“The sword” - Arrelion pulled his claymore from his back and presented it to Koda - “is meant only to be a tool to the Silver Mage. A focus. A way to channel your Magi and enhance your spells and body to match the awesome power flowing through you.”

Koda touched the long blade before Arellion put the sword away. He motioned for Koda to follow him to a wall displaying ten to twenty different swords, each with its own design and style of how to wield them. From small swords to wavy blades, any sword Koda had even seen in his life was here on this wall.

Arrelion took two particular swords from the wall. Koda recognized one as the ninjato, the sword type that Elucard and Cade used. The other he had never seen before.

The man held both weapons and nodded to the assassin blade. “This, as I am sure you are familiar with, is the ninjato. It had been favored by Long Whisper’s Black Rabbit clan for the fifty to sixty years that the clan existed, before your forces were able to snuff them out. However, the ninjato has been adapted by other assassin clans inspired by the resistance and deadly tactics that the Rabbits have shown.

Koda frowned but nodded. He inspected the other weapon. It looked like any other saber that his soldiers on horseback would use. Long, curved on one side, however, this sword was a two handed saber and sported a basket guard carved like a leaf.

“This is an ilrune. A rare sword once used by shaman elves of Northern Cypress before it became Long Whisper. It is said that the ilrune has a deeper connection with magic, for each was forged using starmetal. So, before any irune is even made, it is said to have traveled the cosmos.”

Koda’s eyes widened with wonder. The steel sheened with a glimpse of sparkling stars.

“Both of these,” Arrelion continued, “are part of your elven heritage.”

Koda scoffed at the very thought that the ninjato could be part of his noble ancestry.

“Before the elven warrior tribes had access to swords, they were stone aged people. Forced to defend and hunt with sticks and spears, sling rocks, and stone knives. However, the concept of steel was introduced to them by a yikahti. This cat taught the first warrior tribes how to fight with the ninjato and the ilrune. In time, the elves mastered weaponsmithing and crafted other swords. Claymores, rapiers, short swords, and greatswords.

“A yikahti?” said Koda. “Why would a yikahti want to help us? And who was this yikahti? I've never read about a lone yikahti swordsman introducing us to the concept of steel.”

Arrelion hung the swords back on their display pegs. “He was called Ashire. And there are rumors that he still lives—that he lurks in the shadows with his own deviant plans for the fall of the elves.”

Koda raised a brow.

“But these are all just rumors, myths, and tall tales.”

Koda tilted his head. “Why are you telling me this?”

Arrelion gestured to the two swords once more. “You will now pick the blade you wish to train with. I have shown you the two traditional elven blades, for you are known to have a deep interest in tradition and the history of your people.”

Koda stroked his chin, eying each sword. The ninjato or the ilrune? He looked at the slender weapon of the Black Rabbits. Straight, short, sharp, and deadly. He had a personal relationship with the ninjato and all the blood and misery it brought to him. It was the blade responsible for his father’s death and all the trouble in his life. He could never in good conscience wield the weapon of his greatest enemies.

He then looked at the ilrune. A proper weapon for a sword wielding mage. Honestly, it seemed like the simplest decision that he’s made this entire journey.

“You have chosen?” asked Arrelion.

Koda pulled the saber-like blade from the wall. The weight immediately sagged in Koda’s hands. Its edge clattered to the ground. The sword was much heavier than Koda anticipated. He gripped it with his second hand and grunted as he lifted it up.

Arrelion chuckled. “Are you sure?”

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Koda’s face trembled under the strain. He hefted it high enough to rest the blunt side on his shoulder. “I want to learn how to fight with this one.”

Arrelion took the sword from Koda and held it with ease in one hand. He twirled it with a flick of his wrist before giving it back to Koda.

How did Arrelion wield such a heavy blade with so much ease? Koda could barely lift the thing, but it was as if the blade was a mere feather in his hands.

Arrelion caught Koda’s amazed look and smirked. “We will no doubt need to train you in the Giant’s Hand so that you can even use the ilrune.”

Koda smiled. “Naturally.”

Arrelion took the sword from Koda. “You will use a practice sword with its matching weight, but it is made of wood so that you do not cut a finger or, Sythellis forbid, a limb.”

