3rd POV:
From Costa Del Sol he made it to Junon. Then climbed over mountains and made his way directly to the farm.
...
Of course, he can't forget about the Midgar Zolom. The citizens of Junon warned him, when he asked them for the way to the Chocobo farm. Though he did stray from their recommended path a little since the map showed him a faster way. Or at least it seemed like a faster way.
Once he is older and more powerful he will kill at least one of the fuckers, because they or it gave him so much trouble. Considering they came out of the ground and looked all the same he couldn't tell if it was always the same one or multiple.
Nox also wondered if there was some sort compendium or lexicon for monster names or the like. He killed a few dog looking creatures and some birds. They were rather weak, but did kill him once or twice. Not as much as the Midgar Zolom though.
Either way.
All in all, it took him around three months to get to the farm.
---
''How much for a Chocobo? I want to buy one,'' Nox asked him.
''30.000 Gil,'' seeing his expression of shock, Choco Bill continued,''I know it is expensive. Allow me to explain. There is... A LOT going into raising the Chocobos. And even then, most people don't own a Chocobo all the time, it is simply not worth it. Assuming they want to own one in the first place. Most who own one are either renting them to others or grooming them for Chocobo races.
Gold Saucer made a contract with me, to raise and sell them more Chocobos. Soon enough you can expect Choco races to take place there and people to ride around there on them.
Now, I could make a contract with you to rent you a Chocobo for a set time. But you clearly want to own one, so...
(*He brings out a Materia*)
This is a Choco Lure Materia. Find places where there are marks of Chocobos being there and then use this Materia to lure them.''
''And once I lure them I can tame a wild one?,'' Nox asked him, not questioning the existence of the Materia.
Fantasy world.
Roll with it.
Moving on.
Improvise, adapt, overcome.
''Tame them?!,'' Choco Bill burst out laughing hysterically. He wiped his tears from his eyes and then composed himself.
''I'm sorry, kid, I was not trying to be mean. Chocobos not bred in captivity or used to humans are notoriously wild and skittish, running away at the smallest sight of us or danger.
What did you think I meant when I said there is a lot of work going on into raising them? (*He gestures to the Chocobos around the farm*). First I need to hatch them and then spend a few years socializing with them so that they are used to us. And I also need to make sure that they are obedient and do not wander off.
Man, I love Chocobos, but they do eat at my funds. And a man has got to eat so yes. That is why they are so expensive.
Even with the Lure, you can only get them to obey you for a time. After a while, they will run off.,'' Choco Bill explained.
Nox sighed and hung his head. Welp, hard way it is then.
''Sounds hard. But taming a wild Chocobo is not impossible. Would you say yes to that, as the foremost expert on the matter?,'' Nox asked him.
''Man, you really are hung up on this. Is owning a Chocobo really that important to you?,'' Choco Bill asked him.
''Yes. They next few years... I will be a lot on the road. It would be splendid if I don't waste time having to tame a Chocobo every time,'' Nox nodded and rubbed his chin.
''Hm. Well, far be it for me to tell you what to do. You seem like a mature kid.
...
Tell you what? Normally I sell Lure Materia for around 1500 Gil. More then reasonable considering it has infinite uses and you have to put in your own Gil to make it work.
But for you I will lend it to you. There are a few wild Chocobos not too far off from here. At least the marks seem to indicate so. I will even let you crash in the guest room,'' Choco Bill offered.
The two were outside his barn, overlooking the grazing Chocobos in captivity.
''And what is the catch?,'' Nox asked him curiously.
''2 moths. I want to make a bet with you. If, in two months, you manage to capture a wild Chocobo I will give you the Materia for free. I doubt you will have any more uses for it after that, but you never know. Gift it to someone, I don't know.
Chocobos are my passion. And wouldn't that be a sight, to see a wild Chocobo being tamed. I will even throw in something extra if you capture a golden Chocobo,'' Choco Bill held out his hand.
''Oh yeah?,'' Nox sounded intrigued.
''Ah, ah, ah,'' Choco Bill waddled his finger,'' I won't tell you. That would ruin the surprise.''
