Three weeks ago, Arlan Godfrey decided to make Karu his direct disciple. Through the talents he had shown at the practical exam, no matter any circumstances he was the perfect disciple for a sword king.
But this thought was clearly crushed only after a few days. Karu, despite going to the academy, has never even visited Arlan a single time. Now furious about this master student relationship he has summoned Karu on a weekend.
"Is Karu on his way?".
"Yes he is, can I like go now..." Arlan stared at the eyes of the man. It was so horrifying it felt like his would was being hollowed out. The man, then instinctively left the room
"Tsk tsk tsk". Arlan was biting his nails rapidly. And due to healing magic it was being constantly regenerated. "I could not have made such a big fucking mistake.". He continued biting his nails and started to tap his feet at the same time.
If it was a normal occasion, Arlan would have just let the child be. From the start he didn't care about the child other than using his name. The first person in history to ever defeat a trained soldier at the age of five is a disciple of the headmaster, that title itself was worth anything. The child was a prodigy never been seen before. And as time went by, unfortunate things have happened. The capital has heard the news of such genius and the headmaster including the child was being summoned immediately.
"Why does it have to be now. They send the message with a one day preparation. What is this bullshit.". Arlan was still distressed, but thankfully, to his wishes, there were no delays, and Karu has arrived. But surprisingly, what Karu said as soon as he entered was in no way what he expected.
"When are we going to the capital!"
"When are we going to the capital!"
Karu entered the room and repeated the same thing multiple times until he reached Arlan's desk and raised his heels up as his head can't even pass the height of the desk. When he reached the desk he stopped and looked at Arlan with very bright eyes.
Arlan was speechless at what he just heard. The news of the summon arrived a couple hours ago. And he was the only person who knew. There was no way Karu could have ever known. But he does.
"Where did you hear that?". Arlan was not only speechless, but at the same time was scared. He never paid any attention to the rumors and things the proffesors had said about Karu. But thinking through it, Karu was no child. He just looked like one. That is the final verdict of everyone in the academy, and Arlan can be sure of it.
"I have my ways, anyway when are we goooooiiing?". Arlan had goose bumps, but right now, as he had learned when talking to a superior, just act normal.
"Tomorrow, I didn't know you knew, but that makes things easier. Get ready.". That was the start of the weirdest conversations Arlan will have. To talk in such a formal way to a child, it truly was unnatural.
"Ok!". Karu hopped around the room and exited. Arlan has calmed his heart.
"Wait.". Just after calming down Arlan ran out of his room to chase Karu. Because of the overwhelming emotional surprise he had when he saw Karu, he had forgotten the main reason he called him.
There was only one main reason for their summon to the capital. And that is to see the skills of this so called first in history. But the question is, what skills? Arlan has never taught his so called first direct disciple. If this news comes out, his name would be tarnished in the emperor's eyes.
"KARU!".
Karu heard Arlan yell and he turned his back and ran towards him. By this point Arlan knew he was just gonna be energetic to whatever word he was going to say. He readied himself on it, and tried to get used to it at that moment. For a child with unknown knowledge yet childish tone.
"Just show your skills, don't worry, I can copy it after seeing it once.". Karu didn't have a childish tone. He had a serious one, but he was not finished, he continued. "Well let's do that tomorrow, I still have things to do, bye, bye!" In an instant his childish tone came back.
That was an experience for Arlan. 'What can I even say to that... how can I, a renowned knight act this way. I'm getting too old.'.
***
After learning from Hero Karu, I have now been able to use magic. It was an experience. It took me 4 days to be able to use magic. I didn't know, all it took was to accept yourself and be true to oneself. Once you have acquired great enlightenment anyone can use magic. Magic was not given to the enlightened, but magic was taken from those in need of enlightenment.
Though, there was one slight problem. My magic is broken, it was not perfect. I can not control my magic longer than a minute. But that is my only problem. I can use magic now! Just that I need to invent a breathing technique to increase my control. I so want to use Hero Karu's breathing technique, but I can't do so right now as what I need is not a way to increase my magic, but to control it better.
At this time, my power is definitely lacking. Compared to Hero Karu, I am lacking a lot. To defeat the Demon King Kalios, I need to get stronger faster.
"I'm so glad we are going to the capital. There I might be able to find a way to stabilize my magic! Freya never showed any way to stabilize magic, nor did Hero Karu, as theirs had no problem."
