- The morning light pierces through the thick, charcoal clouds as it seems to swallow the sun. The sky growls with the low rumble of distant thunder. The wind has picked up, whistling sharply through the woods, carrying the cold, metallic scent of impending rain -

  - Inside the house, Ryusui stands before the mirror, splashing cold water onto his face. He goes toward the closet and pulls on a pale white, half-sleeved t-shirt, pairing it with his loose black trousers. Lastly, he sits down and takes the resting sword. His fingers wrap around the scabbard. He secures it to his back -

  - He moves through the quiet house. Heading downstairs toward the main door, his footsteps slow and steady. He reaches the main door, his finger twitching as they reach for the metal handle. But before he can pull it, he hears Retsu's voice from behind him -

  - He turns his head toward her -

  Retsu: "Wait, Ryusui! Where are you going this early?"

  Ryusui: (Thinking: "Will it be wise to tell her? She might get worried.") "..."

  Retsu: "Hey! Say something!"

  Ryusui: (Thinking: "Well, I should not hide this from her.") "I am going to the top of the mountain."

  - Retsu's eyes widen. Her gaze is locked on Ryusui's face. Her hands curl into trembling fists -

  Retsu: "Don't be a fool! The weather is not looking good! Why do you want to go there?!"

  Ryusui: "I'm going there for training."

  - Retsu's face tightens, her face turns pale. Her concern deepens into a sharp, jagged panic. Her breath hitches in her throat and her voice trembles -

  Retsu: "What?! Training?! Who?! How?!"

  Ryusui: "Hey, hey! What happened? Calm down."

  - Retsu clings to the top of the wooden chair beside her. Her voice raises, turning into a pitch of pure desperation -

  Retsu: "You want to go to the top of the mountain in this weather and you are telling me to calm down?! What do you want to train for?! How are you going to train?!"

  - A flicker of deep concern grasps Ryusui's face. He moves his right hand upward and slowly pats the air, a calm, steady gesture -

  Ryusui: "Hey, you seriously need to calm down. I want to train so that... I can protect you along with me."

  - Retsu looks down to her right, her gaze avoiding Ryusui's eyes as her grip on the chair finally loosens. The sharp lines of concern and desperation on her face flash away, replaced by a soft, startled vulnerability. A deep, rosy hue emerges on her cheeks -

  Retsu: "You—you do not have to worry about me!"

  - Her voice is a frantic plea. Ryusui locks his gaze on her, his eyes soft and filled with a quite, grounding concern -

  Ryusui: "You are the only person who has been by my side for ten long years. If I don't think about you, whom should I think about?"

  - Retsu raises her head, her gaze locking onto Ryusui's. Her eyes are narrowed and soft shimmering with a silence -

  Retsu: "..."

  Ryusui: "I am sorry, but I have to go now. I will be back before evening. Bye-bye!"

  - Ryusui turns toward the exit, but Retsu lunges a step forward. She raises her right hand. The brief, rosy warmth on her cheeks vanishes instantly, replaced by a pale mask of deep concern -

  Retsu: "Wait, wait! But who is going to train you?! Look, you should at least wait until the weather clears!"

  Ryusui: "Don't worry, I met an old man. He is going to train me."

  Retsu: "Then let me come with you."

  Ryusui: "No. He told me I must come alone."

  Retsu: "But...!"

  Ryusui: "Hey, there is nothing to be concerned about. I will be alright."

  - Ryusui turns back to the door and grips the iron handle. As he pulls it open, a strong gust of freezing wind bursts into the house carrying the metallic scent of the coming rain. The wind tosses his hair into a wild mess -

  - Before stepping out, Ryusui pauses. He turns his head, staring straight into Retsu's eyes -

  Ryusui: "Before I go... I want you to promise me one thing."

  Retsu: "Promise?"

  Ryusui: "Instead of only thinking about me, you will take good care of yourself."

  - Retsu's eyes widen with shock. The "pale mask" of concern on her face cracks, revealing a sudden, raw vulnerability -

  Retsu: "Why?! Did I do anything wrong?!"

