The next few days pass with intense clashes with the drow.

My sword drips red from the enemy I'd just dispatched.

I don't exult in battle the way the sword does.

But, with every passing conflict., I harden my spirit to my task.

What at first seemed to be skirmishes were developing into wartime conflicts.

"Shield wall!" the female commander calls.

Our shield bearers hold the brunt of the assault while others fold around the attacking elves.

The little witch is busy casting hexes to confuse and weaken the bio-ball of enemies.

My blade glows. The runes that had appeared when it was identified remain as darker characters.

I find myself charging a bowman.

Grim determination is reflected in the drow's features.

He knocks an arrow and lines up his shot.

I watch his actions and ready my blade.

The arrow flies and, in a split second, I cut the projectile in half.

The head and feathers fall to the ground harmlessly.

Since I've participated in this conflict, my mastery of the sword has grown in ways I never would have thought possible.

The dark elf looks alarmed as I close the gap between us.

His fingers fidget with a new arrow. But, I am upon him.

My weapon pierces the stunned man and he cries out with pain.

My blade comes free of the man's sagging form. And, I find the next threat.

The battle comes to a close as the dark elves retreat.

I wipe the sword on the shirt of a dead drow, before sheathing it.

"Good job, bearer. I knew you were cut out for this."

I find myself aloof to the sword's praise.

"We need more people," someone says.

"Yeah, I don't know how much longer we can hold them off. The military needs to get involved.

Voices share their support for the sentiment.

I put it out of my mind as we return to the garrison.

When we return, the commander, Liara, approaches me.

"Good work out there," she says.

"Thanks."

She examines me, "You've improved with every passing day.

"In you, I see talent that I don't want to lose.

"Would you consider taking on a commission with us?"

I'm surprised by the offer.

The sword grows excited, "We'll be able to fight every day. Accepted."

"I-" I pause. "I'm sorry. But, I am not prepared to accept such a responsibility."

She exhales, "Can't blame me for trying.

"How much longer will you be with us?"

I weigh my options. I've made a decent income for my time here.

But, I'm a nomad by nature.

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"Another week."

"Alright," she says. "It'll be hard to see you go. But, I understand."

She parts with me and I take some time to decompress after the battle.

I don't know when it was that killing became so natural to me. It's a development that I don't like.

"It's alright to take lives when you're protecting something, bearer."

"Protecting something?" I echo.

"What am I protecting? I'm killing for money."

The sword is silent for a moment.

"I've watched countless bearers go through what you're going through."

I look at the sword.

"Battle fatigue has ruined many who take up arms.

"But," it says, "you have a destiny. Even if you can't see it. And, that destiny has me in it."

I take a deep breath.

My eyes turn away from my partner and I let the tension pass from me.

The days that follow see more and more challenges.

The military has deployed a unit to support the efforts of the garrison. And, more and more drow infiltrate the region.

My battle fatigue does not abate. But, soon I part from the warfront, well compensated for my work.

I leave without fanfare. Just a solitary adventurers on the road.

I could return to Teya. But, I feel the wanderlust come upon me and I turn to the South.

The empire is a broad land, with many territories.

Some face civil strife, like the Rungi territory. While others face challenges from the other races.

The South is a land of plenty and danger.

Far away, the Southern border meets the demonic cesspool from which monsters spawn.

Despite efforts to block the intrusion of the demons, the land is plagued with them.

"Demons, huh?" the sword sounds excited. "Now these are real enemies."

"We won't necessarily find any," I tell it.

"Oh, boyo. You can be so naive sometimes."

I shrug and keep moving.

At night, I settle down to cultivate.

My soul world seems so real that I could walk under its trees.

"That will come later," the sword says. "For now, just breathe in the chi of heaven and earth. Merge the material with the immaterial."

I look at the sword, "How long was that?"

"Oh, a couple of days. You're learning. Keep it up, partner."

I nod.

My sleep habits change as I develop as a cultivator.

It takes less sleep for me to feel rested. And, I can go longer without.

"That's the energy of the universe. The chi. Most mortals never even begin on the path of immortality.

"It is a gift of the universe to all.

"Sacred beasts and demons all find their power in one form of chi or another."

I listen to the proud sword preach as I gather my camp.

"One of my bearers had tamed a mystic fox.

"Huge beast. The size of a horse. The man who tamed it gained command of fox fire.

"All sacred beasts have special magics that they can bestow upon anyone they choose.

"We should go find one."

I nod absentmindedly.

Wheat fields wave back and forth with the wind.

The South is the breadbasket of the empire and neighboring kingdoms.

I think of the life of a farmer. To have one plot of land to cultivate year after year.

There's stability. But, it comes at the cost of freedom.

Mine is a nomadic lifestyle. I can sleep under the stars and eat the wild game.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

As I wander, I see a plume of smoke rising into the sky.

Rather than carry on my way, I rush towards the fire.

When I come upon the site of the fire, I see bandits binding a woman and her daughter. Their house is on fire and a dead man leaking red blood on the dirt.

The bandits see me as soon as I see them.

They hold their weapons menacingly.

"Keep walking. This is none of your business." I see the man's eyes on my sword attached to my hip.

"Please!" the daughter begs, "Help us."

One of the men smacks the girl.

My hand finds the sword handle.

"Yay," the sword says. "Let's wreck them."

An orange glow emits from the weapon, bringing surprised looks upon the faces of the bandits.

"Leave now," I command. "And, I won't kill you."

A number of the bandits look at one another scared.

But, a leader steps forward and bellows, "Kill him."

3 men rush forward.

My sword weaves around their knives and wood axes.

The first man loses a hand at the wrist while I prepare for the second.

He thrusts with a knife and I retreat.

The handless man takes a moment to realize his status and cries out with pain.

The other bandits look spooked and don't know what to do.

"Leave," I command them.

"Like hell," the leader bellows. "Come on boys."

Despite his defiance, the other bandits don't follow him on his suicide attack.

In one fluid motion, I decapitate the bandit leader.

I breathe in deeply.

"I won't say it again."

The remaining men move away from the mother and daughter.

With a final look over their shoulders, they retreat.

The woman is crying, "Thank you."

I unbind them and their eyes turn to the man the bandits killed.

They haltingly approach the corpse.

I turn my eyes away from the sight.

It takes some time for them to mourn against the backdrop of their burning house.

I help them dig a shallow grave for their husband and father.

"Will you be okay?" I ask.

The tears have dried. Buut, the pain remains.

"I have my brother nearby," the mother says. "But, nothing is okay."

I nod solemnly, "I can escort you to your brother."

"Thank you," the woman says.

Her daughter numbly stares at the grave of her father.

"Come, Anne," the mother says.

Reluctantly, the daughter joins us on the road.

The brother's farm is a few hours journey. And, I see my party as inexperienced with long-distance travel.

As we come under the shade of a tree, I stop and let them rest.

"What's your name?" the daughter asks.

"Askilar."

She almost smiles, "Thank you, Askilar."

It takes the rest of the day. But, we find our destination.

The brother meets the survivors and emotion wells up again.

Quietly, I leave the scene and carry on with my aimless journey.

"It's hard," the sword says.

"Huh?" I'm startled out of my thoughts.

"Dealing with the collateral. The families were torn apart by fighting and killing.

"You'd think, in all the time I've been doing this, I would have seen it all.

"But, human misery manifests uniquely for every circumstance."

"Yeah," I say, depressed.

I find a quiet corner to make camp and focus on my meditation.