''And I'm sure seeing me hilariously fail at my attempts is also a worthwhile investment for you. Either way, you get something out of this bet,'' Nox analyzed.
''Hahaha, you are good at reading people, kid. Yes. If you succeed, you will impress an avid enthusiast and prove me right. If you fail, you will entertain an avid enthusiast and affirm what I know,'' Choco Bill held out his hand again.
''I will take that bet. But I do not believe in free meals. I will do some work on the farm too. For the bed and any food you will give me,'' Nox shook his hand. Choco Bill nodded at his own additions to the bet.
Nox suspected that Bill was trying to help a 'child in need'. Fair enough.
Doing work on the farm was Nox' way of repaying him. Sure, Bill clearly had a family, but more hands could never harm. And any help was appreciated, especially if one didn't have to pay money for it.
It would also allow him to gather his strength by getting well fed for his next journey as well as allow his body to grow and train it a little.
He did not care for overwhelming strength. He wanted endurance, speed and durability. Maybe magic too. He still needed to understand what other benefits his Mako Strands gave him.
He can use these two months to brain storm too.
All in all, everyone just benefited from this arrangement.
---
He could not resist the temptation and killed himself a few times in his attempts to tame a golden Chocobo, but judging by how the wind was blowing, he would not get the extra reward.
He hasn't seen a single golden Chocobo since he started.
Oh, well. Normal Chocobo it will have to be.
...
Bill fell of his chair laughing once he saw Nox while he came home from another failed attempt to tame a wild Chocobo.
He was covered in dirt and leaves were sticking into his hair. He also had a few scratches on his body.
Nox explained that he gripped the tails of a Chocobo and wouldn't let go of them, after Bill requested the story.
More like he used his Mako Strands to try and capture it and was flung around, but he wouldn't tell Bill that.
...
''What do you think of him? Nox, I mean?,'' Choco Billy once asked his grandfather during dinner. They watched as Nox ate alone outside on the stump of a tree they have felled a few years ago. The rest of the family were eating in the house.
''He seems like a sad kid. I want to cuddle him up and never let him go, but I doubt he would appreciate that. Dear, do you think you could let him stay more? He does his work around the farm without complaining. No?,'' Billy's grandmother replied.
''I would have if I thought I could get away with it. But he doesn't believe in free meals. 'Sides, looks to me like he needs to be somewhere. He would have not stayed long anyway,'' Bill replied.
''You think he lost his parents, like me?,'' Billy asked them feeling sympathetic.
''Maybe. It would explain why he doesn't want people to get close to him. He fears getting hurt again. Fears being abandoned,'' Bill replied. He met many people as a Chocobo merchant, talked with lots of people. He had a good eye about guessing what motivated people.
''But I'm just sad. I don't fear being abandoned... or blaming my parents,'' Billy wondered.
''Oh, sweetheart. We know,'' she stroked his cheek,'' But different people, grieve differently for different lengths of time. Time only lessens the intensity a little. I still find myself missing my own parents every now and then,'' she replied.
''Hehehe, I still remember how they gave me the talk. More your father then your mother, but she was scary too,'' Bill chuckled fondly.
''Tell me of my great-grandparents. You almost never talk about them!,'' Billy demanded making his grandparents chuckle fondly in amusement.
Meanwhile. Nox was eating his meal none the wiser about their conversation.
...
''Well... As I live and breathe...,'' Choco Bill was rubbing his fore head in amazement. One week before the dead line Nox brought a blue feathered Chocobo with him.
''How did you do that?,'' Bill asked him looking at the Chocobo who was nestling Nox' hair fondly. Bill would like to believe himself to be adept enough at his job, that he could recognize his own birds and when a wild Chocobo was tamed. Nox handed the Materia back to him.
''First I yelled in frustration, having reached the limits of my patience. Not my proudest moment. Next thing I know this bird approaches me. All things considered and my previous attempts, my success was utterly anti-climatic,'' Nox reported truthfully getting his head slightly shoved to the side as the Chocobo gently rubbed it's beak into his skull with small chirps.
