Chapter 16: Another Point of View

Joshido watched without moving.

Renir kept falling. Draval defeated him again and again with an ease that left no room for doubt about the gap between them. And yet, every time Renir hit the ground, Draval let him get back up. Let him keep going.

That was what Joshido couldn't understand.

Why does he let him continue if he defeats him so easily?

The sound of the swords filled the cave. Every clash bounced off the walls and came back, duller but still there. Hard not to hear. Hard not to feel.

Then in the middle of one of the exchanges, Renir moved in time.

Just once.

Just one blow dodged.

But it was real.

Joshido saw it.

He tightened his fists.

And something inside him reacted before he could stop it.

Not quite rage. Not quite admiration either.

Something more uncomfortable than both.

He hadn't dodged a single one.

Days went by like that.

Joshido just watched. And while he did, word of the others kept reaching him.

Everyone was moving forward but him.

There came a point where he couldn't take it anymore.

Renir and Draval were training in the cave like any other day. The sound of the swords, the movement, Draval's presence filling every corner of the space.

Joshido watched them for a while.

Then he spoke.

-What exactly do you want from me? Why won't you help me train?

Draval glanced at him for a second.

And without a word, went back to Renir.

Joshido felt the heat of the irritation rising in his chest.

-What a waste of time -he muttered-. I'll train on my own. I don't need anyone.

He took a step toward the exit.

-Do you really want to get stronger?

Draval's voice stopped him before he could take a second.

Joshido turned.

-It's what I want most right now.

Draval looked at him.

-Then accept the defeat.

-Doing that means surrendering -Joshido said immediately-. It means stopping fighting.

A small laugh escaped Draval.

-You really haven't understood anything.

A pause.

-I respect that you want to get stronger. But with that mindset... you're not going to get there.

Renir walked over to Joshido.

-Calm down -he said quietly-. And show some respect. He's the leader of his territory.

-Is that why I have to respect him? -Joshido shot back.

-Yes -Renir said, no hesitation-. And on top of that... they call him The Killing Ghost.

Joshido felt nervous.

-If he wanted to, he could take our lives without us even realizing it. He wants to help you. But you won't let him.

Joshido said nothing.

Renir looked at him directly.

-Stop complaining so much.

Draval looked at Joshido.

-So, are you going to accept the defeat?

Joshido gritted his teeth.

-Why do I have to? Is it really necessary?

-Accepting defeat isn't bad -said Draval-. What's bad is accepting it and doing nothing. Like you've been doing.

Joshido frowned.

-But I haven't accepted my defeat.

-Not accepting it and doing nothing is pretty much the same thing -Draval replied-. Either way it's like you gave up.

A short pause.

-Accepting defeat doesn't mean you're surrendering. That part's up to you. You accept it, you keep going, you get stronger... and one day that defeat turns into a win.

Joshido took it all in.

And something clicked.

So that's why he wanted me to accept it.

I have a lot to learn.

Draval asked him again.

-Do you accept the defeat?

Joshido looked at him.

Without hesitating.

-Yes. I accept my defeat.

A faint smile slipped across Renir's face.

-Good -said Draval-. Now we can actually get started.

He turned to Renir.

-Rest a bit.

Then back to Joshido.

-I hope you take it more seriously this time.

Joshido didn't say anything.

Something had shifted in his head, even if just a little.

I accepted the defeat. Now to turn it into something else.

He activated his substantial weapon and moved in.

He attacked as best he could. Draval dodged without much effort, moving just enough to let each strike pass by. But something caught his attention.

This time Joshido's attacks were landing somewhere different. More precise than the first time.

Not by much. But enough for Draval to notice.

Joshido kept attacking.

But his mind wasn't entirely on the blows.

How does he move like that with so little space? There's barely room to breathe in here and he dodges like he's outside.

He didn't find an answer.

Then Draval moved.

No sword. No big motion.

Two fingers that landed on Joshido's chest with an almost insulting calm.

Joshido's eyes opened wide.

He pushed me back with two fingers.

Draval looked at him.

-All I see in your eyes is insecurity and desperation. Like that you're never going to lay a scratch on me.

A pause.

-Attacking out of desperation gets you nowhere. It just makes it easier for someone to finish you off.

A shorter one.

-Patience matters. With it you can read how your enemy moves, how they attack, where they leave openings.

Those words pulled something up from somewhere.

A memory.

Joshido and Yasudo on the hill where Haito lived, both looking out at the landscape without rushing.

-I've been training with Eldren -said Joshido-. I beat him easily. I just keep attacking. The strongest one always wins.

Yasudo laughed.

-Not always. Sometimes the smarter one wins. Having a lot of strength doesn't make you the winner. Strength, power... it's not everything.

The memory faded.

Joshido smiled without realizing it.

His whole mood shifted.

Draval noticed.

-Looks like you're ready to try again.

-Yeah -said Joshido-. Here I go again.