I always had the same dream. I don't know when it started ... Maybe it was after I broke my other horn.
A mountainious landscape where a village was dug into the side.
A beautiful woman with blackish sliver hair and golden eyes was washing me off, making sure she pick up any of my fallen scales. The pretty lady had slick back horns, if I would look at my reflection I would have the same two nice horns as well.
"Hey -----, come on the gathering is starting, let go come on"
"-----, come on before we leave without you"
"Yea, ----- where gonna miss where the village chief decides where we will move next"
Three little monster beast with a scaled hides walked around excitedly on all fours as the egg me to hurry along.
"Mother, may I?"
"Of course ----- go on ahead make sure you come back for supper, your father and elder brother should return then"
"Ok" I ran along with my fellow friends
"Have fun -----, I love you"
This was wrong
__________
After a day of play I made it back home a little late as I snuck back in through the servants quarters. There was the hussle and bustle of the servants at work, the blood line of a house.
"Hello, young master"
"Cutting it a bit close aren't we"
"Tsk tsk tsk, do you really need another reason for your siblings to pick on you"
"Hehe" I walked past by everyone as I got to know them.
As I playfully greeted each maid.
"Hi ------, thanks -----"
They gave me a salute with their arms crossed as per tradition. I did the same for them which always made them happy.
"Hey were is Aoi-nee?"
"Oh she is in charge of the cooking right now for the main family"
"Ok ... Guess I'll go hang out with my brothers then"
This isn't how it should go
__________
I walked inside the main building as I found one of my siblings ----- yawning for the 5th time as he waited for ----- to make his move.
"Hey -----, ------. Where is elder brother? He said he will begin to teach me Ryu Touki "
"Yaaawwwnn, I don't know. Hey -----, come play with me instead ----- doesn't get this game"
"Shut up! Just give me a moment" ---- moved his rock as ----- yawned and counter with his move completely expecting that outcome.
"Well I'm off to find Elder brother, see you guys later at dinner"
"Later -----"
"Emm, no let's play again"
No this isn't right
__________
"Elder brother!!"
"Hmm, oh -----"
"I'm a interrupting?"
"No I am just finishing up" the elder brother wiped away the sweat after he finished training.
"Hey Elder Brother. Teach me how to use Ryu Touki, when ever I ask Aoe-nee she says she doesn't want to"
"Oh she doesn't does she, well she is a servant after all. Hehehe ok. Come on into my room. We have some time before family dinner, I'll go over that basics with you"
No no no this isn't right
__________
Dinner should be just about done. I know I'll help set the table.
I ran to the kitchen as I was greeted to the sight of a beautiful woman with sliver hair as well and golden eyes.
As I ran towards her. She placed her palm in front of me
"Now now, what did I say about that nose drive thing you do, Little one"
"Hehehe do you need help bringing in the food"
"Oh my, what a helpful young master you are, your making me blush"
"Hehehe"
I grabbed some of the food as we made our way to the family table.
There was Elder brother, -----, -----. And then my younger sister -----. At the end was my mother giving me a bright smile as she beamed with pride.
In fact each and every member of the table was smiling when I enter the room.
"Oh my ---- your helping out, how helpful of you"
"Hmm hmmm, I would have expect it as my rival, ---- is so dependable"
"Yawn, seriously ----- when are we gonna play, your the only one who give me a challenge"
"Hey big brother sit next to me"
No something's not right
Then the head of the household sat and spoke. "Excellent work ------, as expected of my son"
"Shall we sit and how our family meal, little one"
"Yes!!!"
All of this .... Is a lie
__________
And when I was able to scatter the facade. The nightmare began.
"H- i- n-t b--re-thi-g. Wh-t sh-ou-d w- -o?"
It first started with a man and a woman crying over something. I could never quite make it out. What language were they speaking?
__________
Which then cuts over to the same pretty lady with blackish silverish hair and golden eyes.
