Volume 01 - Chapter 1: A Chance Meeting Between Man and Blade (Part 01)

A warm, spring breeze caresses my nape as I slave away on the farm. For the thousandth morning in a row, my father forces me to tend the many potato fields our family owns. Every muscle aches, blisters blanket my hands, and my feet would separate from my ankles for a moment’s rest.

So, while peering over my shoulder, I make my escape. Despite my position as eldest son, I have no intention of accepting the responsibilities it carries. What does he expect of me? Does my despair-ridden grimace mean nothing each time he shakes me awake before sunrise?

I scurry toward the nearby forest. Having spent much of my childhood climbing its trees and playing hide-and-seek among the underbrush, I know my way around quite well. Well enough to find a place to hide and relax, anyway.

At least I thought I did.

Many years have passed since my last visit. Finding a suitable hiding spot is proving difficult. I could sit anywhere, but a place rife with wonderful slacking scenery should be nearby. A secret spot known only to myself.

In the center of my village’s sole forest sits a large lake in a spacious clearing devoid of trees. No fish swim beneath its midnight blue surface; not even animals dare come close. It’s the one place I can achieve true solitude. A pleasure in which I’ve not indulged for many years.

After an hour of wandering, a growing sense of worry forces me to admit I’m lost. What punishment awaits when I’m rescued? Father wouldn’t deprive me of dinner lest I not have the energy to work. Rather, he might force me to eat twice as much and keep ploughing past sundown. Assuming anyone can find me…

Before succumbing to exhaustion and making an uncomfortable mess of tree roots my bed, I freeze. A faint light forms in the distance, casting the forest in an eerie, dusty glow.

Curious, no, desperate is a better word, I approach and discover said clearing. Yet in doing so, I make today’s second mistake.

Back to the problem at hand.

Naked. Totally naked. At least, I assume she is. Only her backside is visible. Perhaps she’s covering the opposite with a towel or clothes, but her slender arms lying flat at her curvy sides suggest otherwise.

The slightest movement is impossible. Shifting in any direction might lead to my discovery. Would a branch break beneath my thick boots? Crush and crunch dead leaves? I don’t care to learn. But trying my luck is better than remaining trapped, standing in place, reason dwindling.

But as one who values his life, I dare not move. I suppose I ought to detail this strange phenomenon. Describing the surrounding nature proved a short-lived distraction. What else am I to do? Mere observation is no crime. Perhaps she too is a part of nature. Man has a responsibility to document all facets of nature. To stare is my duty. I’m not doing anything wrong. No, not at all.

Pure, ivory skin unsullied by the sun’s harsh rays. Where one might expect the rosy glow of youth, she bears an ethereal one. A fluctuating mix of aqua and lime green with gleaming gold along its edge. Her radiance evokes a sense of nobility, one suggesting a commoner such as myself has no right to come any closer.

Her wavy, black hair is of an obsidian darkness consuming the light around it. Flowing far down her back, it masks the firm, round mass I’m doing my best to ignore.

Enough. Describing her any further will only serve to quicken my already violent pulse. Despite the cool air wafting from the lake, sweat drenches my hands and torso, seeping into my shirt.

Move. Just go. Back away. Slow. Don’t breathe. Then—bolt. Easy. Don’t think, act.

Yet, I remain still. An eternity passes before an itch forms on the base of my foot. I raise my leg, stick a finger into my boot, and lose my balance before the first scratch. The serene silence shatters as I fall on my rear, leaves scattering. The end. But I no longer care. My tension drains onto the chilly forest floor.

Will she scream? Accuse me of peeping? Destroy me with whatever magical power causes her to float and glow? Why am I so lazy? Why couldn’t I have accepted my fate, worked in sorrowful silence, cursing my existence to the grave?

She twitches, hair shuffling. I squint and await my doom.

“Do you like what you see, boy?”

Rather than death, I’m blessed with the sound of her voice. Soft, girlish, and, despite her youthful figure, a touch mature.

“I’m sorry! Forgive me! I didn’t mean to intrude. This was an accident, a misunderstanding, a trick of fate.” Leaping high and then down into a bowing position, I provide every form of apology and excuse I know. Of which, there are many.

“Do not apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. I’m not upset. Please, raise your head.”

Speechless, I do so, grass and dirt brushing against my nose.

