Chapter 7

“Well, looks like this is it.” Diran said to me.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be getting all emotional with me. When we started training, we knew this day would come.” I replied.

Diran and I had been training together with our master for the last three years and had mastered the basics, but now we were going to split up to work on defining our unique abilities. Diran and I had different skill sets, and our abilities would reflect that. We had both already decided on what they would be, and neither of us knew what the other’s was.

“Still, it's gonna be weird without you.” Diran said with a wry smile.

“Yeah, I won’t have my big brother to protect me from bullies at school.” I said with a sarcastic frown, complete with the trembling lip.

“Never change.” Diran said with a big smile.

He stepped forward and gave me a manly hug.

“Good luck.”

“You too dude.”

I broke off the hug, before engaging in our handshake.

“See you around like a doughnut.” I joked, before turning to go our separate ways.

Up to this point we had done everything together, we trained together, studied together, sparred together. Almost all of my memories included my older brother.

He’d always been there, guiding me, leading me. Though we stood on equal footing, a big brother is a big brother. We were brothers in arms, brothers in training, and brothers in... in a literal sense, and it was going to be a big change to go our separate ways.

This was in no way a bad thing, change was needed. We both needed to strengthen our individual skills, we both needed to find our individuality. We needed to be able to stand on our own without relying on each other. Although it may be bitter sweet, I was excited about our separation.

“Oh, my training is also this way.” Diran piped up.

“Oh.”

“...”

“...”

“Huh……. then I guess we’ll walk together?” I responded, breaking off the awkward silence.

“Yeah, I guess,” he laughed.

That is the kind of relationship I have with my brother. We had been together almost our entire lives. He was my best friend who I could trust with anything. We had always relied on each other, and knew we always would be able to, that's what made our separation so bittersweet.

***

I arrived at the academy where I would learn to hone my skill with the blade. I had chosen the path of swordsmanship, and that is what my ability would revolve around. I would have a different technique for close, long, and mid-range, each making up for the weaknesses of the others. With a balanced skill set like that I would be unbeatable. Plus, swords are pretty cool.

The academy wasn’t too far, it was on the east side outskirts of the central plateau. Our master’s home was on the south side outskirts, so it wasn’t too long of a journey. The school was known as the most prestigious sword craft academy in the world, there were people who would train their whole lives, and still not make the benchmark requirements to be accepted in. I didn’t know how well their claim of superiority would hold, but I knew that if I was to follow the path I had chosen, there was no other place to go.

“Welcome all new recruits!” Spake the headmaster guy.

All first-year students were assembled in the courtyard outside, along with all the other students and faculty. Each year had their own bleachers and each set of bleachers faced the headmaster.

There were about 100 first-years filling the bleachers, almost double the amount of second-years. From the look of things only about half of each class made it to the next year. It appears this wouldn’t be easy, but I was prepared to do whatever it takes. I will keep moving forward.

“As everyone here knows, the age of peace is dwindling away. Those who would abuse their power and prey on the weak are many, and those who use their power for good and to protect the weak are few. But those who do choose to raise their fist and stand up to these adversaries carry the moniker of ‘Hero’!” He excitedly proclaimed.

Applause erupted from the crowd; they were all thrilled to be here. Among all the strongest swordsmen in the world, many had trained, learned, and refined their skills here.

“Your abilities matter not! Regardless, you have chosen the way of the blade, and we will instruct you to use them in a way no one else can!” The guy continued to rally the crowd.

“To demonstrate the skills, you will come to know, we have one of our top students, Goman Yaro!” The headmaster stepped back revealing a student standing behind him.

Goman stepped forward to a round of applause from the students.

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“My, my, I’m flattered.” He said with a dazzling smile towards the crowd.

“As the headmaster said, I have been selected because I am the best. The cream of the crop, the top dog, the head honcho if you will...... I have been given a simple task, to show you all what you could only hope to be.”

“I think you mean what they will be.” Interrupted the headmaster with a whisper, which the microphone picked up. Much to his embarrassment.

“Ah, yes, whatever you say, headmaster.” Goman replied with a snarky attitude as he brushed his hair aside.

“Alright!” The headmaster shouted, regaining his previous gusto.

“I will now select a volunteer from the crowd to spar with Goman as a way of demonstrating the skills you will learn. Make sure to watch closely everyone, at the beauty of swordplay!” The headmaster excitedly yelled.

No one among the new recruits dared to volunteer, and even among the upperclassmen there were only a few hesitant hand raises. It seems this bastard has the skill to back up his cocky demeanor. Great.

“I’ll do it.” I said as I rose from my seat and began walking down the bleachers.

“Oh my.” Goman said with a smirk.

“A new recruit? I don’t think that's a good idea, young man.” The headmaster said with concern.

“I think it's brilliant, they'll be able to see the gap between the top, and the absolute bottom.” He said with a snake-like grin. The guy doesn’t even know me, but he’s already assuming my skill level? This will be quick and easy.

