Small Cave

1222-08-29 through 1222-08-31

Shin Utsuho:

1222-08-29

We found ourselves in a small cave. A temporary refuge. The day had been spent hidden from the outside world. Many sought shelter in trees or dug holes in the earth. We were lucky—Tatsuya had stumbled upon the cave. He had fallen into it, and we got lucky with the discovery. The cave had an entrance, a small opening, which led into a larger section, separated by a narrow passage.

As we settled in, the silence broke.

"Our score is going to be cut by five," I said, trying to start a conversation.

"You're right," Ren replied.

"We should look for Var hidden in the forest," Sora added.

"If we do that, who knows what's out there?" I said.

"Yeah, Keenan and Riku are the main problems," Ren observed.

"Let's just hope we don't run into them." I said. 

"That might be our only hope." Sora said.

Suddenly, the sharp, clear note of the second trumpet echoed through the woods.

The game had officially begun.

The rest of the morning was spent resting, the familiar sound of the trumpet still ringing in our ears. We had grown used to the alarms, but now, they felt like a reminder of the game's weight. We rested, knowing there was little else to do during our break.

It had always been about training and fighting. What was the purpose? To become assassins? To kill? To awaken our spirits?

Ino. the woman who had cared for me as long as I could remember. She had taught me to fight, but never to kill.

"You should only kill to protect yourself or others," she had always said.

Even though my days at the orphanage had been hard, I had let her words in. They had become close to my heart, in a world that often pushed me down and stripped me of comfort.

I woke up later in the day. The rest of the group is still asleep. 

Tatsuya woke up a moment later. He looked at me, and we shared a knowing nod.

"What's your spirit?" he asked me.

"I thought we weren't supposed to talk about these things."

"Only those who can't trust others don't share."

"If you say so," I replied. "I call mine 'Truth Stray.'"

"You gave yours a name?" He laughed.

"Why not?"

"Why would you?"

"Well, what's yours?"

"I can blind the senses of others."

That could be useful, I thought to myself.

"What stage?" I asked.

"Stage 1."

"You haven't unlocked Stage 2?"

"None of us have. We're the litter of the group, the weakest."

"We'll make it through," I said. "I'll look for some Var in the forest."

"I'll call mine Hollow Perception," he said, with a grin.

I stood up and walked toward the small entrance of the cave. 

"I'll be back," I said.

I stepped out into the woods.

It's late in the day. The sun hidden behind clouds. It casts the forest in a grey hue. I moved through the trees, cutting down vines with my sword. I find some Var on the ground, hidden in the hollows of trees and stuck to the backs of leaves. By the time I finish, I've gathered about ten Var. I keep going. I came across a small pond fed by a river. I kneel down, drinking the cool water. 

Click.

A dull pain, small but sharp, pricks at the back of my neck.

"Utsuho," the voice says. "Are you really this easy?"

A familiar voice. Keenan.

I didn't think I'd see him like this.

He takes his weapon off the back of my neck, and I slowly turn around. Keenan's standing there. A small leaf hanging from the hilt of his weapon. A smirk on his face.

"I don't want to challenge you," he says casually. "I'm sure you've hidden your Var."

I nodded.

"Why don't we talk?" he adds, sitting on a nearby rock.

I face him, Keenan standing there with that smirk still on his face. He speaks first.

"I know you don't trust me," he says, voice casual but sharp. "But I know humans. They act like everything's a game, but they never really get it. They talk big, but when it comes down to it, they'll take whatever is easiest."

I let out a soft laugh. "And you think you've got me all figured out?"

Keenan shrugs, eyes glinting. "You'd be surprised. I know what trust looks like. You say you trust them, but can you really?"

"I trust them," I reply, my voice steady, but there's a flicker of doubt I can't hide.

He laughs, loud and mocking. "Trust is the refuge of cowards. A bird doesn't trust its branch; it trusts itself." He smiles at me, almost teasing. 

 I take a deep breath. My hands gripping my weapon tighter. "I know what I'm fighting for." 

"You think this is just about strength? The strong come and go, but only the strongest ever see the Supreme Leader. It's a brutal game, Utsuho. You don't deserve to be here."

"I didn't want to come here!" I yell. "I was taken."

"Neither did I," he retorts. "But strength means more. Spirit means more."

"There's more to this world than strength," I shoot back.

I fall silent. 

"Are you willing to die for them? Will you die for this cause?".

"Yes."

"True delusion."

He looks at me one last time, his gaze unreadable. He throws a kunai attached to a small rope at my feet. 

"You'll need it," he says. He turned to walk back into the forest.

1222-08-30

We walk in opposite directions, both of us looking for Var. By the time I return, there's nothing left. The day is almost new, the sun shining high in the sky. I keep searching, but find nothing. The rest of the var is gone by now.

I make my way to the entrance of the cave, making sure no one spots me. But just before I enter, I hear voices. I stop and crouch beside the entrance, trying to listen without being seen.

I hear laughter. 

"With Utsuho's help, we'll each have two more var. That should be enough to make sure we don't lose."

"Yeah, and the others? "

"We'll just take theirs"

"I found another place to stay."

"We've got the advantage now. "

"We are the biggest group.".

"Are you sure?" Tatsuya asked. "I'm not sure we could beat Utsuho."

"By the last day, we'll be the ones taking his and anyone else's we can get our hands on."

"We'll fight, and once he's injured, we'll take his Var and leave."

"He's been out looking for days. He might have lost already," one of them laughed.

"Tatsuya's right to be cautious."

"You all know what's at stake. We can't afford to lose."

