"I will write this down but nonetheless, make sure to remember what I will explain as it pertains to the entire growth system from white sword to black sword. Even knowing this, it is unlikely you will reach black sword.” Elas said.
He took out paper and began to write for a while before presenting it for him.
“Now growth is divided into rank and stage, basically the same as any living creature but these swords go by different names to make the color because it represents different stages of development. Now, you know white and grey.” he said pointing them out. “White swords, also called named swords, are called this because the world just named them. Their name itself contains power and usually this power is part of the basis that helps you and it grow and fight. Both offence and defense. Many times it actually completes a missing piece of the wielder or enhances the weakest factor to reduce what can be used against you.”
"I think I know what you mean. I know of one sword, Escuro, the sword of the empire's king, allows him to step through darkness and appear anywhere shadow or darkness exists, including from under your enemy.” Logan said.
“Correct, the name means darkness in common Nuntip language while it was named using the native language from the empire. Now, Grey swords are called flamed swords because unlike white swords who are pure white at the base color, there is a flame outline present even in base stage.” now he pointed to the stages, “Stages are divided into three only. Base stage is newly ascended in whatever stage. Burning color means the outline of the flame is appearing and takes a red color, which is why it is called burning. Finally Ascension color is when the flame is completely formed and has taken an ominous purple color. It seems ominous but it represents what Juntip continent people say is the purple smoke from the eastern sun. A symbol representing the rise of a great person.”
“Awakened flame…” Logan said next.
“Yes, awakened flame does not mean a sword will obtain fire magic, instead, the legend surrounding it will finally kindle into an unstoppable force. It further awakens the cognitive mind of the spirit to the level of an adult human with intelligence to match, the swords will even be able to use magic separate from their masters as well as alongside them. I am sure you can see the benefits of such a step.” Elas said.
Logan naturally nodded as he understood that the fight would always be a 2v1 in such a state and would make merging magic much easier when two different people worked together.
“That leads us to the sword of emotion. This is honestly where most swords end their journey.” He said.
“Is there a reason? It doesn’t feel too mysterious if it depends on emotions.” Logan asked.
“Sadly, it is more mysterious than most stages and honestly, it might be the second hardest besides Black sword. Sword of Emotion doesn’t just mean to develop emotions, something the spirits, despite their intelligence, they mostly lack but their entire being, from their power to their magic, will slowly blend with emotions. This would drastically alter the function of any sword. I have seen many swords ruined by the wrong combination of emotions. The most tragic was 400 years ago, a fire sword I personally forged for the queen of another continent. From white to orange, she led the sword to that stage in less than 10 years but sadly the emotions failed her. It was a time she felt most love and lost and within her fires was pure love and hate. Such a sword would not survive or pass on and to this day, it simply hangs in the castle as a symbol of the queen with no one able to acquire its power.” he said.
“So… does a single emotion have to be infused?” Logan asked.
“No. This is the problem many face, you must experience and infuse every human emotion to allow your sword’s soul to obtain the emotional level of a living mortal and allow it to view the world like a mortal. This would then follow it to the Blue sword, the sword of honor. Honor is a vague concept where each has their own. Even the darkest knight has his own brand of honor but if such a person was filled with only darkness and knew only darkness, they would never reach this stage without outside help to stabilize his emotions.”
“What about authority?” Logan asked.
“The sword of kings, a king who possesses such a sword is a person destined to rule far and wide. His reign may extend even beyond the continent and control other continents under only his rule and power.” He said.
Finally the two looked at the last one. “Sword of Darkness, it doesn’t sound majestic like the purple. It almost sounds evil.” Logan said.
“That is true, sad to say but the reality of all existence is that everything started in the darkness and at the end of the universe’s life cycle, everything will return to it. The most powerful force in nature that we have seen in the vacuum of space is the blackhole where even light cannot escape. The name represents, returning to primordial chaos. That is why the Black Sword of legend is unbeatable and even gods might not have such a thing. The fact that the demon lord and hero could forge such a weapon is far beyond the scope of comprehension of the gods of our world. To this day, no one understood how such a thing happened. However, the black sword is said to be usable only by those who are worthy to rule the world.”
Logan felt a chill down his spine when he heard that but understood that even if such a sword appears, nature would work against it to birth one that would destroy it like how the demon lord met his maker when the hero evolved into a celestial being to clash and die with him.
“It is amazing how such a system works. I have wondered though, why are only swords treated like this?” Logan asked.
“Swords are a symbol of a king, when you see kings, they are not wielders of bows, lances or such, they use the sword.” He said.