''No way! Ugggggggghh. I would have really liked to see that with my own eyes. So ...(*Bill crouches a little to inspect the Chocobo*) it is more like she adopted you. Judging my the shape of her legs, she really was wild. There is a small difference between Chocobo legs bred in captivity and the wild...
Anyway. Why are you giving this back to me? You won the bet,'' Bill handed the Lure Materia back to him.
''Oh, yeah. I forgot. Sorry about that,'' Nox took the Materia back and pocketed it. He closed his eyes and prayed for patience as the Chocobo nestled her chest into his back trying to keep him warm and showering him with affection. Did she think she was a mother and he her child or why did she mother him like this?
''So? What will you name her?,'' Bill rubbed his chin taking in the Chocobos behavior.
''How about... Stella?,'' Nox shrugged. Nox = night; Stella = star. If the shoe fits...
''Say, did you find her anywhere near a nest?,'' Bill asked Nox as Stella chirped pleasantly at the name.
''No. You suspect she laid a clutch, the eggs got destroyed and then she imprinted on me, thinking of me as her duckling or something,'' Nox guessed. He stumbled a little forward as Stella shoved him a accidentally due to her weight. She stopped to quickly give him concerned chirps. Nox absentmindedly scractched her beak.
''A reasonable observation. That is what I was thinking too... But if there were no eggs... Well, you were very lucky. Even if there was a small chance of you taming a wild one, I did not expect it to be that friendly with you. You would have had to earn its trust and until then ... well, let's just say it would not have been docile and given you no end of frustration,'' Bill told him.
''...Can you give me a rundown about what I should be looking out for seeing as I am no adopted by a Chocobo? I don't want to harm her,'' Nox joked.
Bill laughed and agreed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nox opened his eyes.
He departed from the farm and was making his way over to Kalm. It would have been a little over a week on foot, but even with a Chocobo he needed to rest so he made a camp somewhere.
Stella was on him, trying to nest him and keep him warm.
That ... was too close.
''Stella, you are suffocating me and will probably give me a heatstroke. Please, get off of me,'' Nox talked to her.
She was a scarily intelligent creature. He noticed that the other Chocobos were too, but she was on a different level.
Stella gave some sad chirps, but still shuffled closely to him nearly hugging him. At least she was no longer on top of him.
She was... overly affectionate too and did not understand the word 'distance' or at the very least she simply ignored him on this one matter. Otherwise she was pretty obedient.
...Nox sighed. There was no way Stella wouldn't worm her way into his heart even with his guard up.
...
...
...
At least animals hardly betray or leave their master, so there was a silver lining here, Nox supposed.
---
''Have you heard? Apparently the war in Wutai is finally over,'' one customer at the bar muttered to another.
Oh?
A lot seemed to have changed, the past few months. Nox listened while eating.
''After so long, the conflict between Shinra and Wutai is just over? Just like that? What tipped the scales after nearly a decade?,'' the other person asked.
''Not nearly a decade, but ... whatever. I was in Midgar a few weeks ago, doing my business... (*He takes a bite*) and heard a few interesting things. They say Sephiroth is the hero of the war. Shinra made him the poster boy, singing him praises and all that stuff,'' he recounted.
''Sephiroth... Is he a SOLDIER?,'' the other asked.
''Yes. Apparently he is a different breed entirely. There are two ranks in SOLDIER. First and second. They say Sephiroth is another breed entirely, more powerful then any other SOLDIER. They made a new rank especially for him. The First ranks became second and the second ranks third. They say Sephiroth is the first person to be have ever made it into First Rank as SOLDIER,'' Nox heard.
''But... that doesn't make any sense,'' the other commented.
''Of course not. But with Wutai defeated Shinra now officially owns the world, they can spin any narrative they want. Who is gonna call them out on it. At least out loud,'' the one that was in Midgar on his business muttered.
Hmm...
Sephiroth.
The name did sound very vaguely familiar to Nox' ears, but aside from that the name meant nothing to him.
---
''What is that?,'' Nox asked the merchant and pointed at a Materia on display. Without touching them it was hard to tell what they were doing.
