5. Sword Path and Separation
Kanoru was training with weights in his home garden after returning from the competition.
"Ahh!" He winced as he picked up a weight the wrong way, pulling a muscle. Frustrated, he sat on the ground, ignoring the dirt on his clothes.
"I can't train like this without knowing what's happening."
He knows their only southern neighbour Niwais invaded other than he knows nothing as the samurai who brought back the information was quickly taken inside the lord's house after he announce the information of the invasion in the arena.
" I was taught about the war history of our territory by Master Si."
His mind raced, trying to remember what would follow after a war started. He knew that if the battle became too intense and more troops were needed, he would be forced to participate—derailing his plan. His original goal was to train carefully until he turned sixteen, then join a team. He was confident he could advance to a middle-ranked samurai before he turned sixteen.
" Normally I will not, but with resources I will get after winning the competition, but now with the start of war, he is not sure if he will get the resources."
In this world, sixteen was considered adulthood, and under normal circumstances, one could only participate in war at that age. This was an unofficial rule, but in times of crisis, it was ignored. Anyone capable of fighting— even ordinary people— would have to join the army. Normally, samurai were responsible for protecting the people, but during crises, that duty extended to everyone.
"I shouldn't be called to fight right away," he thought.
At best, he estimated he had between one and twelve months before being summoned. If he could strengthen his body enough to open the third gate, even for a short time, it could be the deciding factor between life and death. But he knows it is impossible.
"It took my body two years after opening the first gate to open it for a short period." He had only mastered the energy inside the second gate six months ago.
"The difficulty of gate opening increases drastically after each one."
Even now, he was nowhere near ready to attempt opening the third gate.
"If I calculate it… It took me two years to open the second gate, the Gate of Healing. Since the difficulty doubles each time, I will be able to open the third gate, the Gate of Life, when I am twelve—if I practice normally."
His sword skills were adequate, and he had even developed his own sword technique by mastering the Sword Schools of Cat and Snake.
"I can reduce my sword practice from four hours a day to one and give the remaining three hours to body training, making it eight hours in total."
But he knew training for eight hours straight would do more harm than good.
Kanoru hears footsteps and looks up to see his father approaching with a worried expression. He stands and walks toward him, meeting him on the steps from the house to the garden.
"Father, what happened in the meeting?" he asks.
His father replies, "The Niwais attacked the Red Fortress an hour before dawn. The fortress was on the verge of falling when they sent a team to bring back the information."
Kanoru thought of the injured man who had returned with the message—perhaps he was the only survivor.
His father continues, "Scouts have been sent, but we already know the fortress has fallen. In two hours, I will leave to participate in the war."
Kanoru is worried for his father but puts up a brave front.
"Father, do not worry. I will take care of Mother and Sister."
His father then says, "You will also leave home tomorrow for the Black Kanji Forest camp to train and prepare for war. You could be called to the battlefield at any time."
Kanoru nodded and asked, "Father, in previous battles, whether we attacked or they did, we always received information one or two days in advance. How did we not get any warning this time?"
His father replies, "We do not know. This could only happen if our spies were compromised or if the Niwais attacked with a hidden army we did not know of."
Kanoru feels that if either possibility is true, their chances of winning are slim.
His father reassures him, "Do not worry. Even if they have an advantage, they cannot reach our town. To do so, they must cross the Kōgyoku River, which is impossible without boats. They are not known for their navy, while ours is famous in the region."
Kanoru nodded, showing agreement, but in his mind, he wondered—if they could hide an army, could they not also conceal their naval strength or gain foreign aid? Fame, after all, could also make them a target.
His father takes out a scroll from his pocket and hands it to him.
"This is from Lady Kaomisa," he says.
Taking the scroll, Kanoru asks, "What is in it?"
"She said it is an explanation of the sword path. She gave it to you because of your path in the sword."
Kanoru nodded and started to unroll the scroll, but before he could read, his father said, "I should go and get ready."
Kanoru nodded absentmindedly, his full attention now on the writing. The scroll explains the path to becoming a sword master. The way of the sword is divided into four stages:
1. Sword Wind
2. Sword Thunder
3. Sword Light
4. Sword Energy
Reading this, he realizes another way to grow stronger. Tomorrow, he would leave for Black Kanji Forest, and his previous training plan would have to be scrapped. He now needed to balance both sword and body training.
"Once I get there, I'll have to create a new training plan based on the situation."
He wonders what kind of training awaits in the Black Kanji Forest. What he knows is that the forest is famous for the Black Kanji trees used in shipbuilding, but cutting wood there is dangerous due to the presence of blood beasts. These creatures mostly remain in the core of the forest, but at times, they stray beyond it.
However, for him, the blood beasts themselves are not the biggest concern—they are rare. The real threat comes from beasts carrying traces of blood beast lineage. These creatures are not uncommon and possess the strength of lower- and middle-rank samurai.
Raising his head, he hears footsteps and turns toward the corridor just in time to see Meriko running toward him at full speed. As she reaches him, she leaps into the air.
Kanoru catches her mid-jump.
"Meriko, I told you not to do this. It's dangerous."
Meriko doesn't respond, only hugs him tightly.
"Why did you come to me?" he asks.
With a thoughtful expression, Meriko says, "Mother called for lunch."
Kanoru glances at the sky—it is indeed time for lunch. Carrying Meriko, he walks back inside the house.
After lunch, his family gathers at the house gate, watching his father prepare to leave. He stands before them, clad in armor, a sword tied to his waist and another held in his hand.
"Kanoru, this is for you," his father said, handing him the second sword. "Your practice with a wooden sword has ended. You should get familiar with this quickly. I don't know when you'll receive the call."
Kanoru took the sword, gripping it firmly. "Don't worry, Father. I'll be ready."
His father nods. "Take care of that sword. It has been passed down in our family, given to the heir when they turn ten."
"I will, Father," Kanoru promises.
His father then turns to his mother, embracing her as tears form in her eyes. Next, he knelt slightly to hug Meriko, who, for once, wore a serious expression.
"Father, take care."
He places a hand on her head. "Meriko, take care of your mother."
Finally, he hugs Kanoru before stepping away, joining the other samurai gathered at the town's gate, all preparing to leave for war.