“Come now, be not afraid. You are right to mention fate. Our meeting here is destiny.” The girl rotates in place.

Her face captures my full attention. Which I definitely did not look at last after realizing she’s covering her…important bits with delicate arms. Although such attempts at concealment only make her more enticing.

Small, glossy pink lips. A button nose reminiscent of a cat. Pointed ears, but not any larger than those of a normal girl. A perfect doll crafted by an expert’s caring hands—human, yet inhuman. Time’s passing has failed to decay any part of her immaculate body. And yet, of all her magnificent aspects, her eyes shine the brightest. Golden, beautiful, mesmerizing. Every treasure in the world lies within them.

“Stand. I wish to look at your face, boy.” She draws closer, still suspended in air, as if she were not moving at all, space shifting for her sake alone. “I have been waiting for you.” A radiant smile spreads across her face. “I need your help. Only you can save me from my terrible fate.” She pleads, voice candy sweet as she leans forward, a hair’s breadth separating us. “Will you listen to my tale?”

With what little strength I have left, I nod.

“Thank you.” She breathes deep. “Many moons ago, an evil warlock attacked me and stole my power. He could not bear the idea of a being mightier than himself and divided my power into many fragments, scattering them across the land. And to ensure I could not retrieve them, he bound me to this lake.”

She bows, cleavage drooping as her arms struggle to maintain her modesty. Have I ever held my eyes open for this long?

“I have waited eons for someone such as yourself. You may not realize, but you possess a special power. Please, help me in my quest to collect my fragments and restore my true form.” Edging closer, she stares hard into my eyes. “You will help me, boy?”

How to respond is beyond me. I’d do anything this beautiful girl asks, but a notion of implausibility nags me and tells me to proceed with caution.

Why would I—a worthless, lazy, poor, idiot, commoner farmhand—have any special power? Wouldn’t this girl be better off finding someone taller? Rippling with muscles? More…heroic?

A bedtime story I often read to my younger siblings springs to mind. One telling of a fairy playing tricks on those lost in the woods. I didn’t believe in supernatural beings before, but given the floating, glowing girl bearing down on me, I’m reconsidering my stance.

I can’t fathom what this fairy stands to gain from her trickery, but she won’t deceive me. Steeling myself, I stand tall and face her, using every bit of self-control to look anywhere but where I want to stare.

“No. I refuse. I’ll not fall for your tricks.” I turn, not waiting for a response. “Have a nice day.” Leaving, I make a show of stomping my feet.

“WAIT! A! MOMENT!”

A shrill cry pierces the air as something slams into my back, launching me face-first into the soft earth.

“Not again! Please don’t leave. I need your help. I’ll do anything. Just don’t leave. You’re the only one I can rely on.”

I spit a mouthful of dirt and turn to find the fairy still in her birthday suit, sitting on her knees and sobbing as she rubs her eyes, obliterating her former royal visage.

“I’ve been trapped here for three long years waiting for you to come. You can’t leave. Don’t you understand? You alone have the power to free me. Please. Please help me.” As her voice increases several octaves and her crouched position further accentuates her womanly charms, my reason forms several cracks.

One second before it shatters, I scramble to my feet, remove my overalls, and thrust them before her. “Put this on. Aren’t you cold?”

Her eyes sparkle as she shoots to her feet and grabs the overalls. I turn until the shuffling of fabric ceases, face her, and discover yet another of today’s many mistakes.

The overalls are several sizes too large for her lithe figure, barely covering her chest. Milky white mounds bulge from beneath navy-blue straps, gold buttons at their peaks evoking that which I don’t care to enjoy lest the last of my sanity vanish. Not huge, but not flat by any means. Some might say they are just the right size. Her regal glow has also faded, making her more human, like any other gorgeous girl. My awe and wonder are overwritten by emotions not worth naming.

“You have my thanks…Might I understand this to mean you will help me?” She raises her head, eyes moist, teardrops twinkling.

“The answer is still no. An evil warlock? What storybook did you lift that from? And collecting your fragments? What does that even mean? You must be trying to deceive me. Why would a loser like me have any ‘special power’? I’m a farmhand, a commoner—there’s not a single special thing about me.”

She flares her nostrils and frowns. “No. You do—I swear it. I know it. You are the…the chosen one. Yes, you are the chosen one.” Her mumbled words carry a hint of sarcasm.

