Chereads / The Essence of the Sword / Chapter 3 - Chapter 2: The Crimson Fire

Chapter 3 - Chapter 2: The Crimson Fire

HAHAHAHA! Take that, you weird-looking slice of earthly slab! What, just because you are glowing that it spells-out that I should retrieve you? No,thank you! I still want to live!

...

Sometimes, my soliloquies are getting out of hand.

It is just... I still cannot forget that tidbit of memory that I had in my childhood that made me despise these infernal objects...

...

I sighed.

I turned my back on that piece of metal and returned on my path. I gingerly retrieved the azurites and inputted them in my "merchant's bag", then hastily walked. I swear, that's enough of a traumatic scenario for me in one day. I mean, I still have my dreams and aspirations to be checked, thank you very mu-…

Oh great, the boulders of this cave blocked my way. Lady Luck must be in my side, eh?

This is not good. I cannot stay here for a little more because one, it is already evening, and second, I'm already hungry! I can check my bag for any snacks but unfortunately for me, I already ate them on my way here. I swear, next time, I should eat efficiently and match it on the great sense of timing because right now, it is clearly evident that I do not have it! I bet Pops will not notice that I haven't made my way on the house yet because he's busy on the smithy but he may check on the house here and there…

Besides, I heard a tale… a tale that tells a fate of kids that takes their defenseless souls due to being lost on caverns just like this. It is a mythical creature of what we call a "multh". Mulths are spirits of persons who died while being lost and still at the living world because they have one purpose: to fulfill the task of the first Multh that turned them to spirits in the first place. The first Multh promised them that if they can turn a lot of lost children to spirits, all of them will go to heaven and achieve peace.

The thought of me transforming into something that delves only in caverns while waiting for unsuspected prey made me feel chills on my spine, eventually making me shudder.

Sharp! I have to get out of here!

Due to the intense panic that I am feeling right now mixed with hunger and wanting to go home, I put down my bag, gathered a lot of air on my chest and bellowed:

"ANYONE! HELP ME! I AM STUCK IN THIS CAVE!!!"

I yelled. The loudest yell I could muster. Thinking about it, this might be the first time I yelled this loud that I thought, I broke my voice just from the force I managed to exert on that phrase. Hey, check it! I am even hungry at this point! What more if I was stuffed and feeling okay, huh?

As expected, something replied to me and it was something I did not need right now: my own voice no, to be precise, this very cave. The blue caverns, though seemingly changed from the quake earlier, still managed to have its same glow. Right now, the blue tinge of the caverns intensified due to the room being dark out of the night, giving its dream-like appearance. Wait- I do not want to dream in a place like this! I do not want to be a spirit just yet!!!

"HEYYY!!! SERIOUSLY, HELP A GIRL LIKE ME IN A PLACE LIKE THISSS!!!" I yelled again.

This time, I felt that I might cry.

Suddenly, I noticed a warm color emanating and engulfing the azure caverns. Just now, the outburst tinge of crimson-red managed to win over the vicinity and the color of blue did not have its choice but to lie down on the waters. I also noticed that there was a mild shaking once again in the cave but this time, it is not due to the nature's earthquake but out of something unnatural. What's more, the room went uncannily warm though obviously, shouldn't be happening since this is a water cavern, known on being cold.

Hm… are they setting this cave on fire?

I suddenly noticed that in front of me, the light of crimson intensified that it may start to blind my eyes so I covered both of them and ran away to gain some distance. While sitting away to make sure that these things are over while having my eyes closed, I can still feel the intensity of light in front of me…

Suddenly, it went black.

I slowly opened my eyes to scan my surroundings when I saw a pair of foot-wearing boots. My first impression for it was odd but it took me a second to perceive a sense of familiarity to these pair of boots. Next, I scanned something in the middle having a pair of hands- one holding nothing, and the other one, holding a rod-like object that is ablaze on crimson fire. Before I can even look at the face, I already recognize this "thing" or rather, the person. Out of nowhere, this "person" spoke:

"Ehh? So this is the place where you were hiding huh? Seriously, I never thought that you take hide-and-seek games seriously!" he said ever-so casually. A voice that completely disregards every angle that is happening in this very cave be it in the physical or atmosphere-sense.

My eyes twitched on that lame comment. Hoi bucko, I could've died back there. Why are you being conversational right now?!

"Seriously? Is that what you say head-first to someone trapped on the caverns? Forget even that! Is that what you say to your traumatized friend?"

"Huh? Ahahaha, I'm sorry, Tori. I can't take a straight face on the expression you're making right now!"

He called me that. That's he's naming to me.

Well, two can play at that game.

I smiled.

I took a good look at him.