Only those eyes looked dazed as she held a knife towards someone ... An intruder perhaps?
M-mom? What's wrong who is attacking us?
"Why were you born this way? You were suppose to be my ticket out of here. Ahhh"
"You were a mistake"
__________
"As we are descendants of the great Dragon General Khaos, we must condemn this failure of a Hakuei who soils our hereditage"
The next thing I noticed I was ... Surrounded by adults. They seem to be mad at something. Wait are they looking towards ... Me?
"We must remain pure for the sake of our bloodline"
"Off with his horn!!!"
"Secondened!!!!"
"It is of agreement then"
"Then let us begin ..."
Wait what are you doing? Please tell me what I did wrong? Please, I promise I'll fix it please, sniff please!
As they encircled me I see a fragment of a horn fall off as it fades to black.
_________
Soon after
I made it to the outside. That's when I see the same familiar village lit ablaze.
I ran into a grown woman with a fox mask. When she removed it. It revealed a familiar face only she had brown brown hair with brown eyes inside of her Sliver hair and golden eyes. And her horns were missing.
A-Aoi-nee? Is is that you?
* * * * *
"Litt-- -ne ...Yo- -ust r--!"
She now held my shoulders as she shook me trying to get my attention.
"D-d Yo- h--r m-?"
With one final shake the dream world fades as I made out her last words
"RUN!"
* * * * *
Arthur
I awoken in a cold sweat. But unlike my usual camping set up or an average inn setting, I awoken in the guest room of the Greyrat residence.
Haaa haaa haaa ... It was that dream again
I looked out of the window to see that the sun hasn't risen yet. It was around the summer time right now. Which met that the sun raised earlier than usually. But still despite the faint light the sun hasn't risen yet.
I guess I could consider that a good thing since I definitely didn't want to go back to sleep.
I decided to start my day, as I usually do when I stay in a city or town.
I first cleaned my teeth and washed my face to fully wake up. I wear my usual training outfit which I got custom made from another friend of mine which was modeled from the uniforms at the sword sanctum. Except I had the top be more loose as to easily remove when I worked up a sweat and the pants a bit more baggy.
When I was ready for my morning workout, I grabbed my sword and began to head out.
This was not my first stay at the Greyrats house. I stayed at their resident for a while, after the event of the Labyrinth Dungeon and Paul's death. So I had a handle of everyone habits. Except ...
Silence.
Was I the first one to awaken? How rare. Usually I awaken to see Aisha preparing for the day or Rudy about to head out on his runs as well. Or heck, even Sylphie getting ready to leave for her job for Ariel.
Then again that was when Lucy was about a baby and Eris hasn't join in on Rudy's family. Not to mention the addition of 5 other children in the household.
As I do some stretches and my little warmup I began to run. Not to fast but enough to get my heart pumping.
It took about 5 mins at my speed to get into the early setting of the city. The city was quiet.
Now the reason for my run around the city. Yes it's a good way to stay fit but due to my activity, I'm plenty fit already. The main reason was to get my heart pumping as this was a form of training for me. I get my heart pumping hard as I feel the rhythm of my heart, how I breath in and out, I get use to the oxygen going into my bloodstream.
The exercise is to match my moments to the rhythm of my heart to set a pace in my exercise. Once I got a good rhythm going I began to jump off the walls of the city as I made my way to roof tops and leap around the roof landscape.
Following my heart's rhythm allows me to jump higher and run faster and longer without wasting too much energy.
Just like how Master Lily taught me, well except with all those traps off course.
I also like to use these runs to get a good feel of the land. But since I have already been to Sharia, it wasn't long before my mind began to wonder off.
When my mind does this, I always tend to evaluate myself and go down the checklist of the skills I have collected so far. Almost like getting a feel of where am at and where I can improve on.
It almost felt like going down memory lane.
So let's go down my stats ... Shall we
* * * * *
First let's go down my rankings with the sword styles.
Sword God Style: Saint
Water God Style: Saint
North God Style: Saint?