''Oh, that? It is a Sense Materia. It allows you to sense the statistics of a creature. Not ALL of them though. Some are too powerful for the Materia to work properly on. It is mostly something used by beginner adventurers. Seasoned adventurers don't really use it. 600 Gil for it,'' the merchant run his pitch.
Nox blinked.
...
Fantasy world.
Of course.
At least it would solve his confusion on what to call the monsters he fights.
''Are they naturally occurring?,'' Nox asked him.
''Ahhh... I see you are one of those types. (*'A purist', the merchant puttered*). One moment, please. (*He grabs a box from under the counter and looks through it, with only a few Materia being in there*) Here. 1200 Gil,'' the merchant passed the Materia over to Nox for him to inspect it.
''It is manufactured,'' Nox told him flatly. Was he trying to scam him?
''What!? No it isn't,'' the merchant defended himself genuinely affronted.
''It is. I can tell,'' Nox stood his ground.
''No. It. Isn't,'' the merchant stood his own ground as well.
''By any chance, did you happen to find the Materia on a dead body?,'' Nox decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
''Yes, actually. Not too far from here either. People are always willing to pay a more for better Materia so I scout out the area a bit. I kept track of which Materia I put where, so I KNOW this is the natural one,'' the merchant explained.
''Can I hold the other one, please?,'' Nox put the Materia down.
''Sure, but there is no way of telling them apart, kid. Unless you make a note of it. I will give Shinra credit, they are good at making Materia,'' the man handed the Materia to him.
''...Well, at least you are not a scammer-''
''Of course, I am not. I'm trying to run a legitimate business here.,'' the man hotly defended himself and slammed his fist on the table.
''-A first time for anything I suppose. THIS is the natural occurring Materia. You must have gotten them mixed up,'' Nox told him and handed him the Materia back.
The man blinked. Then he shook his head.
''No way. I worked with Materia all my life and even I can't tell them apart. What did you do? How can I trust you. Maybe YOU are the scammer and trying to buy the natural one for half the price,'' the merchant denied.
''I never came here with the intention of buying anything, just to get an idea of what other kind of Materia I can expect to see. I asked if the Sense Materia is naturally occurring, not that I wanted to hold it or buy it. Do what you want with what I told you. And good fortune to you, considering you are - somehow - a honest merchant,'' Nox waved behind his back as he departed.
The merchant starred at him for a while, expecting him to come back. Then he blinked ashamed as he realized he messed up.
Still, could the kid really tell the difference...? The man wondered.
He grabbed the other Sense Materia and held both...
He couldn't tell the difference, unless he knew beforehand of course. The kid was not wrong to think there are scammers out there pretending manufactured Materia was a natural one. Here, like this, just holding both side by side? The difference was impossible to tell, even if SOMETHING told the wearer what the Materia did. The scam usually ended when both were deployed on field, considering natural ones were more powerful, but at that point the scammer would be long gone...
How could the kid tell them apart?
...
Wait...
WHICH ONE WAS THE NATURAL ONE AGAIN?!!!
Ugh, he would need to get out and find a monster. He was so not looking forward to that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It has been a while since he entered civilization. Killing or evading monsters, hunting down Materia. He found a natural Sense Materia and a Lightning Materia.
The leaves rustled and out came a man.
''At ease. I mean you no harm,'' the man assured him and held out his hands in a placating manner.
''You are a stranger approaching me in the middle of the night. Forgive me if I drew my weapon,'' Nox defended himself. Stella just continued to sit docile near him.
The man looked at the dagger and smiled.
''Not like you could do much, with such a small weapon. I'm Sojiro. I come in peace and merely request to share the bonfire's warmth with you for the night. I will trouble you no further then that,'' Sojiro introduced himself and held his hand on his chest accompanied by a short bow.
''Sure. Take a seat,'' Nox sheathed his dagger. Stella had a good sense of danger. If she was not hostile to Sojiro then he would not mind.
...Even if he liked keeping people at a distance at the end of the day he was still human and a social creature. He needed some social interaction or else he would go insane. A simple conversation would keep him going for a while. Stella helped a lot with her affection, but she could not hold a conversation. Now, could she?
