Chapter 1: The Towering Sword

Hidden inside the Abyss that connects the various regions that make up "The World", there was an ancient realm, a place lost in the vast and chaotic ocean of history. It was a place shielded from the prying eyes of destiny and providence, and at the centre of this realm which held within it various different environments, was a quiet region.

It was a place of both decay and growth, where nature intertwined with age-old monuments, like the remains of a long forgotten ancient city. There were babbling streams, and soft fertile soil which gave birth to various plants and trees, which in-turn encroached upon the few stone temple like-buildings that still stood the test of time, but nevertheless had long green vines climbing up their crumbling marble pillars. Like many things in the Abyss, it seemed to a place out of fairytales and legends.

At the centre of this circular region was a marble altar, and at the plateau at the top of the altar, the stone was filled with long gaping cracks. These ominous lines converged at middle of the altar upon large sword, exactly 99 metres high, buried into the stone. The blade, of which only two thirds could be seen, was wide and thick and made of silvery black metal, with a beautifully embroiled guard, and rich burgundy coloured handle. Looking at it gave one a grave sense of pressure, as if the entire weight of the world was being pressed down on one's shoulders.

Surrounding this behemoth of a sword was various other weapons, like smaller swords, spears, hammers etc., stabbed or strewn across the ground. Occasionally one could hear the humming of a cool wind as it passed through the surrounding weapons, down the altar steps, flinging pieces of rock or gliding through the trees and open buildings. This strange, almost visible wind seemed to stem from the giant sword in regular intervals, like breathing.

Now, in the sky above this mythical realm a dark crack was opening up. It was as if an invisible hand was prying open the dimensions of space, like tearing a piece of paper. From this dark crack in space, a few figures appeared. It was two young children following an old man holding a thick staff as he walked slowly in the air.

The man was greying red hair that was now more silver than red, with a sparse beard growing on his lined face. His eyes carried with them a congenial gentleness but betrayed behind the surface a strong sense of oppression.

Floating behind him was a young boy and girl. The boy had wavy blond hair cut to his shoulders and light blue eyes, he looked about 14 or 15 and had a handsome, confident face. Gripping onto his clothes nervously, was a younger girl with a small round face, and big brown eyes who looked around 8 or 9 years old. She had long light brown hair and looked like an adorable porcelain doll.

"That old witch!" The old man cursed as he shook the dust and mud off his clothes. His face at this moment was twisted and his lips were quivering in rage. "Humph, I can't believe she left us like that!"

"Grandfather...", the cute girlish voice rang out, "...are you okay?"

This was the first time she had seen her noble and awe-inspiring grandfather in such a defeated state.

"Don't worry Little Yiyi, this old man won't be defeated by the trinkets of some old tree-woman. It's okay that old codger never acts her age, every-time I come here, she always like to play some tricks, nothing I can't handle..." The old man regained his dignified air.

"But Grandpa, you were bleeding before...", the little girl was going to say more, but she was stopped by a nudge from the older boy who saw the old man's face gradually turn dark.

"Ahem" the old man coughed "Well, anyway we got here in the end". But in his mind he was somewhat perplexed. Even though that old tree loves to play it's little tricks, this time she didn't even show her face to them to gloat. But putting that thought to the back of his mind, he gestured to the two young children.

"Now, when you meet the mistress you are all be to be very respectful, alright? Senet, especially you, make sure you watch your attitude, remember to not talk back and just keep quiet, and look over your little sister okay." His voice now had a stern tone and his face was grave.

The young boy immediately wanted to protest but was surprised by the oppressive feeling coming from his grandfather, so he obediently nodded his head and held onto the girl's hand, who on her part shrunk back behind him, a little apprehensive.

"Now well don't worry too much. It's just best to be careful, the mistress is rather temperamental." The old man face relaxed again, and with that he continued to fly toward the giant sword in the distance.

As the group got closer, both the children were holding their breath in awe as they witnessed the sword's behemoth size, and their face turned serious as they felt the underlying pressure exerted on their minds. As the sword stood before them, they felt that as if it was the only thing in the world. As if space and time converged toward it and matter itself was torn, entrenched in this apocalyptic vision, their backs were drenched with sweat and fearful expressions were strewn across their faces.

"Snap out of it." The old man quietly whispered when he noticed their change. Suddenly in a shock, they both let out a large breath of air, their faces expressing disbelief.

The old man sighed as he looked at their faces, "Don't look too intently. Even I can't do that. Just try to relax your mind and circulate your breathing."

Though they were shocked, they were still trained from a young age, so they quickly regained their cool. Though both children still had a sense of fear deep in their hearts.

At this point they were at the edge of the marble altar, they could see the various weapons stabbed into the ground as they floated a few tens of metres above the air.

"Grandpa what is that wind?" The little girl asked inquisitively, as she looked around her curiously with her big eyes.

"Hmm, that...she's still sleeping. Just wait I'll wake her...", then the old man stabbed his wooden staff downward on to the air beneath them. As he did so, an overwhelmingly powerful aura emerged from him. Its sheer might altered matter itself as space around them visibly congealed. The ground began shaking and the wind grew stronger, there was a deep rumbling in the air, as if thunderstorm had appeared.

