Sord tiem

"I have studied such styles before, which are predicated on the understanding that your opponent must close the gap every bit as much as you yourself ought to. I would certainly be willing to refine my own understanding of them if you believe you could learn from them."

Her innocent cheer was well and good, but Fuuen knew that he still needed to address the most pressing matter of the conversation, the single topic that would decide whether or not he was willing to teach someone else. He had put his faith into both Elyss and Yugiri when it came to his techniques, and it was not entirely unlikely that this would be the third.

"What do you believe is the purpose of a martial art? What do you think is the ideal outcome of one's mastery?"

In a way, Fuuen could appreciate that answer, if only because of how remarkably honest it was, and how far removed it was from what he might have considered disappointing. Innocent, frankly. But, then again, he supposed it didn't quite answer the question that mattered the most to him.

"That is a respectable answer, certainly. Better to be aware of what you do not know than to maintain a needless overconfidence, yes? Learning is not so difficult when you are aware that you need to learn."

He supposed that her answer was, at least, enough that he would be willing to teach her fundamentals, basics. His own style could not be risked on uncertainty, but he knew that anyone could learn those things from another teacher. And, frankly, he would rather that she learn it from himself than from some other, less respectable teacher.

"Well, shall we depart this place for our destination covered in white?"

"Well, constructing a house is a rather ambitious endeavor, particularly in a place like where we are going. And setting down roots that deep has never particularly seemed appealing to me."

Of course, it wasn't terribly difficult for him to open a way out of here. Illegal? Well, sort of, but it wasn't as if anyone would actually know that he'd done it. Going from one backwoods to another, that was fairly easy, and Fuuen was not remotely concerned about the opinions of those who would hold him down, whether they be demons or people of Earth. Taking up his typical stance, blade still sheathed, Fuuen focused on the space in front of him carefully. One deep breath, sword drawn--

As the blade cut through the air, the world itself was sliced along with it, creating a tear across the realms through the garganta. It was visibly unstable, seeing as it was still a cut, and Fuuen sheathed his sword immediately afterward. She'd wished to see a landscape of pure white, and so he'd made certain this would take them to the furthest reaches of the Antarctic. There was nowhere that could compete with that, after all.

"After you."

Stepping through the cut after her, which immediately sealed up behind him, Fuuen simply chuckled at the sight of her running. He wasn't too terribly cold, if only because his nature as a Plus meant it wasn't something to worry about to begin with, but he could understand that she probably hadn't been as ready as he'd expected.

"I find it rather lovely, in a way. A beautiful place, as long as one appreciated the elegance of simplicity. But, if it is too cold for your liking, we can make our way to warmer parts. We are rather far from any ports, but I would be willing to carry you if you would like to leave quickly."

It was a genuine gesture, and Fuuen knew he was squarely faster than the average person. Besides, he needed a reason to put a few of the hoho basics he'd learned in the academy, and from Yugiri, to the test.

"Well, I will not disagree with that, but I find one gets used to it with time."

It was good that Fuuen was well used to reacting to things such as this, and that he had worked up an impressive physicality through years of training, or he might have had some difficulty in catching her as she lept at him. But, as it was, he had little difficulty in doing it, and he made a note of how effortlessly she seemed to do it.

Well, he didn't know what to do with that knowledge, but it was worth keeping in mind. Putting a foot forward, Fuuen made his way off, most of his speed simply on account of general talent than any particular technique in hoho, but it all worked well enough to clear the snowy landscape.