F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 178: What Are FORMS?

Soren frowned slightly.

"Second form technique...?" he muttered under his breath.

The words stirred a memory.

He suddenly remembered something Instructor Ivory V. had told him when he visited her in her office.

Back then, she had explained that learning the first form was relatively easy.

But from the second form onward, things became far more difficult.

—claiming that only nobles families had techniques that could teach what needed to be learned to move forward.

He also remembered something else.

She had offered to teach him a technique if he agreed for her to tutor him.

At the time, Soren had suspected something.

And now, hearing Buttermint mention it again, that suspicion only grew stronger.

From the second form onward, the techniques were learned.

Not purely naturally gain by the Give and Take relationship one had with a Shade.

But that raised an even bigger question.

Every Soulbound warrior had different abilities.

Different manifestations.

Different powers.

So how could a learned technique apply to everyone?

And if it was something that could be taught...

Why was it treated like such a closely guarded secret?

Why did the academy not teach a standard method like it did for combat, but forced commoners on the school ho align themselves with noble families?

The curiosity gnawed at him.

Finally, he turned toward Buttermint.

"What exactly is the second form?"

Buttermint had just opened his mouth to take another bite of his sandwich.

He paused mid-motion.

Slowly, he raised his head and looked at Soren.

That was clearly not the question he had been expecting.

"Ahhh..."

He leaned back slightly in his chair.

"I see."

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"So you really don’t know what they are."

He chuckled.

"Well, for a commoner, that’s expected."

Then he squinted at Soren.

"But seriously... what have you been doing all this time?"

"Read a book or something. The Academy library is noh far from the First Year Dormitory you know."

His tone carried mild scolding, but he didn’t seem unwilling to explain.

Soren could see it clearly.

Even this oversized boy with butter-stained fingers enjoyed the feeling of holding knowledge others didn’t.

The quiet satisfaction of superiority all nobles took pleasure in.

Still chewing lazily, Buttermint finally began.

"When you first became a cadet," he said, "you were issued a six-inch soul–steel dagger."

He pointed vaguely toward Soren’s waist.

"Do you know why?"

Soren shook his head.

"It’s because of Soul Mechas," Buttermint replied.

He took another bite before continuing.

"Believe it or not, almost everything taught in this academy revolves around piloting Soul Mechas."

"Whether a cadet will eventually qualify to pilot one or not."

His eyes flicked briefly toward Soren.

"You’ve been rumored to have piloted one already."

He wiped his mouth lazily.

"So I’m sure you’ve felt it."

"The way the machine absorbs your soul energy as its power source."

Soren thought back to that moment he piloted the BULB.

Although his own experience had been slightly different—since Chronovore had supplied the consumed soul energy rather than his own soul energy—

He still remembered the sensation clearly.

The connection.

The flow.

The way the machine responded to the supplied power of the pilot.

There was a reason every Soul Mecha relied on a Glassheart as its core.

And so Soren nodded.

Buttermint nodded back.

"Although I honestly don’t know how you managed to pilot a Soul Mecha without understanding the Forms."

He stared at Soren for a moment.

As if trying to see through him.

Trying to uncover something hidden.

But whatever he searched for...

He didn’t find it.

"...Anyway," Buttermint continued.

"The concept behind the soul–steel dagger is basically a miniature version of piloting a Soul Mecha."

He lifted a finger as he spoke, though he waited until he finished chewing his food before continuing.

"Essentially, it’s the process of focusing your soul energy through a vessel..."

"...and taking control of it."

He swallowed his bite.

Then raised a butter-greased finger again.

"Sure, many Soulbound warriors can manifest their abilities without a conductor."

"But if you can manifest that power through the toughest conductor in the world..."

"That shows true mastery."

His grin widened slightly.

"And the degree to which someone can manifest their power through that conductor..."

"...is what we call the Forms."

Buttermint suddenly lifted a greasy finger and pointed toward the battlefield.

"Look there," he said.

Soren followed the direction of his hand.

Aegon was still moving across the battlefield with frightening momentum.

The nunchucks spun wildly, purple soul energy trailing behind each strike like violent ribbons of light.

WHACK!

The weapon lashed forward again.

Li twisted aside, but this time he didn’t simply dodge away.

He stepped back sharply—And for the first time in the fight—

Li drew his cadet-issued soul steel dagger.

The blade flashed silver as it appeared in his hand.

Another arc of petrifying energy tore through the air toward him.

Li slashed downward.

The soul steel blade cut through the purple wave, splitting the attack just enough for him to slip past it. Even so, he was forced back two more steps.

Aegon advanced immediately.

The nunchucks spun around his body in a violent rhythm.

Every strike forced Li to reposition.

Every swing reshaped the battlefield with creeping stone.

Soren noticed that Li was actually being pressured backward.

Buttermint chewed slowly as he watched the exchange.

Then he asked casually,

"So... what do you think about the way Aegon moves?"

Soren kept watching the battle.

He paused for a moment. Then he muttered quietly,

"...It’s really good."

Buttermint waved a hand lazily.

"Go on."

Soren looked closer.

He studied the pattern of Aegon’s movements.

The footwork.

The spins.

The timing of each swing—At least the ones his eyes could follow.

Finally, he said,

"He’s fast."

Buttermint immediately rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes, congratulations. You discovered the obvious."

He leaned forward slightly.

"I mean look properly."

"How does he move?"

Soren narrowed his eyes and focused harder.

Aegon spun again.

His body pivoted.

One foot slid forward.

The nunchucks circled his back before snapping forward in a perfect arc.

The movements felt strangely familiar.

Soren’s eyes widened slightly.

"...He’s dancing?"

Buttermint stared at him for half a second.

Then he burst out laughing.

"PFFT—HAHA—!"

He laughed so hard he suddenly began choking on his sandwich.

"Cough—! Cough—!"

Before Soren could react—

A figure suddenly appeared beside the table.

Almost as if he had stepped out of thin air.

It was another student.

He wore a perfectly neat black and white uniform, styled almost like a noble household butler’s attire.

His posture was flawless.

Back straight.

Hair jet black and combed neatly against his head.

His expression calm and refined.

Without saying a word, he placed a glass of wine gently in front of Buttermint.

Buttermint grabbed it gratefully and gulped it down.

"Ahh—"

He exhaled in relief.

Then he nodded.

"Thank you, Scholar."

The butler-like student gave a small respectful bow.

Soren stared at the scene.

A realization slowly settled in his mind.There was no doubt about it. This "butler" was not just a servant.

He was clearly the second-in-command of Buttermint’s party.

A noble family powerful enough to send their heir to the academy—

Accompanied by his personal butler.

Soren looked at Buttermint in a completely new light.

Scholar noticed Soren’s stare.But he said nothing about it. He simply stood quietly beside the table.

When Buttermint finished the wine, he wiped his mouth lazily and turned back toward Soren.

Then he said,

"It’s called..."

He tapped the table once.

"Artistic Perception."

(Author’s Note: So I think I need a discord so you guys can see the character designs I came up with. And why cynthia is red skin on Webnovel character design page. And of course, a lot of other reasons... tell me if you’d like that.)