Morgath walked through the winding paths of the sect, heading toward Kenji's quarters. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, its rays barely cutting through the tall trees that lined the walkway. His mind raced with thoughts of the past few weeks, the intense training, the duel with Ravon, and the questions swirling in his head about the sect and its motives. But most of all, he was eager to reconnect with Kenji. They had been apart for a long time, and Morgath knew there was much to discuss.
As he approached Kenji's place, a small building nestled at the edge of the sect's grounds, he saw Kenji standing outside, as if waiting for him. Kenji's expression was calm but unreadable, his dark hair tied back as always. Morgath couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and gratitude seeing his old instructor again.
"Morgath," Kenji greeted, his voice steady, but there was a hint of warmth underneath. "It looks like you caused quite the stir at the training grounds."
Morgath smirked. "I had to prove my worth, didn't I?"
Kenji chuckled softly, a rare break in his usually composed demeanor. "I should have known you wouldn't go unnoticed for long."
They fell into step together, walking along the narrow path that led toward Kenji's quarters. For a few moments, they were silent, each reflecting on their own thoughts. Finally, Kenji broke the silence.
"A lot has happened since we last saw each other," Kenji began. "I was approached by the Guardians of Order just after we parted ways. They offered me a position here, said they valued my skills as a swordsman and wanted me to teach."
Morgath nodded, unsurprised. Kenji's swordsmanship was unmatched, and any organization would be lucky to have him as an instructor.
"They offered me more than just a teaching position, though," Kenji continued. "In exchange for my lessons, they've given me access to the abilities the sect holds. For now, there isn't much I can learn from them, but that will surely change in time. They have knowledge of healing, martial arts, and body tempering. I've already learned a bit about healing from their top healer—he's reached the pinnacle of Tier 3."
Morgath raised an eyebrow. "And what about you? How far along are you?"
"I'm over halfway through Tier 2 in healing," Kenji said. "But it's not my focus. My body training is what matters most. I've finished perception and dexterity, and now I'm focusing on agility."
Morgath smiled. It was good to hear that Kenji hadn't slowed down in his own training. "Sounds like you've been keeping busy."
Soon it was Morgath's turn to recount what had happened to him recently. When he got to the part where he killed the thug, he mentioned that the killing did not move him mentally at all.
Kenji glanced at Morgath, his expression turning more serious. "Did you really feel nothing?"
Kenji's eyes lingered on Morgath for a moment, searching for something, but he only nodded. "I see. I've been thinking about it ever since. I'm not sure I could've been so detached in your position."
Morgath shrugged. "It wasn't a hard decision for me. Maybe that's because the strength is far more important to me than someone else's life."
They reached Kenji's quarters, and Kenji opened the door, motioning for Morgath to enter. The interior was modest but comfortable, with shelves lined with books and a small table where Kenji clearly spent much of his time in thought. As they sat down, Kenji leaned back slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"What's your purpose for joining the sect, Morgath?" Kenji asked suddenly. "Is it for power? For knowledge? Or something else?"
Morgath didn't answer immediately. He knew the question was coming, but he hadn't fully decided how to frame his response. Finally, he spoke.
"You."
Kenji blinked, clearly taken aback. His usually calm demeanor faltered for a moment, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Me?"
Morgath nodded. "I joined because I wanted to continue our training. My stats have increased, and I need to catch up with my skills. You're the best teacher I know, and I didn't want to lose that."
Kenji let out a slow breath, his discomfort giving way to understanding. "I see. I thought… well, it doesn't matter. You're right. We've trained hard together, and I do owe you a debt for revealing the truth about body tempering."
He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Unfortunately, we'll need to delay our sparring sessions. My katana broke recently while I was teaching the students here. It wasn't made to withstand the strength of cultivators, and it finally gave out."
Morgath leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you still have the parts?"
Kenji nodded. "Of course. It was my family's heirloom. I couldn't part with it, even after it was shattered."
"Show it to me," Morgath said firmly.
Kenji gave Morgath a curious look, but didn't argue. He stood and retrieved a small chest from a corner of the room. Inside were the broken pieces of his katana, carefully wrapped in cloth. He placed them on the table, and Morgath studied them intently.
Without a word, Morgath reached out, his fingers brushing over the shattered blade. His mind focused, and he muttered the incantation for his repair spell, Redintegrare.
The room filled with a soft glow as the broken pieces of the katana lifted from the table, slowly reassembling themselves. The metal gleamed as the blade restored, every crack and flaw vanishing until it was whole once more. But it wasn't just restored—it was better than it had ever been, sharper, stronger, and gleaming with a new vitality.
