The Isolated Swordsman

Heavily panting, Isara ran and ran through the fleeting cold snow. ‘Don’t stop. Keep going. He could come after me at any moment and kill me. I need to find a safe place.’

A log cabin in the distance was slightly visible through the dense fog, but Isara rushed towards it in hopes of shelter. Knocking on the door, “Hey! Excuse me, please. P-Please let me…in. It’s cold. I’m not dangerous. I swear. I'll even hand over my sword.”

Nobody responded.

Isara waited anyway, having the slightest hope. The door eventually creaked open and a voice called out, “Come in.”

She stepped inside and the door shut fiercely. Isara jumped.

???: “Why don’t you grab me a beer ms…”?”

Isara: “It’s Isara. Thank you for letting me in. I won’t be a hassle. I promise.”

???: “You shouldn’t trust people, Isara. I could be a creep.”

Isara: “That’s okay. I believe in people and I believe in helping. Nothing will take away from that. I’ll help you for allowing me in here. I always repay my debts.”

???: “I don’t need help. I never said you owed a debt…I’m just enjoying the cackling fire.”

Isara: “I’m 12 years old by the way.”

???: “What? You think I like underage girls?”

Isara: “No, no, no. Sorry, I’m just making conversation.”

The man laughed slightly, but it quickly went away. “I guess you’re allowed to smile. You haven’t learned much of what happens in the world. Don’t be disappointed when that mindset leaves you.”

Isara: “Ummm, are you okay, sir?”

He didn’t respond

Isara: “Umm, I guess my response to that would be…It won’t. I won’t let that happen. People are important and saving others is more important than saving myself.”

The man sighed and took a sip of bourbon already in his hand. “Think how you want. It’s not my life. When you end up dead though, don’t haunt me from your grave…Sit down. No reason to argue when I just met you. Go get yourself a drink too?”

“No. Thanks.”

Isara looked at the man sitting down. He covered his face with a hot towel, but she could see the wet long black hair hanging. He had casual pants on, but no shirt with a toned body. ‘He’s pretty in shape considering he sits here and does nothing.’

Isara: “What are you doing all the way out here?”

???: “That’s a funny question. I could ask you the same. You’re in my house.”

Isara: “Fair enough. Then…Why would you build a house out here?”

???: “Well, it’s not exactly my house. And it’s not like I can exactly leave whenever I want.”

Isara questioned this. “What do you mean by that?”

???: “Have you heard of the 10 great swordsmen, Isara?”

Isara’s eyes lit up. “Yes! They rule over the lands and protect the people! They are the greatest people to ever master swordsmanship! They’re practically unrivaled!” Silence filled the air before he spoke again.

???: “Sit back down. I just asked if you knew them. Don’t get all giddy.”

Isara: “Sorry. It’s just that…I really look up to them. I hope to be one someday.”

The man sighed and took the towel from his face. His eyes were multicolored. One red and one green. Scars lined his face. Isara was taken back by this. Now that she looked closer at him, his whole body was covered in scars, not just his face.

???: “Let’s just say I angered those very same swordsmen years ago.”

Isara’s body chilled to the bone. ‘This man fought the 10 great swordsmen? H-His face…His body…’

???: “I’m Kaibo by the way. My face is a little scary to look at, right?”

Isara: “No, not at all! I just…”

Kaibo: “Just what? You were looking at it, right?”

Isara: “I-I just didn’t know what to expect.”

Kaibo put the hot towel back onto his face. “It’s okay. You shouldn’t lie unless you have to. Get what I mean?”

“Yes. I don’t like to lie.”

Kaibo: “Long story short kid, there’s a powerful spell on this cabin. Come over to me. I’ll show you so you can be on your merry way.”

Isara walked over slowly and cautiously. The man continued to speak. “Pierce me. Right in my chest. Go ahead.”

Isara: “W-What?”

Kaibo: “Go ahead. I’m not even looking.”

Isara hesitated before declining. “I won’t. You did nothing to me.”

Kaibo: “Oh? I see. You’ve never killed anyone.”