Hmm ... maybe King for the North Style actually. If I am to take what Lily Sensei seriously about the promotion in the North Style.
I figured it out ... But I never got a chance to test it in front of Master Lily.
Perhaps a bit of background was in order.
When we successfully was able to make it back to the Central Continent and got Rudy and Eris home.
Ruijerd decided it was now time to part ways. I didn't say anything. The shock was too great. He was just going to leave ... Just like that.
I always wondered why we had to break up. I was happy ... Weren't they? Was it something I did Ruijerd? Please if you just tell me, I can fix it. I can do better. Please ... Please don't leave.
I tried to follow him like I would when I first met but I was emotionally stuck ... who should I stay with.
Ruijerd was the first person in the outside world who accepted me but then Rudy and Eris had also. I stood in-between them as Ruijerd kept on walking not looking back. He used my confusion to add up the distance until ... he was out of sight.
Rudy and Eris had to get me out of my stupor as they pulled me along. My eyes never leaving the area where Ruijerd once was.
Rudy and Eris both teared up ... but I didn't. I felt like I wanted to ... But nothing came. Maybe it was because I felt ashamed of myself and I didn't deserve to be traveling with him, slowing him down.
And with that I guess you can say 'Dead End' broke up. I later began traveling the Central Continent for ... reasons let say.
* * * * *
When we went back to Eris hometown. It was not what I was expecting. The way Eris described it, she made it seem like it was a big city just like the Town of Rikaris we visited after forming our group. But I guess like Rudy's home village it was now just a wasteland.
Apparently she received some bad news and was informed that her parents and grandfather passed away. And to top it all off I overheard that she was to be forcibly sold off as a concubine to some other noble.
We were told to leave her alone to grieve. But when Rudy and the others were talking about what to do. I wondered what I was going to do?
My friend was hurting and for some reason that made me feel bad. Was everybody like this. The outside world can be such a scary place.
* * * * *
That night, I awoken from a dream ... A idea popped into my head. I wanted to get stronger.
Truth be told, in our battle with Orsted. While Ruijerd and Rudy were fighting for their lives against him. I just stood there ... scared like a small animal, hoping the creature didn't see me.
Even Eris, who was scared as well, took her sword to attack the Dragon God.
I was so ... Pathetic
Eris wasn't at her tent as I looked around the camp and I saw her go into Rudy tent. When I approached I heard some strange sounds.
Oddly enough I knew what those sounds where. In my infant youth I heard them all the time where I grew up and knew to wait until the sounds stop.
It wasn't until a good while until the sounds stop as I whispered to Eris in the tent.
I put the idea in her head that we should get stronger so that Rudy can come to depend on us as well.
That gave Eris the resolved to train in the Sword Sanctum.
Our plan was to get Ghislaine to recommend us to her teacher, the Sword God. But ...
"I'm sorry ... I can recommend Eris to my master but I don't know you enough to recommend you to my master."
"But Ghislaine ...I can vouch for Arthur. He is good with the Sword God Style"
During our travels in the Demon Continent. I picked up a few things from Eris as she fought. One time she said I could be around the interimate level around the time we were in the Dragon King Kingdom . Of course this was based on her experience where she was at while training with Ghislaine.
And I also didn't look the part as I carried an adult sword despite my small body.
"I am putting my title as Sword King on the line when I vouche for someone, so if I introduce someone my master disapprove off then I will lose some face with him"
"But why ... Why can't you recommend Arthur as well ... He's good"
"I'm sorry Eris but ..." Ghislaine looked me over as she eveulated my skill "it looks like this boy has no talent what so ever with the sword"
"Huh ... That's ridiculous, Arthur is plenty good as he is ---"
Eris still seems to be on the fence as I simply cletched my fist in frustration
This again ... Why does everyone see me as no good? I'll show them. I'll prove them wrong. I'll prove all the time she spent on me wasn't a waste
Eris kept at it trying to convince Ghislaine as she herself stood on her decision when ...