Logan understood and realized that it was indeed true. Every major king in history was a powerful user of the sword. Spear or lance were used purely on horseback as decorations because real fighting was done by the chief weapon of the nation.
“Now you have this basic knowledge, I will tell you how to enter the mental bond with the sword. Do you know the name?” he asked.
“Yes, I honestly planned to go home before anything.” he said.
“That is good but sadly the longer it takes the less likely it will happen. Please call the name of your sword and fully complete the bond with a true forged sword and the one it has chosen.” he said.
“Was it not made with the brand?” he asked.
“No, the brand is a show of people worthy to wield it, only after calling it’s name after learning of it can you form the link. The longer it takes, the more it thinks you look down on it.” Elas said.
“Oh, okay.” Logan said and weakly picked up the sword next to him and holding the handle he closed his eyes. “Raitoningu.” Logan said.
Like ‘Escuro’ the name of this sword is simple in nature. Elas smiled at that as the name of Junpin continent origins meant simply, Lightning.”
The brand shined brightly and began to break down as a more complex marking began to wrap his hand like chains and bolts of lightning. The bandage around it blew out under the force coming from the brand and it formed what looked almost like a chain glove around his hand. At the end, the magic circle reformed at the center of all the markings.
In Logan’s eyes however, his ears were filled with the roaring sound of lightning and thunder making him open his eyes.
He found himself on an island but a huge amount of energy surged all around it.
He looked around until a flash came from the thunder and landed in front of him. The light slowly faded and what he saw was strange and fascinating. It looked very much like a fairy from legends as it was the size of his hand but body form was different. Small dragon wings were on it’s back, reptilian feet, a tail half his body length and human-like hands covered in scales. Only the face was humanoid but the scales still came to the neck and some on the cheeks.
An indescribable link like two minds combining was formed. It wasn’t like the link with Storm. This one was like two halves had become a whole and they could communicate with a single thought.
Still this was very weird for both of them and the link soon weakened to a comfortable level but it still felt like a third of their minds were in constant contact.
Thoughts began to come from the spirit. Soon it began to show memories of its birth and the story of the sword until it reached his hand. Purple fog formed in the spirits hand after that and passed into Logan. He realized what the legend was.
A magic dragon slayer sword with the bone of a thunder dragon as the inner core with divine metal on the outside. Surviving a full force bolt of lightning and saving a child. This was the legend that birthed the spirit. It was also a very weak legend but it had been enough after combining how powerful the energy of the lightning had been.
Curious about it, he began to recount his life to the spirit, it’s eyes flashed with curiosity and it watched the images. Funny enough, the spirit began to learn from his memories including the many languages he possessed, his skills, the legacy he learned and more. The final thing it saw was his innate skill and it’s eyes shined.
Information rapidly pumped into Logan making his head hurt but when it stopped, it began to organize after the spirit saw it was too much pressure for him. Eventually he understood the information and smiled.
It was the ability of the sword and like Elas had said, it completed his greatest need.
The spirit soon yawned and mimicking a farewell, he flew into the thunderstorm.
Logan felt a push and soon woke up where he was sitting. He looked around and saw little change. “How long have I sat here?” he asked.
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“About five minutes. Pretty good time, there are some people who can barely stay 30 seconds with the spirit. The time spent in the mind is different from reality so don’t worry.” He said.
Logan nodded and smiled, "I figured out the ability for her.” He said.
“Oh?”
“It is called Lightning Clad. It is both offensive, defensive and even supportive. Offensively, the lightning she absorbs is used to clad the sword with a lightning coat. This is only achievable when my mana coats the blade so that the lightning doesn’t leak. It even perfectly blends with the coat producing a powerful cloak of lightning. Defense is no different but I cover my skin in mana and let the lightning channel through the sword into the defensive cloak. Lastly for support…”
“You enhance your muscles to complete the remaining parts not enhanced by your Lightning Accelerator.” Elas completed for him.
“Yes.” Logan nodded.
“Good, but don’t try to do that so early. It sounds like a good thing but your body will be under too much stress. First figure out the trick to control the lightning, grow stronger in a steady pace and don’t overthink about making dozens of tricks. Focus on becoming skillful on a few so that when the time comes, your one strike can be more effective.” he said.
Logan was forced to swallow his ambition and nodded.
“Good, I already booked a ticket for you while you were in trance. I sent a bird ahead and it should be arriving.” he said and at the same moment, a small bird flew in with a small piece of paper around its neck.
