The wind whistled through the barren forest of leafless trees. The clouds eternally darkened, swirled above the wasteland. In the middle of it all sits a castle of dark-grey bricks. Around the castle are numerous clay houses...
Elsewhere, a young man tracked through overgrown vegetation. He inhaled and exhaled loudly as the vegetation behind him was tampered. "Almost there!" He said smiling hopefully. "Sensei Era!", the young man leaped into a clearing, and rolled. The beast followed him into the opening, only to have a hole burnt through its head by a projectile... "You attracted a Demi-Tiger this time. Good job, rookie." Era said whilst she stabbed the grey feline with black strips in its heart to end its suffering. "Thanks, but I don't think I can run tomorrow." Hitori remarked nervously upon looking at the three nine-foot long beast that was near inches away from eating him. "Then it's about time move on to the final part of your training, but right now, I'm starving." As fast as the day concluded the next day began.
"For this final training, you'll be fighting me." Era proclaimed with a devilish grin. "You're a woman, wait that came out wrong!" Era stared intensely at Hitori. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh?" Era pushed her robe back and pulled her weapon forward. "It seems you have a lot to learn still, like how to respect your elders!" Era swiftly unsheathed her sword and went for Hitori's head, however he dodged it with only the tip of his hair grazing the reflective steel blade. "Pick up a blade and face me, or are you scared!?" "(I am scared!)" He exclaimed to himself. After arming himself proceeded to lose tens upon hundreds of battle, the marks of his every lost being the cuts that covered him like tattoos. On the days they didn't duel Era beat Hitori down with her fists...
"Sensei, I feel confident about today." Hitori drew his sword and run toward Era. Era reciprocated his advancement by swiftly branding him with a long and shallow slice across his chest. Suddenly Era's movements began to slow down and Hitori felt and spine-chilling calm. It was as if his body was trying to warn him about the eminent and irreversible damage he could face from the next attack. Before Era could slice him again, Hitori blocked her blade with his, and simultaneously moved close enough to ram her onto the ground. Now with the upper hand he held his blade an inch away from her eyes.
"I surrender." Era said begrudgingly. Hitori sighed in relief as he dropped his sword. "Sensei, does this mean my training is complete?" "Yes, however there's one more thing to do." Era said as she dusted dirt off herself. "What is it?" Hitori asked, worn out from all the training. Era held her sword in front of her and shouted, "awaken Ethos!" The sword released a white glow as its reflective steel transformed into a gleaming light-blue and gold Damascus katana. "This katana is called Ethos, it was a gift from my master... Now I'm entrusting it to you... You must survive a night in the forest, if you want food, you hunt it... good luck, rookie."