“It’s gonna be sad not being in the monastery anymore, but actually, that’s kinda what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“It is?”
“Yeah, because...” She gripped her hands as if she was working up the courage to push the next words out of her mouth. “I-I...was...” She gulped. Then she shook her head, and away with it went all the nervousness that had prevented her from finishing her sentence. “I was hoping you’d come with me!” she blurted out, her face tinged pink.
My eyes widened. This was what I wanted, but I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I wasn’t one of the more outstanding students here, so if she were to take a partner with her, I would’ve assumed she’d take someone else. Hence, I couldn’t help but be curious about her reasoning.
“Why...me?” I asked.
“Well, you know... We get along really well, for one. Everyone else is intimidated by me or has given up on ever beating me. But not you. It’s like you’re the only one who’s actually trying to get better and take me on in a serious match. You’ve always been that though, haven’t you? Even when we had our first duel, you told me flat out that you thought I’d be the next Blade Saint. I think you have the potential to be stronger than anyone here—except for me, of course.” She grinned. “I don’t think you’ll ever win against me.”
“But...” I was worried that I’d hold her back. How could I keep up with the Blade Saint? I wasn’t even close to beating her in battle now, and she’d only get stronger from here on out. I couldn’t picture myself ever truly being anything more than a deadweight to her. In my mind, I saw an image of her—the one I always saw—pulling me by the hand, forward. I’ve only ever seen her back. Could I really step up and be by her side?
“I spoke with Master Crayne, and he agreed. He said you can come with me.”
“You’re just gonna keep getting stronger and stronger from here. I don’t wanna hold you back.”
“You’ve never done that! If anything, you’re the reason I came this far! I don’t want anyone else by my side than you. That’s why...” Then, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a knife.
She unsheathed it, revealing a plain single-edged blade that was a little shorter than my hand. The smooth wooden handle was not decorated or embellished, and it was fastened by silver screws on either side. Most people would’ve been confused as to why she was giving me this, but as someone familiar with the legend of the Blade Saint, I knew exactly what she was trying to say.
“Is this...?”
“Yeah. Sorry, this is really all I could get on such short notice,” she chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. “But it’s really sharp; I can guarantee that at least.”
The first Blade Saint had had a certain rival who’d eventually become a friend. When they’d been staring down the demon that had threatened to take down the world, their swords had broken. The Blade Saint had picked up a fragment of what they’d had left and had given his rival one as well. Together, they’d used those fragments to fight against the demon, or so it’d been said. The Blade Saint giving you a knife symbolized that they accepted you as an equal and wanted you to fight alongside them—as their partner.
“Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have worked up all this courage to give you the stupid thing if I wasn’t!” Her face was flushed. “Anyway, yes or no?”
I looked at the simple knife that she’d given me. As simple as it was, I couldn’t help but treat it as if it was a fragile treasure. As light as it was, it felt so heavy in my hands.
I opened my mouth, ready to say yes, ready to start our new adventure together, but my optimism was soon drowned out by the sobering reality that I was nowhere near her level. I wasn’t ready to be by her side.
“I don’t th—”
“I’m going to stop you there,” she said, holding her hand up to my face. “If you’re going to whine about how you don’t think you’re my equal or that there are better-suited people for this, then don’t. It’s my choice. As the Blade Saint, I’ve decided this. If you don’t want it, chuck it into the water, because that’s the only blade I’ll ever give out. Do you understand, Ca’al? You’re the only one I trust—the only one I want by my side.”
I looked at her and then the blade. I had no words.
Was it really okay? Could I really walk alongside her?
“Ugh,” she groaned. “There it is. The hesitation. Do you remember what I told you about that? Even the slightest bit of hesitation can lead to defeat.” Suddenly, her finger was in my face.
“But...this is a big decision, not just for me but for you too.”
“Yeah, I know. But sometimes, you just gotta jump headfirst into things.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“It is. Look, do you trust me?”
“Of course I do. I—”
“Then trust that I chose correctly. If you have any doubt, remember your trust in me. After all, when have I ever steered you wrong?”
Her grin made me want to agree immediately, but there was still something inside holding me back.
“Come on. It’s not that hard of a question. You literally only have two options—well, really, just one. All you gotta do is say yes.”
As I looked at her, I saw the same bright smile I saw when she rescued me from the despair and darkness that my parents had been all too happy to dump me into. She was right. There really was only one option.
“Yes...” I said slowly. “I’ll walk by your side; I swear on this knife.”
“Good, because I really meant that you only have one option.” She grinned. “Well, that’s one goal accomplished at least.”
“What’s the other goal?”
“I was hoping that by coming here, I’d be able to summon the relic, but...” She held out her hand and closed her eyes as she focused on something. “Doesn’t seem like I can do that yet. Things won’t work out that conveniently, huh? I can’t even picture it in my head,” she sighed. “I bet if I have a clear image of what it looks like, I’ll be able to summon it. But whenever I think about it, the most I get is a vague notion that it’s a single-edged blade.”
“Like the ones we use?” I asked.
“Yeah, kinda like that. If you could summon the relic, what kinda blade would you want?” she suddenly asked.
“M-Me? I’m not the Blade Saint though, so I’ll never be able to summon it.”
Soreya let out an annoyed sigh. “Ugh, biggest pet peeve. Listen. It’s a hypothetical. As in, I’m saying, imagine a world where this is possible. Like, in my hypothetical world, I can already summon it, and it’s a sword not too different from the swords we use now. The blade is pure white though, and it’s as light as a feather. Okay, your turn. If you could summon the relic, what kinda blade would you want?”
“Well...I guess the same kinda blade as you, maybe?”
“Copycat,” she giggled.
“I can’t help it! I’m not that imaginative! But I guess...” Then I paused as an additional detail popped into my head. “I guess it might have a red gem or something on it.”
“Red...gem? Like a ruby?” she asked.
“Y-Yeah, I guess.” I wasn’t sure what purpose the gem would serve or why I’d even imagined it, but somehow it felt right.
“Hmm... I see. Well, either way, it’d be nice if I could summon it sometime soon. Even if I’m named as the Blade Saint, it won’t really feel real unless I have the relic in hand.”
“I’m sure, with time, you’ll be able to,” I tried reassuring her.
“That’s what Master Crayne told me too. It’s something that apparently just happens and not something that can be willed into happening, but still,” she sighed. “It would’ve been nice.” She held her hand up toward the sky.
“I’m looking forward to that day,” I said.
“Heh heh. Thanks. You know,” she said, turning to me, “I have a feeling that we’re gonna go on to do some great things. I’m starting to get chills. Our names are gonna go down in history as the greatest Blade Saint pair ever! This isn’t where we end!” she said, lightly tapping my arm with her fist.
Even though it was night, her grin was radiant. She was practically glowing. She was so filled with confidence, and she had the skill to back it up. As pessimistic as I was, even I was beginning to see the future she was talking about.
I gripped the knife in my hand. “Yeah, we’re gonna take the world by storm.”
“That’s the spirit!” she said, smacking me on the back. “Let’s have a duel before we sleep!”
“Won’t Master Crayne get mad?”
“It’s okay. What’s he gonna do? Make us run laps? We’re leaving tomorrow,” she snickered.
“True,” I chuckled.
“Oh and then we can watch the sunrise—our last one here.”
“Is it already that time?”
“By the time we get back, finish our duel...and maybe get lectured by Master Crayne, it should be close to sunrise.”
“Okay then, let’s get back to the monastery.”
“Race you.”
“You’re on.”
And with the weight on my shoulders lifted, I began running back to the monastery. I feel as light as a feather. Watch out, Soreya. This might be one race that I don’t lose.