"It's ok Eris" I gave a simple smile as if to tell her it was simply fine and that it can't be helped.
"But Arthur!"
"I'll just have to get stronger in another way"
My comment made Eris stop in her tracks as she looked at me dumbfounded.
"It's like they say ... There is more than one way to get the oranges up the hill"
Eris raised one eyebrow at my saying as she doesn't recall where I could have heard it from.
"And besides ..."
My fist relaxed as I gave her a reassuring smile and a look of determination in Ghislaine's way.
"I just have to get someone else to teach me so that I can get recommended to the Sword Sanctum ... Is that the correct way of thinking"
Ghislaine then gave a "oh" as if saying this cheeky brat, he doesn't stay down on the floor for long.
And so we decided I will travel with Eris until we reached the 'Red Dragon Upper Jaw' and then we will separate to begin our training. I told her I'll reach the Sword Sanctum eventually.
* * * * *
To be honest ... I hit a wall. I had no clue how I was going to get someone to teach my the sword styles.
I was a demon. And worse yet ... I was a demon that people were not to fond of ... a Hakuei.
Even Ghislaine was a bit shocked when she saw me. It looked like she got the urge to strike me down but Eris stopped her.
I wondered if that was the reason she didn't want to recommend me. Maybe her master would say something like "Is this a joke?" and then strike me down.
No I refuse to die. Not without proving ... them wrong.
Luckily for me, as I traveled around the mountain range. I met her.
Lily the Shadow Sword. An Emperor rank swordman in the North God Style.
She decided to teach me. Yes I was getting somewhere.
But to be honest her training first started off with servant work - cleaning, cooking, the works.
I was beginning to think she just wanted help with her housework, while she just lazed around and enjoyed the scenery.
It wasn't until about a couple of months of just doing housework. She then out of nowhere began to teach me the fundamentals of her style.
Now that I think about it. Each style of the sword implements how they use the mana in their bodies.
It's not like each sword style owns the principles.
In fact when you get to root of it all, it was just a different implementation of Touki.
An example of such was that a North or Water God style user will eventually be able to passively use Touki with their training. But if you wanted to truly master your Touki then you study the SWord God style.
So if you had to label each one with a sword style. Then it would be ...
Sword God - Touki
Water God - Flow
North God - ....
Hmm the North God Style seems a bit out of place here. I know this style was all about survival and they used the other two principles as well but it does leave a bad taste in my mouth as they don't have there own specialty to call their own.
I guess you can put adaptability or creativity as them but those two things doesn't require the use of the mana in your body.
Master Lily seemed to have the same sentiment. She took it upon herself to develop something. So if I have to give it a name it would be ....
North God Style - Rhythm
While using Rhythm you gain awareness of the rhythm of your surroundings and better yet a feel for your opponents rhythm.
You can also use it to surpress your presence and be one with your surroundings. Matching the rhythm with the environment.
I trained with her for a few years until she gave me a final test.
"It's simple, just casually cut this boulder"
Of course I could easily cut this boulder if I use Touki to brute force it. But this was a test to fully use 'Rhythm'.
If I could past her test, I can call myself a North King.
Sadly I didn't figure it out in time.
I received a task to deliver a letter from Geese to Rudy's new home in Sharia.
* * * * *
I was getting pretty good. But this was when I hit my second reality check.
I came with Rudy to the Labyrinth City of Rapan. We came to assist Paul's rescue operation to go and save Zenith.
During my training with Lily I reached the Saint Rank of the North God style.
But it wasn't good enough.
I wasn't good enough.
Paul ended up dying in order to keep his son safe at the last moment.
You see when we entered the Labyrinth, I took it upon myself to make sure Rudy is safe so that he can be alive for the birth of his child.
I was doing just fine. So what if I get a few cuts or broken bones in the process. I have to make it up to Rudy.
But I messed up again.
