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The next morning, you thank the members of the Karinga tribe profusely for their hospitality while you limber up for your ascension. They wish you luck, and you share a look with Barbar to confirm that both of you are ready. You both hug opposite sides of the massive pillar simultaneously, and begin to climb. And climb...and climb...and climb. After half a day of climbing, you feel as though you're not even halfway up - you're quite thankful that your training in both the mountains and at Yunzabit Heights prepared you for such repetive and draining feats. Barbar, it seems, takes even better to the climbing than you do thanks to his experiences, flinging himself from each handhold to the next without a moment's hesitation or rest. You lose sight of him at nightfall, but after a full day and a half of climbing - which leaves you quite exhausted, if you're being honest - you finally make it to the very top of the tower.
You're not exactly afraid of heights, but looking down to see just how high up you are makes you gulp regardless. Carefully, you push yourself off the pillar to leap into the air and away from the tower, before using the Air Step technique to bounce back towards it and through the balcony, tucking into a tight roll so you don't clip anything and untucking to land on your feet. There, you see Barbar enjoying a cup of tea with...a rather bulky looking cat, which simply raises the cup to its lips to sip as you enter.
"So, this is that Honta you mentioned? Hm. Smells like my cousin Akko. I never liked Akko." The cat says, stunning you. Beastmen can talk, sure, but this is just an outright cat! Or...no, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Maybe this is just a remarkably small beastman. The cat snaps you out of your thoughts by setting its teacup down and standing up, clutching a cane far bigger than it.
"Yes, my name is Honta! It's a pleasure to meet you..." You say, trailing off since you don't know the cat's name.
"Korin. Ain't it obvious, kid?" He replies.
"Ah! Korin. So, you're the spirit from the otherworld that guards the Sacred Water?" You ask, getting a nod from the cat.
"Yeah, that's right. Your friend already told me what you were here for, but I'll tell you the same thing I told him. You ain't worthy." Korin says, lifting his cane up to gesture to the window you jumped in from. "So you might as well head back the way you came. Your effort was pointless."
"H-hang on a moment, Korin, Sir! I'm not only interested in the water! Actually...we came here for you, first and foremost!" You say, waving your hands to stop him from being hasty.
"Hm? Is that so? Why's that?" Korin asks, raising an eyebrow.
"To learn from you, of course! You're Master Korin, one of - if not the - greatest martial artist on the world! Or at least, that's what I've heard." you explain, causing the cat's brows to furrow. A strange expression for a cat to make....