''I saw your fire from the distance and was attracted by it. I thought to myself 'I might as well try my luck and avoid making a mess','' Sojiro began taking a seat at the bonfire opposite of Nox.
''Fair enough. Have you eaten already?,'' Nox offered.
''Oh, I have. And even if I hadn't I could not ask this off you.
...
What is a child doing all alone in the middle of a dangerous forest in the middle of the night?,'' Sojiro asked him.
''What any child all alone in the middle of the forest in the middle of the night does. Surviving,'' Nox shrugged and began eating. Stella was a herbivore and usually ate some grass or other greens when he was killing monsters or telling her to wait while he explored for Materia.
''I take it your parents are dead? Was it because of Shinra?,'' Sojiro kindly asked him.
''Interesting that your first thought went to Shinra,'' Nox replied.
''Seeing as Shinra recently officially owns the world and they have their fingers in every pie...,''Sojiro shrugs,'' It wouldn't be too wrong or far fetched to shove the blame for all the wrong in the world at their feet.''
''Hmm. Not a wrong way at looking at it. But no... For this one, Shinra can not be blamed. And you? What is your story. Why is a man wandering all alone in the middle of the forest in the middle of the night?,'' Nox asked him.
''What any man wandering all alone in the middle of the forest in the middle of the night does. Surviving,'' Sojiro playfully shot back. Despite himself Nox could not stop his mouth from twitching in amusement. Sojiro chuckled as well.
''But in all seriousness. I'm a ronin. So I suppose in this way I am surviving by wandering all alone out in the world?,'' Sojiro told him.
''A ronin?,'' Nox asked perplexed.
''A ronin is someone who once used to serve a master as a samurai and then, by losing their master in some form, no longer serve a master. When a samurai loses their master, they are supposed to commit seppuku to regain their honor. A ritualistic suicide, in a sense, where the samurai shoves their blade into their stomach... Those who do not do that are called ronin,'' Sojiro readily explained.
''So ronin is more of a punishment and not self inflicted exile then? Who was your master?,'' Nox asked him.
''I... Well, no. I suppose, if my wandering has taught me anything, is that life is not so simple. By all rights I should be still serving my master Godo Kisaragi, the leader of Wutai. In that sense I am not a ronin for my former master still lives... So I suppose I am more of a traitor. Our people sacrificed so much for our sovereignty, we would have all gladly died for our country and Lord Kisaragi... instead he surrendered.
All these years of sacrifice, all the blood my fallen comrades spilled. All good and honorable men, all trampled under Lord Kisaragis feet at the behest of Shinra. The day Lord Kisaragi surrendered, he died for a lot of us. No longer was he the man, the master, we swore to serve and protect...
I apologize, child. I am rambling. Forgive me,'' Sojiro apologized sincerly.
Nox made a gesture with his hand that 'it was no bother'.
Nox dismissed Sojiros rambling in his head. The position of a leader that genuinely cares for his people is not an easy one. Seldom do the servants see what goes to work into being a competent leader that cares for his people. Seldom do they understand the sacrifices that need to be made for the betterment of their people.
Godo seems to have invited a small sacrifice in the form of shame or disfavor with his people in exchange for having them alive. (Much better to have them alive to fight for another day, instead of all dying on the battlefield. Maybe Godo is already making plans on how to 'betray' Shinra or maybe not. Nox could not claim to truly understand Godo's mind, for Nox was a leader out of a vendetta and ruled well over his people not because he cared, but wanted to spite the elites. There may be some overlap, but Nox knew Godo had different motivations for what he had done.)
Either way, Nox did not care for Sojiros entitlement. If he wanted to hold onto his entitlement he should have been stronger or smarter so that he could defeat Shinra.
It is a tale as old as time. The one with the bigger stick leads and the rest follow. Morales came after that.
Godo probably recognized that. That they no longer had the biggest stick around to keep their sovereignty so he made a 'tactical retreat' or just straight up surrendered.
Some time passed, with nothing but the sound of wood burning and cracking and the hoot of an owl every now and then.
''Can you fight well with that dagger?,'' Sojiro asked him.
''I survived long enough with it by my side, so I suppose so. Yes,'' Nox replied with a shrug. And his long sword made out of Mako Strands of course.
