43: Banshur

Eventually they came to the dry lake cave where the final destination was a spot inside but it wasn't clear where.

"Wait, when we were in the cave, this whole time Sam had something hidden in there?" Zen scratched his head.

Lyra glanced around, seeing nothing that would be a hiding spot. "I suppose... anyway, why don't we take a break and make a campfire for the night."

A short while later, the three of them were huddled around the fire, eating meat skewers Lyra had cooked.

"Is chicken meant to be this chewy and dry?" Zen listlessly noted as he chewed his pieces noisily.

"Eat or don't eat, but don't complain to me when you're hungry."

"Maybe this will help." Vo pulled out a bottle of moonshine he had kept in his knapsack. It was the tavern keeper's gift to him.

"Just what the healer ordered." Zen took hearty swigs and felt warmth in his chest and cheeks to make them flush.

They savored their rest of their meal, and felt light headed at the end.

When Vo laid back to look up to the cave's ceiling, it's then he saw a tiny wax seal at an odd spot. He sat up and went to check the map. "You've got to be kidding me."

He stretched his body to press the tiny scroll's seal onto the roof's version. They clicked into place.

"Ugh, clearly your guard partner was a prankster as well!" Zen moaned and grumbled when dirt and sand showered over their heads from the stones' release.

"What can I say, he loved puzzles," Liran impassively said as she spat out sand and shook it off her head.

Vo pried off the roof's stones and saw a long, rectangular box wedged in between. He yanked it out and set it down near the fire, so they could see it clearly.

"A sword box?"

He dusted it off.

Everyone stared at dark wood with images intricately painted in silver and gold all over the surface.

Vo's eyes widened with a pleasant shock when he recognized the symbols flowing around the image of the robed man with a sword wrap strapped to his back, and a triangular peak shaped straw hat covering his head.

"This is the lore of Banshur."

Lyra's eyes lit up like they were catching fire. "Sam hid this and never told me!"

"He probably didn't think you would appreciate art." Zen teased her.

She hissed, "Not the point. I thought I was his best friend."

Vo explained that when he was training with his master in the Sword Art of Anul, he learned of the infamous and legendary Banshur. A swordmaster who wandered the continent righting wrongs upon the places and people he encountered.

"Every sword he gathered from an evil enemy, he kept bound in a sword wrap." He fingered the smooth wood, hesitant to open the box. "Was Sam a descendent of Banshur?"

Lyra frowned. "Not that I'm aware of, but it seems I didn't really know him that well after all. Maybe it was from Eliana, Kiara's mother. She had a mysterious background."

"I wonder why Sam gave this to you, Vo?" Zen pondered.

"I'm a roshi and we did just right a wrong." Vo gave his plausible reason.

"Well, let's open this thing." Zen gulped with another thought. "Actually, pause on that. Sam likes puzzles, this box might be one too."

"You think it'll have traps?" Vo frowned. It was likely, since something so important was bound to have defenses. "Okay, let's open it out of the cave. Wouldn't want us to be buried alive."

They carried the box onto the center of the salt flats, where the moon shone the strongest.

"Oh hey, is this a fluke or did we activate some hidden trap spell." Zen hid behind Lyra when the artwork glowed with a magical energy.

Vo touched one of the lines and felt a prick to his finger. Blood was drawn, which was absorbed into the box. He set it to the ground.

The three of them stepped away when magic swelled around the object to project the artwork into the air before them.

Vo's mind was pulled into a memory belonging to the box. He saw the man with the peak straw hat practicing with a longsword, which changed appearances with each movement he made.

After observing the man's sword dance, he realized each sword gave knowledge for a unique sword art. There were 13 sword arts the old man demonstrated to Vo as a taste.

"These swords took the path of evil and error. A just swordhand guides them back. So is the Way of the Roshi and our honor." Words flowed into Vo's mind and were lodged deep within his heart.

He was cast out of the vision.

The box opened.

He gently lifted out a simple looking black leather sword wrap and carefully unraveled it on the ground.

There were 13 swords in their scabbards. They were fastened to the wrap with red strings, but he saw more spaces for others to be added.

"Add mine and the Hand of Honor. I think I know what I'm meant to do with this." Shane insistently pestered Vo's brain until the man caved.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Vo laid Shane and the Hand of Honor down on a free slot. The red strings tied themselves around the scabbards.

Shane's human form appeared before them: solid and looking healthy enough.

"I should've known with that voice, you're a pretty boy." Lyra raised her brows, "Although, you have more muscles than him." She thumbed at Zen.

"Of course, I'm not a runt. But didn't I show myself to you before?" Shane clasped his hands behind his back to stand more distinguished.

"Not in this manner."

"Wait. Am I outside with you guys?" He started stressing. "Does that mean the sword wrap kicked me out?! It has my mansion!"

His body glowed red. A bunch of red strings flowed out of the wrap to tie him up and bind him.

"Shane!" Vo went to grab him, but Shane stopped him with a hand gesture.

"It's okay. I think I'm being acknowledged. I hear words like this wrap has no swordmaster, especially a masterful conjurer such as I. Oh, I've inherited the role!"

"Are there any other sword spirits?" Vo was still concerned.

"I can feel two, but they're dormant. The rest are empty: they probably have had their sword realms destroyed by now. However, the wrap has preserved their sword art, which I can pass on to you."

Shane's form faded as he was assimilated into the sword wrap.

"Call for me whenever you need your sword, or a sword. I'll put it in your hand." Shane yawned and said he was going to take a short nap to recover his energy. He used a lot to establish a connection. There was a lot of decoration work installed for him.

Lyra was pouting. "This whole time Sam was holding out on me."

"Come now. You don't use a sword, so what good would it have been to you?" Zen consoled her.

"I use a greatsword? But I guess you're right. The smaller versions don't do wonders for me."

"Well that's out of the way. Let's get some sleep." Vo tenderly picked up the sword wrap.

The material responded to his energies, causing the box's art to move to the wrap's surface. It closed itself in a roll and formed a carry strap.

He placed the sword wrap on his back and picked up the box, which was now unremarkable.

When they re-entered the cave, he returned the box to its former resting spot and resealed the opening.

Sleep hit them fast when they laid down and closed their eyes.