Mr. Paul ... Why? ... It should have been me. Why did you do that? If you just let me .... Tsk ... Then you could be the one to witness the birth of your grandchild.
It's because I wasn't good enough.
I was just ... a failure. Tsk
And to make matters worse, Zenith was stuck in her mental state.
Rudy wasn't in a good state of mind.
I'm sorry Rudy. If only I was better. If only you didn't have a failure of a man like me as a friend.
But thank goodness ... Roxy was able to get him out of his depressed state.
When we get back to his house. He asked me to be there with him as he told the news about Paul and about Roxy.
Sigh ... Still no matter how much I messed up. Rudy doesn't blame me.
I accepted but Norn's cries made me wish I hadn't. I wondered if she would be mad at me in her brother stead ... But I held back.
I needed to improve. I had to get even stronger.
Rudy was able to convince me to stay for while as he gave me some refreshers on magic.
But then I found out he wanted me to stay so that I can teach Norn swordsmanship. It seemed Norn whated to follow in her father footsteps.
"I can think of no one better than you Arty. Can't you?"
Ack ... Rudy, why do you always put me on a pedestal. All I do is strew up.
I was able to decline him since I practice the North God style and he remembered how his father wasn't a big fan of that style, something about it not being real swordmanship.
When I told him I was going on another journey to advance my swordmanship. Rudy can see that I was shooting in the dark so he got Lillia to send a letter to her father to teach me Water God Style.
Lillia accepted because it was Rudy's request. But I could she her worry in recommending a 'creature' like me. At least she tried to be nice about it. Sigh ... I guess this was what Ruijerd felt when he was outcasted because of his curse.
As I was now. I barely walked on all fours as my body lost a good chunks of my scales and all my heavy ones. But my skin was still a bit 'new' as it gave me a light greyish skin color.
She gave me a letter. Apparently she also took this chance to to write to her family about what she has been up to.
And so I was off. I headed to the Asura Kingdom as per Miss Lillian's directions.
Hehe I believe it was the perfect time to use the 'Nyla' expressway to this location.
And thus my training with Master Augusta in the Water God Style began.
When I got there, let's just say my arrival wasn't a warm welcome.
I wasn't sure if it was because I was a Hakuei or because of my appearance.
When I presented the letter to Master Augusta. He silently read it over. He gave a simple 'hmmm' and 'I see' on certain points.
"Hmmm ... Lad! Remove your helmet"
I reluctantly removed my skull mask as I got about the same old, same old reaction.
"How ... Fastinating." He slammed his hands on his knees. "Hahahaha ... Very well I will train you"
If I had to explain his personality. He was very talkative, laid back, and almost .... Childish.
Hmmm ... Rudy always said I have a impressable personality. Maybe he rubbed off on me.
He accepted me as his student and allowed me to live in his house. Let's just say the others were not pleased ... Especially his wife. She would give me this look ... Of disgust.
That look scared me for some reason. A memory surfaced back. So I avoided as much contact with her.
He taught me how to understand and use 'Flow' and all he knows in the style, the basics, the footwork, etc.
He would spar with me. A good chunk of the time since I was a passive person and the style itself revolves around defense and counterattacking.
Our spars will just be use staring at each other. It was during these stare offs was when he began to be invested in me for some reason. Like he saw something he wanted to see.
Sadly, perhaps it was due to me being Saint Rank in North God Style, it wasn't long until Master Augusta hadn't anything left to teach me in his dojo.
He said when I can be at him three times in a row then he will have nothing left to teach me and that he will do something really nice for me.
It took a few months but I was able to accomplish his task which shocked everyone. It seemed to even shocked him for some reason.
Heh sneaky old man.
I noticed a month in that he was using our spars to improve himself as well. Whenever I won a match, the next day he would adapt and beat me then. This was a common occurrence as he was evening out our scores. Once I figure that out I had to plan ahead so I can put maneuver him.
