in the depth and strength of his honor, in the truth of those

ridiculous, melodramatic, empty words that he had spoken, when

the real truth was not that Kanno’s desire to be worthy of the

master was greater than his desire to live. Far from it. The truth

was that the worth he placed on his own self, the value of his

monumental ego, was so great that he would rather die than be

humbled in the eyes of others.

Yohaku would now believe that he was humble, worthy, selfless,

when in truth Kanno was none of those things, but quite the

opposite. And the strength of his own ego had given him the power

to deceive the master. Yohaku would never realize it, but in that

one incandescent instant when he had magically stopped the blade,

Kanno had become the master.

And the choices he had made since then were rendered that much

easier for him, because there was no need to question his own

decisions, no room left for doubt, no necessity for self-justification.

Yohaku was Japan’s highest ranking and most venerable adept, one

of the greatest living magic-users in the world, and Kanno had

outwitted him. In that moment, he felt himself reborn. There were

no longer any limits.

He had served Yohaku faithfully for ten long years, hiding his

true colors during all that time, exercising the greatest of

self-discipline, swallowing his pride, and effacing himself. Ten

years. The bastard had made Mm wait ten years before he

pronounced him worthy to stand for his first levels and agreed to

sponsor him. Kanno had passed with flying colors. Even then, when

he could have struck out on his own, he has asked the master if he

could remain with him, to study further and refine his knowledge.

Yohaku had been proud and pleased with him. The fool. He never

suspected Kanno’s true intent. Yes, Kanno meant to learn, but not

out of selfless dedication and a sincere desire to improve his art, but

out of a driving ambition to increase his power.

He had been careful, oh, so very careful. He had successfully

resisted the overwhelming temptation to peruse Yohaku’s

thaumaturgic scrolls when the master wasn’t looking. He forced

himself not to delve into the master’s secrets. At least, he had

resisted until he was absolutely certain that Yohaku trusted him