He removed it and gave the bird a treat before handing it to Logan. It was a ticket for the first island on his return trip.
“Remember that you cannot reveal anything about the legend swords to your family.” Elas said.
Logan nodded but paused, “What if I give a hint and they know about them?” He asked.
“Your father likely knows, I doubt an ex B rank mercenary wouldn’t know what a legend sword is. That said, avoid showing off. Tell them that you were hunting the lizards and waiting for their feeding to pass when you were attacked and sent to the middle of the pack and got shocked. You escaped and then add my name in there to make a story that I healed any possible lasting damage perfectly and you just need serious rest.” Elas said.
“Alright.” Logan nodded and weakly got up. “How do I pay you back?” Logan asked.
“You don’t, I have said it before, it is my honor to birth a legend sword.” he said.
“Yeah… but magic oil is not something cheap, I don’t feel right leaving like this.” he said.
Elase frowned a bit, “Even if you wanted to pay, you don’t have enough money to pay even the magic oil let alone all the blood I used and my magic skill.” he said.
“But…”
Before he could say anything, he was hit by a magic spell that shut him up and another that lifted him into the air.
“Now boy, I am very much not a charity, even in this tiny house, many people know I am here and I am given a very large sum of money for my time and effort. My greatest duty is to enhance and bring out the potential in legend swords but in my life, I have been a physician, a carpenter, a mason, farmer, alchemist and much much more. Don’t think I don’t have ways to recoup the money I used easily. Just a visit to your empire's royal family and treating a few cases of very dangerous injuries for their most amazing soldiers and guards is enough for them to pile gold bars in front of me.” he said.
By this time they reached the door and Logan was put down outside while the elder was inside. “So don’t think I can't take a minor loss just to see another legend sword be born by my hands.”
BANG!
The door shut firmly behind Logan and the sound of locking came. It was far from a common lock though as countless clicking could be heard from a complex magic lock.
Seeing that nothing would change it, he headed for the docks. He was forced to use the swords as a crutch and had to walk slowly. He could feel the strain from his bones and just wanted to get to the boat as fast as possible to rest.
Elas had given him another two pills that he used and said it would last him his trip and he could sleep as he liked.
He did just that and on the hammock of the ship, he instantly fell asleep but even in his sleep, he still instinctively reacted when louder voices could be heard. When they entered the nearby cabins, he would wake up momentarily before going back to sleep. For the most part, he had a peaceful trip.
***
“What! A month, a full month without any physical training!?” Maxwell shouted as he looked at the letter. “Brat, you aren’t bullshitting me right? This had better not be faked.” Maxwell said, staring at his adoptive son.
“He wrote it with magic right in front of me.” Logan replied.
“Seriously! You have to stay a month, doesn’t he know your abnormal healing rate?” Maxwell said.
“Told him about it and he said he knew and calculated that into the time.” Logan replied.
Maxwell’s jaw dropped, “What kind of fucked up accident did you get yourself into? Normal wounds wouldn’t take that long unless it was bone damage.” He said.
Logan sighed, "I had finished last hunt to be able to finish my hunt for crystalback lightning lizards and had just gone to explore. I had passed by an outcrop they gathered at and got curious why only these places were their gathering spots.” he said and explained how he came upon Storm’s egg in the scale pile that was transforming into a mana crystal vein.
He was honestly shocked by the news as it had not been revealed to the public yet.
“So what happened?” He asked.
“Well, since one outcrop had that, I thought that maybe I could make good money off of these unique lizard eggs for tamers. So I went to another but it was almost feeding time so I stayed back waiting for them to disperse. I was caught blindsided by a Weasel that barely clawed my face out and threw me into the circle that was affected by the lightning.” He said and stopped.
“You got hit by lightning? Aren’t you resistant to that stuff?” Maxwell asked.
“Resistance has limits. I also thought I would resist it but the doctor had told me that my innate skill had only enhanced the resistance of my nerves, brain and only my heart, not even the blood vessels. It was thanks to this that I didn't become a vegetable. My action also messed up the lizards as well as the weasel and drew more lightning then it should so other creatures were fearful to come over. I woke up about a day later and used healing pills to support myself to the camp. From my skin down to my bones, layers of charred muscle, skin and bone had formed. Thankfully it hadn’t been so extreme that I would lose limbs. The master spent about a week regrowing my skin under the scabbed skin and then helped remove it. He needed to work on bone and muscles. That was another week and finally he healed my nerves to prevent lasting damage. He said the reason why it will take a month isn’t actual healing but because everything had to regrow and is currently sensitive and sore but I should come out of this better and stronger.” Logan explained.