He told me after my victory that at first he took me in with regards to his daughter but as he trained me he was getting more and more impressed with me. He said he wanted to see how high I could go.
He said my hard work reminded him of his daughter in her youth and how she would train non stop despite her lack of talent.
It made him wonder how far she could have gone if he just simply believed in her more.
He ... Believed in ... Me?
That warmed my heart.
He told me he sent a letter to someone he knew who could advance my training. Apparently he sent the request mid way after he issued the challenge.
But before she took over he left me one final word of wisdom as a swordsman. Over the years I took what he said to heart to this day.
"Listen here Arthur. If I can leave you one piece of wisdom let it be this. As a swordsman, of course there will be many things you wish to cut. But you must never forget the things you wish to never cut. You must learn to tell the two apart. Because if you are just violently lashing out, destroying everything in view then that is not swordsmanship, that is just destruction. A true swordsman only cuts what he needs to cut down"
" . . . . ."
Augusta gave a surprise look as I listen intently on his wisdom.
"Is something the matter, Master?"
"Heh ... It's nothing, it's just the last brat I taught didn't even brother to listen to the boring stuff ... Your a nice change of pace lad"
Truth be told ... His word still stay in the back of my mind. I didn't understand what he meant by that, it wasn't until later in life when I understood his words and now it is a core fundamental to my own swordsmanship.
After that I was introduce to Redia Reia, the current Water God swordsman. Whoa ... This guy had connects but when I asked about it he just said he was good friends with her since way back.
He brought her over so she can bring me over to Saint level of the style. Again at first she was had her misgivings but as she humored her friend she began to warm up to me.
Eventually she showed me one of the five secret arts of the style and then she planed to leave.
Apparently to rank up in the style I had to learn the 5 secret arts of the style. You are considered a Saint rank when you are in the process of learning one of the secret arts.
King if you mastered one. Emperor if you master at least two. And a candidate for God if you mastered three or more.
She was traveling with her granddaughter on the way to the ...Sword Sanctum? She was invited by the Sword God to take a look at a student he was interested in.
The Sword Sanctum ... Yes. Maybe she or Master Augusta can put in a good word for me.
Tonmy surprise she accepted without much resistance. She said the reason was that she grew fond of me for some reason.
This was when I actually first met with Isolte. She would later become good friends with Eris and then later the new Water God.
And thus I traveled with them. On the way she gave me a few pointers on the Water God style. And whenever we made camp she would have me spar with Isolte.
Actually it took a little while for Isolte to warm up to me, unlike Augusta or the Water God. It seemed that she was a strong believer of the Millis Religion. The Millis Religion tend to look down on demons.
But eventually she did ... She said she found me endearing and such a hard worker.
"You know Arthur, you can be rather cute when you wanna be. The way you just stare in a focus is very endearing"
"!?!?"
I ran to a nearby tree and hid behind the branches as I hid my blushing face.
"Hahaha look how flustered you got him Isolte"
"Oh my ... Does Arthur not get many compliments?" She found what I was doing to be adorable.
"How disappointing you aren't human Arthur. I would recommend you marry my beauty of a granddaughter ... Hahaha"
"Master?! ... Surely you just"
Uuuggghh ... I wish they would stop
One night as we were eating I was curious.
"Miss Water God -"
"Just call me Reida"
"Ah ... Master Reida"
"My and he's polite too. Are you sure your the Hakuei I heard about in the stories"
"I-I wouldn't know ... Cough cough ... Master Reina ... May I ask who this student you are going to see?"
"Hmm" she opens up her letter as she reads it again. "It says the promising student in question is named ... Eris Greyrat"
"Ahhh!!!"
I shot up as I heard news of my good friend.
"Eris"
I looked into my palm as I was both nervous and excited to see my good friend again and see how much she has improved.
As I reached Saint rank of the Water God. We arrived at the long awaited Sword Sanctum to begin my training in the final sword style.
* * * * *
"Hey Water God ... What the hell is this?"
