by Ryan Kirk
"Typically, the third choice is as follows. You may follow the path that you have been set on, or you may choose to die, here and now. Once one reaches this level of skill it is unsafe to allow one free rein."
Takako started to cry.
"But, Ryuu, you are my son if I ever had one. I am proud of you. I could never offer you such a choice. Instead, I repeat the offer you’ve rejected twice. You can continue upon the path you've been set on. I tell you now the truth, that it will cost you the lives of those you love, as it may very well cost you your life. There is no reward, no honor that is guaranteed. Only that you will have a life of hardship, toil, and violence."
"Your other choice is to leave the Three Kingdoms. I know of a place, a place where you could hide with Takako. You could live the life of a normal man, working for a living, enjoying the companionship of another. Raise a family. The choice is yours."
Ryuu looked closely at Shigeru. It was clear now that Shigeru was a torn, broken man. He loved Ryuu and was grateful for the child he had raised. But he also saw the error of his ways, knowing that the child he raised would inherit the sins of his father, whatever those may be. Shigeru wanted him to take the way out. He wanted Ryuu to escape, to leave the Three Kingdoms and live with Takako.
He looked over to Takako. It was the best offer he had heard. She was beautiful and kind. He didn't know whether she would ever love him, but getting to know her was one of the greatest times of his life. The possibility of being able to continue being with her was incredibly tempting.
But he also never would have met Takako if he hadn't followed the path Shigeru put him on. His life hadn't always been easy, and he still had trouble reconciling himself to the fact that he was a murderer. What was the way to show Shigeru the respect he deserved: to continue on the path set before him, or to abandon it now when he had completed training?
Ryuu’s mind raced back and forth. There seemed to be nothing worthwhile about the life of a nightblade. It wasn’t the life of glory he imagined as a child. Shigeru had made that clear.
He studied Takako, lost in her own thoughts. She hadn’t consented to anything, and it was just as likely she would leave when given the chance as stay with Ryuu. She hadn’t forgiven him for what happened to her family. Maybe she never would. He wanted to ask her what to do, but knew it was wrong to put the decision on her. She had been pulled into this life. This was his decision to make, and it was his life. Her decision would come later.
The silence stretched on eternally, the only sound between them the crackling of the fire burning down.
He wanted so badly to take the easy path, but something inside of him fought against it. Ryuu looked at Shigeru. He was a good man. He had taken lives, but he had also saved lives. Was there anything greater? He couldn’t rationalize it, but he knew that even if he ran away with Takako and she accepted him he would never know peace. There wasn’t peace for anyone who had the power he possessed.
He didn’t want to.
“I’ll continue on the path.”
His decision was met with a sad nod by Shigeru and tears from Takako. Shigeru understood his decision, but he couldn’t imagine how Takako felt. He had chosen the path of war over the path of peace. He didn’t know how to make it clear his decision wasn’t to reject her.
Shigeru too, was crying as he continued speaking. "So be it. The choice has been made although I wish it would have been otherwise. You should consider your training complete. I have something that I’ve been holding onto now for quite some time.”
Shigeru dug in his pack and pulled out a small package. He handed it to Ryuu, who unwrapped it carefully. They were a new set of robes, dark as night. Ryuu knew immediately they were the robes of a nightblade.
“These used to be mine, but now they are yours. They are given to students who complete their training. It’s my honor to present them to you.”
Ryuu held the robes in silence. He loved them but couldn’t find the words to say so. Shigeru seemed to understand. He nodded and gestured to the fire.
“Now, build the fire back up, for I have a story to tell. You need to know my story and the time is now. It will explain to you all that you don't know."
17
The fire crackled around the three of them and Shigeru took his time and held each of them in his eyes. He hesitated. Was telling this story a bad decision? Wasn’t it already too late? Shigeru didn’t know anymore. He used to have hope. After this moon he knew firsthand how strong Orochi was. He could sense it. Orochi was much stronger than he was. He had lied when he told Ryuu he wasn’t sure. Together, perhaps, they could win but he wouldn’t risk it. He had built a life for Ryuu and now the journey was Ryuu’s.
It saddened him. He had found, after over forty cycles of searching, the peace he had dreamed of as a youth. Not as his masters had intended, but true peace nonetheless. He loved Ryuu and Takako, even though he had just met her. Her spirit was strong. He wasn’t sure Ryuu had a chance with her, not after what happened, but he loved her just the same. He could sense fate twisting around Ryuu, and while he had no idea where fate would lead them, his last gift would be the last of the knowledge he could offer.
Ryuu was better than him. His sense was superior and Shigeru knew he wasn’t even close to discovering all he was capable of. His swordsmanship was also superior, and if he didn’t hesitate when training against Shigeru he would have realized it himself long ago. He could show better judgment, but it was tough to say. The boy was young. He still seemed too young to be on his own, and Shigeru would try to stay alive for him, but if he could give his life for the boy’s he would do so without hesitation.
