As One

Yumiko followed Leandre and Nicole through a long corridor of high-quality material. "My office should be right up ahead. That's where we'll talk." Yumiko didn't feel welcome, but she trusted Leandre anyway.

They stepped in front of the door for them to slide open. "Right after you, knightess." Yumiko paused before setting foot inside the office. "No. You go first or else I'm not stepping another foot inside. I don't want you to scheme some stuff behind my back."

Leandre nodded and agreed with her request and entered the office first together with Nicole. Yumiko followed them as the door slid and shut. "Please, I would like you to step to the front of the desk. There's a chair waiting for you."

Yumiko accepted his offer as she sat down, waiting for Leandre to sit on the opposite side and place his elbows on the desk. "Before we proceed, I would like to make some things clear. You mentioned that you're here to help the people enslaved under Niklas's commands."

Yumiko's face turned bored and rolled her eyes. "What? Just because I'm on a ship with some false "pirates" you think I came here to lie and do nothing about the mess? Tell me. Do you really think I would come here for not having a purpose?"

Leandre denied. "Of course, I understand. I'm just making sure. Please, don't get heated over nothing." Yumiko leaned back on the chair and sighed. "Fine... Whatever. Can we just get to the sword part? I didn't come here to chat about nonsense. You're the president of this city, yet you seem fine to me. That's why I won't trust you until I'm certain."

Leandre looked at Nicole and spoke. "Would you bring the suitcase?" Nicole nodded and stepped inside the back room, reaching under the table while Leandre continued to explain. "I'm aware of your concerns, but please pardon me. I promise to you that I am not one of Lord Niklas's helpers."

Nicole stepped outside and placed the suitcase on the end table. "That suitcase holds a pair of swords of a higher quality than you probably anticipate. But before I continue, I would like to ask you. You're a swordswoman. That means you're skilled at all types of swords, correct?"

Yumiko sighed. "You could certainly say that. I didn't train to use a sword that needs to be held in both hands, though. I've received training in both accurate cuts and fast maneuvers. Something larger than my entire body is not within my skill set." Leandre nodded to her explanation.

"Then you're a lucky person." Leandre hinted at Nicole to open the suitcase. She grabbed the pillow below, brought the swords to the desk, and placed them in front of Yumiko. "Since you're a knightess, I believe you've utilized a pair of swords, but not katanas."

Yumiko became fascinated. "I'll be honest, I never used those types of blades, but I do know how to use them based on what I learned from my solo training."

Leandre smiled. "Care to prove?" she looked at him, uncertain. "What do you mean?" she questioned. "You may receive these blades, but only if you prove to me that you're capable of wielding them." Yumiko cocked her head to the side.

"I don't quite understand." Leandre stepped up and toward the giant window, picking up a katana, its blade reflecting the sunlight.

"I want you to duel me in a friendly match with those blades. I will give you the steel if you can convince me that you deserve it. However, if you take up the offer— " He went on after turning around and demonstrating the katana to her. "We'll fight without any special abilities. This will be a sword-to-sword showdown using only our physical abilities; sword arts only. Do you accept?"

Yumiko looked at the katanas in front of her and gave them a thought. "The black one, Takame, and the blue one, Sakushi. These are two of the "Shinseina" swords, and the only copy that ever existed. However, Takame is considered to be cursed. What are you plotting?"

Leandre stepped closer, swiping the sword's blade. "I am not plotting anything. You certainly are familiar with them. The cursed blade is thought to be faithful to the person who wields it if they are worthy of its power. You assert that you are a proficient swordswoman, which implies that you are capable of using one of the ten Shinseina swords - yet, only time will tell.

"If you accept the challenge, although, I want you to cut that brick. We'll continue if you can cut it in half. But if you fall short, I'll see that you're not deserving of those blades." Yumiko closed her eyes and picked up the blue sword.

She stepped toward a massive tower of bricks and pounded it gently. "Quite close to being as solid as steel." Leandre nodded and hinted at Yumiko.

"I never really managed to cut brick with pure steel, but I suppose you're right. Let's see."

Yumiko closed her eyes and exhaled out a cold breath. "Remember. You are not allowed to use any special-based abilities and only use your might." Yumiko felt her heartbeat calmly beating.

"Cutting something harder does not require extreme strength. It's important to hit the blade directly and at the proper angle. The last thing you should do is use force. Make sure the person cutting is not you, but rather the blade you are using. Precision and trust are key. If you possess both, you will be able to cut through more resistant materials, such as steel as well."

Leandre watched carefully, listening. "I can tell you know what it means to cut. The sword is employed to protect yourself against stronger opponents rather than to engage in combat. Can you still cut through the blocks even if you know? You might be able to cut steel in the future."

Yumiko remained calm. "A sword is a non-cutting extension of your body. People cannot be wounded by the weapon itself. Their sword-wielder is the one who injures them. Swords are frequently handled improperly. You cannot cut harder objects if the sword and the wielder are not united. It is obliged to do whatever is asked, much like a slave. A sword is a trusted ally who can protect you and your spirit from harm.

"It resembles a human relationship, but with inanimate objects. The sword has a spirit of its own, a core that works to make it solid, much like a human being does. There are some things that no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to cut. A leaf in the wind, for instance, won't be sliced. But solid objects can always be hacked, regardless of how solid they are."

Yumiko compressed her power and breathed in a singular rhythm. Her closed eyes didn't shiver once. She grabbed the handle with both hands and slowly reached over her head. "Remember... A sword is not the one wounding. The one wounding is you, and nobody can deny it."

Like a single brilliant light in the shadow, to her mind, Yumiko stood in the middle of never-ending darkness; a blue aura surrounding her. It covered her body, but not the sword, yet, slowly, the aura started to envelop the sword from the handle to its tip.

A red heart glowing inside her body, the sword's blue core, beaming connected like the currents of winds. "You don't need a weapon to cut. You don't need either by yourself. You need both simultaneously; You need the heart of each other, the body of the other self. You are a single being. Nothing can prevent you from cutting solid items if you have that."

Yumiko finally slashed down toward a tower of bricks. Like one, they cut, but...

To be continued...