“…Understood. Goodbye. I hope you find someone easier to trick one day.” I turn to leave once again.

“Wait, hold on, please just hear me out, won’t you?” She coils her arms around me from behind, a soft sensation mashing against my back. Now I understand. She’s trying to seduce me. I hate that it’s working.

“I’ve been waiting for ages. You have no idea how many of you humans I’ve begged to free me. Why are you all so distrustful of beautiful girls?” Whimpering, she rubs buckets of hot tears and snot into my one decent shirt. “You’re the first to have listened to me for this long. Please don’t leave. I’m sick of this stupid lake. I can only escape by swearing fealty to one of you humans. Doing so is not difficult. Say a few words and the deed is done.”

“…Let’s say I help you. How could I possibly benefit from doing so?”

She recedes, gives a haughty laugh. “Once we retrieve every fragment of my power, you’ll have access to everything under the sun. Fame, money, power, women—nothing will be out of reach. Don’t you humans love such vain things? Agree to help me and they are as good as yours.”

“Fine.” I face her. “I can’t say I like the way you said that, but it sounds like a good deal. But you said we would have to collect these pieces of your power first, right? Will it be as easy as you’re implying?”

“…W-Who can say? Nothing one such as yourself cannot handle. You appear sturdy enough.” She giggles, averting her eyes.

“Understood. Goodbye. Again, I hope you find someone stupid enough to listen to you even longer than I have.”

The golden glow in her eyes dims as I turn for the third time. The shred of chivalry I possess compels me not to abandon a crying girl, but she is not someone I want to be involved with any further.

A dull thud echoes from behind. Her muffled sobs turn my legs to lead. How long has she been at this lake? How many others have rejected her? How helpless does she feel with her power or whatever in fragments?

No. I can’t help her. Even if I wanted to, I’d probably die an hour into the quest. She doesn’t deserve to work with a weakling.

Yet, just as I determine to leave for good, she bellows a scream burning with rage; birds rocket into the sky.

“How can you just walk away?! Why waste this chance? What have you to lose? You’re nothing! A commoner! Worthless! Stupid!”

I whip around as she rises, fire in her glaring eyes.

“You’re going to go back to your tiny village, work away your youth, marry some random girl you don’t even like, and do the same work your parents have until the end of your meaningless life! You’re going to grow old and die without having done anything meaningful! How could you go back to that?!”

“What’s wrong with that?! Such a life is a perfectly honorable way to live. My parents are happy; my grandparents were happy. Just because I’m not living in a castle or sleeping on a pile of gold doesn’t mean my life is meaningless. Who are you to tell me whether or not my life has any worth?”

“I…I’m sorry. You’re right.” She shrinks, voice fading to a whisper. “I went too far.”

Cheeks scarlet, she faces the ground, lost in thought, before shooting to her feet. I recoil to avoid her head smashing into mine. She’s of average height, the top of her head reaching my shoulders.

“Then why? Why did you enter this forest today?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve no reason to come at midday, do you?”

“No, I was only…” Why did I come? To be lazy—escape work. Or was there something—

“You must’ve had a reason to venture all the way out here?”

Shut up.

“You must’ve been hoping to chance upon something…something exciting.”

Don’t say it.

“You must’ve been searching for something to free you from your hopelessly boring life. Am I wrong?” She laughs, spreading her arms wide as if to swallow me.

I step back, avoiding her fiendish gaze. “That’s not…”

“No, don’t say any more. I understand. Here it is. Here I am. I can free you from monotony. Why do you refuse? Isn’t this what you wanted? Wait…I see.” She points a finger at my lowered head. “You’re afraid. Hmm, is the commoner boy afraid of a little danger? Are you not a man? No, you’re not. You’re nothing but a coward.” Scoffing, she retreats, hands on her hips.

“No…you’re wrong! I’m no coward! I just…I don’t know. I don’t know, alright?” My rage dissipates as fast as it surfaced. “You’re right. I am afraid. Afraid to leave this life behind, of danger, pain, showing my weakness. I’m not special. I don’t have any magical power. I’m no hero. Someone like me could never help you.” Every breath burns my throat as my vision blurs. “Of course I hate this boring life of mine. Who wouldn’t? I spend all my free time reading stories of legendary heroes traveling across the world, slaying monsters, fighting for justice. How could I ever be content with working on a farm my whole life?”

