Chapter 152: Chapter 152 - Master of Tempest ( Part 1 )
The next morning brought Rosario Village under ominous dark clouds.
Wind blew harshly through the narrow streets of the village making the signs groan and trees shake. In contrast to the gentle breeze of previous days, this wind had a certain pressure to it.
The villagers immediately noted this.
"The weather turned."
"A storm is coming."
"But the skies were clear the other day..."
Snow stood outside the inn, his ears perked up.
"...This is not natural."
Jennie stepped outside wearing her disguise – Excalibur hidden behind the silver hairpin stuck in her hair.
She felt it too.
It was not the simple blowing wind.
It was the wind... searching.
Roxy hugged her cloak closer.
"I don’t like this."
Jennie quietly agreed.
"Neither do I."
While wandering around the village, the mysterious wind grew stronger.
Dust rose off the road.
The shutters of the houses knocked against the windows.
Not even the birds had dared to fly in the sky.
All what could be heard was the incessant whistling of the wind weaving among the mountain cliffs.
Then—
A familiar voice reverberated in the mind of Jennie.
"...Jennie."
It was Excalibur.
In contrast to its usual solemnity, today the voice sounded with obvious haste.
What is it?
"...Something has awakened."
Jennie instinctively put her hand on the hairpin.
Another Demon General?
"...No."
A short silence followed.
And then another voice participated in the conversation.
Muffled.
Gentle.
Like the waves beating against the distant shores.
"...I feel it too."
Jennie gave a slight smile.
Leviathan.
The Sword of Oceans hardly spoke.
But whenever...
It was never without a reason.
"...The wind remembers."
Jennie frowned.
What does it mean?
Neither sword provided the answer right away.
Instead...
They went silent.
As if listening to something only Divine Swords could hear.
Near the center of Rosario, Luka was helping the villagers to repair the damaged watchtower.
A familiar rusty sword leaned on the pile of timber near the tower.
It looked the same as before.
Old.
Rusty.
Forgotten.
However...
The moment Jennie came within few meters from it—
Hummmmm...
The soft rumbling noise filled the air.
Nobody else except Divine Swords would react to it.
But Jennie immediately sensed the change.
Excalibur became warm.
Leviathan hummed from within its scabbard hanging at her waist.
Even the very air seemed to tremble.
Roxy quickly turned her head.
"Did you feel that?"
Snow bristled.
"...Yes."
Luka glanced at them.
"What?"
Jennie didn’t answer.
She looked at the rusty sword intently.
Inside her mind, Excalibur spoke again.
Its voice carried emotions that Jennie had never heard before.
"...Brother..."
Leviathan quietly answered.
"...After so many centuries..."
Jennie’s heart raced.
Is it really...?
Excalibur interrupted.
"...Touch it."
Jennie hesitated.
What if Luka protests?
Before she could say something...
Luka noticed her staring at him once again.
He sighed.
"You are still interested in this rusty sword?"
Jennie gave a slight smile of apology.
"I have been thinking..."
"Could I check it?"
Luka shrugged.
"If you really want."
"It’s just some rusty steel."
He casually threw the sword to her.
Roxy almost screamed.
"Do not throw the swords!"
Jennie caught it easily.
The moment her fingers touched the worn grip—
BOOM!
A violent gust of wind bursted across the village.
Everybody stopped moving.
Dust flew around in the air.
The clouds above started spinning.
The villagers fell backwards.
"What was that?!"
Snow scratched the earth with his claws.
"...That is Divine power."
Jennie looked at the sword in surprise.
It was vibrating.
Violently.
But gently.
As if it recognized her touch.
Inside her mind...
Excalibur quietly laughed.
A laughter of relief.
"...I knew it."
Leviathan answered calmly.
"...He still lives."
Jennie whispered,
"...Who?"
Both the swords answered her at the same time.
"...Tempest."
The rusty blade became warm.
Not hot.
Warm comfortably.
As the sunlight after winter.
Jennie slowly lifted it.
The wind around Rosario reacted instantly.
It encircled her.
Dancing.
Almost happily.
Roxy looked amazed.
"The wind..."
"It follows you."
Snow narrowed his eyes.
"No."
"It follows the sword."
A soft cracking noise resonated around the square.
Crack...
Jennie looked at the sword.
The rust on it started to fall.
Fragments of rust floated in the wind like withered leaves.
Another crack appeared.
Crack...
Crack...
The villagers stared in disbelief.
Luka’s eyes grew wide.
"What..."
He took an involuntary step forward.
"I have carried this sword for years..."
"It never..."
The rust kept falling.
Part by part.
Centuries of decay disappeared right in front of their eyes.
The metallic body under the layer of rust started emerging.
