It's been a good year since the incident in Sacar. My wounds may have healed and skills stronger, but my wounded heart may never heal entirely. However, today is my birthday; as I am now twenty years old, I can now begin my journey to the central city in search of the truth behind my grandfather's disappearance and what Eon Pax is up to.
So, I washed up and got dressed and went down to the kitchen. When I reached the kitchen, there wasn't anyone there. I looked around the house couldn't find anyone. So, I checked the garden, but there was no one to be found.
Then I thought to myself, "Maybe they went shopping?" So, I put on my shoes and raced down to the marketplace or at least what was left after the rebuild due to Craters Steve's attack the year prior.
As I looked for Sensei and his family, I asked the different shopkeepers, but no one knew where they were. Then, as I was about to give up hope, someone asked me if I had checked the dojo yet. When I looked up to answer the person, no one was there.
I looked around me and saw no one. I shrugged my shoulders and took off toward the dojo. To my surprise when I opened the door, I was attacked by a masked assailant. Without hesitating, I drew my sword from my back and began my counterattack against him.
"How dare you dishonor this dojo? How dare you attack me! If you so much as lay a hand on my master and his family. I Will Kill You!" I shouted. Catching him off-guard, I then knocked him to the ground with the hilt of the sword. With quick reflexes, I jumped back and gripped my sword; then I placed it behind my back as I had done in my attack with Steve then immediately leaped into the air. "I will end you!" I said angrily.
As I swung down, I heard the whistling of the wind, then I shouted, "Whistling wind style, Gyaku-Ushiro Sutoraiku (reverse rearward strike)." But before I hit him, he yelled, "I give up you win." I immediately stopped my attack and backed up. "Wait! I know that voice," I said.
As the masked man removed his mask, he laughed and said, "Looks like you are finally healthy enough to go out on your own. It seems you do not hesitate to act any longer." To my surprise, it was Kenshin Sensei.
Then his wife walked in from the room next door and decked her husband. Then she yelled, "Are you an idiot, are you trying to get yourself killed today. We agreed to only test him, remember?"
He apologized to her, then told me I had passed the final test and can now travel on my own. I was happy and still slightly triggered, but alas I had passed. I wish they would have just told me I had the final test left to take, rather than surprise me.
However, I guess there would have been no point if they had. After that, the entire marketplace gathered at the dojo with food and gifts then Sensei's wife said, "We as a city would like to thank you for defeating Crater Steve and to wish you a safe journey and a happy 20th birthday! You have been through so much in a short time, but know your journey has only just begun."
For the rest of that day and into the night, we partied and enjoyed each other's company. Then Kenshin called me aside and told me about the dangers I would likely face on my journey and not to take Mr. Pax lightly. Not only this, but now that he knows a remnant of the whistling wind style still exists, he will try with all his might kill me if he can. The party came to an end, and it was pretty early in the morning.
Everyone had gone home, and so we cleaned up the mess. After everything had been said and done, we all retired to our rooms for some much-needed rest. I laid in my bed, thinking about what Kenshin said and everything that has happened until now. Then I turned over in my bed and went to sleep, knowing tomorrow starts my journey to the unknown to eliminate HIM.