I had to get ready to go to the capital. I sadly can't try to practice more, but I just know the capital will have something for me.
"MOM WHAT ELSE SHOULD I PACK."
My mom came down from the attic carrying many clothes and essentials. "I already have everything prepared, just rest for tomorrow."
I followed what my mom said and rested for tomorrow, but I don't think that will be easy, cause I'm so excited I don't think I can sleep. 'AHHHHHHHH'.
***
Arlan and Karu went on the trip to the capital. The trip will take 2 whole days if there was no break. And 3 days if there was. The trip was incredibly awkward for Arlan. But there was something they had to do while travelling and that was Arlan teaching Karu his sword art.
"Sword art?". Karu didn't necessarily needed sword arts, because for him it was useless. As he saw from the latest parts he read from Hero Karu, sword art became useless.
"Yes, you need to learn my sword art, you're a weirdly smart kid so I think you know why you need to learn."
"Well I'll learn it if you want, but they are useless.". Arlan was not even surprised or did he even question Karu's opinion. He had no energy to try to argue with him.
Time passed and they arrived at their first stop. In the middle of a grassland. It was only for eating and to sleep.
"Thank you Ed!" Karu was talking with the coachman. "It's an honor to serve the young prodigy. "Oh don't call me a prodigy, I am just lucky!". Karu smiled and continued to eat.
After eating their meals Arlan started teaching Karu. Arlan was very very distressed when he called Karu. He has never taught anyone his swordsmanship. It wasn't because of any lack of interest in people, but because of the complexity of his style. His sword art are considered as one of the 3 best swordsmanship in the world. But as you think back on it, swordsmanship is still nothing compared to magic, despite being one of the worlds best, it can only be compared to an orange tier master mage.
"The sword that I use is called 'Moonlight Ascension'. It is a-". Arlan was cut of by Karu.
"-an art derived from the moon, I don't care about that just teach me.". He got annoyed with Karu's arrogance and impatience. He didn't want to show any hostility, but then he remembered that he is a master and Karu is his disciple. 'Why am I not the one leading the conversation here. He is still a five year old, he can never win against me.'.
Arlan had enough and disciplined Karu. "You keep cutting me off..." Arlan was pissed and Karu noticed it. Arlan was letting off so much killing intent that Karu had to lay down on the ground.
Karu was being pressed down, yet anything else in his surroundings was all ok. In Karu's mind, instead of being scared he was intrigued. 'Such amazing control of magic. So even a swordsman despite knowing consciously, they do have aura control.'
"Kneel in front of me and call me master from now on!". Arlan wanted to show dominance to who the master was. Arlan wanted to teach Karu that just because he was smart and talented, doesn't mean he can always act like he is above. He wanted to teach Karu proper manners.
Though despite all these thoughts, Arlan didn't expect Karu's fast change of attitude. "Yes master!". He is truly impressed yet horrified of what this child's real personality is like. No child could ever control their emotions so well. Even he could admit his actions were from his own tardiness to control his emotions.
"Now listen! The sword art 'Moonlight Ascension' is a sword art depicting the rise of the moon from the east and its rest from the west.". Arlan took his sword and formed a weird stance. With his sword in his right hand, he made his body open and spread his arms and legs outward. He directed his body to the right and with his sword on his right and back. Arlan took a huge swing up above, when it reached directly above his head, Arlan jumped high up and flipped his body to fall downward aiming at the ground.
"That was a sword art?" Asked by Karu.
"No, that was start of my sword art."
"What?"
"The sword is not mearly a weapon, it is a part of your body. At the same time, Sword arts are not the way to fight with your sword, but is the soul of your sword.". Karu was really bored at Arlan's teachings, he didn't care about his sword art or wherever it came from. To shut him up, Karu only had to do the only thing he can, shut Arlan's mouth by showing that his art is useless in front of him.
Karu took his wooden sword and took the stance as Arlan. Karu did the exact same thing as Arlan and Arlan was left speechless. He did not lie when he said he can copy anything by seeing it once. Karu was much more special than he thought.
"I know you want to show that to me so I can understand the soul of the sword to allow me to learn you art fatser, but I don't need it. So continue and let's finish."
Arlan at that night realized his own lack of skills. An art he has perfected his whole life was all done perfectly by a child when he showed it just once. Karu learned all of Arlan's "Moon Ascension" that night.
Arlan had no more need to teach anything to Karu. He looked at the beautiful moon that night. All he could say was "What a beautiful moon.