A vast expanse of green mat could be seen below, made up of a canopy of trees. The clouds could be seen at the top of the blue sky. Multiple feathered flying beasts flapped their wings and danced through the air, creating different structures; sometimes, they became arrowheads, while others looked like a giant swarm.
The cold wind blew and hit one of the feathered beasts. This one was flying above the other beasts. Covered in blue flames, this beast released a chill presence that made others think twice before approaching it. Only a tiny part of it appeared to be of a different color from the top.
When looked at from close, it appeared to be a humanoid figure sleeping with its eyes closed over the fast-moving beast. The powerful, fast, and cold winds passed, but nothing affected him. There was a slight smile on his face that made him look calm and handsome.
Not caring about the rest of the world, the boy was lost in his own thoughts. He was excited, but there was also a little nervousness. He took a deep breath and calmed his heart. "It will be all right; there is no need to worry."
"It has been a while since I saw him. Would he have grown?" He laughed as he thought about it. "He might not have missed me much. He has a new friend now."
***
A place deep inside the forest, surrounded by many hills. A strange mountain at the center was the tallest of them all. It shone brightly, and multiple swords could be seen nailed to it. They moved when the wind passed by. On top of the mountain, a giant sword statue could be seen with its tip balancing it.
Standing tall, it was touching the clouds. An ancient carving of a lion's head could be seen on its pommel. Its blade also had beautiful patterns carved on it; closer to the hilt, an ancient pattern looked like a rune. Despite being made of stone, this sword looked ancient and realistic; to some, it might also appear stronger than the real sword.
It was not because of its size; it was not because of its material; it was not because of its realistic carving; it was not because of the legends behind it. While they added to its mystery, the mere presence of it was enough to shake the hearts of anyone with even a little knowledge about swords.
As grand as its appearance, this towering sword was named 'The King's Sword.' To people without knowledge about swords, it may appear just as a unique ancient statue carved beautifully by a skilled sculptor. Only a few knew it was named the King's Sword, not because only kings could wield it. It was because it was believed anyone who could learn its mysteries would be able to overthrow everyone in his competition and become a one-man army.
It was sad that such an ancient marvel had been hidden from the people. It should have been something that inspired generations toward the path of enlightenment towards swordsmanship, but for many years it had been forgotten. It had now become a relic of the past for the people of this place; they showed it the respect it deserved.
People came from all over the world to witness this famous marvel. It inspired generations of sworders. A group of men could be seen, a little different from the local people of this region, dressed in robes and carrying large swords on their backs, hands, or waists.
They were tourists from other countries who came to get inspired by watching this marvel. Their sharp eyes hinted excitement, and their faces had satisfied smiles as if they had gained some insights. Moving through the cable cars, they focused on the structure, which was one of its kind.
They were not alone; there were other foreigners who came from different places and were each on their own journey of self-improvement. They are not afraid of traveling to gain enlightenment and were not arrogant enough to believe they know everything. A path of a swordsman was filled with self-discipline, and hard work, processes or choices hardly mattered to those who had results as the utmost priority.
"Finally, we will be able to be together again. Life was a little lonely without him. After Kajal, the contract Beasts are my only companions. It might have been hard on Sheru too. Now that I remember the first time I met him, he was just a baby fighting against stronger beasts alone; he was a born hustler who always strived to become stronger." His smile became bigger and brighter.
"It still sent me chills how he learned to use swords by himself, now that I think I have been harsh on him," His eyes became moist as he remembered seeing the tiger-like beast covered in blood, holding a sword in his mouth, and imitating human moments.
"Do I even deserve him? He was such a lovely and loyal companion. What did I do for him? I always made it through a lot of hardships. He had gone through a lot; I will now treat him better." He sighed as he thought, "We will need to make up for two and a half years of separation."
"What have you done, Rishi? How has that baby survived without you for such a long time? Last time you met him, he appeared joyful from the outside, but you concealed hidden sorrow deep inside his eyes. You should have stopped at that time and brought him back."
"No, that was necessary. It was the price he needed to pay. Think logically Rishi; what other choice did you have at that time? With the addition of other stronger beasts, he was feeling bad about not being useful; didn't you see the fire inside him to become the strongest?" He sighed, closing his ears and saying, "Stop it." He didn't want to think about it.
He took a deep breath, and his heartbeat rose from excitement as he noticed the hills. "Finally, everything will become like before; we will both have fun and be able to fight together."
The wait was over, and he appeared at the entrance of the place. On top of the giant gate, he could read "Sword Fiend Sanctuary." He showed his identity and got access to enter; the giant gates opened, and he took the first step inside the area covered by the giant walls.
Everything changed as he entered this place; it was filled with strange plants and trees. Not all the air here also carried a distinct smell; everything he looked at in front appeared to be dangerous. As if any one of them was capable of making him bleed.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m