Maxwell sighed with immense relief as he understood the situation his son had been in. “Let me tell you kid, you are fucking lucky to have had Master Physician Drew Juniper treat you like he did. This elven man hadn’t appeared in our nation for the last 40 years. The fact that he appeared in passing and healed you so fully without asking for compensation is extremely lucky. He is known to ask for life and limb of some people and put them in magic contracts to heal them and has almost exclusively healed royalty since they can pay up.” he said.
Logan didn’t let it show and faced surprise.
“Um… about resting?” Logan asked.
“What do you think brat, if it had been any other doctor or physician, I would have questioned the veracity but you didn’t know Master Physician Drew Juniper to begin with so I will let you off but don’t think you won’t feel a world of hurt after this rest period is up. I will redouble my efforts to wake up your softened instincts, be ready for it because your fight after you heal is going to be one that I put my bloodlust into. I will make sure your body can feel danger coming from miles away.” He said coldly.
Logan sighed in dismay but he knew that he couldn’t avoid it. He also doubted he would be able to easily leave a few days before the month was up as well.
Maxwell got up and was about to leave when he saw Logan’s swords.
“Why is Weifang not damaged but the wooden sheath and handle of your other katana changed?” he asked.
“Huh? Oh. The wood got charred so I had to get it replaced. I did the same for Weifang but the material is leather. I am not sure if it is a good thing but this one took most of the lightning probably because it was originally hit by it and channeled lightning magic easier.” Logan explained.
Maxwell just nodded and left after that.
Logan weakly got up and headed to his room. On a small stand he placed Weifang but he went to his bed and collapsed inside with Raitoningu and began to talk with it with intents and ideas. It was pretty immature for sure and it was honestly more curious about his sword legacy.
He quickly found that it had innate skill to understand sword techniques.
It couldn’t transmit moving memories or ideas but it basically used his memory and sent a few images of very similar movements but behind each picture was a lot of information pertaining to magic use.
A lot of it didn’t surpass the legacy though but he smiled and found the technique it copied and began to teach it the original. It had only seen the picture but now it was getting what it wanted and started to learn the in depth of the technique. It surpassed its initial idea after just a few points were shown.
Every single point it learned it would take some time and return a new change to the original it had thought of.
“She seems very battle focused.” he thought but then imagined that as a sword, your life made for fighting so it made sense.
A little hiss pulled him out of his focused state and he saw the hungry lizard.
He looked at it and thought it might not be a good idea to hand feed it or it would not grow up a hunter.
He pushed himself up and walked outside. In the field, he looked around and called one of the trainers.
“Yes sir?” he asked.
“Let me ask you, do you think the kids would care about bug catching?” he asked.
“Huh?” the boy was confused.
“This Crystalback Lightning Lizard is my battle beast and I don't want to hand feed it or raise it like a pet. I was hoping to get some bugs to let out and let it hunt them down. Maybe even a small rodent or two.” Logan said.
The boy looked down and understood.
“Um… well I don’t think they would care for it. Most kids want to become powerful like the pioneers. A lot of kids going to dojo are orphans due to the war.” He said.
“True, still do you think there are any that would be okay to help me out. I was injured so I can barely move right now.” he said.
"I can check.” he said and walked to the training students.
Many of them were reluctant and after a while the boy turned shaking his head. He sighed and scratched his head.
Storm was getting antsy when Logan caught sight of something out the corner of his eyes. Just under the wooden steps of his house, he saw a pair of glowing eyes with a round body.
He grinned upon seeing that and transmitted the image to Storm.
He quickly turned and hissed before quickly sauntered over. The students had stopped training due to the request and saw Storm going under the walkway of the dojo.
PA! PA! PAPAPA!
Like the sound of tasers, a lot of small shocks came from under the house and to the shock of many. Close to a dozen rats ran out making many girls and boys shout and jump away from them.
As for Storm, he stood proudly over two rats and began to feast on them and came out after finishing.
“When you are hungry, hunt for rats.” He said simply.
He hissed but his tongue passed over and between it’s lips and teeth showing it agreed.
He hadn’t noticed there was such a serious rat problem but thankfully it resolved itself.
The young boy came to ask if he still needed bugs. “No… you can leave it be. This is enough and probably better since rats will run away and make a better chase compared to bugs.” He said.
They agreed to that and Logan shouted for the kids to return to training.
He returned to his room to rest up and continue talking to Raitoningu.