"Wow, every-time I see it I'm in awe! Grandfather is so strong!" The young boy's eyes gleamed with sharpness, as he witnessed the sight in front of them. He had only seen his grandfather show his might once before, and this was still as shocking as the first time.

The boy was looking intently at his grandfather's back that stood valiantly at the centre of the storm, but suddenly in the next instant, he saw that aura vanish completely, as if it had dropped into an immeasurable ocean, and the air returned to its previous peace and tranquility.

The boy was confused and was about to question his grandfather, when he heard a sound in his mind.

"Haaaaaaahhhhh..." It was a long yawn, as if some one had woken up from a deep sleep. It was then followed by the melodious voice of a women that reverberated throughout the minds of the three people.

"Oh it's you again Little Red. Did you get weaker, what was that shrivelled aura? Hmmm, you should cultivate more, lest you are overtaken." The woman began lecturing with a lazy voice.

The young boy was instantly aggrieved, forgetting his grandfather's warning, he was about to rebut the voice, but then he saw a shocking scene.

His grandfather, the man who was respected throughout the sect, and was second only to the Ancestor, who even his father deferred to, was actually taking this lecture with a submissive laugh.

"Yes, yes, Mistress, you are indeed wise, it's just like you say! The young ones are already beginning to overtake me." The young man immediately swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth as he saw this blatant ass kissing.

"Hmph, you're no fun..." The voice continued lazily, "Now, why have you come here again, I was just having a good dream."

"Mistress, it's like this..." The old man turned to the two children and gently pushed them toward the big sword, "These are the patriarch's children, they have come to request for your blessing."

The two children, then felt a small pressure on them as if they were being stared at by invisible eyes.

"Hmm, so that snivelling kid actually became a father huh! Hmm, little guy you look just like your father, you're not cute at all." At this Little Yiyi began to giggle as she saw her brother's face turn dark, but then immediately closed her mouth when she remembered her grandfather's warning.

"Oh, this little flower is not bad. I wonder what poor girl that brat had to trick to father such a cute little doll!" A loud laugh rang through the three people's heads.

In his mind, the old man let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank god, she's in a good mood" he thought. The last time he came here with the now patriarch, he had listen to her berating for a few hours for waking her up.

"Hahah, the Mistress truly has great eyes, the boy is Little Senet and the little doll is name Yiyi."

"Hmm, little Red, how come you still like licking people's boots even after all these years..."

The old man could only laugh awkwardly.

"Hmm, I guess you want to get a blessing huh, that's the only reason you ever visit me." the voice sounded almost despondent, but that old man just cursed in his mind, "You're the one who chases everyone away. If it wasn't for master asking coming with me personally the first time, I would have been flattened ten times over if I came here."

But of course the old man didn't say that, only smiling stating "Of course, mistress to see you is my greatest honour, if I could talk with you more my life would be complete!"

"Hmmm, okay enough of this chit-chat. Little kids, take out your weapons." The voice sprang out again, as it yawned loudly.

The old man, the valiant "Red Devil", then took out a spear and sword from a pouch on his waist, and handed them to the boy and the girl respectively. They were beautifully engraved, and made from the finest materials, especially made for the children when they first began their training.

"Hmm, a spear huh! Rotten little kid, you're just like your father" the voice harrumphed, causing Little Senet to almost pop vein, especially when he heard the next line, "Oh little flower, you are truly intelligent, I'm sure you can already beat up your brother". Little Yiyi giggled as she held out her sword that was still too big for her.

In the next instant, both children felt a warmth overtake them, as if being submerged into a warm bath, or wrapped in cotton blankets, they both were immersed in a wondrous feeling, almost like being in a mother's embrace.

Their weapons began to shine brightly with a golden hue, that slowly congealed to form a small mark in the shape of a sword and a spear, that then imbedded itself into their weapons.

The kids were still wrapped in the marvellous feeling, when the voice rang out again.

"It's done."

Awoken from their stupor they both inspected their weapons when they began to feel a deep sense of connection to their weapons, they also felt a small life seemingly begin to form.

Noticing their confusion, the grandfather began to explain to them, "Their spirts have awoken, having being blessed by the Mistress. Now these two weapons share a strand of the origin of the Laws within them. Make sure to take care of them, and keep them by your side so your connection grows, it will help in your enlightenment of the Origin of the Spear and the Sword. Say thanks, these weapons are among the best in the world!"

The two kids were startled, and the little girl immediately started smiling brightly and saying thank you repeatedly. But the young boy was shocked, because unlike her, he realised the true meaning of his grandfather's words. These were origin weapons! They stood at the pinnacle of the world, and were very rare. When their grandfather had brought them here, he had only told them it was to seek the blessing of an old friend of their Ancestor, thus he had a lot of expectations.

Initially, however, he felt somewhat disappointed, because this "Mistress" was completely different from the solemn and deified character of their ancestor, but now he was completely shocked.

"Oh, little lad, so you're finally happy. You're not cursing me out in your mind anymore!" The voice rang out in a melodious laughter.