“Well, if you both think it’s a good idea. Just don’t go overboard, Goman.” the headmaster said with concern.

“Oh, I plan on it.” He responded as he began approaching me.

He wore all white which matched his white pony tail perfectly. The glare from his blue eyes shot daggers at me, he could almost be mistaken for an elf.

A white sword sat on his left hip; the hilt accented by blue crystals which matched his eyes. I doubt the sword was his only weapon, as the cloak he wore was perfect for concealing blades, he would be a fool not to utilize it. His appearance communicated one thing perfectly, he was going to be the rich prick of this school.

“You have quite the nerve challenging me.” He said with a cocky grin.

“Oh, trust me, this won’t be much of a challenge.” I replied.

“That’s the second time you’ve insulted me, if there's a third time, you'll lose your tongue.” He responded with a slight touch of anger.

“That's disappointing to hear, I was hoping you’d try and take my life.” I replied without worry.

I had already figured him out, the rich talented prick. Everything had come easy to him and no one opposed him. He had absolute confidence in his own skills, and couldn’t imagine anyone proving a challenge, let alone some new student. A composed person wouldn’t react to those insults, but this guy was only feigning composure.

“Oh, your life is already mine. That was the punishment for the first insult. It was going to be a quick death, but on account of that second insult, I’ve decided to change my judgement.” He shrugged.

His forced smile and calm demeanor couldn’t hide the anger and blood lust radiating off of him.

“Oh good, a quick death would be boring.” I nonchalantly replied.

We both took our stances; the crowd held their breath in anticipation. Goman stared at me with blood lust in his eyes, he would definitely strike first. He took my volunteering for the challenge as an insult and was prepared to dish out what he viewed as the proper punishment. To be fair, it was an insult.

I had to get ahead from the start, I hadn’t come here to play around. I came to win, to become strong, to succeed. I had to get that point across from the get go. In that regard my challenge had served its purpose.

“The goal of this duel is to demonstrate to the new students the skills they will learn here. It will be a duel with real swords. The rules are simple, whoever admits defeat first loses, avoid fatal strikes and excess damage. The duel will begin on my mark.” The headmaster explained.

They had healers at the ready. It was to be expected, swords aren’t a children's toy. Blood was to be spilled if we were to be serious about this. Though it is a little weird that we aren’t just using wooden sparring swords.

I pulled out my blade and awaited his mark. I took a standard two-handed stance with my sword held in front. In contrast, Goman kept his sword in its scabbard. He stood with one hand on the handle and one on the sheathe. It would be a stretch to call this a stance, but it illustrated his view of superiority perfectly.

He saw this as so beneath him he needn’t even try. He viewed nobody as an equal, and wouldn’t give them the ’privilege’ of facing his full strength. What my opponent did didn’t matter to me, for this victory was already as good as mine.

“Begin!” The headmaster shouted with a raise of his hand.

The match had begun.

He pulled his sword and attacked; a stab aimed right at my heart. He was confident in his speed. Based on reaction alone, I couldn't avoid it entirely. This one strike would decide the match. But he made an error.

From the way he carried himself and the stance he took, all of it communicated one thing. That he would attack in a manner similar to this.

I began to sidestep his attack before it even began. As his blade passed by my chest, I caught his wrist with my left hand. With his wrist in hand, I yanked him to the side as I kicked his legs out from under him.

He believed this match would be over in one swing of a sword, and that assumption was partly true, he was just wrong about who’s sword that would be.

Still holding on to his wrist, I threw him to the ground. He gazed up at me with a look of pure shock on his face. The shock became more evident as I swung my sword for his neck. Once the blade connected with his neck, his death would be assured. If I hadn’t hit him with the dull back side of the blade.

“I win.”

The crowd was silent, in shock at what they had seen. To the first years, the match appeared to have been the result of an extremely sloppy attack by Goman. But to the upperclassmen, they witnessed someone see through, outsmart, and humiliate the top student. The skirmish that barely lasted a second had stunned even the headmaster.

I sheathed my blade and began walking back to the bleachers.

“W-Wait! This isn’t over! I haven’t admitted defeat! I went easy because you're a new recruit, I won’t make the same mistake again.” He said as he pulled two hidden daggers from beneath his cloak.

“As if that would make a difference.”

A drop of blood fell from his forehead and into his eyes. He reached up and touched the wound. As he looked to me, he saw my sword held up to the crowd in victory. The pulling of the blade and strike were too quick for him to notice. My first attack secured my victory, but the second one demonstrated my clear and absolute supremacy.

“When did you?” His shock at the wound was soon interrupted by the sound of his ponytail hitting the ground.

I re-sheathed my sword and walked back to the bleachers, his complaints and threats were drowned out by the cheers of the crowd. The first years had figured out what happened, and the upperclassmen had enjoyed the humiliation of that well known cocky bastard.

I have come here to be the best, and that is a goal I will reach without fail. I would not accept defeat, and I would not give up. I had not come all this way to fail. I am going to be the best.

I am the protagonist of my story; I will not lose.