"Per my response letter I have brought my granddaughter for on the field training ... But I suppose you are referring to the young man here"
I was currently wearing my cloak and my skull mask. But as I grew my mask was getting smaller and tighter on me. Now it can only cover my upper face. So everyone can see below my nose.
They can tell I was a demon.
Again I did not receive a warm welcome.
I stood before the Sword God. After the Water God gave me a good word. Now it was my turn to ask if he will train me.
"Take off that ridiculous thing, your not fooling anybody"
Sigh
As I removed my mask, my reception did not improve as the people present realize what I was.
"A Hakuei!!"
"You mean like in the stories?"
"W-why is he here? Don't those monster stay up in the mountains?"
"He must have been banished. Either that or he is a criminal"
"But he is so young, he didn't even lose all his scales like in the stories"
"And where is his other horn, what crime must be had committed to take both of them?"
The Water God just watched the scene unfold while Isolte herself was shocked how the atmosphere turned hostile for her new friend. She wondered if she was this hostile as well. As she tried to defend her new friend her grandmother stopped her.
"Sword God ... Please we must get rid of him at once"
"Wait! ... Doesn't a Hakuei scale fetch a high price, maybe we should-"
"Shut it!!!!"
The Sword God gave me a look over.
"What happened to your horn?"
"I-I was banished and they broke it off"
"Oh really ... What did you do? Excuse my prying. It's not everyday I get to causal speak with a Hakuei"
I looked away. "I-I don't know"
"Oh ... You don't know"
The Sword God rubbed his chin as he wondered what he should do.
"So why did you come here?"
"To learn the Sword God Style"
He gave me a look as he eveulated me.
"I got to say for Hakuei ... Your Touki is not that impressive. Especially since you won the favor of the Water God"
"Hmph ... Despite his low Touki he was able to learn 'Flow' pretty well ... I already showed him one of the secret techniques to learn"
"Hmmm I was expecting a battered warrior oozing murderous intent whenever I think of a Hakuei. Not some small kid ... Not even a ounce of killing intent ... What a let down"
It seemed what Master Lily taught me came back to bite me. In order to use the 'Rhythm' I had to learn to surpress my Touki so that I can be one with nature.
Now my surpress Touki is a bit of a second nature habit.
"Arty!!"
And then in the middle of my interrogation, Eris came running to greet me. It seemed when word the Water God arrived, Ghislaine was sent to go get Eris so that she can introduce herself.
At first when she arrived and saw me getting interrogated, she didn't recognize me at first.
It wasn't until she looked at the ground where her eyes met my skull mask and it clicked.
"It's been so long ... You look so different I didn't recognize you"
"Ah Eris ... It's good to see you too ... Ah too tight too tight ... Cough cough" She's gotten so much stronger.
If I recall, Rudy was the same. When I came with the letter I had to re introduce myself and showed my horn fragment when it clicked for him.
"Wha! Eris! You actually have friends"
"Nina ... Of course I do." Eris took her usual pose as she crossed her arms and introduce me to NIna. "This here is Arty"
Eris ... Hehe you never change do you
Many other students at the Sanctum were surprised at how the anti social and antagonist 'Mad Dog' was acting so friendly towards me.
It also seems to impress the Sword God.
At the end of the day, I was allowed to train at the Sword Sanctum. The Sword God didn't seem to fancy me as he left me to my devices.
I would train with Eris, Isolte, and Nina.
To be honest ... I was expecting this. It seemed I was not favored like with Eris.
Other than those three and sometimes some lessons with Ghislaine. Everyone in the Sanctum gave me the cold shoulder.
It resurfaced a bad memory that I didn't want to remember.
Actually that was a lie now that I think about it. There was one other person that treated me nicely.
"Oh Arthur. You came again. Sigh I guess you don't discourage easily then. Should we continue where we left off"
This man was named Jino Brits. He was another student that was favored by the Sword God. A real genius with a sword.
