The sacred tree still crackled with residual energy from the lightning strike, its gnarled roots smoldering faintly in the rain. Kaito stood there, the katana Kagekiri in his hand, its glow pulsating like a heartbeat. He felt a chill run up his spine as the blade began to whisper, its voice clear and yet untraceable.
"You are the one. You carry the blood of the smith. Bear me with strength, or I will bear you into the shadow."
Kaito staggered, gripping the hilt tighter. "Who... what are you?" he demanded, his voice shaky but firm.
"I am balance, I am power. And you... you are untested."
The blade's glow dimmed slightly, and Kaito could feel its energy coursing through his veins. He could also sense something else movement in the shadows. The forest, once a place of quiet solace, now felt alive with unseen eyes.
"Kaito!" a voice called from behind.
He turned sharply, finding Ayame, the village priestess, standing at the edge of the clearing. Her robe was soaked from the rain, and her staff glinted faintly with protective charms. She stopped abruptly, her eyes wide as they landed on the blade in his hand.
"You... you've found it," she breathed, stepping closer despite the palpable tension in the air.
Kaito frowned. "Found what? This sword? It... it called to me. What's happening, Ayame?"
Her expression darkened. "That is Kagekiri, the Shadow-cutter. It's been hidden for centuries. The fact that it chose you means..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "It means the Shadeborn have returned."
"The Shade-born?" Kaito echoed, the name unfamiliar yet heavy with foreboding.
Before Ayame could answer, a guttural growl erupted from the forest. Both of them turned toward the sound as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was humanoid but distorted, its features flickering between solid and spectral. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and tendrils of shadow oozed from its body like smoke.
"Ayame," Kaito whispered, stepping back. "What is that?"
"A Shade-born," she said, gripping her staff tightly. "And it knows you have the blade."
The creature lunged without warning, its clawed hands swiping toward Kaito with unnatural speed. He froze, fear locking his legs in place.
"Move, Kaito!" Ayame shouted, stepping between him and the creature. She thrust her staff forward, releasing a burst of light that forced the Shade-born to stagger back.
The blade in Kaito's hand pulsed again, the whisper more insistent this time. "Fight, or fall. Choose quickly."
Summoning every ounce of courage he had, Kaito raised Kagekiri. The blade seemed to guide him, his movements fluid and instinctive. As the Shade-born lunged again, he swung the katana in a wide arc. The blade cut through the creature effortlessly, its edge glowing brighter as it severed the connection between the Shade-born and the material world.
The creature let out a piercing wail before dissolving into wisps of shadow, leaving only silence in its wake.
Kaito stood there, breathing heavily, the weight of the moment sinking in. "What... what just happened?"
Ayame approached him cautiously, her gaze flickering between him and the katana. "The blade didn't just choose you, it awakened you. Kaito, you're not just some boy from the village anymore. You're the wielder of Kagekiri, and that means the Shade-born will come for you. All of them."
"But why me?" Kaito asked, his voice breaking. "I didn't ask for this!"
"The blade doesn't choose lightly," Ayame said, her tone softer now. "It must have seen something in you. A strength you don't even realise you have."
Kaito lowered the katana, staring at its shimmering edge. "It speaks to me," he said quietly. "It's... alive."
Ayame nodded. "That's because it holds a fragment of the Spirit of Balance. It's a force of harmony, but also of judgement. If you're not careful, it will consume you."
Kaito looked up at her, fear and determination warring in his eyes. "What do I do now?"
"You need to leave the village," she said, her expression grave. "The Shade-born will keep coming, and they'll destroy everything in their path to get to you. There's a place, an ancient temple in the mountains. The monks who sealed the blade left behind texts, maps, and rituals. If you can find it, you might learn how to control Kagekiri... and yourself."