PREQUEL: TALE OF MUSASHI (CHAP3)

A new morning came; Musashi woke up, washed his sleepy face, and went straight to the Dojo. At the front door, he saw Koji waiting for him, holding his katana as he was sitting on the stairs.

‘’You’re here early! Now, you’re coming with me, brat.’’

Musashi didn’t care about him and went inside. As he was about to set both feet inside, Koji grabbed him from his collar and lifted him.

‘’Really? You’re irritating me already.’’ Having no idea what was happening, Musashi stayed still as Koji took him out of the Dojo.

The two went to a forest down the mountain. This forest had dead trees, gloomy fog, and pieces of human and animal bones everywhere. Musashi felt a strong, dead aura.

‘’This forest is called Aokigahara. It was once a beautiful forest, but because of the blood and deaths in this forest, it became in such a state. It’s forever like this. Gloomy, dark, and soulless.’’ As they continued walking, Koji continued talking ‘’It is said that because of the deaths, the souls of the people who died here can’t pass to the afterlife. And now they are stuck here for all eternity. Creepy, isn’t it? But that’s why this is the best place to train. Only a Karasuyama could survive this death forest!’’ As he finished speaking, Koji let go of Musashi, and he fell. While scratching his nose from the fell, Koji dropped a small katana straight at his head.

‘’Now, listen to me. I don’t even know if you will understand me or not. But anyway.’’ He sighed. ‘’I will be teaching you everything about being a Karasuyama. Not many get this privilege to be taught by me personally. But when I do teach them, I make sure they either become Karasuyama or die.’’ He then took some steps away from Musashi. ‘’In this training, you will be living between the living world and the dead world. We will fight until you reach that state, and then we will start phase two. Grab your Katana and face me, Musashi!’’ He took out his katana and let his deadly aura roam everywhere.

Musashi felt it and stood up facing him with no fear in his eyes.

‘’Those eyes… I can see now why Head Master is interested in you. You have seen death, didn’t you?’’

Back at the inner castle, Karasuyama summoned the servant who knows Musashi.

‘’My Lord! I am here.’’

‘’Get inside.’’

She entered his chamber and sat, bowing her head. Karasuyama continued doing his calligraphy.

‘’Tell me more about Musashi. Who’s his mother?’’

‘’It was Lady Kaguya, my Lord!’’

Karasuyama heard the name and stopped his brush.

Lady Kaguya was known for being from a small cult clan. They worshipped Death. They used to have many rituals which involve sacrifices. The cult clan started to get known in Wado, and that brought nothing but problems. The cult clan members were hunted down, abused, and even enslaved. Lady Kaguya was a slave, but Karasuyama bought her and made her free. With her own free will, she stayed by his side.

‘’But she died before giving birth. How come?’’

‘’I was her personal servant. As you know, my Lord, Lady Kaguya was very ill when she was pregnant. Then a month before giving birth, she died. We all thought the baby was also dead. But he was still alive. It was when the female family members who practice the art of the body found the baby still alive inside of her. He lived inside of a dead body for a month.’’ Hearing this, Karasuyama grabbed both of his hands together and kept thinking.

‘’Is this why the kid sees death as something normal, and he has no fear of it?’’ He thought to himself.

Back at the death forest, Koji started his harsh training on Musashi. The two kept their intense battle for hours. Koji was pressing hard on Musashi with his sword.

‘’What’s wrong, brat? Don’t tell me you’re done!’’ Koji said as he kept swinging his katana nonstop. Musashi couldn’t do anything but keep parrying his attacks. Koji continued his assault until Musashi couldn’t stand up. On one knee, he kept looking at Koji while breathing heavily.

‘’It seems you hit your limits.’’ Koji put his katana back in its sheath. ‘’Come with me.’’

Musashi followed Koji while barely able to walk until they reached their destination, which was a deep, big hole. Musashi couldn’t even see the bottom.

‘’Now, brat. This is phase two.’’ Musashi tilted his head slightly to the left while raising his eyebrows. Koji then spoke again.

‘’Get close to the hole.’’

Musashi did. As he was trying to see the bottom, Koji kicked him. Musashi fell straight into the deep, dark hole. With nothing to see and only bones around, Musashi felt terror for the first time. Then, he heard Koji speaking.

‘’Brat, listen well because I will only speak once. Phase two is about you surviving the darkness. A Karasuyama has no fear of anything. What every man fears isn’t death, but rather loneliness. But not a Karasuyama!’’ And with that, he left.