“It is a good night for a story. The night is cold outside, but we are gathered here around a fire, just like our ancestors were. That is something I should remind you of, Ryuu. In all the stories I’ve told you, our ancestors wandered. It is a fate I foretell for you as well. Once one reaches a certain power, trouble seems to follow them, and the only way to protect the innocent is to keep traveling. It’s a legend among nightblades, but seems to hold true throughout history. I tried to break the cycle, to live the life of a normal man, attached to the land, to a space, but fate has caught up to me as well.”
Shigeru saw Ryuu was about to interrupt and held up his hand. “Please, indulge me. I’m feeling sentimental tonight, and I would like to tell this story in one piece if I could.”
Ryuu bowed. Shigeru paused, unsure of where to begin. He had hoped for so long that he would never have to tell the story, and he had forgotten how he should tell it.
“The first thing you should know is the history they teach in the Three Kingdoms is incomplete. All histories are, of course, but there are secrets you must know, secrets which people in the Three Kingdoms have never guessed at. You must keep them, for to let them go, to let them slip over too much drink or in a moment of carelessness would bring disaster upon all our heads.
“After the Great War, it was not a good time to be a nightblade. The dayblades had thrived, most of them going into the monasteries and receiving pardons from the governments. They standardized a curriculum to teach to all those born with the sense, but devising this curriculum ensured their eventual destruction. The sense is an organic entity. It is an incredible human achievement, the pinnacle of observation and awareness, but it is also natural. The sense is part of a larger whole, a larger fabric even our best philosophers could only guess at. Even you, Ryuu, are only beginning to grasp all you could achieve. It manifests itself differently in people, and people learn it in different ways. A standard curriculum is the lowest bar, but over hundreds of cycles, it is all the monasteries know, and it is why you could defeat their strongest warriors without even breaking a sweat.
“There were those who would not accept what amounted to house arrest. They remembered the way of their ancestors and sought to honor it by traveling the open road. Over time most were killed by the armies, the mobs, and the propaganda. We were meant to go from village to village, maintaini
ng justice and peace. Instead, we became hated, enemies of the commoners thanks to the lords who feared the power we held, the power to support the people.
“But there was a third group, a small group who believed a middle way could be found. A way to achieve some sense of peace and tranquility, a way to transmit the true knowledge of the sense over generations, and a way to return to the Three Kingdoms when they are needed. Since the Great War they have existed. I was born to them, for they maintain a constant location and have families. Orochi too is one of them and used to be close enough to be my brother in all but blood.
“You know your geography. Far to the north of here, there is the Great Sea, and on that Sea there are many islands, but there is one that holds my people. The islanders of the area believe the island to be inaccessible and uninhabited, but it is not true. There is just one way into it, and that way was discovered by our ancestors after the Great War. It is the perfect location, completely hidden away from the world. Those who live there also die there.
“This nameless community is the last hideout of the old ways, the ways I have been trained in, and the ways you have been trained in. Very, very few people know that these ways even exist anymore, for the secret is jealously protected by those on the island.”
Shigeru paused. He could talk about the island for days. He had lived almost all of his formative cycles there, but it wasn’t what the story was about. Information about the island would be important, but not as much as Ryuu learning who he was dealing with.
“I was born there to a happy couple, both of whom were gifted in the sense. My parents hoped I would become powerful in the sense due to my heritage. I showed much promise when I was young and displayed many of the hallmarks of one who was gifted. Compared to my peers I had a relentless curiosity, high intelligence, and was mentally adaptable. I could pick up and learn new concepts in a short amount of time.
“Like all children of the island, I trained in the sense from a young age. Even much earlier than you were. For us, learning about the sense was the equivalent of learning to walk here in the Three Kingdoms. It was not always gentle training, but I thrived under the pressure. My skills grew, and I soon was one of the best students on the island despite my young age.
“When I was ten cycles old, two events happened which were the precursors to all that happened later. The first was I became close friends with a girl named Yuki. She was a beautiful girl, and I am reminded of her every time I look at Takako. She was gentle and kind, and like Takako, always seemed to find the bright side of any situation.
“I had been intimidated by her when I was younger. She was two cycles older than me and despite her cheerful demeanor she was well known for refusing the company of any boys who attempted to come close to her. I still believe she knew how dangerous her beauty was. But it wasn’t just that. She was beautiful, yes, exquisite, but it was her beauty combined with her gentle nature. That was a rare combination. Boys were always tripping over themselves to be with her, and I think a part of her knew it would lead to trouble someday . . .”
Shigeru’s voice trailed off, and Ryuu was about to ask him what happened next, but he continued.
“Anyway, when I was ten, she and I became close. I was a dour child, always working to better myself instead of making friends and playing. Perhaps it was my inability to fawn over her that brought her to me. I think about it a lot, and I still don’t know what she saw in me. She was the one who approached me. Perhaps it was because I was the only one not focused on her. I don’t know. The other girls on the island were jealous of her status with the boys and perhaps I was the only boy she felt like she could trust herself with.