If I had to name my Sword God Style Master, it would be him.
He will help me train in the style and in return I will tell him stories of my travels.
To be honest I was beginning to believe he was scared of going to the outside world.
A genius who grounds himself to his own playground. Why did that sound familiar?
I also noticed that he was a bit .... Navie. A navie genius ... Hehehe I guess even geniuses can have there faults. But that didn't matter to me.
I would like to consider him a friend.
We would train and after which he would go over what he learned from the Sword God with me.
After which I would practice what I learned with Eris and her friends. While also going over the Water God techniques with Isolte.
It reminded me of how I asked Rudy to teach me Magic and I would run off to practice his lesson.
Jino helped me better control my Touki. When we sparred he would see how my Touki would response to his.
"Hey Arthur I think I know your problem"
"Hmm?"
We were in the mess hall when he had a revelation.
"Your too nice"
"Huh?"
"It's like it's sound. You are too nice to be a swordman. You have no killing intent whatsoever. When we spar I don't sense it from you"
"Ummm is that a bad thing. Isn't killing wrong?"
It's not like I haven't killed anyone in the past. The sword I had was proof of that. But I remembered how Rudy got mad at Ruijerd for mercilessly killing those people who hit Rudy that one time.
Now that I think about. I have yet to kill anyone since. It seemed I took his words to heart ... I wouldn't kill anything unless I had too. And even then, I still don't emit any Killing Intent.
"When we first sparred, you were more challenging. But now I can tell your subconsciously holding back"
"Hmmm"
Hm maybe I'm holding back because I can't let myself to hurt a friend. Maybe it because the Sword God style is strictly offensive.
I found this revelation slightly odd, but I put that in the back of my mind for now.
Eventually under Jino guidance and with Eris's practice, I was able to learn the 'Longsword of Light' within the year.
Then one day.
"Hey Arthur ... Why do you want to get stronger?"
"Huh?" We were in the mess hall as I rose my head from my bowl. "What's wrong with getting stronger? Isn't that what everyone wants to do?"
"Sigh ... I don't know. Why do people have that need to get stronger and why is the answer aways with a sword?"
Where is coming from all of a sudden?
"What's wrong with a sword?"
"It's just so tedious and boring" Jino was sulking while playing with his food.
"Why don't you stop then?"
"Sigh I only do it because my parents keep hassling me to do it. I don't want them bothering me about stopping now. I'm too invested now I suppose"
"Then why don't you learn magic then?"
"But then I would have to leave this place. Frankly speaking, based of you stories, I don't know how you do it Arthur"
Wait ... Why do I want to get stronger? What was all of this for?
"Wait ... Why are you telling me this? Isn't this something you should talk with I don't maybe with Nina?"
"Hmmm ... Actually ... I don't know. When I first saw you I was wary. But now ... I feel like I can just come to you and lay out all my complaints"
We both continued eating after he went and got what he wanted to say off his chest and I lent him a ear.
Hmmm ... Wasn't Master Augusta wife the same way that one time. She was obviously drunk and she went and complained about her husband and how and he thinks about now is swordsmanship. I just sat across from her and listened. I think it was then when my relationship with her got a little better.
My swordmanship training continued as Jino planted that question in the back of my head.
Why do I want to get stronger?
Two things made my stay at the Sword Sanctum come to an early end.
The first was that I learned that the 'Longsword of Light' was the Sword God Style's ultimate technique.
I figured that advancing to the higher tiers were all just a formality.
The second reason was that a letter came for Eris. It's contents, Rudy is going to face off against Orsted and is requesting help from Eris.
* * * * *
Arthur
Ah!!!
I got out of my deep thought and I began to notice the town beginning to awaken. I looked over from a roof top as some of the stalls began to set up and open up their shops.
"It seems I spent too much time reminiscing"
I hopped back onto the street level as I continued my run back to Rudy's home.
"I should head back and finish up with some practice swings and my forms"
And that ends the beginning of my daily routine.