Disciple (5)

The night's breeze was fair and cool. It grazed my skin and I felt the cool air to my heart's content. It was soothing.

"Hmm… a perfect time."

"Yes, it sure is perfect."

Master was holding a stick in front of me while I was standing in the midst of the bright moon, empty-handed, too awed to move my sights from the pink of the Plum Locus that filled the vicinity, illuminated by the red and blue spotlights of the moon. The low sounds of the breeze whistling by our sides heartily embraced the plum blossoms in its soft arms. The low melody of the night's beauty filled my air in silence. I stayed there for more than a week, clouded with things that I didn't understand, that I never knew, and now that I was free from all those things, I realized the beauty of the clime I was residing in. It was astounding and I might never forget it.

"First, let me show you the peak of the technique you will learn."

"...!"

'The peak…!'

And I was going to learn it. I would reach that peak someday. My heart pounded heavily.

"Watch it closely and don't take your eyes off it."

The wind blew.

Woosh—

It became chilly. The Sword Saint walked with his steps dignified. The look in his eyes was arctic and plum blossoms that flowed in the wind so softly started to act strange.

Woosh—

Another wind blew, more violent than before and the pink started to gather at his feet, spiralling in a violent helix.

"For now, be content with only one formation."

The stick that he held glowed in a blue luminescence. It was an ordinary stick and even though I could feel the bone-chilling strength from it.

The Sword Saint took his left leg back, grace filled in every movement. The blue that layered the stick crackled in terrifying lightning.

"Song of the Sword Saint."

The wind became stale. The pink plum blossoms fell at the feet of the Sword Saint.

"First Formation."

The Sword Saint was showing his sword to me. It was…

"Soft Falling thunder."

…beautiful.

Boom—

An ear-tearing sound echoed. My head was ringing. I tried to cover my ears but to no avail. It was loud and shrill. I couldn't hold myself from screaming.

"AHHHHH!!!"

But the Sword Saint wasn't affected by it all, as if he was used to it. He stood there, gazing towards the sky where he stabbed his sword.

"Haa… haa…"

I got myself together and gazed in the same direction.

"...!"

My eyes widened. It was simply not a sight that I could be content with being awed. Another emotion began to surface in me. Again, it was unknown to me. But I knew something. That emotion was screaming, screaming at me to run as far as I could from this man. This man was dangerous. This was probably… fear.

"Fuu… I have become weaker."

Weaker… this was weak in the Sword Saint's eyes.

'Tearing the moon in half with a stab was weak to the Sword Saint…'

I could not believe my life and passed out.

***

"Ah…"

A moan escaped my lips and my eyes opened.

"Hmm… as I thought, that was too much for you."

"Huh? Oh…"

Everything came back to me.

"Ugh… my head… it's splitting apart…"

"Don't try to get up."

"No, I think I am able to walk. How long was I out for?"

"Around 5 hours."

Shit… no wonder I was sore all over the place.

"Haa… what was that?"

"The first formation of Song of the Sword Saint, Soft Falling Thunder."

How the hell was that soft?

'That ripped the fucking moon and you call that soft?'

But I wasn't sad nor was I afraid anymore. I was filled with an overwhelming sensation, and it was not excitement. It was desperation, an urge to grab that sword and wield it to my heart's content in whatever way I wanted. I now knew that I would not stop anywhere. That sword was my first goal.

"When are we beginning?"

"We can begin now if you want."

"Let's do it then."

"Are you sure you are feeling alright?"

"Yes, no problem at all."

Yes, I was desperate to learn the sword now.

"Well then, get up. We are starting."

"Yes."

Master got up from my side and went outside and I, still struggling to keep my head from falling apart, got up too and prepared myself.

***

"First things first, you are weak."

'Great, we are starting from there…'

"Pathetically weak."

"Yes… I am aware."

"Good thing you know how weak you are."

"..."

"A sword is not a weapon. Nothing is a weapon. Everything is an extension of your body. As I showed you earlier, even a stick can be an ally if used correctly. But that doesn't mean that you don't need a proper blade. Even if you manage to wield your extension perfectly, it will amount to nothing if that breaks after one use."

Master took something out of his pocket.

"Do you know what this is?"

"...no, I don't."

It looked like a small pile of burnt wood to me.

"This is the stick I used earlier."

"I see… it wasn't able to endure that monstrous power."

"Yes, that's why you need a proper blade. But we will come to that later. For now, let's focus on the topic at hand."

"Yes."

"First, we will train your body. An extension of a weak foundation is still weak."

"Yes, I understand."

"So, you see that cliff over there?"

"Yes."

That was the cliff where this body spent his last moments before jumping to death.

"You will climb that cliff and climb down again."

"...?"

That was… easy?

"Thousand times, every day."

Or not…

"I am asking you again. This exercise is the most humane one. The others will be way worse. Do you still want to be my disciple?"

My lips curved into a smirk. Did I still want to be his disciple?

"I am not going to change my mind."

"Hmm…"

'...?'

It was only for a moment but I was sure I saw it. A faint curve on his lips.

'He… smiled?'

***