  - Retsu looks at him with wide eyes, her mind racing as if she has committed some invisible mistakes. Seeing her panicked, Ryusui slaps his forehead with the palm of his hand, letting out a small, soft huff -

  Ryusui: "Idiot... not because of that. I just can't stand to see you sad or worried!"

  - A violent, heavy rain begins to hammer against the roof, driven by a wind so fierce that the trees outside groan and sway like drunken giants -

  - Seeing the deluge, Ryusui's jaw tightens. The calmness he held moments ago vanishes. He spins and punches the right wall with pure, raw frustration -

  Ryusui: "Shit...!"

  Retsu: "See? I told you the weather is bad! You can't go out in this, Ryusui. You should wait until the rain stops!"

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Ryusui: "I will not break my promise. No matter what, I will reach the summit!"

  - Ryusui steps out and rushes into the fierce, harsh weather. Seeing him running through the deluge, Retsu lunges from the hallway to the outside. Her voice cracks, rising to a desperate scream as she chases after him -

  Retsu: "Ryusui! Ryusui! Please, stop!"

  - The mud and water splash violently as Ryusui tears through the wet field. He pierces through the thick, thorny bushes. He doesn't look back; he can't, not for a single moment. With one final surge of speed, he is swallowed by the dark shadows of the trees and vanishes into the depths of the woods -

  - Unable to catch him, Retsu takes heavy, ragged breaths and stops in the middle of the open field. The rain soaks her instantly, plastering her hair to her face. She stands alone, a solitary figure against the charcoal clouds, watching the exact spot where he disappeared. Her eyes narrow as a deep, suffocating concern grasps her face -

  Retsu: "Why...?! Why...?! You always do these kinds of dangerous things!"

  - She sinks to her knees in the mud, her hands trembling as she presses them into the earth. Her voice breaks into a sob that the wind carries away toward the horizon -

  Retsu: "This reminds me of your hellish past! I can't... I just can't see you go through hell again!"

  - Ryusui reaches the summit, his t-shirt is now a heavy, sodden weight clinging to his skin. His hair is plastered to his forehead. He has pushed himself to the absolute limit, sprinting for thirty minutes through the shattered, uneven paths of the mountain fighting through thick, thorny bushes. Finally, the violence of the rain and wind is begins to decrease -

  - Ryusui stands in the middle of a wide, empty field. The ground is a map of rainwater and mud, ringed by ancient, rain-soaked trees whose leaves rustle with the hushed whispers of the wind. He looks around, his eyes searching frantically for the old man, but he finds no one. A sharp mark of sorrow and self-doubt grips his face -

  Ryusui: "Am I really an idiot? How could I expect an old man to come up here in a storm like this?"

  - Ryusui's legs tremble violently, the sheer exhaustion trying to pull him down into the mud. But then, a sound slices through the wind—the steady, rhythmic crunch of footsteps on wet earth. He snaps his head toward the sound. A dark figure emerges slowly from the suffocating shadows of the woods -

  ???: "Cough... Cough..."

  - The old man steps into the clearing, draped in the same dress from the day before. The sight is a miracle: despite the deluge, the old man is perfectly dry. Not a single drop of rain clings to his clothes or skin; the water seems to ignore his presence entirely, curving away from him -

  The old man: "I didn't expect you to come in this storm."

  - Seeing the old man, Ryusui gathers his strength and stands perfectly still. The exhaustion that nearly brought him to his knees moments ago vanishes, replaced by a sudden surge of energy. A wide, warm smile breaks across his face, his eyes brightening with pure relief and joy. He is so consumed by the man's presence that he doesn't even notice the impossibility of the dry clothes -

  Ryusui: "What about you, old man? Or... should I Sensei?"

  The old man: "Hahaha... don't worry about me. I have lived my life, but you still have a long way to go, so don't rush anything."

  Ryusui: "Sensei, how should I begin my training?"