Little Senet blushed in shame, while the old coughed lightly "Aahah, mistress the young ones are always foolish."

The "Mistress" only snorted in response, but the old man knew that she wasn't offended. Even though she was known for her oppressiveness and temperamental nature, even going far as beating up his master when they came here together. She always had a soft spot for children, if not there was no way they would be able to even come here to gain a blessing in the first place.

"Oh yeah," the voice rang out once more in their minds, "where's little Tulip, she should be here with you."

The old man's face turned dark, as he remembered how difficult it was to get here.

"Actually, mistress, if I may be so bold. This time, that old tree- I mean little Tulip really went too far. I mean when we came here, she wasn't even here to meet us, fine, I just thought she was up to her little tricks, but I was almost killed coming here, she has really gone overboard this time! It really was too much!"

Suddenly realising he was red in the face and shouting animatedly, the old man coughed a few times and continued in a more genial voice, "What I mean is that, this time Little Tulip went a little too far is all Mistress."

After he finished airing out his grievances he waited for a response, but was only met with silence. He started to feel a little nervous, he knew how much the mistress adored that old tree-woman. Sweat started trickling down his forehead, just as he was about to speak again, the voice rang out in a loud laughter.

"Hahahaha, this is too much! Haha, now this is interesting!"

The old man was surprised, as he had never seen the Mistress like this before. The two children were also curious.

"Ahaha, little Red just look at this! I think little Tulip has finally met her match"

As she finished speaking, in air in front of the giant sword a ripple appeared, and hazy mirror began forming from space.

The three figures looked with interest as a the scene shown in the mirror slowly began clearing up.

"What? How is this possible!" The old man's eyes were like saucers and his mouth was wide open in shock.

The mirror was showing an image of two young children. The boy had long black hair that tossed wildly as he ran charged forward with big grin roaring happily, holding a wooden sword in one hand, and the hand of a little girl in another. But unlike the valiant face of the young boy, the little girl being tugged alongside him had an ugly look on her face. The scene followed them as the boy, began hacking wantonly at vines that surrounded them.

While the old man was in shock, the Little Senet and Little Yiyi, was somewhat confused at why this scene was being shown.

"But how is this possible, how could a mortal child make it to this place!" The old man continued again, his face showing a mixture of shock and almost horror.

Yiyi, in her confusion, and having never seen her grandfather flustered like this before, asked worriedly. "What's wrong grandfather? What's happened?"

The old man realising he had lost his cool, calmed down and began explaining, "Little Yiyi, you don't realise because you came here with me, but to actually even reach this place while in the Abyss is very difficult. I imagine that the amount of people who have wandered here by themselves through the ages can be counted on one hand. And that's only entering the realm, and when they enter the guardian will always send them out. But look what you see in front of you..." The old pointed nodded to moving image shown in the mirror, "...that's the forest region, once you pass that place you reach here."

The two children, though they didn't fully understand the meaning of the old man's words, understood that they were witnessing a bewildering event.

The old man turned to look up at the sword.

"Mistress, what is happening. Who is that child? Is he really a mortal human? Has this ever happened before?"

"Hmm...well you're right that all of the people who wandered to this place uninvited have been led away by Little Tulip and her games. But it seems this time she's the one being played. As for who the little one is, I'll know once he gets here. Hahah, this truly is interesting!"

The old man was puzzled, "Mistress, are you telling me you're going to meet this child?" He looked once again at the young boy with wild black hair and piercing green eyes, and felt a strange feeling as if destiny was whispering something to him. He irritatedly picked his ears, and thought "Hey speak a little louder!"

"Who knows, let's see if he gets here first..." then the woman's voice rang out once again in a snappier tone, "Oh yeah, why are you still standing around here for? Why don't you get moving along, are you so bored nowadays?"

Little Red had an aggrieved look on his face, he thought, 'I just wanted to see what would happen next'. But then thinking about the Mistresses' temper, he realised it was the cue for them to leave.

Looking awkwardly at the young kids behind him, he worried that he had lost all face today...Sigh...

"Hahah, Mistress you're right, we've disturbed you for too long, we should be going now. Now kids show your thanks!" to which the two kids bowed and said their thanks toward the large sword, whilst their eyes were still curiously fixated on the scene in the mirror. "Well, we'll get going now, Mistress. The Ancestor once again sent his thanks..."

The voice only harrumphed, lazily saying "Hphm, that fogey wants to give me thanks? I bet he can't even get his head out of his little trinkets, is he a kid? Still playing with toys at his age..."

Little Red decided he better leave fast, before these young prodigies would forever get their view of their Ancestor defiled.

Little Red was about to open an another space tunnel when, a warm glow enveloped all of them.

"Hmm, I'll bring you out. If I let you do it yourself, these kids will probably have to bring back a corpse."

As the scene began changing, Little Red could only complain in his heart for the total loss of face. But then thinking of that young boy, he eyes regained a sharpness. Who was that child? More importantly, who would he become? Either way, he would have to tell his Master. Anything involving the Mistress could have major ripple effects.