Genken Ingrim

Locus was utterly confused.

"What?"

"Your katana; you're holding it wrong."

Locus looked down at his right hand, clasping the sword's handle.

"And what would you know about it? It's not easy to handle a katana, you know?"

The blonde guy looked like he had a little too much to drink. There was a bright smirk stretching across his face. His eyes didn't show any sign of concentration on what was happening.

"Yes, I know. That's why I'm trying to help you."

The two guys from earlier had gotten some backup and were now walking straight towards Locus.

"If you know so much about fighting, then why don't you join me?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know whether I'm the best fighter."

"A human shield would be fine with me."

The man laughed, took a sip of the liquid inside of his glass, and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his long, white coat.

"Hold the handle with the left hand so that I can't see its end. Then grab the handle's top with your right hand. There should be about two centimeters of distance between your top knuckle and the ring that protects it."

One of the guys who were approaching Locus drew a knife. Without anything else in mind, without any form of plan or skill that could get him out of here, Locus just did as the man in the white coat told him without overthinking any of it.

"Now twist your hands towards each other as if you wanted to wring the handle out."

He was right. Handling the katana this way was so much easier than just swinging it with Locus' right hand.

"When you cut, make sure to cut in a straight lin-"

Before the man could finish his sentence, the guy holding the knife pounded on the table.

"So you want to take our jobs from us?"

Locus didn't know what to say. He just held out his katana while being to afraid to strike. What would the other guys do to him?

"And you want to help him?"

The guy turned to the blonde man, who still looked pretty befuddled.

"Me? Oh, I just want the odds to be evened out."

The guy with the knife laughed.

"This dimwit against us? That would take ages!"

The whole group burst out in laughter. The blonde guy was still smiling. Now the man with the knife, who was probably the leader, stretched out his arm, shortening the distance between knife and chin to just about an inch.

"So you're saying that you're on his side?"

"That's not what I said. Didn't you listen to me?"

The man holding the knife stopped smiling.

"You know, that expression on your face really pisses me off."

At that moment, Locus stepped between them.

"Wasn't your problem with me?"

The blonde guy chuckled. Then he whispered something to Locus.

"When that guy attacks you, just block with the sharp side of your katana."

Said man started smiling again.

"Sounds like you have a death wish, boy."

"As if someone like you could kill me."

Silence.

It wasn't really intended by Locus to say something like that, but he had known that if he had kept quiet, his position would be more than just bad. He would have been made fun of for the rest of his life.

Filled with sudden rage, the guy with the knife took a swing from top to bottom. Locus was fully prepared. This reaction was to be expected of someone like that after being insulted.

Without any time to think, Locus just held his katana in front of him, hoping that it would take some strength out of the leader's attack. But, to his surprise, that's not what happened. When the knife came into contact with the katana's blade, it just shattered.

The blonde man rose from his stool.

"Look, we won't bother you ever again, and we deeply apologize for any trouble that we might have caused you."

Then he grabbed Locus' shoulder and dragged him out of the bar, leaving behind a gold coin on his table, while the group just looked after them, completely clueless about what just went down.

Outside of the bar, the man led Locus down a side street.

"Good grief, sheathe your katana already, will you?"

Locus, who still hadn't managed to figure out what had happened, did as the man said.

"You should be cautious of these people. Try to stay out of their business and hope to never come in contact with them."

Locus nodded, and the man proceeded to leave without saying another word. Still in shock, Locus turned around to look at him while he was wandering off. Then he began shouting.

"Would you please teach me how to fight?"

The words just left his mouth. The man stopped and turned around. The smirk on his face was ridiculously big. He began chuckling.

"Alright, little buddy, meet me at the guild tomorrow after the sun has risen."

He tuned around again.

"My name is Locus. May I ask what I can call you, sir?"

Pause.

"My name is Genken. Genken Ingrim."