Yuki’s world darkend, not because night had fallen, although that didn’t help, but because of the implications that came with the sword's appearance in the courtyard. She had never seen her father without his sword. She knew it held some magic as she had seen it float along beside her father when he let go of it during training. The voice in her head also came as a surprise, as her father had never mentioned it being alive, but it did explain why her father was always talking to nothing. Yuki spoke with baited breath, “Osada, what happened to my father. Where is he?”
Iskra and his party ran into something unexpected during their mission. He decided it was best to not let me fall into the hands of those monsters. I was sent away before I could see the outcome of the battle. I fear for his life, however. He was injured along with the rest of his party.
Yuki looked back to her mother with tears in her eyes as she repeated what Osada had told her. Hiromi’s hands rose to cover her mouth, as a soft sob escaped her lips. Both of them let the information hang in the air as they tried to come to terms with what it all meant. Yuki broke the silence with a steadfast declaration, “Mother, I know you don’t want me to leave. I'm now 18 and currently unfit to protect this land. I must gather as much strength as I possibly can, in knowledge, skill, and experience. I think I should head to the Academy in Maketi. No, I must go to the Academy. As much as I would like to have your permission, it is no longer an option for me to wait for you to give it.” Hiromi tearfully stared at her daughter standing with her husband's sword in her hand, new armor in the other, and her bag on her hip. She was the spitting image of Iskra and her words mimicked the same vigor that Iskra had in his. Hiromi wanted to protest, wanted to keep Yuki here, and wanted to ensure her safety within the walls of the estate. She knew however that the Kai family had a tremendous responsibility and with the evidence before her, she knew that Yuki was partially correct. She did have to receive more training, to get stronger in every aspect of her life.
“You are correct, you don’t need my permission as of today.” Hiromi started, “However, I am still your mother and I hope you understand how this makes me feel.” Hiromi stood and walked over to Yuki, once again pulling her into a tight hug, “I believe you should go as well, but I have one condition I would like you to consider. Take Igris with you, he has trained by your side for a few years now and it will be helpful to have him learn more beside you also.” The mother and daughter stood in the courtyard, crying and comforting each other. They lingered long enough for Igris to walk out of the door. The two women looked over to him as he said, “I think I’ve interrupted something, I’ll go back inside.” Igris went to turn around, but Hiromi stopped him with a cough and continued, “No. It’s alright. Just getting in a few more moments with Yuki before you two head off.”
Igris looked utterly confused, “What do you mean ‘Head off’? Where are we going?” After the words left his mouth he saw the sword in Yuki’s hand. “Wait, isn’t that your father’s sword? How did you get that?” Before replying Yuki cleared her throat and wiped the tears from her eyes, “It’s something I’ll tell you on the way to Maketi. Pack your bags we are going to the Academy.”
“The Academy?! I don’t have the funds to get into that place! I don’t have the funds to even attempt the trek there! How will my parents react to this? What am I even going to say to them?” Igris’ questions flowed out like a waterfall in the height of the river months.
Hiromi answered, “The Kai family will cover the costs of travel and tuition. It was always in the plan for you both to go, the time table has just been pushed forward a little, that's all. As for your parents, they knew this day would come. Do you think we just abducted you into our training? We got their permission for you to join our estate a while ago, before you started your first day of training even.”
“That’s all well and good, but I don’t know if I’m ready to take on the Academy! I barely made it through this last week of training with Nobri.” Igris exclaimed.
“You best get prepared for this, then!” Yuki shot back, her gaze filled with determination. Igris just stared back at the pair, wracking his brain for any way to postpone the trip but coming up with nothing. Igris had never been more than 30 miles away from the town of Matari. It was a terrifying world outside of the walls of the town and the estate. The roads that led to and from the estate and reached off into the distance were indicative of the horrible things that lay in wait for those who travel this vast world. The fear of the upcoming journey was clear on Igris’ face. He didn’t want to leave this town and the safety it provided. He didn’t want to leave his parents, worrying like he had seen Yuki and Hiromi worrying about Iskra. To his dismay, he didn’t have a choice now though, he had signed up for the training willingly and knew this would happen, but it was too soon for him. He sighed and slumped his shoulders in resignation, as Yuki came up and clasped his shoulder.
“We will be alright! We have trained for this, to go out into the world and overcome its obstacles. Besides, it’s not like we are going to be completely alone. We will have a caravan that takes us to Hallow Port, and Mother will probably want a few other shadows to follow us to Maketi.” Yuki stated as she looked over her shoulder to her mother, who was nodding her head in affirmation. Yuki pushed Igris towards the Manor with her mother following behind. “How about we enjoy the rest of the night, and tomorrow we can plan our trip out? Less to be scared of when we know what we have to do, right?” Igris sullenly nodded his head, outwardly showing the hesitation he was feeling.