  - Ryusui's voice is urgent. The old man's smile doesn't fade, but his gaze sharpens instantly, becoming as piercing as a blade's edge -

  The old man: "You seem to ignore my words. Patience is a treasure of human beings... do not throw it out."

  Ryusui: "I understand, but—"

  - Before he can finish, the old man takes a single, gliding step toward Ryusui. Despite the thick mud his feet make no sound -

  The old man: "Alright. If you are that desperate for the training, then take out your sword from the scabbard."

  - Ryusui reaches behind his shoulders, his fingers locking onto the hilt. With a fluid motion, he brings the weapon in front of his eyes, holding it vertically. He draws the blade from its scabbard with a crisp hiss; for a moment, the falling rain dances along the flat of the steel before being sliced by its edge -

  - The old man doesn't move a muscle. Slowly, he raises his left hand, pointing a single finger toward the left. There, looming through the suffocating shadows of the woods, stands a huge, fat tree -

  The old man: "Cut this tree with your sword."

  - Ryusui shifts his gaze to the giant tree, then back at his own blade. Instead of hesitation, a flash or pure, reckless confidence sweeps across his face. His fingers dig into the hilt, tightening his grip -

  Ryusui: "Got it."

  - Ryusui slowly walks toward the tree, his slippers heavy with mud. Reaching the giant tree, he planted his feet. He pours every piece of his remaining strength and his burning resolve into his arms. With a desperate surge of energy, he swings his sword with full might toward the giant, ancient tree -

  Ryusui: "GRAAAAH!"

  - The steel meets the bark. But instead of cutting through, the tree feels like an iron shield. The trunk deflects the attack with a violent force; the impact sends a staggering shockwave back up the blade. Ryusui's sword shakes and groans under the pressure of his own strength colliding with the tree's unnatural density -

  - The tree remains unscathed. Only a few green leaves are shaken loose by the vibration, fluttering down to the muddy ground to join the falling rain -

  - Ryusui's eyes widen, his breath hitches as his forehead contorts in pure, raw shock. He stares at his shaking sword -

  Ryusui: "Huh?! Why...?! I swung my sword with full might!"

  - The old man stands in pure silence, his sharp gaze locked onto Ryusui. He observes every detail of Ryusui's failure with the cold, clinical eye of a jeweler inspecting a flawed diamond -

  The old man: (Thinking: "Hmph... looks like the flow of your Spirit Energy is blocked from the core. It needs a push to reawaken it. I have to teach you the basics. I never thought I would be the one giving you lessons... Master. Hahaha!") "..."

  Ryusui: "Hey, Sensei! Don't just stand there, tell me what to do and what just happened!?"

  - Ryusui's voice is a mix of frustration and desperation. He looks at the bark of the tree, then at his own trembling hands -

  The old man: "First of all, remember one thing: every sword carries a soul. You have to merge your soul with the sword's soul to unlock its true power."

  Ryusui: "Huh?! How? Is this even possible?"

  The old man: "It's possible. But first, you must make the sword your own body part."

  Ryusui: "I don't feel anything from it... how can I make it my body part?"

  The old man: "Discipline and patience are the main source of it. Close your eyes, stay still, let every thought out of your mind and empty it."

  - The Old Man stands perfectly poised. The rain seems to divert its path around him, while Ryusui is being pummeled by every drop -

  Ryusui: "But... How can I focus on this heavy rain?!"

  The old man: "Hahaha...! This will be your real test. The more you stay focused and calm in dangerous situations, the more you become connected to your sword."

  Ryusui: "Understood. I'll try my best."

  The old man: "I forgot to mention one thing. You also have to sit on the ground while holding your sword."

  Ryusui: "Got it."