The girl says nothing, rock solid with a blank expression.

“You know what? Fine! Yes! That’s all you want me to say, don’t you?! I just have to agree to help you, right?!” I raise my face to the sky and shout to expel the wretched emotions swirling in my heart. “Just…promise me. Promise me you’ll take me on an adventure.”

I force a smile. She returns it with one full of joy. She approaches fast; our bodies pressed together.

“We have a deal. A promise. I’ll grant you the adventure of a lifetime. But first, I want you to hold my left hand tight and repeat these words.”

I grab her hand with both of mine. It’s soft, tiny, full of life.

“Unto you, The Undying Blade, do I swear my life.”

I repeat her words. She glows as she did earlier, golden radiance shining much brighter.

“And unto you, destined hero, do I swear my life, my power, and my fate.” Her glow intensifies, staining my vision white. She leans into my chest and whispers in my ear. “This might sting a bit.”

Placing a hand near my heart, she utters a string of unfamiliar words. A horrible burning akin to sticking one’s hand into a bed of coals spreads across my entire chest. Biting my tongue, I resist the urge to scream.

The agony lasts several seconds before the girl withdraws. My vision returns and I find her beaming.

“It is done.”

“…Right.” Is the only word I can muster between gasps. Nausea eats at my core as dizziness forces me to sit. I tear off my shirt. “W-What is this?” A rust-red mark resembling a sword occupies the spot where the girl placed her hand. “This mark…what did you do to me?”

Not answering, she strips off my overalls in the same frenzied manner I did my shirt.

“I can’t believe I let such a filthy article dirty my body.” Grumbling, she pays no heed to my eyes glued to every wonderful portion of her uncovered form.

She chants under her breath, drawing in the air with a finger. Thin wisps of light appear with each stroke, forming nonsensical patterns. An otherworldly circle-shaped light forms at her feet and rises to envelop her in a green glow.

The light dissipates, revealing the girl adorned in an outlandish outfit of pastel pinks and purples. Her soft lavender top clings to her supple skin, a diamond cutout flaunting her modest cleavage. From its collar binding her neck dangles a small, golden star pendant reminiscent of a sword. A white, long-sleeved jacket with pink and purple piping alike hangs off her bare shoulders; two belts of cloth flow from each wrist. Flower motifs line the edge of her cherry blossom pink miniskirt; lithe thighs in full view. Pink boots with purple laces almost reach her knees. While less damaging to gaze upon than her birthday suit, this outfit is more enticing with its crafty flashes of skin.

“H-How did you—”

“Shut your mouth.” She stomps toward me. “Don’t dare speak to your master with such brazenness.” Shoving a boot into my chest, she places her hands on her hips, glaring in disgust.

“Master? Are you referring to yourself?” I grab her boot and shove it off with little effort. She stumbles backward in shock. “I thought you had to swear fealty to me? That would make me your master, no?”

Shaking off her tomato-red blush, she bounds behind me and jams her boot against my shoulder.

“How did you reach such an idiotic conclusion?! Don’t you remember our contract? You swore your life to me and I to yours. We are both masters and servants to one another.”

I open my mouth to protest, but she swats my head before I can utter a word.

“However, I will never obey such a cowardly human. I am your master. You are my servant. Understand?” She pushes my body forward.

It is only in this pathetic state I realize my naivety. For all my efforts, I only evolved from farmhand to servant.

Taking my silence as acceptance, the girl walks back around and pushes up my fallen head with a finger.

“Although…if you become the unrivaled hero I intend to fashion you into, I might—just might—be willing to consider us equals.”

A warm smile forms on her lush lips. Raising her arms high, she jumps and twirls, kicking up fallen leaves, performing a mad dance.

“I’m free! All we have to do now is reclaim my power. What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”

I stand with a sigh. Her brilliant smile leaves me starstruck. For it is one of pure bliss, no longer marred by melancholy.

“Hey.”

“What is it, servant boy?”

“Will you tell me your name?”

“Gladly, but giving me yours first is only proper.” She laughs, mouth wide open, teeth sparkling white.

“Ah, sure. I’m Leo.”

“Hmm, a good name. Too bad a coward such as yourself is unworthy of it. As for myself…I have many names, but for now,” she steps back and curtsies, “you may call me—Excalibur.”