Smooth.
Untouched by the time.
Beautiful.
Ancient runic symbols started glowing along the blade.
Silver.
Blue.
White.
The symbols glowed gently with the light.
The wind surrounding the village became stronger.
But strangely enough...
It was no longer dangerous.
It felt...
Happy.
Jennie slowly withdrew the sword from its rusted scabbard.
The last pieces of rust broke.
SHHHHH!
The fragments dissipated in countless shining particles carried away by the wind.
Gasp resonated around the square.
The sword that now was before the eyes of Jennie had nothing in common with the rusty piece of steel that was in possession of Luka.
Its blade gleamed in the bright white light like the moonlight.
The elegant lines resembling the flows of the air stretched from the hilt to the tip.
The blade’s crossguard had the shape of the wings.
In its center was a pale blue stone that was pulsating according to the rhythm of the wind.
Roxy quietly said,
"It is beautiful..."
Snow bowed his head respectfully.
"So..."
"It was really hiding."
Inside Jennie’s mind, Excalibur spoke proudly.
"...Finally..."
Leviathan quietly added.
"...The Blade of Storms awakens once more."
Jennie silently observed the magnificent weapon.
Images of the ancient murals under Greymane Castle passed in front of her.
"The Blade of Storms has already chosen its master."
Jennie finally understood.
The sword had awakened long ago.
Not because someone drew its power...
But because it decided to stay by the side of one man.
Luka Manjero.
The leader of Rosario.
The man who possessed this sword without even realizing who it really was.
As the storm wind started swirling gently around the village, Jennie understood that the next words told by the ancient Divine Sword would change everything they knew about Luka...
The wind wouldn’t let go.
In graceful spirals, it was swirling around the village square, raising leaves into the air and sending the last pieces of rust up towards the sky.
Nobody said anything.
All the villagers were standing frozen in place, their gazes fixed upon the glowing sword in Jennie’s hands.
It was but a moment ago when the sword was nothing but an old piece of junk covered in rust, which nobody would pay attention to.
Now it was...
...a sword shining with ancient light of its own.
The pale blue gemstone of its guard was emitting a soft pulse.
Each pulse matched with a gentle breeze.
Roxy exclaimed in wonder,
"...It’s beautiful!"
Snow bowed his head.
"A Divine Sword..."
"So this is one of the Seven."
Jennie looked at the sword slowly.
She could sense the ancient being, sleeping deep inside the blade.
It was not aggressive.
Nor prideful.
Just patient.
Like the one that had slept for many centuries.
And then...
A voice echoed inside her head.
Not like Excalibur, dignified and proud.
Not like Leviathan, calmly wise.
It was lively.
Free.
Like the laughter in the wind.
"...Finally..."
"...Fresh air."
Jennie blinked.
You’re...
The voice chuckled.
"Tempest."
"Blade of Storms."
"At your service..."
There was a moment of silence.
And then the sword laughed.
"...Well, not exactly."
Jennie smiled faintly.
You’ve already picked someone else.
"...Correct."
The winds surrounding the sword started swirling with delight.
"...I’ve been waiting for him."
The villagers looked puzzled as Jennie shut her eyes.
"Miss Jennie?"
"Is there something wrong?"
She opened them again.
"No."
"All is becoming clear."
Luka crossed his arms.
"I would appreciate if somebody explained why my old sword all of sudden turned into..."
He struggled to find the words.
"...This."
Jennie turned to look at him.
"You’ve been holding this sword for years."
"Yeah."
"You’ve never wondered why you couldn’t throw it away."
Luka shrugged.
"It belonged to my father."
Jennie smiled.
"That’s not the only reason."
She started moving slowly toward Luka.
Her Divine Sword was humming softly.
The wind swirling around it moved from Jennie to Luka.
His coat was waving in the wind.
His hair was dancing.
The blue stone on the sword was shining brighter.
The voice inside Jennie’s head was laughing.
"There he is."
"He keeps pretending he knows nothing."
Jennie stopped in front of Luka.
"This sword..."
"It belongs to you."
Luka looked at her.
"...What?"
"It picked you."
Luka frowned.
"Don’t be ridiculous."
"I’m not a hero."
"I’m not a king."
"I’m not even a knight."
"I’m just a former bandit, trying to hold this village together."
Jennie shook her head.
"The Divine Swords don’t choose titles."
"They pick hearts."
Luka laughed bitterly.
"Then your sword has terrible judgment."
Before Jennie could say anything...
The Divine Sword acted.
It didn’t give any warnings—
WHOOSH!
A powerful breeze burst out of the blade.
Jennie’s grip relaxed.
Not because she lost control.
Just because the sword slipped from her hands.
Floating in the air.
The villagers gasped.