  - Ryusui lowers himself into the grasping mud, crossing his legs. He rests the flat of the blade across his upturned palms, his spine a straight, unyielding stick of bone. He closes his eyes, letting the world outside fade as he gets lost in the depths of the inner darkness -

  - The rain lashes against his face like a thousand tiny needles. The wind howls, a physical force trying to knock his posture off-balance even yet he remains anchored to the earth -

  - Three hours pass. The violence of the sky has finally disappeared. The charcoal clouds have fractured and dissolved into the horizon, replaced by a sky of deep, oceanic blue. The sun is now high and fierce. Every puddle on the muddy ground reflects the light like a shattered mirror -

  - Ryusui is still there. His clothes are covered in drying mud. He is like a statue carved from the mountain's own stone; motionless, weathered, and absolute. His breathing is slow and steady -

  - In the distance, the old man remains standing, a silent shadow in the golden light. His sharp gaze locked onto Ryusui. Suddenly, without opening his eyes, Ryusui's voice cuts through the stillness, calm and excitement -

  Ryusui: "Sensei, I can see a small unknown light."

  Unknown old man/Ryumaru: (In mind: "As always you're fast enough to learn anything.") "Cough! Cough! Good job, that's the soul of the sword. You have to practice until you think it's the shape of the sword."

  The old man: (Thinking: "As always you're a fast learner.") "Cough...! Cough...! Good job. The light is a portion of the soul of the sword. You must remain still; stay like this until that light takes the shape of your blade."

  Ryusui: "Okay."

  - Two more hours stretch into the afternoon. Ryusui remains as motionless as a statue. The drying mud on his skin begins to flake away in the sun. Suddenly, his eyes snap open. A wide, primal smile brightens his face, radiating pure excitement -

  Ryusui: "The sword! I can finally see it, Sensei."

  The old man: (Thinking: "From a mere portion of the soul to a complete manifested blade in only two hours... you have done a great job, Master!") Cough...! Cough...! Now... stand. Try to cut the tree again. But remember—use only half of your strength."

  - Ryusui rises to his feet. He approaches the massive tree, his sword held low. As he reaches the trunk, he pauses for a brief moment. For a heartbeat, a flicker of doubt shadows his eyes -

  Ryusui: "Can I really...?"

  - He looks down at the blade, seeing that faint, ghostly light he found in the darkness. The doubt vanishes, replaced by a pure, cold confidence. He tightens his grip, feeling the hilt pulse like a second heartbeat -

  Ryusui: "No. No, I have to."

  - He takes a long, heavy breath. He plants his lead foot, anchoring himself to the earth. Remembering the old man's command, he restrains his muscles. He closes his eyes; in the endless void of his mind, he holds the shimmering soul of the sword -

  - He swings -

  - The sword pierces through the air. This time, there is no jarring shock. The tree doesn't resist; the steel glides through the massive trunk as if it were cutting through a falling leaf. For a second, the tree remains standing, then the upper half slides slowly along the diagonal slice before crashing into the mud. It is a clean, perfect cut -

  Ryusui: "Yeahhh! Finally! Finally! I did it!"

  The old man: (Thinking: "I expected no less from you. You will recognise me soon.") "You've done a great job, young man. But it's not over yet. Tomorrow begins the hardest part where you'll learn how to use your Spirit Energy."

  - Ryusui scratches his forehead with muddy hand, his face twisting into a puzzled expression -

  Ryusui: "Huh?! Spirit Energy?!"

  The old man: "Leave it for now. Go home and take some rest."

  Ryusui: "Then... see you tomorrow, Sensei."

  - Ryusui rushes toward his home, his slippers splashing through the remaining puddles. The wide, boyish smile never leaves his face. The old man stands perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the path, a silent guardian watching until Ryusui's silhouette is finally swallowed by the deepening woods -

  - But they are not alone -

  - High above, perched on a distant, strong branch that doesn't even sway in the breeze, a figure shrouded in the thicket. The wind whistles through the leaves. Its gaze is a cold weight, locked first in the fallen tree, then on the retreating back of Ryusui -

  ???: "First step has been acquired. Soon... you will see me, Ryuma."

  [ Ryusui has finally acquired the first step, but as time passes, the storm is getting closer and closer ]

  Next Chapter: Thursday