Sojiro hummed looking into the 'childs' eyes. The eyes were the window the to the soul, they saying went. The child did a good job hiding it. A very good one, scarily so. But Sojiro has been long enough around death and warriors to recognize the eyes of someone who saw death.
And a lot of it too.
''Do you have a destination in mind or do you also just wander?,'' Sojiro asked him.
''I just wander,'' Nox shrugged.
Sojiro hummed.
''Say... what would you say about me training you? Teaching you how to fight?,'' Sojiro offered.
''For what purpose? Do you intend to gather forces and attempt a coup or fight Shinra?,'' Nox asked him.
''No! Nothing of the sort,'' Sojiro quickly denied and then was silent for a long while.
''I lost everything. My master, my home, my legacy. If I were to die today or tomorrow it would be as if I would have never existed at all...
At least as a samurai, in death I would have proven myself of some value...
What, I'm trying to say... is that I'm not getting younger. I'm in my 40's and will probably die soon anyway, if I don't settle down somewhere. I doubt I will start a family either even if I do settle.
I want there to be SOMETHING. To prove I existed, that I lived, that I mattered...
I want you to be my living legacy. You clearly have a warriors spirit for no normal child would just wander the world like this... You can do with my teachings what you want, but I just want you to be a testament to my existence. What do you say?,'' Sojiro offered after his explanation.
Nox blinked. Well, wasn't that just awfully convenient to his plans. Nox looked at the katana. A swords master just falling on his lap willing to teach him.
First Stella, now Sojiro...
If it happened for a third time, it would be definitely an enemy pattern.
''What if I have no talent for fighting?,'' Nox asked him. Accepting would mean a student-teacher relationship...
''I sincerely doubt that. Warriors intuition. You have talent, when you are a swords master too, you will understand how I know,'' Sojiro fed him some bullshit. Not like he could give him the real reason, since the kid would probably clam up and get all defensive.
''I'm very interested in a long sword. I feel that is my weapon,'' Nox told him. But he could no pass up the chance... And he did manage to work closely together with others, while keeping them at a distance...It was just hard to do...
''A long sword? I trained with many weapons, but never with a long sword. I DID fight many SOLDIERs using a long sword however... as well as various other weaponry,'' Sojiro recounted and rubbed his chin. He was thinking if his knowledge could be translated to such a weapon anyway.
''I guess that is a no then,'' Nox replied.
''No, no. Wait. Don't be so hasty to make a choice... I think, I could do a good job of teaching you how to use a long sword anyway. There is no harm in trying... Though you probably need a long sword for that first... and even then, judging by your body, we will have to start with a wooden sword. The wrists are a problem in a childs body even if he does have the strength...,'' Sojiro trailed of muttering, running over things in his head.
''...Ugh. Fine. Let us hope then that it is a waste of neither of our time,'' Nox agreed. The opportunity too good to pass up.
...It will probably mean that he can't practice with his Mako Strands for a while.
''Yes! I will teach you many things. I promise you won't be disappointed,'' Sojiro told him.
''Aren't I the one who is supposed to say that? As the student I mean?,'' Nox asked him.
''Yes, yes. I will demand that you call me sensei. It means teacher in my language. Hmm... You also need a sword even if we will start with a wooden sword first... and that we also need to get. I know of a good swords master black smith outside of Wutai. We will get both weapons there. Until then I can teach you how to fight with that dagger of yours. THAT i did practice with,'' Sojiro excitedly rambled already making plans in his head and preparing their route.
---
''Nox, I will ask you as politely as possible...
How the ... How did you survive with such an atrocious form out in the wild? I will not ask, why you can hold the weapon like an assassin. That is none of my business. But as a warrior you will hold it like THIS,'' Sojiro corrected the way Nox held his dagger.
Was there really so much of a difference, between how an assassin and a warrior held a dagger? Nox looked at his hand, a little off put.
This is exactly what he feared when he decided to forgo seeking a teacher in the sword. Learning bad habits.
His footwork was wrong. His stance was wrong. His whole technique was wrong.