Kaibo stood up slowly, grabbed Isara’s sword and stabbed himself in his heart. Blood spewed out. “You’re bleeding! You’re going to die!” Isara shouted. “What do I do?!”

Kaibo peeked through his towel and in a perfectly normal voice said, “Stop screaming please. I’m trying to rest. Go sit back down and watch.”

The blood reversed back into his body and the wound sealed back up magically.

Isara: “H-How is that possible?”

Kaibo: “I told you. There is a spell on this cabin. They put me here as punishment for eternity.”

Isara started to shed tears. “That isn’t right…T-That isn’t…” Kaibo spoke again. “I know you believe, kid. I know. I truly do. I understand what it’s like to care and to dream. But…I also understand what it’s like to not care and give up. Those people…Those humans that you desperately want to protect. It’s not worth it. We’re all not worth it. The same crap over and over and over again. Once you die, you’ll be free from this world. Free from all the misery.”

Isara cleared her tears.

Isara: “Maybe that is the truth, but instead of giving up like you did, I chose to keep going because I get to see people smile everyday and that’s important to me.”

Silence filled the air again before Kaibo spoke. “Be careful now, Isara. You don’t know me. You like to make other people smile, right? Who said I gave up? Ah, anyways…What about on the other end? You get people like me. You see smiles, sure. But…You also see those smiles fading. It doesn’t matter what side you’re on. Look at me. I’m the perfect example. These scars, this cabin…I tried to help and look where it got me. I haven’t given up anything, but there are some things in life that you just have to accept.”

Isara: “N-No. That’s the same as giving up. Then, why don’t you try and escape?”

Kaibo: “It doesn’t work like that, Isara. Trust me. I’ve tried. The moment I step out that door I explode into a million pieces over and over again. It’s more pain than you can imagine, just to regenerate and get back in this house takes hours. It only took one time to realize I can’t get out.”

Isara only thought the whole time how she could bring a smile to this man’s face. ‘If I can accomplish a smile, a laugh…anything. I’ll know he’s still in there somewhere. Reaching to change. He’s just lost.’

Kaibo spoke again. “I know you’re sitting there thinking about how to change me. It won’t happen.” Isara looked up, saying, “How did you know what I was thinking?”

Kaibo: “You’re a kid coming in here boasting about morals and values. Why would you not? That’s all you think about.”

They both could feel the tension rising in the air between them.

Isara: “Mister Kaibo…I’m going to free you. I swear. That’s a promise.”

Kaibo: “Good luck kid. You were honest with me, so I’ll be honest with you. Even if you do manage to find Raglashia, the sword that trapped me here, you shouldn’t persuade that person to free me, nor would they.”

Isara: “Why not?”

“I’ll be blatant.” Kaibo stood up to fix the fire in front of him that began to die down and go out. He sighed. “If you break the seal on this cabin kid. I’ll destroy this world. Not literally, but I’ll kill everyone.”

Isara: “W-What? W-Why? You’re not that kind of person.”

Kaibo: “My wife and daughter were nailed to wooden boards, killed, and thrown into the sea. I will never not seek revenge for them. Out of respect for them and pride for myself, I will wait here for eternity until that sword breaks. Once it does, I’ll destroy the very things you are trying to protect. Sorry kid. I’ll try to spare you against my own rage, but it probably won’t happen.”

Isara stood up as well facing Kaibo. “No, you won’t. I won’t let you. Innocent people that did nothing! That’s not what your family would’ve wanted! I’ll fix that. I’ll show you what life really is.”

Kaibo: “Do your best, kid. I won’t kill you for that remark, but next time you mention my wife and daughter, I won’t hesitate to slice you in half.”

Kaibo looked down in anger and strong resolve before speaking again. “Leave. I need to burn off some steam now.” He took a small dagger in his hand and stabbed himself in the side of the head, falling into the fire.

Isara turned around, scared of the scene before her, and ran out the door into the freezing cold. ‘Anywhere but this place will do. I’ll take my chances in the tundra.’

She looked back at the dark log cabin. ‘Kaibo…I’ll save you. That’s a promise. Just let me finish the path I’m on. I swear I’ll get stronger.’