The day follows and I am hunting in the woodland.

"Over there!" the sword calls out as my eyes find the goblin.

A squat 3-foot-tall creature with olive green skin is busy searching for something. Probably hunting.

In its hand is a wooden club.

My sword glows with excitement.

"Cut that out," I reprimand the blade.

The sword mutters its discontent. But, ceases to glow.

As I creep forward, I hear a twig snap under my foot.

Shit, I think as the goblin turns on me.

The sword leads me as I parry a strike.

The fiend cries out as we trade jabs.

A bad feeling stirs in me as I hear something rush through the thicket.

Another of the dammed things comes charging at me.

One was challenging enough. And, now, I can't help but think I might die.

"You're screwed, right?" the sword asks.

"Shut up."

"Oh, relax. Just lend me your body for a second."

"What do you..."

Vertigo hits me as I am yanked aside. The sword will flows into my body.

I watch as my body, fluidly, cuts through the first goblin's defenses and decapitates it.

The second is upon me. And, faster than it can react, the blade slashes open its gut.

The sword carries a mesmerizing orange glow as I return to my body.

"Finally," the sword cries with joy. "I was amazing. You may praise me."

I'm torn. I find the idea that the sword can possess me disturbing. But, without it, I might have died. And, I feel like I learned something about swordsmanship from the brief exchange.

I pay the sword no mind as I collect the goblins' ears for the bounty.

These are only the start as I hunt through the thicket.

About every other goblin calls a friend. But, after the demonstration with the first pair, my dexterity has improved.

"See," the sword says. "Goblins are too easy. We need something that'll challenge us."

I put the words out of my mind. I just want to stay alive while I earn my pay.

The day passes as I collect my bloody prize.

As the day begins to wane, I find my camp.

As I prepare my dinner, the sword rambles.

"And, then, I fought the Mao.

"Mao?" I ask over my shoulder.

"You know, the demon lord."

I'm surprised, "There hasn't been a demon lord since this age began."

"Oh, little man, it's cute how naive you are."

I feel defensive at its barb.

The rabbit I prepare is good, if bland.

The sun is gone and the crackle of my campfire echoes through the trees.

"Sword," I say. "What did you mean about cultivation?"

The sword glows, "In my time among immortals, I've gleaned insights into their arts.

"The mantra that they meditate on. The preparation of medicinal pills. All sorts of things."

A sense of excitement courses through me. Is it possible?

"How should I begin?"

"Ah, little mortal. It is good that you seek my guidance."

"Just tell me."

"Not much respect for your instructor.

"Anyways, take up a cross-legged position.

"Good. Now straighten your spine."

I follow the blades' instructions. And, I'm soon meditating on nothingness.

"You see," the sword preaches, "nothing is the start of everything.

"You must find the void within before you can fill it."

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My mind goes blank as I try to understand what nothingness is.

Every time my mind wanders to something lurking within, I find my empty center.

I don't know how long I've been at it. But, I feel myself yawn.

I recline on my bedroll.

"You're done already?" the sword is confused. "Previous bearers could go for days on end."

I let out a breath, "Well, I'm not an immortal."

The sword is silent for a moment.

"Don't worry, little mortal. This legendary sword will help you ascend."

"Thanks," I say, exhausted.

The world slips away from me.

The dawn comes and I collect my camp. I'm unhurried. But, I'm eager to be on my way.

The town is bustling as I enter it.

Navigating the streets takes some time as I seek out the guild.

Around noon, I arrive.

Despite the relative earliness, the patrons sip at ale and spirits.

Some say it's safer than water. But, I think it's just an excuse to drink.

There is a table where bounties are collected. I wait while a big bruiser of a man puts down a man's head.

Bounties aren't limited to monsters. Bandit leaders and thieves are also targets.

After the big man is paid, he gets up.

With a menacing look at me, he shuffles off to the door.

The middle-aged woman sets the head in a bag and ties it up.

"Next."

I approach with a bloody bag.

"Which bounty did you take on?" she asks patiently.

"Goblins out East."

She nods as she begins counting the ears.

It's a sizable number. But, she shows no sign of being impressed.

"Here," she says after counting out the coin.

I take my prize and leave her with the bloody bounty.

"So," the sword says. "What's my cut?"

"Cut?" I echo as I find a table.

"Yeah, cut. How much is my share of the reward?"

I'm puzzled, "You're a sword."

The blade grows indignant, "I never took you for a bigot, bearer.

"I did just as much work as you. I deserve compensation."

My lips make a line.

"What would you even spend your share on?"

Excitement courses through the sword.

"I'd get a nice scabbard, wet stones, and oil."

I shrug. It's pretty reasonable.

"Okay, I'll shop around."

The sword starts to glow until I reprimand it.

I can tell, by the gazes leveled at me that the momentary display was noticed.

I put it out of my mind as I order my drink and food.

The meal is decent and the ale strong.

Finished, I find my feet and walk out into the streets.

