8 Killing the Dream For a Good Cause

The next day, Hokuto had already dressed up for training - she wore a plain white gi paired with a black hakama, and over her chest area she wore a red kobudo that was normally used for archery. However, Hokuto thought it looked cool to wear it so she put it on anyways. It was one of the small consolations of going to a training she was not exactly thrilled about.

Today was different, however. She would be receiving tutelage under the mighty [Rose Sword Saint] who was perhaps the number one swordswoman in the entire world. This was an absolutely absurd notion. Hokuto was a bit more interested to see how Astraea would assess her talent and ability. Most importantly, Hokuto wanted to know if she really had talent for magic. Unfortunately, she was bound to be disappointed.

By the time she reached the dojo, she saw the [Rose Sword Saint] up close for the first time. The last time she heard her speak yesterday, Hokuto couldn't really make out her facial features. Now she realized that Astraea was not only incredibly powerful, but possessed a majestic beauty that perhaps could only be attained by a true fighter. Astraea's long black hair was tied back into a ponytail, and she was wearing a pink kimono with altered sleeves.

The [Rose Sword Saint] stood in the middle of the dojo and nodded in acknowledgement towards Hokuto. "This young child greets the Master," Hokuto politely greeted Astraea, but her voice didn't sound terribly enthusiastic nor did she sound emotionless. It was a perfunctory greeting that completely exposed her attitude. "I await your guidance."

Astraea didn't have her hat on and her tachi was still wrapped in cloth, slung around her back. If she was going to each Hokuto, she would do it the same way she learned - a wooden sword. Very few people knew, but Astraea didn't achieve her godlike ability in the sword alone.

She too, had a teacher. A teacher who was just as legendary a figure as her. For her teacher was the deceased Blade Magus Keradoc, renowned to be one of the rare people who was both martially and magically inclined. In fact, his deeds opened up an entirely new branch of sword arts - the mystic Spellblade Techniques.

Though Astraea had pretty much no talent in actual magic, Keradoc's teachings inspired her to practice the internal martial arts, which gave her reputation. After he had passed away from old age, Astraea set off on a lonely path to perfect her sword arts. Now, she had the opportunity to become that type of figure to a young, impressionable girl with a seemingly bright future.

All Astraea had to do was teach this darn brat that magic didn't mean everything!

"You're not really into this, aren't you?" Astraea sighed.

"I still want to pursue magic, but my father says I have no talent. He's kidding, right?"

"King Ren is a good man... No, a good father. He cares about you very much and just wants to see you do well and succeed, to surpass him."

Hokuto looked disappointed and downcast as she stared into Astraea's deep, blue eyes. "Tell me the truth. Do I really have no talent in magic?"

Astraea sighed. She really had to do this the hard way, huh? "Can you even do basic cantrips?"

Hokuto gritted her teeth and immediately began to perform, at rapid speed, some hand signs and mudras. If she performed it correctly and used her mental energy, assuming she had any magical aptitude at all, she would simply create a single burst of flame from the tip of one of her fingers, much like a lighter.

After a couple of moments, nothing happened. Astraea watched with amusement as she realized that no matter what combination of hand seals and mudras Hokuto performed, absolutely nothing happened. Just like herself, this kid was not fated to learn magic at all.

"I can do this, teacher. I just need to get into the groove."

"You should just give it up... You're simply not destined to learn magic in this lifetime."

"That's impossible. I surely can change this fate of mine! You'll help me, right?"

"That isn't how it works. The capability and aptitude for the mystic arts is... It's not artificial. You're either born with talent or you're not. Just like me, you have no aptitude for magic. Your entire family literally can not use magic."

"Inconceivable! None of them?"

"Did you think your father was joking? He was simply being polite. I, as your teacher, have the obligation to give you the cold and hard truth," Astraea suddenly became stern. "I broke the mold by practicing the internal martial arts, which is the closest thing to magic I could ever do, and even then, I haven't seen or heard anyone accomplish the same feat in the past thousand or so years."

Hokuto's silence was deafening. Astraea did not let up. "Internal martial arts, as magical as it sounds, can not compare to true magic either. Internal martial arts only affects my immediate surroundings. The things around me I can touch. Magic has the might to move mountains and to split the land. I could never achieve those things. Neither can you. Therefore, it's my responsibility to ensure your delusions are shattered from the very beginning."

Astraea couldn't help but wonder if she was being too harsh on the ten year old girl. Hokuto was glaring at the [Rose Sword Saint] with tears in her eyes. It was her dream, yet the most respected swordswoman in the land was shattering... No, vaporizing them in the blink of an eye.

"Damnit! Idiot! Dummy!" Hokuto bawled out.

Astraea. "..."

"This wasn't how it was supposed to go! You were supposed to tell me that I could do it!" Hokuto screamed. "It's impossible that I can't use magic! You're lying to me. You're on father's side too!"

Astraea frowned. Now she was starting to get a little annoyed. She was merely stating the facts. Then again, Hokuto was only ten years old. It was that time of a child's life where they started to develop their own world view. They could become rebellious. Unfortunately, Hokuto's fantasies were merely just that, delusions of grandeur.

"Silence!" Astraea channeled her inner force to amplify her voice to the extent the entire dojo visibly shuddered. People passing by the dojo who knew Hokuto was undergoing training were immediately startled.

Hokuto shut her mouth but still looked defiantly at Astraea, who inwardly sighed in relief. The [Rose Sword Saint] then realized that it was going to be a major challenge to tutor Hokuto in the majestic art of sword play. She had to come up with a proper plan. A way to entice Hokuto into dedicating her life to the sword. She had to demonstrate her might.

"What will it take for you to realize that you're going to run yourself into a dead end walking on a fruitless path of trying to learn magic?" Astraea spoke firmly.

"Just convince me that using a sword can make me surpass the sorcerers." Hokuto coldly spat.

Astraea responded with a maniacal smile.