The evening air drifted gently above the walls of the Academy of the Sword Arts.
The sun, setting just beyond the horizon, cast its final rays, heralding the end of another day of trials for the adepts chosen for greatness. They had the honor of training and drawing knowledge in the arts of combat and strategy.
The Academy sprawled across dozens of kilometers. In scale, it resembled a city rather than any school. And it was no conventional school. Its grounds contained military facilities, combat arenas, residential houses, and army barracks alike.
Its exterior inspired respect and reverence.
The aura surrounding the Academy was tangible, and anyone who had seen it even once claimed it would remain etched in their memory forever.
That day, however… it was not the Academy itself that drew the admiration of the soldiers within its walls. It was the clash of two great warriors.
Their sparring match drew the attention of most—if not all—of the cadets residing on the Academy grounds, as well as high-ranking officers, to one of the combat arenas.
One of the men—tall and powerfully built, clad in heavy armor—moved with unbelievable speed considering his size and the magnitude of his weapon. His facial features, sharp and filled with anger, revealed a proud and unyielding character. Hair black as pitch, tied upward, contrasted with his pale complexion, giving him a striking presence. His appearance was fully consistent with his fighting style.
Every swing of his sword carried destruction.
Attacks filled with rage and aggression radiated unwavering confidence and strength. This did not mean the strikes were reckless. On the contrary. Every movement expressed mastery and quality envied by all spectators.
All eyes were captivated by the full display of
power and determination embodied in the martial art of Captain Cain, who himself felt the desirous gazes directed at him.
He reveled in it. He loved it. Such looks only drove him further. He fought primarily for those gazes—for admiration from others, but also for the fear of enemies… and allies.
All of this stood in complete opposition to his
current opponent.
A slender, unassuming man dressed in a simple light-colored kimono.
His face betrayed no emotion. Impenetrable, as if lost in thought. As though his mind were somewhere else entirely.
Dark, loose hair moved with him as if carried by the wind. His light katana appeared incapable of stopping the massive sword wielded by his opponent. The man embodied calm in his entirety and gave the impression that the arena was not his place.
Yet this was only an impression… his fighting style resembled that of a dancer to whom a katana had been entrusted. Every movement
felt as though the world itself moved with him. Each cut of his blade left behind a trail of wind, sensing his will and following it.
His style was harmony, and the world seemed to submit to that harmony, striving to become a part of it.
He did not evoke emotions as intense as the
expressive style of Captain Cain.
Nevertheless, Captain Sinn Bay did not care.
His mind during combat was clear. In his head, there was only himself and his opponent. His ego required no approval, applause, or covetous gazes. What mattered was harmony with the surrounding world and the art of combat that allowed him to protect those he loved most.
The fight was extraordinary. Everyone gathered in the arena watched with bated breath. No one dared to speak, for fear of missing even a single element of the craftsmanship displayed by these two incredible
warriors.
The arena trembled under Cain's blows striking Sinn Bay's katana. The force of the former's attacks was entirely nullified by the latter's fluid parries. Each swing should have shattered Sinn Bay's blade, yet
it did not.
"It's time to end this," Cain shouted, staring
straight into his opponent's eyes, then accelerating to a speed impossible for
ordinary people to follow. His katana began to move as if it weighed no more
than a feather.
A cry of awe mixed with astonishment swept throughthe stands.
"How is that possible?" voices echoed from the audience.
The avalanche of strikes raining down on Sinn Bay slowly began to break through his defense.
Until now, flawless…
At one moment, the world froze as Cain's blade stopped at the height of Sinn Bay's neck.
"Seris will kill me anyway for coming back so late", Sinn Bay said with a friendly smile, sheathed his katana, and blended into the
crowd of observers.
"With you it's always the same!" Cain shouted.
"I get the impression that when you fight me, you're already thinking about dinner with your wife…" he added with a grimace.
The post-duel clamor drowned out Cain's jabs, and soon he was surrounded by soldiers congratulating him on the incredible
victory.
"Alright, alright, calm down. I'll tell you all in a
moment how it's possible that I'm so amazing!" he laughed mockingly, forgetting
about his opponent as he surrendered himself to the whirlwind of admiration and
affirmation from the cadets.
Meanwhile, Sinn Bay was already far on his way home.
It lay on the outskirts of the Academy, where his wife and two daughters were
waiting for him.
'I hope I'll still get dinner for being a little
late,' he thought with amusement, then broke into a run toward the light coming
from the small house—where, upon entering, awaited his inspiration for living
and three reasons to rise each day and strive to be a better man.