Seventh Day.
The seven nights had finally passed. The last three nights went by far more pleasantly than the first four. By the sixth day, I could see some people smiling. That was far more fulfilling than I thought it would be. I don't want to be too arrogant, taking all the credit. I heard there was another really talented swordsman, but I think I could definitely take some in my actions. Probably give myself five more minutes with my head in the clouds before I have to ground myself to avoid becoming some sort of snob.
"Hey!"
I turned around, a boy my age, whose clothes looked a bit rough, but most people here could be described the same way. What set him apart from the rest was the scar he had on the top left of his face, just above his eyes. He was the kid I saved the very first night, who somehow stayed safe inside a small opening in a tree. I made sure to run to him when it was dawn to see if he was ok. I ended up seeing him sleeping peacefully, not knowing any better. Clearly, he was lucky. Striking a conversation when he finally woke up was pleasant, Goto Haruto a rather fitting name. He wouldn't let me call him by his last name, kept going on about how it would be wrong, steadfast in his belief for sure.
He looked out of breath, must have run to catch up with me.
"It's good seeing you all healthy and well!"
God, he was loud. At least he was the bright and happy loud. Although being happy and loud at the crack of dawn after we had just come out of a mountain full of demons had to be a gift. I replied with a small smile.
"As healthy as I can be without seven days of sweets," I gaze to the sky, lamenting at the terrible and bland food we were all stuck eating. "Though seeing you screaming at dawn almost makes up for it."
He looked slightly abashed, but it didn't slow him down for long. With a bright smile, but this time thankfully for everyone staring at us as we walked to the end of the Final Selection, he kept his voice to a manageable level.
"You're probably the only person that'd have time to wish for sweets while everyone was killing demons," his smile became a bit more subdued now, "but honestly, thank you for what you did."
He has a serious side to him as well. Saving people that you know are good definitely feels better than the less grateful type.
"As I said before, I'd save anyone in your position, don't stress it-"
Before I could continue my sentence, a large group of examinees walked up to us.
"Kobayashi!"
"You going to leave us mere mortals behind or what, Kobayashi?"
"Goto, you were going to run away without even saying hello to us."
They were all full of exhausted smiles, already ready for what was to come after. But for a moment, these people I met during the Final Selection wanted to indulge in some level of normalcy. And to be honest, I couldn't blame them. My smile became far more pronounced, last bit of sleepiness left my body. I replied.
"You lot thought I could forget about you, don't think I'm not going to call in the favours all of you owe me."
They all laughed, lighting the mood which was already at a high due to the context.
There were quite a lot of people who crowded around the big dirt circle, a few of whom I talked to who could only offer a small smile, not wanting to strike up a conversation so soon after the exam. Some remained completely silent, perhaps holding scars that weren't visible that they needed to process through. By the time my eyes ended up at the tori gates at the end of the path, most of us had entered the dirt circle. A few straggled behind, but looking at the forest they came from, it didn't seem so daunting anymore; it almost filled me with wonder.
Before I could get lost in conversations or the beauty of the forest, a voice interrupted all of us, silencing all conversations.
"Congratulations"
The same elderly woman from before spoke out from beside the stone platform, deeply bowing. Her voice was small but somehow carried effortlessly, like wind sliding through bamboo.
"You have survived the Final Selection. From this moment on, you are Demon Slayers."
No cheers followed, no applause. The words fell reverberating through every bone and heartbeat. I felt a heaviness in my chest, not grief, but something close. A quiet understanding. A responsibility that sat heavier than my sword.
A pause.
"You should all be proud, far more of you stand here then what has become the normal throughout the years, be proud"
I could see quite a few people stand a bit taller.
The old woman straightened slowly, hands folded before her.
"Though you should not forget the fallen, honor those who fell," she continued softly. "Remember their names, their dreams, and the lives they sought to protect. Carry that memory with you always."
Her eyes traveled across the crowd, seeing each of us in full. Our bruises, our cuts, our shaking hands, the exhaustion that had hollowed many eyes.
"And remember this, the demons you fought were once human. Never let hate blind you. Strength without compassion is nothing but cruelty."
A silence followed her words. It was as if the wind stopped blowing.
I watched several of the examinees bow their heads. One wiped his face. Another pressed a hand to his chest. Haruto, beside me, swallowed hard.
The old woman shifted slightly, showing a flat stone platform behind her. On it lay chunks of dark ore, glowing faintly under the rising sun, pulsing as if alive.
"Step forward," she said, "and choose the Nichirin ore that calls to you. From this, your blade will be forged."
Nobody hurried to move, but slowly one person stepped forward, and everyone slowly moved to follow. The soft scuffling of boots against stone was loud. We went forward one at a time onto the platform. Hands shook with anticipation as they hovered above the gleaming metal, waiting to feel something, maybe heat or weight, perhaps resonance, anything.
Haruto stepped forward before I did, his breathing shaking like leaves in the wind. His hand found a piece pausing briefly as he touched the stone; his shoulders loosened as he picked it up and held it to his chest like a treasure.
Then, it was my turn.
The ore pieces pulsed softly, dim starlight breathing through dark stone.
My breathing settled as the world grew a level in vibrance. Under my eyes, the stones spoke an unspoken story. As I extended my hand, one of the pieces vibrated, not physically, but under my eyes, it shifted almost as if it was phasing through reality. My fingers closed over it; nothing special happened as I made contact with it, but I knew that it was the one. The weight was perfect.
I bowed slightly in silence and stepped back into the line.
When the last examinee had finished, the old woman spoke again.
"Your swordsmiths will come for you in a few days."
The old woman lifted her hand, and a flutter of black wings descended from the branches above. Crows swept down in a controlled arc, landing before each of us with sharp, intelligent eyes.
"These Kasugai Crows will guide your missions and carry your orders," she spoke, voice steady as stone. "From this moment forward, they are your companions in battle."
The crow that landed on my shoulder turned it's head, it looked like it was studying me. I like this crow. I'd come up with a name for it soon, genius took time.
She spoke up once again.
"When your blades are complete, your first missions will be assigned. Until then, rest. You have earned it."
Still no cheering, no celebration. Just quiet breaths under the wisteria falling petals, each falling like the softest of partings.
I closed my hand around the ore, feeling its warmth press into my skin. The crow decided to get comfortable on my shoulder, it was cute enough that I couldn't tell it no. The sun had reached its peak. Noon. It was as if it was staring at the new children of the sun.
We were alive.
Because of those who weren't.
I bowed my head once to the mountain, to the forest, to every voice which would never speak again.
Then, I turned toward the path ahead.
No goodbyes or partings were spoken out loud. Hidden smiles were spread around like promises. 'I will see you later, stay alive'. With the promise made in everyone's heart, nothing else needed to be said further.
Everything from this point forward would be different.
I walked.