What's makes a swordsman a real swordsman, it isn't his merits or techniques or skills but his intent while wielding it.
Intent is the will,will to kill, will to protect, will to achieve.
Sword intent itself is the physical manifestation of someone's intention.
Sword intent is the sword spirit that often takes on traits of both the spiritual and physical aspect of swords, sharp for physical aspect and unyielding and fearsomely for spiritual that is
Becoming one with sword
Durandel itself was an godly weapon which has its own will, it doesn't accept just anyone even if he have strong mental state or spirit energy. Due to its nature, many worthy challengers lost to it. But only one man was able to weild it that was known in history as Heroslayer from War of heroes.
"well, you aren't worst but you are still far away from being a match for heroes especially for particular someone"
"great master, please teach me your way of sword"
"that won't work, every swordsman have his own way of sword"
"you already have your own way of sword, just follow your heart and find it yourself "
Suddenly an phantom of Durandel appeared before them,
"since I have explained you everything, try to submit this phantom and show me your will "
As elder finished his words, he disappeared from ruins and only Magnus and Phantom
was left behind.
Magnus who was staring at phantom, tried to close distance but phantom moves away eveytime he closes distance, since he doesn't have any method to make it submit. Magnus dashed towards it as he was about to grab the hilt, it moved slightly and missed Magnus.
The aura around phantom was same as original Durandel and also calm. Since at present Magnus doesn't have any method other than forcing his way, he rapidly tried to grab sword but eveytime it dodges him.
Magnus remembered elder's words and calmed himself down. In next moments, Durandel began flying in opposite direction of Magnus and an chase began.
Phantom was randomly changing it's direction and Magnus wasn't able to track its trajectory.
Even though Magnus was an infamous swordsman but his mastery of sword was still unadequate. As Phantom move around, Magnus observed an pattern in its movements, rather than pattern it was like rythm.
Magnus stopped and closed his eyes, and tried to vision phantom with his mind. Since phantom was still part of Durandel and preciously Magnus has fused with spirit energy so he can track that same energy from phantom.
As he focused, some certain lines were visioned which were traces of spirit energy left behind by phantom and a certain rythm was observed from traces.
"I was right, it is sword dance".
Sword dance itself was combination of ritual dances and techniques practised by swordsman which was special requirement for becoming an Sword Master. Since Magnus met many experts but they weren't able to fully master sword dance, due to difficulty in synchronization of mind between sword and swordsman.
Magnus took a deep breath and began moving with rythm, with every 2 seconds, phantom change its direction. Using sword dance as reference, Magnus performed an old sword dance which he used to see during his childhood during the festival of water God.
Just like gentle waves of sea, he coordinated his movements with phantom in calm and gentle way without any eagerness.
As time passed, Magnus reached an state of mind where outer world became unknown to him and his total focus was in the spirit energy connecting him and phantom.
Within few hours, Magnus began intercepting in path of phantom and became one step closer to grabbing it.
After more time, when he finally grabbed phantom, an vision went through his mind in which he find himself chained with many golden chains and one by one those chains began shattering themself. And the doppelganger opened his eyes,
"At last we finally met"
Magnus was shocked and replied,
"what in the world are you?"
Doppelganger responded,
"I am manifestation of you, of your will, of your intent"
In next moment, Doppelganger turned into light particles and then into Durandel. Magnus who was still in daze instinctively grabbed Durandel and In next moment found Phantom in his hand, brimming with spiritual energy.
"your sword dance was quite unique"
Magnus who was recovering from vision, immediately turned towards origin of voice and Heroslayer was sitting in chair not far from him.
"you are second person that really mastered sword dance ",
"now did you understand what I meant by your own way of sword"
"yes, elder"
Oldman invited him to sit next to him. There are many types of sword dance, each sword dance symbolises particular element like fire, water, lightning and many more. And in case of Magnus it was water.
"Congratulation on becoming my successor "
"its all thanks to you that I was able to find my own way of sword"
"Since you have finally completed the trail, I have an piece of knowledge or rather you consider it as warning"
Oldman began his story,
"During the war of heroes, a certain hero was selected as Weilder of Durandel before me but he was rejected by Durandel which made him so desperate that he tried to force it into submission due to his love for swords but he was forbidden from even coming in any contact with Durandel and the only choice for him to seize Durandel is by defeating the successor of Durandel. "
"All these years, he has been waiting for Durandel to find its next successor and he will definitely challenge you as soon as you leave the temple"
"His sword skills are at greater level than mine, it was due to spirit King's support that I was able to defeat it and I must say he is the most strongest swordsman I have ever battled with, so be sure to be cautious"
Magnus who was seriously hearing his story, questioned,
"And who's that hero, elder"
"He is known as Sword Saint , master of phantom sword arts"
In Ertonburg, from an heightened place
"At last, I will finally be able to reunite with Durandel and this time I will make sure of it".
The person was glancing at King's castle and it was none other than Sword Saint.