“Despite my complete lack of effort she eventually won me over, and for a couple of cycles we enjoyed what I would describe as a young, innocent love. There was nothing sexual about it then, at least not for me. I was too young and too focused on my training to consider it. But we spent almost all of our free time together and made childish conspiracies to get some of our training time structured together. She was very quick physically, but otherwise wasn’t particularly gifted. Even though I was younger I could beat her at most exercises.
“As my friendship with Yuki developed another new person entered my life. It was Orochi, and although he had only seen five cycles when I met him, he was already considered a child prodigy. I was talented and hard working, but Orochi was something else. The sense manifested in him in unique ways. The first talent he learned, which terrified his parents, by the way, was to mask his own presence from the sense. That skill in and of itself made him one of the most dangerous people on the island, and he was only five. Almost everyone on the island grew up with the sense. Imagine how disconcerting it was to find that someone could sneak up on you. He caused quite the commotion.
“Orochi’s other gifts were unremarkable. He wasn’t gifted in any other regard besides the fact he could hide himself, but it was enough. Like me, he was totally dedicated to improving himself, and mastery of the sense is often a matter of effort. Even at the age of five he became the boy to beat. When you can’t sense your opponent’s movements and he can sense yours, he is a very difficult opponent. It’s probably how most swordsmen feel when they encounter a nightblade.
“By the time he worked himself up to challenging me he was starting to reach the limits of his ability. He relied solely on his speed and knowledge. Being five, he couldn’t beat anyone on strength. I had to fight blind, using only my sight, which seemed inadequate, but he hadn’t gotten quick enough to get past my defenses. I kept my attacks small, no big cuts, so he couldn’t dart inside like I’d seen him do with so many others. We fought ourselves to a draw.
“The great thing about that fight, and what impressed me the most about him, was that he wasn’t mad. Other children at his age would have been, but Orochi cared about getting better. In me, he believed he had found someone he could train with, even though we were close to ten cycles apart. And I was proud of myself. I had fought to a draw this prodigy everyone else seemed to worship. I became a mentor to him, an arrangement beneficial to both of us.
“Over time the three of us became close. Each of us were outcasts in our community. Not exiled, but we felt different from all the rest. We never could have articulated it at the age we were at, but we did make quite the group. Yuki, of course, was the matriarch, and I do think sometimes she fussed over us like we were actually her children. Despite our age difference, Orochi and I became like brothers. Together, our training took off, and soon we both were without equal among children on the island.
“The next few cycles passed. Our group continued on, getting stronger, growing closer. I noticed my feelings towards Yuki were changing. We were still close friends, and I wouldn’t do anything to change that, but I found myself attracted to her. Every time I thought about her I felt warmth fill my body and I found it more and more difficult to carry on normal conversation with her. I could only think about being with her.
“I kept my feelings secret, but I was a boy and I wasn’t good at hiding my intents. Yuki and Orochi both picked up on my desire. Orochi made fun of me for being distracted by girls. Yuki’s reaction was much more complex.
“I believe now she was torn by my attention to her. On one hand she knew me well, and we were friends with a strong relationship. It wasn’t that she disliked me. There had to be a part of her that knew I was different than all the other boys. I was someone who would respect her and care for her.
“But she had sought me out precisely because I wasn’t interested in her, and my attentions brought out all the habits I thought had disappeared. Once she was certain of my affections she never let me get too close. We still would talk and train together, but there was an invisible barrier around her I couldn’t break. She reminded me of one of my masters, a swordsman known for his incredible defense. He would never strike you. He was an expert at reading the intentions of a warrior before the strike and was always able to deflect your strike. In the many cycles I
lived on the island, I never saw anyone land a strike on him.
“Yuki’s heart was just like that. She was gentle and never tried to push me away from her, but she never let me get close either. Nothing I tried worked. But I never gave up. I knew she was important and I couldn’t let my attraction to her go. And so this difficult tension continued to exist for well over a cycle.
“At the same time, Orochi was getting older and was blossoming in more ways than one. His power lent him a dark edge that he honed over time. In his studies he learned of a clan of nightblades presumed extinct long before the Great War. The clan had created a reputation for powers that manifested like those Orochi had. They could become nearly undetectable, even to other nightblades and dayblades, and created a fighting style built upon the principles of subtlety, stealth, and deception.
“Something in Orochi responded to those principles, and he began to drink deeply of the knowledge offered in those books. While I would never have called him a happy child, he had been pleasant company until the point when he started to emulate the behaviors of the extinct clan. Our instructors were unsure how to deal with him. The clan which he emulated had enjoyed a mixed reputation among all blades. They were effective, but there is a code of honor among nightblades, and the clan’s practices of deception were difficult for many to swallow, even though they were often the ones other clans turned to for solving difficult problems.
“So our masters didn’t know what to do with Orochi. On one hand, they recognized his skills could prove invaluable in certain situations, but they tried to encourage in all of us a certain code of ethics and honor which ran contrary to Orochi’s techniques. Because they could not reach a definitive conclusion, Orochi ended up being able to continue his studies as he saw fit. One decision among many that led to what happened.”
Shigeru stopped again. He took a sip of water and looked thoughtful. Ryuu caught himself leaning forward. An island of day and nightblades? It seemed unreal.
