Kenan couldn''t believe that Edith had wielded a sword breaker. His father told about them but only briefly. As briefly as it was, Kenan still remembered the words he had said. "Every swordsman believes that he can cut through anything until he meets someone with a sword breaker"


    After that, Kenan did his research about the weapon and found that wielders of this weapon''s whole purpose were basically to cripple and crush anyone with a sword while using a sword style of their own. He always thought of swordbreaker wielders as Anti-Swordsman.


    He was so deep in thought about the weapon that he didn''t realize that Cole and Edith were looking at him as if they were asking him a question. "What did I miss?" Kenan asked.


    "We were asking you why you want to become a Shepard?" Edith said again.


    He thought for a moment. Kenan wasn''t sure how much information he would give, mainly because Edith was here. He didn''t mind Cole, of course, because he was his sworn brother, but after some thought, this would be the last time someone would ask him this question.


    "To find worthy opponents to push me to my limit so I can cripple the man that broke my mother''s heart."


    Cole and Edith look at Kenan with soft eyes and stern faces. Then, they both gave him a nod.


    "That''s a noble cause, brother. I hope I''m there to see you fulfill it," Cole said.


    "To follow me, you''ll probably need to become a Sentient. The enemies I face will be extremely dangerous." Kenan said.


    "More dangerous than the fiend?" Cole asked.


    "Possibly," Kenan spoke.


    "So, how do I go about doing that? Is there a surefire way that works? How did you become a Sentient?" Cole turned and asked Edith.


    "I had a revelation when I was training with my swordbreaker. I was already a Superior then, though I don''t think that would matter. She said,


    Edith continued. "I heard it''s almost always a revelation that happens. This is why whenever someone gets a Revelation from the Oracle. The Oracle becomes instantly famous and wealthy. Rich people will throw all the money they can at a chance for their child to be awakened as a Sentient."


    "So I should practice my family''s Martial arts and meditate on its profound depths?" Cole questioned.


    Edith takes another bite of her food while nodding her head. "That''s what I would assume. It worked for me. Have you never done that before?


    "Not really, it''s always been more like an exercise regent than a martial art because I''ve practiced it my whole life."


    Both Kenan and Edith looked at Cole and instantly knew the real reason. He was probably taught how to meditate and ponder the style of martial arts he uses, but he ignored the teachings of his masters and only focused on performing the techniques—which aren''t martial arts, just combat forms. Kenan bet money that Cole''s mother was the one who taught him, and he toned her out, thinking the information wasn''t important.


    "Well, there''s no use in waiting around; let''s try it out right now," Cole says as he quickly gets up from his chair.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Edith made a confusing expression. "You''re going to try to get a revelation from your material arts right now?"


    "Should there be a specific place or time for me to get a divine revelation?" Cole responded.


    Edith looked at Cole and didn''t say a word. She didn''t reply to such wise words, especially when they came from someone she assumed to be a muscled head.


    Cole processed in his martial arts form as if she had never made a comment in the first place.


    "He does that sometimes it shocks me, as well," Kenan commented.


    Edith smiles, and they watch Cole practice his stance and punches. No one expected Cole to get a Divine Revelation from randomly deciding to meditate and ponder the depth of his martial arts for the first time. This is something that should have been done at the very start of learning the art. It''s the number one contributing factor to people awakening as Sentient, aside from Oracles doing whatever creative outlet people tune into.


    When Kenan thought about it, it was strange how Cole''s family hadn''t produced a Sentient yet. He remembered Cole telling him that he was the fifth-generation practitioner of the martial art; it was good enough to get a revelation. Kenan remembers being told that the fifth-generation practitioner usually awakens unless you have a once-in-100-years genius who awakens in the third. But it never awakens in the first or second because it hasn''t been refined or practiced enough to do so.


    Kenan thought of his material art. "I wonder what generation my martial art will awaken." Before he could think any further, Kenan felt all of the Ruah energy in the room converge on Cole.


