Ch4 - Sword Spirit of Blossom

A grand field of blossoms, no end in sight. In the middle stood two familiar faces. The sword spirit that called herself Hanako and Sen. 

"We're here inside my blade."

Sword Spirits are created by Sword Masters continuously using their unique Sword Intent on their blade.

I looked around at this never-ending field of blossoms and then I looked back at my new-found master. 

And then I plopped down on the floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Resting."

'I'm tired, I want to go to bed.'

"Get up."

'Change, change, change.'

I repeated to myself like a mantra. 

'I don't want to do this.'

I inwardly sighed and got back up.

"What's next, Master?"

"We begin immediately. Here take this."

She coldly said as she threw me a wooden katana. 

"My art is called [The Fragrant Cherry Blossom Style], The core structure of it is using mana to create thousands of little cherry blossom swords."

'Really? Doesn't that seem overly girly, you know?'

She raised her sword gripping it with both hands a couple inches above her head. 

Thousands of cherry blossoms followed her blade as it swung forward. 

"Step-by-step you'll copy that exact movement."

"Yes, mam."

She said as she lowered her sword.

I nodded and adapted a similar position to hers. 

"Use the technique to condense mana in the air into the cherry blossoms"

"Is there a faster way to do this? This seems like an awful amount of work."

"No"

I could only inwardly sigh at her response as I followed her command.

'Why do I even have to learn this stupid art? I have no obligation to do any of this.'

Much as she said thousands of little petals hovered over the tip of my blade and just as fast as they appeared, they dispersed.

"You're condensing it but not controlling it. Try again."

Once again, I raised my blade and condensed the mana into petals.

They stayed for just a bit longer

before they dispersed.

'Thought I had it that time.'

"You seriously have no aptitude for this, huh."

"Can't I just quit while I'm ahead?"

"You're not even ahead."

I raised my sword above my head and once again attempted the art. 

I let out a long-exasperated sigh.

'This is gonna take a while.'

***

And it did take a while. It had been 5 hours since that last conversation and Hanako had just been staring at me this entire time.

I've gotten to the point where I can do 2 slashes before the blossoms disperse. 

"You're very slowly getting the hang of it. Well, then, that's it."

"Huh? Aren't you going to teach me more?"

"No? Us sword spirits only teach you the very basics."

"Useless."

I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

'I swear in the novel Koen stayed in Lucavion's blade for at least a week.'

She waved me off and just like that I was back in the forest.

"Piece of shit."

Night had long since fallen and I slowly made my way back to the house. 

There was a massive wall that I climbed over at the start because I thought it'd be bothersome to ask the guards to open the gate.

I once again sighed as I looked toward the wall.

'Eh what's the worst that happens.'

This time I was too mentally drained to even care so I made my way towards the gate.

The guards looked at me for a moment before recognizing me. 

"Come in Young Master."

'Seriously? They aren't even going to question why I'm out here?"

Yet in their eyes, I could see a sense of pity, I wonder why?

I soon found out that why.

As I walked towards the main house, I saw a familiar figure.

My new mother was standing outside the door looking at me with an expression that sent shivers down my spine.

"Where were you?"

She was smiling as she said that, but I doubt she was happy.

Even though she asked me a question I just stared at her blankly.

'What do I even say?'

"Sen? Are you going to answer my question."

"Late night training."

I said blankly.

"We have a training ground."

"I like training in the outdoors, it feels nicer."

"You could have trained in one of our many yards."

"I didn't want to ruin them."

She asked me more questions, but every time I came up with an excuse.

And she eventually let me off the hook.

'Is that what it feels like to rebel? I don't know why so many teenagers do it. It just makes me feel anxious at the end.'