Kenji stared in disbelief, his eyes wide as he reached out to touch the restored katana. His hands trembled slightly, and for a moment, he was silent. Then, to Morgath's surprise, Kenji's eyes filled with tears.
"I… I can't believe it," Kenji whispered. "This sword… it's been in my family for generations. And now it's… perfect."
Morgath smiled softly. "I'm glad I could help."
Kenji wiped his eyes, visibly trying to compose himself. "Thank you, Morgath. Truly. I don't know how I can repay you."
"There's no need for repayment," Morgath said. "But if you want, I can teach you the repair spell. It would save you a lot of trouble in the future."
Kenji nodded eagerly. "Yes, please. If I could learn that spell, I wouldn't have to worry about my weapon breaking again."
Morgath's expression grew more serious. "There's something you should know, though. In time, you may have to part with this sword. Steel, no matter how well repaired, won't be enough if you want to advance further in cultivation. There will be better materials out there, stronger than steel."
Kenji's face fell slightly at this revelation. He looked down at the katana in his hands, the weight of Morgath's words sinking in. "I see," he said quietly. "That's… a hard truth to take. But I'll think about it."
The mood in the room grew somber, but Morgath knew it was important for Kenji to understand the limitations of his weapon. Still, they couldn't dwell on it for long.
Kenji stood up, his resolve hardening. "Let's go spar. I owe you that much, at least."
Morgath nodded, and the two of them left the quarters, heading toward the training grounds. They prepared their gear in silence, the weight of their conversation lingering, but soon the focus shifted to the task at hand.
Their sparring sessions quickly became a daily routine. In the mornings, Morgath would teach Kenji the basics of the repair spell, guiding him through the incantation and helping him understand the flow of mana required to cast it. Kenji's progress was slow at first, but his discipline and attention to detail soon paid off.
By midday, Kenji would return to his own training, focusing on strengthening his body. Morgath, during this time, turned his attention to mastering a healing spell, something he had been studying quietly on his own. He practiced without the help of the sect's healer, preferring to rely on his own understanding and experimentation.
As the day stretched into evening, Morgath and Kenji would meet again for their sparring sessions. These evening spars became more than just practice—they were a way for both of them to refine their skills in combat, especially under the limited light of dusk. Learning to fight in the dark became just as important as learning to fight in the day, and it pushed both of them to new levels of skill and awareness.
But as their training progressed, whispers began to circulate within the sect. Some of the other students and instructors were unhappy with Kenji's decision to stop teaching them, focusing solely on his sparring sessions with Morgath. Complaints reached the ears of the upper management, who eventually stepped in to remind Kenji of his responsibilities.
One afternoon, as Morgath and Kenji were preparing for their sparring session, a group of senior sect members approached them.
"Kenji," one of them began, their tone formal. "We need to talk. You've been neglecting your duties as an instructor. You were given access to our teachings in exchange for your lessons, but it seems you've been devoting all your time to this… sparring."
Kenji stood his ground, his expression calm but resolute. "I haven't been neglecting anything," he replied. "There's nothing more for me to learn from your teachings right now. If you want me to continue giving lectures, you need to have something that can convince me. And as for my sparring with Morgath, it's been more valuable than any lesson you could offer. I owe him at least that much for helping me out with it. Besides, I also gain something from them."
The sect members exchanged glances, clearly not expecting such a direct response. "You're saying this is more valuable than our teachings?" one of them asked, incredulous.
Kenji nodded. "Yes. Morgath has been teaching me a repair spell that will allow me to maintain my weapons in peak condition. That's something none of you can offer me."
The senior members were silent for a moment, clearly taken aback. Finally, one of them spoke up. "Very well. But don't forget your other responsibilities, Kenji."
With that, they turned and left, leaving Morgath and Kenji alone once more.
Kenji let out a small sigh of relief. "Well, that was close."
Morgath smiled. "You handled it well."
Kenji glanced at Morgath, a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Let's get back to training. We still have a lot of work to do."
And so, their routine continued, each day a step closer to their ultimate goal: mastery of their respective paths. But even as they trained, both Morgath and Kenji knew that greater challenges lay ahead, and the bonds they were forging now would be crucial in the battles to come.
By late summer, both Morgath and Kenji had mastered the skills they had set out to learn. Kenji had fully grasped the repair spell, able to fix his weapon whenever it was damaged, and Morgath had finally perfected his healing spell.