2. Catching Firefox, Chapter 5

We didn’t even have to knock on the doors. The huge gates just opened as soon as we stood in front of them. It was probably the presence of the Explorer that caused them to open, I assumed so judging by the relieved look in his eyes. It was hard to tell if it was relief though since he had lost almost all his facial expressions. As we entered the great hall we found an old man sitting on the floor in the middle of the hall. The next wisecracker, the true Firefox. He was surrounded by candles and an old Japanese sword was lying in front of him on a silk towel. Next to the sword stood a small ornamented wooden box. His clothes were almost as old-fashioned as the box.

“I expected you,” he said.

“I expected you to say that,” I replied smiling.

“So you must know what we are here for then,” Cassandra impatiently asked.

“Yes indeed I do. You want the Sword of Forgiveness. But I can’t just hand it to you. You must first prove yourself worthy of it,” the Firefox said with a raspy voice. Everyone sighed.

“No problem. I always get what I want,” I said and it sounded actually convincing this time. But suddenly the Firefox looked directly into my eyes. It was as if he was staring into my soul.

“If you always get what you want, what’s the point of living?” he asked. His eyes looked serious, but somehow I could tell he was enjoying asking questions like that.

“I just kind of do whatever I feel like doing. That might change every day, or every hour even. But I don’t care as long as I am happy. I just do whatever I want. Now just give me that sword!” was my answer.

“It appears you are a hedonist then. Very well, I have dealt with your kind before. Not very persistent,” he said as he picked up the sword that was lying in front of him. In that moment I realized that he had a second one sheathed at his waist in a similar way a Samurai would carry his sword.

“So you’re going to fight with two swords? Sounds like something a coward would do,” I stated.

“I have no such intentions. You will use this sword and fight me honorably,” he said and handed me the sword he had picked up before. A little hesitant I took the sword. Something about the situation didn’t feel right. Or probably everything about the situation. But it has been this way since we encountered the werewolf, so I didn’t really worry about it all that much. All I had to do was fight this old man and take the sword. But somehow I wasn’t able to concentrate. That wooden box really caught my interest for some reason.

“Are you focused?” the old man asked.

“Believe it or not, right now I really wonder what is in that wooden box. It’s all I can think about,” I answered.

“Silly fool! The one that cannot focus on the battle at hand shall fall in that battle!” he shouted and started his attack.

“Sounds like something out of The Art of War,” Cody remarked.

“It is not. But I am surprised you know that book,” the Explorer answered.

“Well, I go to school.”

“I know, I just like to point out that The Art of War doesn’t contain such fortune cookie wisdom,” the Explorer then said, somehow a little irritated.

“Isn’t that what that book is all about?” Cassandra then commented. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to hear the rest of their conversation as I was a little busy fighting an old man with an even older sword. Despite his age he was a lot stronger than I thought. But then again I didn’t know anything about swordsmanship. I just somehow, more luckily than skillfully, managed to dodge his blows. It felt like the sword was moving on its own. I know that is a silly thing to say but that’s how it felt to me. Now I was swinging my sword at him and he blocked everything of course. The swords clashed together many times before one of them broke apart. It was mine.

“Looks like you lost, boy,” the Firefox said, the tip of his sword pointed directly at my face. It looked like he was going to slice my face in two. Or cut my throat. Both options were evenly unpleasant.

“Wait, you never said what would happen if I lose,” I said frightened.

“Because you never considered the possibility. You may be a hedonist but you have strong willpower. You earned the Sword of Forgiveness,” the Firefox said and lowered his sword.

“Don’t tell me the Sword of Forgiveness is the one that just broke apart,” I said, still frightened albeit for a different reason.

“No, it is the one in my hand,” he answered smiling. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well, who wants that old sword anyway? I want to know what’s in that wooden box,” I said and without hesitation went straight to the small wooden box and opened it.

“No! You are not supposed to open that!” the Firefox screamed.

“Well, I already opened it. And looking at it now it doesn’t seem dangerous or anything,” I said calmly. Not dangerous but somewhat confusing was the content of that peculiar box. It was in fact a single right-handed black leather glove. Obviously without any further thoughts I put it on my right hand. It wasn’t just like wearing a glove. It somehow magically adjusted itself to the shape of my hand.

“That is the Glove of Contradiction, it is a very powerful magical weapon not meant to be used by normal human beings,” the Firefox explained. “I found it a long time ago deep in the mountains,” he continued.

“Maybe someone just lost it while hiking in the mountains. Have you considered that?” Cody cheerfully asked .

“People don’t go hiking with leather gloves. Not even in Japan,” Cassandra answered after a sigh.

“Anyway, you cannot wield two magical weapons at once. So since you picked up that glove the Sword of Forgiveness can never be yours,” the Firefox explained.

“I can’t believe your stupidity! Now we have lost our last chance to defeat the werewolves!” Cassandra yelled visibly upset, grabbing me by my uniform necktie.

“I just wanted to know what was in the box,” I said trying to explain myself.

“You know what killed the cat, right?” she said.

“I don’t. What cat? What happened?” the Explorer asked, visibly confused. Cassandra sighed.

“It’s just a saying,” she said. I ignored them and slowly lifted my right hand into the air. The glove felt very tight but yet comfortable to wear. As I looked at this clinging glove, I imagined that I would probably have a hard time getting it off again. Slowly I began to move my hand and could see the air around it somehow changing. Similar to the blurring effect that can be perceived when looking into the smoke of a fire. It was very interesting, so I tried moving my hand faster and the effect got stronger. Then finally when I swung my hand with all my strength a huge shock wave was produced and destroyed the whole wall of the monastery and left a massive hole. I didn’t really pay attention where I was pointing my hand so that wall was gone now. Before anyone could scold me however, the werewolves already came charging in through the hole.

Alas, through a couple of unwise decisions by our young master, disaster was now upon them. But perhaps those decisions, however unwise, may have been the right ones. Because you see, that glove proved to be exceedingly helpful in their fight with those monstrous beasts. The physical concept of a shock wave is apparently stronger than the pure muscle strength of a beast. Science may or may not win over the supernatural but the laws of physics always do.