Chapter 22: Legacy of Vagor Sword

The silver moonlight bathed the sprawling Vagor estate, quiet and serene. On the rooftop of his grand home stood Kain Vagor, the son of the Sword Saint, lost in thought. He held his blade sheathed by his side, but his eyes were sharper than ever. A notification blinked on his wrist communicator.

[Message from Yujin: "Found your uncle's last location—near the Serene River, northwest of Blossom Forest."]

Kain narrowed his eyes. It had been years since Calem Vagor, his uncle, had vanished from the public eye—banished from the Sword Guild for reasons never revealed to him. But if there was a man who could help Kain reach the next level, it was Calem.

With determination burning in his chest, Kain returned to his room, packed light gear, and cleaned the Phantom Blade. "If I want to stand beside Yujin… I need more than elegance. I need purpose."

---

The Next Morning

Dawn broke as he stepped out of the Vagor estate. He moved like the wind, his steps almost silent across the path. After a half-day's journey, following the directions Yujin had provided, he arrived at the Serene River.

There, on a rock near the flowing waters, sat a rugged man with a grizzled beard and a long katana by his side. He looked up slowly.

"...Kain."

"Uncle Calem."

They stood in silence for a moment. Then Calem smiled faintly. "Took you long enough. I was wondering when you'd stop following the shadow of your father."

Kain sat down beside him. "I came for the truth. Why were you banished?"

Calem let out a long sigh. "Your grandfather, the first Vagor, didn't just create sword techniques. He forged a sword ideology based on one principle—devotion without ego. I refused to teach corrupted nobles and spoiled cadets. When I tried to expose some guild corruption, your father… he had to choose between the guild and his brother. He chose the guild."

Kain's fists clenched. "So you vanished."

"I lived," Calem said. "I watched. And I saw the way you held your sword. You're not like the rest of them."

Kain stood. "Then teach me. Teach me the original Vagor Swordsmanship. I want to inherit our true legacy."

Calem looked him over. "You're serious?"

"I have the Heavenly Exo-Skeleton. I can endure the strain. I want to be ready. I want to fight beside Yujin… and I want to crush the devils when the time comes."

Calem smiled for real this time. "Then your training begins now."

---

Days 1–10: Foundations of the Legacy

Calem broke down everything Kain thought he knew. His grip, his stance, even his breathing—all reconstructed.

"Forget what your father taught you. Feel the blade. Let it breathe with you," Calem would say.

Every morning began with meditation under a waterfall, followed by blindfolded sparring. Every swing Kain made was punished with faster, sharper counterstrikes from his uncle.

"You're still hesitating. Still trying to be perfect. Be fluid. Be honest with your blade."

Each night, Kain passed out under the stars, body bruised, mind exhausted—but never once did he think of quitting.

---

Days 11–20: Dancing with the Blade

Calem introduced the five core styles of original Vagor Swordsmanship:

Flowing Mist: Defensive evasion and footwork.

Crimson Bloom: Rapid strikes with unpredictable rhythm.

Moonfall Sever: Heavy finishers channeling body-weight and mana.

Silent Tempest: Speed-driven counterattacks.

Heaven's Rift: A secret finisher known only to the Vagor bloodline.

Kain practiced for hours under the scorching sun, then again beneath moonlight. He clashed with illusions summoned by Calem's illusion blade arts. Each time, he failed.

But each failure refined him.

Day by day, he began anticipating the strikes. His footwork became lighter. His blade no longer cut the air—it danced through it.

---

Days 21–28: Inner Awakening

On the twenty-first day, Kain meditated in a stone circle his uncle had built. "Focus your mana not just in your blade, but in your heart," Calem instructed.

That night, he dreamt of his ancestors. A silver-haired swordsman in white robes whispered to him: "The sword remembers."

When he awoke, something had changed. He could feel the flow of every strike, the intent behind every motion. His body moved before his mind.

On Day 25, he defeated one of Calem's mirage clones for the first time.

On Day 27, he struck down five illusions simultaneously.

On Day 29, Calem and Kain fought a true spar.

The forest trembled with the clash of blades. Kain flowed through styles, blending Silent Tempest with Moonfall Sever and ending with a breathtaking Heaven's Rift slash.

A deep silver aura exploded from his body as his blade shone.

[Skill Unlocked: Divine Swordsmanship]

Kain stood, breathing heavily but smiling. Calem sheathed his blade. "You've inherited it. The legacy of the Vagor flows through your veins."

Kain nodded. "Thank you, uncle."

---

Departure – Day 30

As dawn broke, Kain prepared to return to Star Academy. Calem stood by the riverside, watching the water.

"You should come with me. The world needs you again."

Calem shook his head. "Not yet. But when the devils return… I'll be there. That's my promise."

They shared a warrior's nod.

Kain walked

away, not just as a cadet—but as the heir to a forgotten sword art.