"..."
The Sword Saint stood baffled.
The sight that lay out in front of him was something he was familiar with. It was the sight when he gained enlightenment— a destructive burst of sensation and control that allowed one's body to do wonders.
Musashi was staring at the scene in disbelief.
There were clear traces of mana. And…
'Thunder.'
It was the Song of the Sword Saint.
'And it's not just one formation…'
It was the complete Song of the Sword Saint.
'It's not perfect but…'
Musashi looked at the boy in the middle of the mess. He was just there, his eyes closed and his mind in some peaceful oblivion probably.
'Did he really…?'
Musashi's head was full of questions. He couldn't comprehend what had happened. The boy had only seen the First Formation twice and the rest once, yet he managed to recreate them. Though not perfect, it was still enough to be Grade-7.
Seeing the destruction a boy not even in his twenties had caused, Musashi could only think of one thing.
'This boy will change the Tower.'
***
"..."
Three days had passed since I performed the Song of the Sword Saint. A lingering sensation of power remained in my palms.
"Haa…"
But power wasn't the only thing that I could feel.
'Death.'
I experienced death a thousand times. But I didn't regress. I got chills when I thought of the being that was so humongous and nerve-wracking.
It was not a simple God, no, it would be wrong to call it a God. It was not a demon either. It was something far more sinister and fierce than those.
A being that kills only by being gazed at… what a terrifying existence.
I was shaking.
"Huu…"
A trembling sigh left my lips.
'Calm down. It's alright. I must have imagined things.'
I was pretty tolled out by then. It wouldn't be weird for me to imagine things. Yes, that was it. I just imagined things.
Knock knock!
It was Master.
He came in and scanned the room. Nothing was out of the usual, or that seemed to be the case.
"How are you feeling?"
After waking up from that nightmare, I cooped myself inside a room for the last two days. I refused to eat and spent my time shivering on the bed, not even getting a wink of sleep.
"...yes."
I tried my best to convince myself that it was all just a ploy my mind played on me, but it was too real. The presence of that being, the gaze and overwhelming fear— was too vivid to be a dream.
But I had to move on now.
"Hmm…"
He sat down beside me. We were facing in the same direction, and there were empty sounds between us.
"..."
"..."
I was sure he wanted an explanation. A talentless boy from a family of magicians managed to recreate the Song of the Sword Saint on the very first try.
Honestly, I didn't have any answer to 'how' either. Something got hold of my body. I felt like I was in a trance. My head was clear of anything, felt the sword was one with me. Yes, a toll on my body was there, but I ignored everything. I had no idea how I did that. And this mystery seemed unsettling to me.
And that being… this was more than unsettling.
"I… don't know."
I spoke first.
"..."
Master didn't say anything and simply gave me more time to think.
"I don't know what happened to me. After you left, something possessed me. Countless words flowed into my vision and my body obeyed the sword. Before I knew it, I did something that I could only admire and hope to perform. But I am scared now… because I saw that thing."
Song of the Sword Saint—the marvellous sword dance that Master created. I wanted to learn that. I liked that sword to be mine. It was my greed. But now I was scared of that greed. I caught the glimpse of something that would continue to visit me in my nightmares, gazing at me and haunting me.
"Ugh…"
I clutched my splitting head and tried to press on it but to no avail. The pain continued to grow like a rising shrill.
Eyes... I could see them.
Tak—
Something fell on my neck and I passed out.
***
"..."
Musashi stayed by the collapsed boy's side.
The boy's eyes lost their colour and he seemed to be in a deep slumber.
"...Master."
Musashi quietly recalled his Master's words.
'There are beings that are stronger than the Gods and the Demons. They never show themselves. They stay in the shadows. The Gods and the Demons are nothing in front of them and we are like a particle of dust to them. We hold no value.'
'But how do you know that Master?'
''...because I saw one of them myself.'
'...?'
'People call me a genius. Sometimes, a God. But I don't think of myself as such. Rather, I am scared. Whenever I exert my power, I feel its presence. That choking omnipresence that gazes on you. I am scared… because I saw that thing.'
"Haha… what is happening…?"
Musashi lost his Master the next day.
***