Koda looked at the sword with a set of grim eyes. “Yes, I can see how that would be best.”

***

Over the next few weeks, Koda’s new routine consisted of training with weights. Arrelion worked with building the strength in his chest, shoulders, arms, and legs so that he could hold his practice sword with two hands. Soon Koda could hold it longer than a couple minutes before becoming winded. From push-ups, to sit-ups. Long runs and squats. Koda never felt so exhausted at night. His muscles burned and his joints ached. His tunic was soaked through with sweat.

Elucard and Cade helped as drill instructors, keeping him motivated and speeding up his pace. They were not cruel, like Elucard was to his own men. They understood that Koda spent his entire life as a scholar and less time as a warrior. Now as a Silver Mage, his life had flipped. He had little time for books and lessons, because exercise took up all of his time.

Koda winced as his muscles whined. They were sore, more sore and tired than they had ever been in the month he had spent at Adamant Keep. However he kept his right arm outstretched in fear for the punishment that Arrelion would deal to him.

“Come on, Koda, a little bit longer,” Arrelion shouted.

Koda grit his teeth, his hand trembled and his arm swayed up and down. “I can’t—I have to rest it.”

“You are tired?” asked Arrelion. “Good. Use that pain. Use that to fuel your mind to go beyond the benchmark you have set.”

Koda grunted and growled. He closed his fist and urged his arm to stay aloft.

Arrelion looked at his pocket watch. “One hour.”

Koda furrowed his brow and swallowed hard.

“Rest,” Arrelion said. “Twenty minutes, then do it again.”

Koda dropped his hand and sighed with relief. He rubbed his arm to bat away the tingling numbness. “Master Arrelion.”

“Hrm?”

Koda turned to his teacher. “I have lived at Adamant Keep for a month now, but I’ve yet to learn any new form of magic. I…”

“You feel as though you’ve been wasting your time.”

Koda shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. “Haven’t I?”

“Is that a question for me, or yourself?”

Koda lowered his head and scratched it with his rested arm. “I feel like I haven’t learned anything useful.”

Arrelion’s face turned as stiff as stone. “Stand up,” he commanded.

Koda hesitated.

“Get to your feet!” Arrelion barked again.

Koda stood. A look of fear was written on his face.

Arrelion tossed him his practice sword. “Catch.”

Koda instinctively grabbed it with his right hand.

“Lift it up,” Arrelion ordered.

Koda narrowed his eyes, unsure what Arrelion was trying to prove. He bit his lip and lifted the wooden sword up.

Arrelion gestured to Koda’s practice sword. “See?”

Koda tilted his head. What did he mean? He looked down at his hand and then it hit him. He lifted the practice sword with a single hand! He laughed in joy, swinging the blade with complete ease from left to right. He raised it over his head, mimicking the Rabbit-Do and Rabbit-Sai forms that Elucard and Cade used when he watched them spar. The weight of the sword felt nonexistent. As resistant as a calm breeze.

“Well?” asked Arrelion with a small grin.

“I’ve learned the Giant’s Hand!” exclaimed Koda.

Arrelion looked to the gymnasium's entrance and shouted, “He is ready!”

Elucard walked to Arrelion’s side.

“Elucard has told me that his master, Legion, is a practitioner in the Giant’s Hand.”

Elucard closed his fist into his other hand and bowed.

“He will assist me in teaching you how to fight with a sword,” Arrelion said to Koda.

“More sword training…” Koda complained with a sigh.

Arrelion chuckled. “Yes, for now. Once I am confident you can hold your own in a sword fight, we will concentrate on the other aspects of being a silver mage.”

Elucard slapped Koda’s sore shoulder. “You will come to enjoy sparring, my king. In time it will be all that you’ll want to do.”

“Oh, hooray,” Koda said sarcastically.

“There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a bruised rib in the morning,” Elucard laughed.

“You’re joking, right?” Koda asked with a worried look.

Arrelion joined in with the laughter.

Koda looked at his master. “He’s joking? Right? He’s joking?”

Arrelion shook his head and walked away. “Get back to training, Koda!”