear him without him raising his voice.
"What are the methods for Rank Advancements?"
"Oh, that's fun. Sure. Any particular Rank you're curious about?"
"Master... and then all the rest after that."
"Pfft. Okay, lass."
Thursdon rubbed his chin as if recalling something.
"Well, all Rank Advancements stem from the same base concept, you see. Hmm..."
Thursdon thought to himself, obviously not intending to give a straight answer.
"Do you know how blacksmithing works? Forging weapons?"
"No."
"Well, basically you hit hot metal and make swords and such."
"Okay."
"What is your main weapon?"
"Does this have anything to do with Rank Advancement?"
"Not exactly. I just want to make it an eloquent riddle for you to figure out."
Thursdon was dead serious about not giving her a simple straight answer, Kumi could tell from his devious expression.
She gave up and just accepted the game he was playing.
"Mainly daggers. Besides that, just my own body and elements."
Thursdon's eyes lit up.
"Exactly! Well, not the first part. The main weapon is always the body itself, within that body there is mana-"
Thursdon stopped himself mid sentence with a cough.
"Back to the blacksmithing analogy!"
"Really?"
"Okay, okay, lass. I'll keep it a little sensible. In short, your body is both your best weapon and the forge you temper it through. You rapidly heat up the liquid metal, mana, in your body by flowing it through the core of your soul before letting it all cool down."
"But isn't that only tempering the mana then?"
"No, not at all. You've at least gone through one Rank Advancement, yeah?"
"I have."
"Mana Quality Increase. A person's body is inherently tied to their mana and soul, a three way connection of mutual growth. Mana Quality, specifically referring to the Density, Precision and Sensitivity aspects of Mana, also increases the Quality of both body and soul as well, though to a lesser extent."
Kumi, before even digesting all the information properly, asked.
"Then, are Body Quality and Soul Quality also things that exist?"
"Hmm... Maybe? What you need to know for Rank Advancement is to focus on Increasing Quality. Heating up and tempering your mana is the easiest way, it naturally purifies any abnormalities and filth from the body too."
'So through this short lesson, besides theory and a few interesting facts, I didn't manage to get a straight answer.' Kumi thought to herself in silence, digesting the information that Thursdon had shared.
"At one point, however, simply tempering mana won't be enough. For some Advancements, you'll need specific resources, different types of Coal to further fuel the forge. It's a little annoying but it shouldn't be a problem if you use varied techniques from early on."
"Can you be more clear?"
"Not really? You'll grow and understand everything with time, you look young enough to live a few good decades so don't worry about it."
"Sure."
'This is worrying. Should I just do the same thing to Advance to Master as I did when I Advanced to High-Mortal?'
"By the way, lass."
Kumi looked up at him.
"Are you human?"
"...no."
"Huh. That's a shame. I'm guessing neither of your Personality Traits are related to any Sin or Virtue?"
Kumi paused for a second. Carefully, she answered.
"I only have one Personality Trait."
"Oh, come on lass. You can't go lying to me."
Kumi wanted to click her tongue. Thursdon was too perceptive. Although he provided pieces of good information, Kumi, in turn knew next to nothing about him.
She didn't bother lying further.
"No. They aren't related to any Sin or Virtue."
"You sure? None of the Eight Original Sins or Eight True Virtues?"
Kumi pondered deeply for a moment. There were more than she remembered.
"I don't think so?"
"Well that's a proper surprise there."
Thursdon seemed truly surprised.
"Hey." he suddenly spoke after a second.
"Look over here."
Kumi turned her head inquisitively only to see Thursdon pointing his finger at her throat.
At the tip of his finger, there was a burning light. As if somehow light had taken physical form and proceeded to burn because of its own heat.
Like a deer in headlights, Kumi didn't or rather couldn't react.
That light pierced straight through Kumi's throat.
Kumi held her neck, unable to speak nor breathe.
'fuck... what the fuck!'
The burning sensation was horrid. She felt as if she was bleeding magma
"Don't worry now." Thursdon waved his hands as Kumi was shuffling and stumbling away from him.
"It'll be fine in a second."
Kumi didn't even hear what Thursdon was saying.
'Am I dying? I made a mistake. What did I do?' She was panicking internally.
She looked at her hand that had just been holding on to her neck, expecting to see blood. But her hand was clean.
Kumi started taking deep breaths. Her throat still felt hot.
Just as Thursdon had said, her throat wasn't damaged. Even though she clearly felt that magma-like energy pierce a hole through her neck.
Although she struggled, Kumi managed to groan out a few words.
"What did you do?"
"Goodness. You're really taking this well, huh? I thought you would be on the floor crying by now or something."
Thursdon tilted his head as he looked at Kumi's expressionless face.
"I just placed a Brand on you. It's on the back of your neck, basically invisible."
Thursdon said as he poked the back of his own neck.
"It's the experiment I've been working on for a long while relating to Personality Traits. It's nothing dangerous. I won't even get anything from this. Honestly, it won't even benefit you in any way. Maybe after a few centuries, if I happen to be dead and you alive, a reaction might happen during my Generationally Important Funeral and give scholars something to talk about. I still doubt it, though."
Kumi could even voice out an opinion or swear at him as her throat hurt while he was talking on and on. Now, finally, it started feeling a little better.
"What does it do?" Kumi spoke out, finally her voice sounding clear again.
"I already told you, lass. Nothing. Just take it as a pretty tattoo."
"Tattoo?"
"Oh, a tattoo is a piece of art permanently drawn on the body. Don't confuse it with Taboo, that's way different."
Thursdon said so as he wagged his finger.
"... okay."
'Realistically, there's nothing I can do anyway right now. Or....'
Kumi spoke up.
"I'm leaving a bad review."
Thursdon froze.
"Oh... Ughh. Shit. Yeah, I guess I deserve that. Sorry, lass."
"Can I request a refund?"
Thursdon looked as if his heart was pierced by a spear.
"...I mean, you Can. But... Ah! But I won't answer any questions from you anymore!"
"You barely did so anyway."
Thursdon clicked his tongue.
"Fine. I won't play around as much with your questions. But I'm still answering only what I want!"
"Fine. Deal."
"So you won't ask for a refund?"
Kumi looked blankly at Thursdon's face. The lack of reaction and proper answer made Thursdon turn away with a sorrowful and bitter expression.
Kumi rubbed the back of her neck, lightly touching the tattoo that she couldn't see.
"I won't."