He always had his face that was already brimming with bravery and ferocity in the face of adversity and quite frankly, that's just his default expression, if I do say so myself. His crimson hair swiveled whenever he makes a movement even though its length is not that huge in averageness. He wears his usual smile that further integrates the "image" of dauntlessness in his psyche. Lastly, his eyes – ruby-tinged eyes, further enforces and integrates his "furious" characteristics that everything that he may stare into can be set on flames.

However, there is this one and single dent on his "knightly" demeanor that he will never hide away from me…

"Ahh, that was indeed correct. My face was in the spectrum of maladroitness unbefitting of my age. ~But oh, my! How could you even make a face on this mishap? Mind if you show me, Flemeroy "Flinston" Arsonstel?" I said in a varied emotion.

This guy is a lot of things when it comes on a battle, resistance to teasing is not one of them.

"W-what are you even talking about, Tori? I told you to cut that kind of diction! You know that I can only manage to stomach that in front of Father, right? Come on, stop it!" he said, redness is apparent to his face.

Regularly, for some weird reason, he's a good sport in these occasions even if when I make fun of him.

Though if I was a different person, I will be immediately blasted with his blazing rod.

"~Whatever are you speaking about? Oh hush, Flintston! You must be jesting! You know that this is the manner of language our ancestors engraved on our 'tabula rasa', right? So I recommend that you speak the same, oh Flemeroy "Flintston" Arsonstel~"

"Wahhh! Stop it! I'm sorry! Okay! I saved you. Do you need any help? I've come to retrieve you since you need aid."

That's better.

Anyways, that's Roy.

I'm sorry, his real name is Flemeroy "Flinston" Arsonstel and the latter calling for him was his most hated alias. He is my childhood friend and we were stuck together ever since. He helps Pops by trying and testing some of his most "treasured creations" when we were but a little child. I still remember that whenever Pops remarks his swords as his most "treasured creations" I, a small and spoiled wannabe brat, will puff my cheeks while shouting and throwing a tantrum, "Am I not your most treasured creation?!"

Pops will always just soothe me and make me stop crying while Roy will just tease and laugh at me first, then console me later when I reached my limit on crying. Hmm… I might say that I was slightly spoiled when I was a little girl.

It might be noticeable on my statements that he used to test some of Pop's swords because well, that was in the past.

After all, he has something…-

"Hey Roy, don't point that blazing stick in front of me. I might permanently lose my eyesight! Are you rescuing me, or trying to blind me? Tell your motive here!" I said halfheartedly.

"Why not both?" he said while grinning.

Oh this guy…

"Hey, my legendary Flamberge is indeed special so I have to take poses with it, alright? You don't understand Tori since you do not like swords but whenever you have a weapon that catches on fire, you just have to be proud of it!" he continued obnoxiously.

Ugh… He's been like this for over a month now. Have this guy did not get over with his "silly" gift from our boring tradition?

"Right… But fret not, Flemeroy. For I have not become the fruit of Cain to be envious of your hazardous toy!" I said jokingly.

"Huh? What do you mean? Who is Cain? Wait- did you just call my Flamberge a toy?!" he steamed.

I just managed to laugh at his hilarious retort…

Like I said, we have been stuck together and alongside with our time together, we are always like this.

Roy helped me to carry the bag that carries the prized azurites and we walked- the cursed ore which, without him coming to my rescue, may have caused my untimely death.

"Say, Tori…" Roy shot out a statement. "I heard an announcement from the league earlier that there was an enigmatic man that was suspicious and looks like about to scheme something." He said seriously.

"Hm? An enigmatic man?" I repeated his description on the topic.

"Yes. Apparently, he is not around in these islands and some of the deans of the statistical office in the league even say that he is not from Ea." He still continued, seriousness is deepening still on his face.

Hey, are they not jumping into some conclusions way off here? What if this "enigmatic" man is a travelling merchant that happened to stumble on our fair lands? He can also be a monk of some sect trying to practice their devotion while maintain their ascetic living. Or maybe, this man is just a tourist coming from far away continent.

Seemingly able to read my thoughts, Roy just kept looking me in the eyes when I noticed it.

"W-what?" I said uneasily.

I hate it when he stares too much.

"There's also another reason why I am bringing this up to you…" he said uneasily matching my facial expression.

Roy took some time to think for the continuation on his words when I remembered something.

Quite specifically, the letter that Pops gave me when I was about to set off on collecting these pesky azurites.

Don't tell me…

"It was about Pops and the smithy…" he said gingerly as if he was afraid on saying something.

"W-what happened t-to Pops? To Nada? To our smithy?!" I said nervously.