"What?!"
"It’s flying!"
The sword was hovering in the air between Jennie and Luka.
The wind swirling around it stopped swirling.
It became calm.
Gentle.
Almost affectionate.
And then...
It moved slowly towards Luka.
He tried to move back.
"...No."
The sword kept moving.
"I said no."
Another step.
And then...
The sword followed him.
Snow started chuckling.
"I don’t think you have any chances to refuse."
Luka sighed deeply.
"...Fine."
"If touching it will make everyone here happy..."
He stretched out his arm hesitantly.
The second Luka took hold of the hilt—
BOOOOOOM!
A bright pillar of silvery-blue light burst upwards into the sky.
The clouds above Rosario parted.
The storm disappeared instantly.
Sunlight bathed the village.
A roaring wind surrounded the mountains.
It wasn’t destructive.
It was joyful.
It was like the sky welcomed the awakening of the sword.
The villagers put their hands up to protect their eyes.
"What is happening?!"
"The heavens..."
"They are clearing!"
Luka was standing motionless.
The sword felt...
Light.
Perfectly balanced.
As if it was made specifically for Luka.
The rust had vanished.
The cracked leather of its guard transformed into the soft blue leather of dragon hide.
The blade of the sword sparkled with the light of the sky.
Ancient runes were glowing on its surface.
Not thinking...
He swung the sword once.
FWOOOOSH!
A thin slice of concentrated wind flew across the empty field beyond the village.
It cut through three massive stones before vanishing into the faraway mountains.
Silence.
Luka looked at the sword.
At the shattered stones.
"...I..."
"...Did that?"
Roxy nodded blankly.
"...Yes."
Snow was looking impressed.
"For someone who claims that he is not special..."
"That was pretty special."
The voice inside Luka’s head laughed joyfully.
"About time."
Luka froze.
"...Who is there?"
The voice laughed.
"Your partner."
"I’ve been trying to wake you up for years."
Luka looked around anxiously.
"...Who is talking?!"
Jennie smiled knowing.
"You can hear it now."
"...Hear what?"
"The sword."
Luka’s eyes grew wide.
"The sword..."
"...Talks?"
Tempest sounded insulted.
"Of course I’m talking."
"I’ve been talking for years."
"You just kept ignoring me."
Luka stared at the blade in disbelief.
"I thought it was my dream..."
"They weren’t my dreams."
"I was introducing myself to you."
Jennie approached him quietly.
"What does it say?"
Luka hesitated.
"It says..."
He looked confused.
"It says I ignored it for ten years."
Snow laughed out loud.
"That’s incredible."
Tempest laughed joyfully.
"You kept calling me ’an old junk.’"
"Rust bucket."
"Scrap metal."
Slowly covering his face...
Luka mumbled.
"...I did say those things."
"Repeating."
"...Sorry."
"It’s accepted."
The sword was sounding glad.
Jennie was watching the scene with a warm smile.
Unlike Excalibur, dignified and serious like Leonis.
Unlike Leviathan, wise like endless sea.
Tempest had a personality of its own.
And it has never been caring about the glory.
Or worship.
It has been patient.
Waiting for the chosen man.
Luka finally looked at Jennie.
"...Why me?"
"I’ve made many mistakes."
"I’ve stolen."
"I’ve fought."
"I’ve frightened people."
"I’m no legend hero."
Jennie answered immediately.
"And yet..."
"You protected Rosario."
"You cared about people everybody abandoned."
"You loved Derresa without demanding anything in return."
"You remained by her side even after learning about Dragon Shell."
She smiled gently.
"Heroes are not chosen because they are perfect."
"They are chosen because, when it truly matters..."
"...They protect other people."
Luka looked at the Divine Sword in his hand.
For the first time in years...
The rough leader of Rosario had nothing sarcastic to say.
Just silence.
The wind was blowing gently across the village.
Kids were staring at the blade with wonder.
The villagers were starting smiling.
The rough leader of Rosario, whom they have been following for years...
Unknowingly carried one of the most precious treasure in history.
Not because he was seeking any power.
Or any fame.
Just because the Divine Sword of Storms had chosen him and saw the kindness hiding beneath his rough shell.
Far away...
Deep inside the Demon Continent...
A black crystal cracked.
The Third Demon General, Draven, slowly opened his crimson eyes.
"...Impossible."
He stared at the western horizon.
"Tempest..."
"...Has awakened."
His expression darkened.
"The Sword King has found another Divine Sword."
He slowly rose from his throne.
"So be it."
"I’ll take it from her..."
"...And her head."
The wind was carrying a faint chill over the entire continent.
The next battle was already starting, although Rosario Village was celebrating the awakening of the Blade of Storms.
