The months had drifted by, blending in a haze of relentless training. The once quiet clearing in the forest had transformed into Hiruma's domain, her battleground of discipline. Time seemed to slow down as Hiruma pushed herself beyond the limits of her twelve-year-old body, the sessions turning with every day of struggle and growth.

Her body had changed over the past year, becoming leaner and more defined with hard-earned muscle, yet still carrying the grace and beauty of her youthful appearance at the height of 5'2. Her indigo hair now cascaded down her upper back, the faint purple tips glimmering in the sunlight with a liveliness that matched the fierce intensity in her pink eyes. Hiruma has now recently turned twelve a few months ago.

She stood, a strong and determined silhouette beneath the towering trees, her gaze fixed upon Isamu Seta, who stood several paces away.

"There is nothing else left for me to teach you, Hiruma," Isamu spoke, his tone even, though there was an underlying hint of satisfaction in his words."The rest is up to you. If you fully perfect your Ink-breathing I will allow you to take the final selection that begins in seven. If not, you will have to wait until next year."

"Alright," Hiruma said, her voice steady. She watched Isamu return to his cottage in the distance, leaving her alone in the forest to train once more.

~~~~

"First form: Ink Slash!" She called out, slashing her blade in a wide arc. Black ink energy sprayed through the air, twisting and shifting into illusory copies of herself. The figures were distorted and unstable, disappearing after mere moments.

"No," Hiruma muttered to herself, lowering her blade."They need to be seamless, indistinguishable from the real me."

She inhaled deeply, falling into Total Concentration Breathing, feeling oxygen course through every fiber of her body. The forest around her blurred as her focus sharpened to a single point. With a smooth motion, she executed the form again. This time, the illusions lasted longer but still lacked the sharp clarity she aimed for.

"Again," She told herself through gritted teeth.

Over the next several hours, Hiruma worked tirelessly on Ink Slash. Each attempt brought slight improvements, and yet perfection eluded her. Her movements became more precise, the illusions clearer, until finally, as the afternoon sun began dipping toward the horizon, she swung her blade and created five identical copies of herself. The illusions moved fluidly, stepping and swaying as though alive. The clearing was filled with multiple Hirumas for several seconds before the figure dissolved into thin air.

Panting, Hiruma fell to one knee. Sweat dripped from her face as her chest heaved, but a smile broke through her exhaustion." Finally," she whispered.

By nightfall, Hiruma shifted her training to the second form. Standing still, she focused on channeling the energy through her sword, visualizing it dripping like ink onto a blank page. She brought her blade down sharply. Black ink-like energy spilled from the blade's edge, floating briefly in mid-air before it dissipated. Frustration prickled in her chest.

She stepped back, breathless but elated. The shape hadn't maintained its form for long, but the potential was there.

"Dripping," She said quietly, testing the form again. Each swing brought her closer to control. By the time the stars glittered and maintained the ink blade with moderate precision. Though imperfect, it was enough to propel her forward.

~~~~

Over the weeks that followed, Hiruma tackled the more advanced forms of Ink Breathing.

The Third Form: Ink Veil became a particular challenge. She spent hours weaving her katana through the air, trying to create a protective mist-like barrier. At first, the ink dispersed too quickly, leaving her vulnerable. But as her control deepened, she finally succeeded in conjuring a swirling shroud of ink. When she stepped into the haze, her vision blurred, and she knew the effect would disorient any enemy within its confines.

"Good," she whispered, staring into the dark fog. "Not perfect, but good."

By the fifth month, Hiruma's progress was undeniable. She mastered Calligrapher's Barrage, her blade moving so quickly it seemed to paint streaks of ink into the air. Eclipsing Stroke required tremendous focus, forcing her to synchronize her breathing with each crescent-shaped attack. At times, the dark energy would fade before she completed the form, forcing her to start from the beginning.

"Keep going," she told herself after every failed attempt.

The Sixth Form: Ink Dragon became her greatest triumph. Conjuring the fierce, swirling beast required a level of control Hiruma had never achieved before, and the first time it took shape, she almost cried out in joy. The dragon surged forward, slamming into the target tree and reducing it to splinters.

"I did it," Hiruma whispered, lowering her sword as her heart pounded. "I did it."

Seven months had passed when Isamu called her to the clearing at sunset. He stood waiting, his familiar figure silhouetted against the fiery orange horizon. Hiruma approached, the evening breeze lifting her indigo hair. She knelt before him, her katana resting across her knees.

"Stand," Isamu ordered, his voice firm but not unkind.

Hiruma obeyed, standing with her chin high, and her shoulders straight.

"I have watched you over these months," Isamu began. His piercing eyes searched hers, as though assessing her very soul. "You have endured everything I have thrown at you. You have risen after every fall. Today, I say this: you are ready."

Hiruma's breath hitched. "Do you mean—"

"You will take the Final Selection," he interrupted. "But make no mistake, Hiruma. Surviving that trial is another matter entirely. Have no hesitation. Trust in your training, and trust in yourself. If you do not, you will fail."

"I understand," Hiruma said, her voice resolute. She tightened her grip on her katana. "I won't let you down."

Isamu's expression softened ever so slightly. "Then you have my blessing you leave first thing tomorrow for Mount Fujikasane it takes four days to get there by the time you arrive it should be the day the final selection begins."

As he turned to leave, Hiruma took a steadying breath. Her path forward was clear, but she knew that the real test was yet to come.

Here is chapter six of The Ink Pillar and the beginning of the first arc of the story. In this chapter, Hiruma spent seven months perfecting her Ink Breathing in preparation for the Final Selection. Through relentless determination and countless hours of training, she refined several forms, including Ink Slash, Dripping, and Ink Dragon. By the end, her mentor Isamu acknowledges her readiness, granting her permission to participate in the Final Selection.​​​​​​​ The next chapter will be the start of the final selection.

Thanks for reading!

Question of the chapter: What did you think of the final preparations for final selection?

[Meiji period secrets]

-Hiruma had the most trouble with Ink Dragon.

- Isamu gave Hiruma a new outfit as a reward for the completion of her training.

Word count: 1,095