I heard murmurs, my thoughts drowned out.

They tackled, and I heard Tatsuya speak. 

"Fine," he said. "We'll do it."

I stepped deeper into the cave, and Ren was the first to notice me. Before she could say anything, I raised my hand.

"Trust is a visage of cowards," I whisper to myself. "The weak only rely on the strong."

Using the kunai Keenan gave me, I grab a bag of var, then turn to leave. They chase after me, but I don't fight.

I run into the forest, my thoughts swirling. I could have beaten them. I could have fought them off, taken their var. What would it prove, though? Nothing.

Defeating the weak means nothing.

I spent the rest of the day searching for Var, but with little success. I end up fighting for a place to stay, sneaking through the forest, looking for other groups. In truth, once I retired to the cave, I used the time to rest—something I hadn't done in a long while.

I had always been underestimated, but I knew I could win. I have the power I've always wanted. The skills I've always dreamed of. Yet, as I sat there in the quiet of the cave, I felt nothing.

The forest felt empty. I felt empty. My thoughts wandered. I watched the flowers bloom in their delicate beauty. I had the strength. Something is missing.

I need to trust my instincts. My own strength, not rely on others. I've always been searching for validation, but maybe the answer lies within me. The power I've been chasing was never meant to be found in others; it was something I had to create on my own.

1222-08-31

On the final day, I leave my hiding spot and step into the forest, moving quietly beneath the trees.

I had accumulated 25 Var.

 Cloaked and alert.

I make my way through the woods, searching for any sign of people. After a while, I spotted another group. Among them, I see a familiar face— Riku.

I decide to wait, watching them carefully.

She, with the outcasts, arranged a burning fire. Tatsuya smiles as they talk. I can't make out what they're saying. The sight makes me angry.

Riku must have noticed my anger. She called out to me.

"Utsuho!" she calls out, her voice cutting through the quiet.

I step forward, emerging from my hiding place. "This time, you'll be beaten," I say, my tone cold.

She shakes her head, her stance defensive. "I'd rather not fight."

I laugh softly, my gaze hardening. "Fighting is the only thing that matters. Winning is the only thing that counts."

She looks at me, unimpressed. "That's not true."

"You didn't accept me into your group," I say, my voice harsh. "Because you think the weak rely on the strong. Because I hadn't won "

"That's not true," she continued, her voice steady. "I knew you'd be fine alone. They, however, needed the help."

"You stole from them, took their Var, and ran. Is that true?"

"Yes, it is," I laughed. "The weak rely on the strong. They are weak."

"Utsuho, what are you talking about? This is just a game."

"I finally understand what T's been trying to teach us."

And what's that?" Riku laughed.

"Strength, spirit. That's all that matters. I understand it now."

"Is that what you think?"

"Yes."

"Then you're lost."

"No, I'm not," I yelled. "We're here to be assassins. We're here to fight. We're here to kill. You wouldn't want a weak team, would you? "

"Is this all because I didn't allow you into my group?" she sighed. "Next time."

"There is no next time. If you were fighting in another country, you wouldn't get second chances."

"Utsuho, I've been here way longer than you. We're assassins, but we need to protect each other."

"Why should I, you didn't."

"I'm sure you'll understand soon enough," she said.

"If I have to fight you to prove it to you, then that's what I'll do."

"Let's see if you can protect them." I continued.

"You think you can take on all of us? You'd be lucky to get past me."

"True delusion," I say. "You all massively underestimated me, Riku. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

 "Oh? Prove it then."

I draw my sword slowly. The blade gleaming in the fading light. "You want to team up on me? Fine. I'll defeat you, regardless. This ends now."

Her laughter fades as she readies herself. "We'll see."

The fight begins. Riku is always one step ahead. Her moves are fast, and I can barely keep up. Every strike I make, she dodges with ease. I can't touch her.

"You're too slow," she teases, her voice dripping with confidence.

I feel frustrated. I can't land a hit. She's reading me like an open book. I need to change something.

Then, it clicks. I stop moving the way I usually do. I stop trying to hit her and focus on where she's going. I start thinking ahead, predicting her next move.

"I finally understand your spirit," I say, surprised by my own words.

She stops, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"

A laugh escapes me. "You see, the world moves fast. But when you're at Stage 2, it's like everything slows down. It's all about perception."

Without waiting for her to reply, I move. This time, I'm faster, more in sync with her, anticipating her moves. She's caught off guard as I push her back, finally landing a few hits.

But just as I think I've won, everything goes dark. I feel something bind me, restricting my movements. I try to move, but I can't. It's Tatsuya. He's stopped me.

I blink and look down. My mana core is cracked. I'm losing.

Riku grins. "Is that all?"

I force myself to stand, my body aching. "I understand now," I say, despite the pain. "I finally understand."

Riku laughs. "Understand what? That you're too weak?"

"No," I say, gritting my teeth. 

"Witness my spirit !!!"

My aura surged. Energy spilling out into the surrounding area. It overwhelmed everything around me. The energy pulsed, like a shockwave. It causes the very fabric of the world to crack. I felt the ground beneath me shift. The universe itself was reacting to the force of my emotions. Reacting to my soul.

I fell to my knees. I was overwhelmed by the raw power coursing through me. I slammed my hands together. I focused on everything I had. Words popped into my mind. They pull the chaotic energy back into myself. These words are the embodiment of my soul and my spirit.

I took a deep breath

"Walls dissolve, the solid fades,

Matter bends, my passage made.

Through all things, I forge my way,

Boundless, fleeting as the day."

Edict: True Stray