The sand below me was crimson, the color of my blood. I had spent the last 3 days training, and now my bones and muscles were screaming at me, asking for some rest. It was quite lucky no wolves or monsters managed to find me during the time I chose to rest.
But I couldn't go back—not yet. I had a reputation in this village even at the young age of 15, and if I could continue with this reputation, I could get some very generous donors. That, and I needed to pass the entrance exam at the Academy.
I was heading home. I was at my limit of eating grass and already-dead animals. That, and I needed to train with weapons too, if I wanted to really show off at the entrance exam.
I stood at the peak of a ridge on a mountain that was close to the town. I was out of breath from just climbing to this point, and it felt like my arms were going to freeze off. Man, I miss my elemental spirits.
I slid down the mountain since there was very little foliage.
Hours later
I knocked on the gates. They were smooth and cold to the touch—definitely heavy and hard to move.
It took a few seconds, but they slowly opened."Welcome back, Leon." That voice—though time had aged it—was still the same. Quil.
All the memories flashed: the time we had spent together as kids, and then him poisoning me. My eye started twitching.
If I couldn't contain my anger, it could get me killed or exposed."Ohh, nice to meet you, Elder Quil." I wanted to rip my own guts out and strangle him with them."I have high expectations from you—and no need to bow."I had been bowing to him so I could hide my face."What do you mean, Elder Quil?"He rubbed his hands together. Certainly, he was cold—but he looked more like a fly."Everyone in this village does. You had been in a coma for 10 years, and just days after finally being freed from it, you disappear. And by your looks, I'm guessing to train."
I smiled and nodded. "High in the mountains. I didn't want to be interrupted."He nodded with me. "It is quite annoying when someone interrupts a good training session. Also, is it true that you can't talk with your spirit?"I sighed. "Unfortunately, but I have it under control. Well, nice meeting you, Elder Quil, but I'm quite tired."He chuckled. "I imagine you would be."
I jogged past him, and eventually he was out of sight. I made my way to a blacksmith shop that was apparently the best in any nearby town.
I pushed open the wooden swing doors—they squeaked."Hello," someone called from the back. Honestly, the place looked old and half-abandoned."Hello, I'm Leon Mercer. Would you happen to have a Chainblade already made?" I used to use a Chainblade, but during my raid on Heaven's Gate it got damaged beyond repair.
"Sorry, Mr. Mercer, but I currently have this unique weapon from the Land of Eternal Water. Are you interested in seeing it?"I shrugged. The Land of Water was once quite a normal place, but then one of the Paragons pissed off an Eternal Water Spirit. By the time they killed it, a new ocean had formed."Sure."
He motioned for me to follow him, and he entered the back area."Now, I do have to say the sword is unique in more than one way." He held up a chokutō; it had a dull purple saya and a faded red charm."What's special about it, sir?" I asked the man."Well, we don't fully know what it can do, but it seems to have a will of its own.
"Go ahead, hold the blade, Mr. Mercer."I slowly grabbed the handle. Instantly, I felt something jab into my hand. With a clang, it hit the ground."What's wrong, sir?"I looked down at my hand, and there was a small, needle-sized wound."How much for it?"The man shrugged. "Well, my grandfather made this one, and as part of his will, it's just whoever can remove its saya."
I nodded and grabbed the chokutō by its handle and pulled on its saya. It barely moved, but the man nodded."Take it."