Sojiro despaired when he saw his form after he requested to demonstrate it to him.
''As an assassin you can continue using your previous style. It is good. Much as I detest saying that. But clearly, when it comes to fighting you only picked up the wrong things.
No matter. No matter. I can work with that. You learn quickly,'' Sojiro complimented.
Nox was gonna take his word for it. They have been doing this for precisely two days, so he couldn't judge anything.
Really.
---
He supposed it was nice... having a travel companion.
Sojiro did not ask him much about his personal life, instead he loved philosophizing. Something he seemed particularly delighted in, when he noticed his words did not just fly over Nox' head and left him confused.
Sojiro hunted for food now. Nox was just tasked with keeping up with his training.
'Hunting would waste energy that you could put into training and learning to better use that dagger,' Nox recounted Sojiro saying.
...Stella did not stop complaining every time the two got up on her. It wasn't the weight, for she could easily carry them both. She just was picky about who she showed her affection too.
Hugging her and giving her lots of scratches at the end of the day seemed to placate her.
Nox supposed... it was nice having Stella by his side.
---
''Here,'' Sojiro handed him the wooden sword. Nox looked at the other sword, now hanging at the hip opposite of his katana.
''Now, now. Don't be so eager. This will be your graduation gift... If you impress me,'' Sojiro smirked.
''I will repay you,'' Nox declared.
''Repay me, by being my living legacy,'' Sojiro told him.
---
As it turned out, Sojiro was a good teacher in teaching him how to fight with a long sword anyway, even if he never trained with it. Nox doubted that he was better then an actual long sword teacher, but he was better then nothing.
---
Of course, Sojiro tried pitching him how to teach him to fight with a katana too.
Nox could have never seen this coming. All this talk about living legacies and Sojiro using a katana as a primary weapon...
Who could have seen this coming?
Not Nox.
Definitely not.
No, Sir.
Nox accepted anyway. He doubted he will ever use a katana, but the man deserved his payment.
---
''And you were doubting yourself. Saying that you lack talent. You pick up both swords remarkably fast,'' Sojiro complimented one night.
''Maybe I just have a good teacher,'' Nox shrugged.
''Flattery will get you nowhere with me... maybe with the ladies that will be different. You are too humble. Too humble I say. After you unlearned your bad habits, you are just breezing through my lessons,'' Sojiro nodded debating some things in his head.
''Thanks I guess,'' Nox shrugged again.
He was a little flustered by all this praise.
Was he really that good? Nox did not have the impressions. But then again, he wasn't a swords master either, so Sojiro can judge as much as he wants.
''I have decided. We will pick up your training. You clearly can match my tempo,'' Sojiro declared raising his fist victoriously.
''Ok,'' Nox replied.
The man confused him.
Stella pecked his earlobe demanding her affections for the night.
---
''Ok. I know I said graduation gift... But you are not really graduating, merely advancing in your studies,'' Sojiro cringed and handed him the live steel.
A few years have passed since he started training under Sojiro and Nox' body grew enough to handle the strain of a real sword. On his wrists at least.
''Then I guess I can get to keep the blade, if I impress you enough. No?,'' Nox joked.
''Hahaha. I guess so. Now come. You may have seen me sharpen the blades a thousand times, but doing it is quite different. I will teach you how to maintain your weapons,'' Sojiro handed him a whetstone and began instructing him.
---
Nox moved the sword up to block Sojiro's descending sword. He quickly twisted the sword so that when he shoved the katana to the left, the blade would be stopped by the guards. Then he advanced the blade towards Sojiros chest.
Sojiro attacked his feet from the position he was left in by Nox. Nox, not being able to hit his chest before Sojiro cut his leg, was quickly forced to twist the blade with a wrist movement downwards to block the katana.
Nox twisted his sword again so that the guards would intercept the katana when Sojiro moved it to attack his wrists.
...But that left him in a pretty bad spot.
Sojiro gave him a shove and Nox stumbled. He barely managed to block an attempt at his head.
Sijiro disengaged and pulled his katana in a stance. Nox immediately recognized it and began deflecting the repeated stab attempts. Twisting his body in the opposite direction he was deflecting, but only a little, because if he his body was too far away from the sword he could not deflect the next stab.
