*Sometime later*
"We're lucky the pirates were smart enough to stock up on essentials before they set fire to the village. We now have the required items and resources needed to reach another village. I found a somewhat detailed map of this entire Kingdom along with a compass. This should allow us to travel freely throughout the country so long as the map is right."
'The red X's on this map, over the sea side villages... these most possibly mean that they were destroyed by this pirate crew, the men killed, and the women and children sold into Slavery.' Isshin thought as he observed the slightly faded, yet moderately detailed map.
"Mr. Isshin, look! Alcohol!" Mio said, with the area around her eyes slightly red and puffy from wiping her tears from earlier, pointing to a couple barrels.
"Hmm?! Alcohol!" Isshin put the map aside gently, after which he walked over to the barrels, opening each one to see which alcohols were inside.
*Sniff-sniff....sssnnnniiiffff*
"A few barrels of rum, and a single barrel of Sake. The Sake looks of high quality as well, not of the type that one might find in such rural areas. They must have stolen it from a merchant ship on the High Seas. The rum on the other hand is of low quality... no matter, rum is rum and it has been a long time since my last drink, so..." his voice trailed off as he picked up the large, yet slightly small barrel when compared with the others, of Sake, popping off the cork, and pouring the Sake into a cup that appeared from God know where, before drinking it all in a few gulps.
*Pop! Pour. Glug-glug-glug*
"Kuh-hahaha! That hit the spot! This is some quality Sake, as good as some Ashina Sake! It has been too long." he spoke to himself as he drank the rest of the Sake in his bowl before closing the Sake barrel, put it back into its place and walked out to the deck, where Mio stood, waiting for him to arrive.
Just as he laid eyes on her, he sensed something about her. Something different. There was a fire in her eyes, a determination and will to achieve her goals, one that Isshin had seen in the eyed of only a few people throughout his long life, but everyone that did have that flame, left their mark in the history of Japan, in his world. Even he had the very same determination when he was young, when he rebelled against the rulers, when he charged into battle to beat General Tamura, a time when he wasn't the strongest. One that he had gained yet again when he first appeared into this world.
He could now see that very same fire in Mio's large, clear eyes. He could also sense that she had something to ask of him, thus, he walked upto her, and looked down at her, as if waiting for her to speak.
"Mr. Isshin. I don't want to be alone. I want to stand beside you, but you are so strong. If I wish to stand by your side, I must also become strong, so that I can become useful to you, or atleast, not be a burden to you. I want to be helpful to you, so I ask you Mr-no, Master Isshin. Please teach me how to fight. Please teach me how to protect myself so that I may never become a hostage that could possibly ever be used to threaten you." Mio requested, her gaze steady as she looked straight into Isshin's eyes, something that rarely ever did, further proving her determination to succeed in this endeavour.
At this very moment, Isshin could feel Emma, his granddaughter and student being projected onto the image of Mio. He had noticed Mio's skill in medicine, when she had wrapped the wounds of multiple unconscious villagers, and he could also sense an unwillingness to fight for her own gain, her wish was to learn how to protect herself, not how to defeat an enemy in combat, just like how Emma also wanted to be taught.
"Even in another world, you remain by my side, watching over me, my dear granddaughter." he muttered to himself, a small smile on his face, before turning serious.
"I will teach you the Art of Combat. I will show you how to defend yourself and safeguard those you hold dear. By the name of Isshin Ashina, the Sword Saint, I vow to forge you into a protector worthy of standing by my side."
"I thank you for accepting my selfish request, Master Isshin. I shall do my best to and become so strong that no one will be able to hurt or those who I like a lot!" Mio replied, as she knelt on the ground and kowtowed towards him, showing him respect and acknowledging him as her Master.
...
A/N: I am proud to declare that in the 2 events that I participated today, being Drama and Debate, my team has achieved 3rd place in both events!🎉🎉🎊🎊
Also, save up your powerstones, since tomorrow evening the rankings will reset, and if enough of you donate powerstones, we can start off at a better position. bye.