"Hey. Do not worry, there's nothing bad that befell on him. Pops was still in the league in those times and this enigmatic person happened to visit your smithy in a specific hour, at least, that was the report of the leaguesmen when they returned. They saw that he was talking to your smith apprentice and after some time, he went away…" Roy affirmed me to lower my agita.

"Okay… Thank God for that." I sighed for a moment then continued, "I wonder what did he discussed with Nada while me and Pops were not around?"

"The leaguesmen were too careful about their scouting so they did their best not to let this enigmatic man realize that he is a subject for suspicion. Sadly, they did not overhear the conversation at those times because Miss Tsismae was not with us in order to eavesdrop their conversation with her sword. Their discussion was just brief, apparently and the man exited your smithy right away."

Oh… okay. I wonder what happened to our little boy right now? I will tend to him later.

M-maybe, I shouldn't have smacked him earlier? Even though it was just for playful purposes… I am sorry, Nada!

"When we get back, let us ask Nada and your Pops, okay?" Roy smiled as he reassured me.

Oh right. I totally realized.

I was ignoring the fact that this childhood friend of mine just saved my life.

I may be selfish for my own safety here and there, but I am not THAT scummy to not properly offer my sincere gratitude for the person helped me, much less saved my life!

"Hey Roy…" I bellowed quietly.

"Hmm? What is it?" he turned his face to face me.

"I just wanted to say t-tha… What I mean is- ummm…" I said ever-nervously/awkwardly/incompetently.

Seriously! Why is it so hard to thank someone when it comes for me?

"Hold it, Tori" Roy cut me off.

Before I realized it, he was not looking at me but was in fact searching for something around the trees on the path that we are passing on through.

The silence enveloped ever-so-slowly as we both noticed the winds passing through our presences. The whirling gusts of winds touched our ears and made its way in our senses with a distinct sound. I held my hair on a level because of the swift movements of the air and everything around us, including the tress, swayed obediently on the mighty strength of the winds.

"What's the matter, Roy?" I said, confused due to the fact that my sudden and forced gratitude was silenced.

But Roy did not reply.

Instead-

"Very funny! Whoever you are, I would highly appreciate it if you show yourself! Because if not, in the name of the League, I will cut you down!" he said around seriously, impatience and anger can be felt on his words.

A silence…

Umm… Roy? Are you talking to the wind?

Suddenly, everything around us: the rustling of the trees, the movement of my hair and the raging passage of winds that encircled around us- everything stopped.

What came next was a voice-

"FUFUFU! What a marvelous oversight!" a cold voice rang out on the path of our way.

Following the sudden sound, we looked on the third treetop on the left of our way and while observing aloft the bluish-dark skies, we saw a figure standing atop of it.

It was a man- a person wearing a garment colored in jet-black all over his slim body. He wears a green hood on his face mixing it with the deepness of the dark color. Some patches of light-green can be seen on his trunks, tops, belt, and boots though everything is mostly dark. He looked at us with his eyes menacingly then proceeded to jump from the tree in front of us making our path blocked by his presence.

"Allow me to introduce myself before you…" the hooded man began while bowing elegantly in front of us.

"My name is Aeolus Amier. I come by with the name of Razorfang and…" he said then retrieves something in his back. "You there, yes, the Lady, you have something I want. If you would be so kind… give it to me." He said when he presented his weapon.

It is a sword. Not just any kind of sword though.

Looking at its appearance, I stared at it and…

Color: Greenish-black; Build: Slim-slash; Height: 3 feet (40 inches) with a slim wideness; Core: Emerald…

Ah, I see. Its classification is Saripiere.

In this world of ours that is overran with swords, we systemically devised a classification of these objects according to their specific use, core, and appearance.

The "Espada", "Saripiere", "Balisao", and "Durandal".

This specific sword that the man is showing in front of us has a just length and width perfect for swift strokes and slashes. It has a peculiar pommel and guard that is foreign for us smithies and contains a one and greenish blade. Its blade, although slim, contains a one-sided edge and a sharp point situated from its weird-looking guard. Needless to say, from every distinct details that I had enlisted, my analysis seems to be correct: his sword is a rare "Saripiere".

Hmmm, it is not any type of sword indeed.

Maybe, the legends of our townsfolk were not all lies after all?

But that is not something that I should take a fact-check right now.

The man, brandishing a legendary-looking sword, assumed his fighting stance by lowering his half body while inputting his left hand on the tip of the sword, and the other right on the hilt- smiling menacingly and said:

"My name is Razorfang! I am Ea's finest spy and I am extremely distinguished amongst the leagues of finest swordsmen that I started to call myself the legendary ninjakuza!" he said…

How should I put it…

Isn't this rather awkward?

With the raging wind awakened once again on its movement, Mr. Ninjaku-something stopped talking and advanced his stance in front of us!