Kizaer, Ciona, and Joane watched as the manifestations of the Flux inundated the surroundings of Shen, gradually taking the shape of a sword—still formless and illusory, unlike the elders of the Strider Clan.
Shen was forming his first sword intention, which, for any swordsman, is the most crucial intention of all. It would determine how far a practitioner on the path of the sword could go.
The guardian of the Strider Clan, himself one of the Elders of the Sixth Mansion, understood well the significance of forming the first sword intention and feared for Shen's future.
Typically, when a swordsman senses that they are close to discovering the driving force that will propel their abilities and inspire the creation of their sword intention, they enter seclusion. In this introspective state, they reaffirm their own principles and objectives.
A swordsman must be like the strikes of their own blade: firm, decisive, clear, virtuous, and true to themselves.