Minimal wasted movement, maximum execution as Sojiro preferred. Nox could see the appeal.
But Nox messed up and Sojiro barely stopped the blade before it could go into his throat.
''Your technique is not bad. Do not be disheartened. I am simply older and therefore stronger and faster then your body can keep up,'' Sojiro kindly told him.
''I also lack experience. You fought in a war,'' Nox reminded him.
''...That is true, you lack experience. Maybe some growth too and you will surpass me soon enough,'' Sojiro smirked.
''Now. As for what needs improving besides that...,'' Sojiro began.
---
Nox starred down at Sojiro.
''Do you feel accomplished?,'' Nox spat.
''You...I am proud of you. You took everything I could teach you and made me proud,'' Sojiro weakly rasped.
''Spare me your stilted performance. You think I couldn't tell that you weren't fighting seriously? What was your genius plan? Tell me,'' Nox demanded.
''Our talks... About philosophy...It made me think ... about what I thought of Godo, about what I did, why he did what he did, why I did what I did...,'' Sojiro took in a rasping breath,'' I had these thoughts for a while... I always knew I acted in anger... I was just too cowardly to admit my lack of control...
I brought too much shame to myself, even seppuku would not let me regain my honor...
So the least I could do was have a warriors death... By someone I trained too...
I'm sorry to have forced you to do this, but there is nothing more I could have taught you. You just need experience.''
Sojiro explained that all to him with painful rasps and gasps and winces.
''But not sorry enough to not ask this off me in the first place. How quaint. A selfish entitled pathetic creature till the very end,'' Nox mocked.
''I deserve that...
Know, for what it is worth... I really am proud of you. You are... my living legacy,'' Sojiro told him.
''Do not worry worm. Unfortunately for you, I was always bad at dancing to someone else's tune
I will deny you your wish and piss on your legacy,'' Nox sneered and put his blade at his neck.
''No-ugh... what... are,'' Sojiro weakly attempted to stop him by raising his arm.
---
Thanks to Eve he knew what plants to gather.
On a night Nox slipped the sleeping tincture into Sojiro food. It was quite easy to make it. He just waited till Sojiro left to gather food and then he used his Mako Strands to make the instruments.
He left the blade behind and took everything else, leaving behind only a note, scribbled in the earth with a stick.
If Sojiro woke up to read it then good, if he got eaten by some monsters and was denied a 'warriors death' even better.
He would not be using a katana just to spite Sojiro, he still had his dagger and he could make the long sword out of Mako strands. At least in that Sojiro was good for one thing, he did learn how to use a long sword correctly.
...
...
...
'I told you so,' sang the voice in his head mockingly.
Nox tightened his fists around Stellas reins. She chirped in concern while trotting, at feeling his anger.
He calmed himself down, before he accidentally harmed her in any way and patted her gently to calm her down.
While things did not turn out exactly as he wanted, he still left their encounter with a net positive. Now he just needed to learn more about his Mako Strands and then he was confident about facing this Big Bd ROB talked about.
---
Sojiro groggily woke up and looked around.
Then he actually woke up, once the realization hit him that Nox was not in the camp and neither Stella for that matter.
After looking for any sign of struggle and finding none, he finally found a stick marking a scribbled note into the earth.
'I know what you planned on doing.
If you have any shame go bother someone else with your death.''
Nothing else was said, but Sojiro knew it was written by Nox. The boy had a vindictive streak that could make Shinra blush. It was just in line with him to be so curt after they years they have spent together.
He bent down and picked up the discarded long sword. While he was curious to know how Nox knew what he planned on doing considering Sojiro was sure he let nothing slip, he didn't really care all that much about that, to be honest.
He gripped the sword tightly.
He really was a good student.
He would have been honored to be slain by him.
He sighed after a while and began packing camp.
Maybe one day they will meet again and Sojiro can request at formal battle instead of springing it on him, like he planned on doing.
(A.N.: 6850 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. One more 'Journey' chapter and then he can meet the main cast. Cheers and stay safe our there.)