    Edith and Kenan quickly looked at each other and stood up. They weren''t sure why, but they didn''t think people should sit down when someone was awake.


    "No way, did he just-"


    "I think he did," Kenan said, cutting Edith off.


    Cole was still in fighting form and threw two more punches before he turned around and looked at his fist. Steam was coming off his body. As his muscles got leaner, the locs on his hair grew a couple of inches longer. He slowly opened and closed his fist.


    One of your primary goals as a martial artist is to control every muscle within your body and how much power flows through them, right?" Cole asked. He knew the answer already but still chose to ask it anyway.


    "Of course," Edith replied.


    "So being a Sentient through martial arts allows you to take your skills far beyond normal human limitations," Cole said, looking up from his fist. "I know exactly how much power is in my fist now, and I have 10x more confidence in controlling it."


    Cole makes eye contact with Kenan and stares intensely at him. "I want my rematch."


    ***


    A few minutes earlier


    Kenan was too distracted by the notifications and System to pay attention to Cole completely.


    [Condition Met!: See a slumbered awakening into a Sentient.]


    [You have met the requirements to have full access to the Analyze function within the System]


    Kenan Analyzed Cole, who was standing right in front of him.


    [Cole Justus]


    [Superior Sentient]


    [Superior Ability: Optic Blasts]


    [Meditation Realm: 1st Stage Consciousness.]


    [Mediation Substage: Woke]


    "Wow, this is an amazing function. I wonder if this will work on the Fiend, too?" Kenan wonders as he stares at Cole''s profile.


    "I want a rematch," Cole said.


    It finally registered in Kenan''s brain what exactly was going on. He started to look at Cole instead of at the System profile. He quickly dismissed it and pointed a finger at him. "You monster! How could you just decide to become a Sentient on a mer whem? You can''t just will your way into becoming one… right." Kenan said, turning to Edith.


    She threw her hands up in disbelief. "Well, apparently so because he just did."


    Kenan examined Cole like a physician. "My body didn''t transform like this whenever I became a Sentient. Maybe this is the best physique suited for your martial arts."


    "It has to be the case; how many bodybuilders and Martial Artists have you heard of? I was shocked that he was a real martial artist, not some poser with all those flashy muscles. Edith commented.


    "But my goodness, the steam you let off has settled and left a stench. Go take a shower and change your clothes first and foremost," she said as she fanned the air away from her nose.


    "No, I want to fight here and now. We must test the weight of my new strength and abilities, brother!" Cole said while saying brother a little too dramatically.


    What Kenan felt next he couldn''t exactly describe as killing intent but just a natural predator intent like a cat and a mouse or a wolf and a sheep. For humans, it''s something only one would feel from one''s mother right before she asks you to do something, and instead of repeating herself, she gives you the look.


    This is the look Edith gave Cole. There was an audible silence in the room. "Yes, ma''am. I''ll be right back," Cole said as he sped off out of the coach car and into the next one leading to the rooms.


    Kenan looked at Edith with new eyes. "How can someone your age have that ability? I thought only mothers could do something like that."


    "I was one of the three oldest girls at my orphanage. The nun sisters can''t be everywhere at once, so I, along with the other girls, had to play mother from time to time." She said,


    "I''m an orphan too. . . well, at least I thought I was. My mother died not too long ago." Kenan said.


    "How did she go? If you don''t mind me asking. Also, what do you mean? What did you think?" Edith asked.


    They went back to the living area to continue their conversation after apologizing on Cole''s behalf for making the place smell like a high-school locker room.


    "Right before my mother died, she told me that she had been lying about my father''s death and that he was still living somewhere outside of the continent."


    Edith gasped at that last part. "That''s why you told Cole he needs to be a Sentient to follow you. Only Sentient are even allowed to leave the continent. Unless your stupid reach or come from an Elder family."


    Kenan nods his head.


    Edith didn''t look from Kenan''s gaze suddenly and for a couple seconds too long before she finally spoke. "Let me go with you"