I notice them move as I leave.

Those eyes that noticed the sword's light.

I'm not accustomed to facing human enemies. But, as I walk down a back alley, I unfurl the sword and hold my ground.

"Interesting item you got there," a leading man says with avarice. "Maybe you'll sell it to me."

I know that he wouldn't have brought his crew with him if he planned to buy it.

"Are these enemies? Yay."

"What's your offer?" I ask.

"Oh," the man says, "I'm sure we can work something out."

All the while, the thugs approach like big cats prowling close to prey.

The sword glows with excitement, mesmerizing my enemies.

"What are you waiting for?" it asks.

I'm afraid I can't take them all on as they draw their weapons.

"I can't take them all," I whisper to the blade. "Can you?"

The sword wastes no time to yank my spirit out of the way to commandeer my body.

A smile plays across my lips as the first thug strikes out with a short sword.

The sword will parries the strike and draw a long laceration on the man's forearm.

My muscles move in ways I never thought possible.

I bend and twirl. My sword gains momentum as I deflect attacks and counterattack.

Alarm spreads through the enemy as my body, deftly, defends itself.

There are no fatalities yet. And, the gang puts some distance between us.

I can see hate in their eyes as they regroup.

"You're gonna pay for this," the boss spits at me.

"Oh, come on," I hear myself say. "We've only just begun. Keep it up."

All I see is hate as the gang leaves me.

The sword will retreat from my body and I resume control.

"Thanks."

"Oh, anytime you want me to hold the reigns, I'm only too happy to take over."

I don't think I should stay in this town for another night.

So, I need to finish my business quickly.

"You wanted a scabbard, right?"

The sword glows.

"Could you cut that out? The whole reason they came after me is the cause of your light show."

The will is indignant, "Can you stop breathing? No? Then, shut up."

I can only hope the scabbard will hide the glow when I'm around people.

I find my way to the industrial sector where the smiths run.

"I'm looking for a scabbard," I say to the burly shop owner.

His eyes appraise the cloth-bound sword in my hand.

"I can let you try out a few," he says as he walks out from behind the counter.

Next to a bin of swords, I see the sheathes.

"You can rummage through here to see if any of them fit."

"Thanks."

"That one," the sword says. "That one. Or, maybe, that one."

As the sword tries to decide, I unfurl it and begin testing it out.

Once I find one that fits, I leave the bin behind.

"Wait. Hold on, dammit. I haven't decided yet."

While the blade protests, I pay for the scabbard and sheathe the blade.

"Do you have any wet stones and oil?"

The burly man nods and sees to my needs.

The sword protests all these decisions being made without consulting it.

I do my best to ignore the sword's incessant yammering and walk out into the twilight world.

I won't get far in the dark. But, I don't want to risk staying in town.

Navigating the streets is like a reflex to me.

A pair of guards watch me curiously as I walk through the gate.

I'm fairly confident I wasn't followed and make camp a little ways off the beaten path.

"Fall into the void within," the sword coaches me. "Expand your focus to the periphery.

"You find something if you go far enough."

Just as the sword says, I find the constraints to my void.

"This is natural. Just reaffirm your vision of nothingness.

"Cast the construct away and allow your void to grow."

The sword may be annoying at times. But, it can prove a patient instructor.

My meditation carries into the night and I feel something swell up from within me.

The night passes into day and, soon, I am on the path.

I'd been staying in this area for a few months. But, my life is one of impermanence.

"You headed home, bearer?"

I bite my cheek, "No."

"Then," the sword says. "Where are we going?"

"Away."

"Oh come now, bearer. Surely you have some goals. Some enemy."

"I don't- I don't have any enemies."

The sword is silent for a moment.

"Vengeance, then."

I hold my silence while the sword carries on.

"I couldn't count all the bearers I've had that sought revenge.

"I guess it's something human."

I find myself tempted to leave the sword on the side of the road.

"Do you ever shut up?" I spit.

The sword laughs, "I mean no harm. But, I can help you achieve your vengeance."

The day passes with the sword carrying on with promises.

As night comes, I sit by a campfire.

"Come on," it says. "Tell me."

I feel my nerves frayed by the constant assault.

"I-" I begin. "It's not an enemy."

The sword perks up.

"Come now. What haunts you?"

I look at the blade, "Other than you?"

"Oh, haha. Tell me."

I mull over my thoughts before expressing them.

"It's not human." I hesitate. "It's something else."

"There are lots of something else," the sword points out. "What made it different?"

I feel myself falling back in time.

I was just a little kid hiding in the bushes.

My village. My home was on fire.

"I remember," I say. "It didn't have a body that I could see.

"A miasma of shadows."

The sword glows from within its scabbard.

"A demon."

I feel my head nod.

"Well," the sword says, "let's find and kill it."

I smile a half smile.

"You make it sound so simple."

"Little mortal, I've been doing this for a long time. Revenge is what I live for."

I put thoughts of vengeance out of my mind as I let sleep take me.