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The festivities continued well into the night, most of the attendees becoming downright sloshed, Yuki and Igris amongst them. Games were played and songs were sung, by the end of the night Igris had completely forgotten what lay ahead of them. Yuki, however, even in her inebriated state, kept thinking about Osada and her father. Osada had said that the ending of the battle was unknown to them, so there was a chance that her father was still alive. Yuki clung to that hopeful thought like a liferaft. Although very slim, there was a chance he could come back, that I’Kira would be successful in finding another party to search for them. She knew that she wouldn’t be the one to find him, not now that she had the next three years of her life dedicated to the Academy.
There was a fear that she wouldn’t be accepted into the Academy. That she wasn’t skilled enough or that the year's applicants had already been decided and she was too late. Yuki wasn’t worried about the money, but the Kai name didn’t hold much weight outside of the southern portion of Tyria, so she couldn’t rely on reputation. She tried to clear those horrid thoughts from her head, as she continued to enjoy one of the last nights she had on the Kai Estate. One by one, the party guests left the manor, going back to their homes on the estate or traveling back to Matari. Slurred farewells filled the entranceway of the manor, as the last of the guests shut the door. Hiromi had long since retired to her room, and Yuki and Igris were left alone sitting in front of the fireplace. Igris stoked the fire after putting another log on, ruminating on something Yuki couldn’t figure out. She watched him stare into the fire, poking at it absently, but decided to leave him to his thoughts.
She only noticed then that Osada had been floating on her back the entire night, however no one said anything about it. The sword seemingly acted as though the sheath was attached to her back. She double checked that it wasn’t and found she hadn’t mistaken this assumption. She retrieved the sword from behind her and held it close to her chest, hugging it like she wished she could her father once again. Yuki and Igris stayed there for a couple of hours, sobering themselves through their thoughts. As the fire turned to ash, Igris got up from his spot directly in front of it and softly said, “I’m heading to sleep, don’t be up too late Yuki. Apparently, we have a long couple of weeks ahead of us.”
Yuki nodded to Igris as he retreated up the stairs and to his room. She laid the sword across her lap and unsheathed the blade slightly. The obsidian black blade was well polished and razor sharp. She noticed runes scrawling up towards the tip, but didn’t understand runescript enough to know what they did. As she stared at the sword, its voice entered her mind.
Are you curious about my runes? Did my former master not teach you about them?
“No, not really. He was more interested in training my physical abilities than my mental ones.” She replied.
Ah, that makes sense. He was quite… lackluster about it, wasn’t he?
Yuki let out a small chuckle. “Yeah, he was. Have you always been able to talk to him?”
Not always. There needs to be a certain connection between an item like myself and the welder of it. I'm actually quite surprised that you could hear me straight away.
“Why is that?”
Normally, it takes a few battles or years of comradery to be able to attune with an item with my capabilities. Although, I do sense that we have not become completely attuned. Our starting point is farther along than most others would be however. In time, we will both discover how to better pair with one another.
“I have seen Father use you to channel his spells and magic through. Are you telling me that I will be able to do that as well?”
Potentially, but not necessarily. There might be a better way we work together. You see, I have a special ability to conform to my wielder. Before I was your fathers sword, I was a trident for one of the merfolk of Aquaris. Before that, I was a dagger for a gnomish rouge.
“How is that possible? You just magically transform when you are found by another person?”
Yes and no. I have my own mind and my own sense of right and wrong. I also have a keen ability to sense the intentions of those who touch my handle. There have been those who have found me and intended to use me for purposes I deem… unworthy. With those individuals, I have generally found a way to become displaced from their other possessions.
“So you can escape, for lack of a better word.”
Correct. But it takes time and mana that I have to cultivate. I also have limits to this “escape” as well. I cannot repeat these actions more than once every 50 years. I have to choose carefully when using my abilities that do not require a wielder.
“What do you think of my intentions? Do I seem worthy to you?” Yuki questioned the blade. She feared its response. If her intentions did not align with Osana’s, would the last piece of her father escape her grasp?
From what I can tell, you and Iskra share a heart. Your will and his will feel similar to me. Maybe that's why our attunement is farther along than that of others who have tried to wield me. Do not worry. I will be with you for as long as you will have me. I promised Iskra.
Yuki let the sword's words linger in her mind before standing and retiring to her room. Upon entering, she let her bag fall from her waist and crawled into bed, placing the sword down beside her. Her arm rested across the black scabbard as she drifted to sleep, her future uncertain and daunting.