The Weight of the Blade

After the bath, I slept a peaceful sleep. This feeling of letting my heart out was still new, but every time I burst out, it felt like a ton of burden had been lifted from me.

At dawn, after breakfast of mushroom soup and bread, Suga and princess Annya left and Kagenken took me to the training ground, deep in Kibō no Mura's forest. It was a vast field, fenced with moss-covered posts, smelling of mud after rain—a smell enough to clear a clouded mind. Shinjitsu no Itami hung heavy at my side, its weight both strange and familiar.

"Son, there are some things we need to talk about before we start training here," Kagenken said, his silver hair catching the light. I stood still, listening carefully to his words.

He continued, his voice heavy. "The sword you have has been a mystery for thousands of years now. It has been acquired by many dynasties to gain power. Its power is mysterious, and it's said that this sword has killed so many people that it has become a living form of death. It's also believed to be cursed. A spirit dwells within it whose power can corrupt anyone's mind if they fail the trials. According to legends, there isn't a single person who had passed its trial until the previous generation. This sword was too dangerous to be left unnoticed, so our clan took it in and supervised it, ensuring it never falls into the wrong hands. Only the Blade Demon, Jonathan, my beloved student—your master—handled it, and you know his fate too. I assume you have received this sword from him, so it's better to switch to a normal sword. Or, if you are willing to take the trial, you can go ahead. If you fail, I would break the connection between you and the sword in mid-trial, and then you won't ever be able to lift this sword again."

His face was serious, the air around him heavy. Inside, I was curious—was passing the trial really so hard? I replied, "But… I have already passed the trial, and that sword spirit is not a living death. It's a comrade of mine, and his name is Shinjitsu no Itami, a friend of mine."

Kagenken looked so confused and amused that a little laughter broke out from my mouth. He said, "So you have already done the first step!!!"

I replied, "I guess, yeah. Is it really that big of a deal?"

He said, "Hell yeah, you have already done 15% of the work, but now don't go on and get cocky." His eyes softened, just for a moment. "Jonathan struggled for years to earn that spirit's trust. He'd smile, seeing you now."

His words hit me, stirring memories of Jonathan's steady voice. "He gave me this sword," I said, quieter. "I won't let it break me."

Kagenken nodded, picking up a stick from the ground and taking his stance. "If you have passed the trial, let's exchange a blow or two."

I agreed, grabbing a stick, but he said, "Drop it. Use your sword."

I frowned. "Is it some kind of joke, master, or are you looking down on me?"

He smirked. "I am not looking down on anyone. It's just the gap between you and me. Now come at me with your full strength."

I don't know how to describe that feeling—a kind of seed of anger sprouted within me upon hearing those words. I took my blade, turned it to the dull side, and struck. The air was so fresh I could move a little faster. I used my full force to strike him, and my sword and his stick clashed. The grass around us got blown away with some mud, creating a kind of small crater. His stick cracked, covered in a wax-like structure I couldn't touch, weightless but hard as steel.

Kagenken smiled, his eyes wide. "Well, well, it looks like Jonathan has trained a real beast this time."

The wax-like coating on his stick grew, shaping into a fine katana. He flipped it to the dull side. I asked, "What's that stuff you are using to cover your stick?"

He seemed a little amused, his eyes widening. "Ohhh, ohhh, so you can see it? So now are you afraid to fight now you see something new?"

It was like he was provoking me to fight with more than I had, and I was loving it. I wanted to submerge in that feeling. I took my stance and said, "Afraid? I'm just getting warmed up."

He laughed, a low, warm sound, like he was starting to see me. "Good, Shin. Show me what Jonathan saw in you."

We rushed toward each other with felling joy in clashing after a long time