Tony gripped the paddle tightly, his empty eye sockets narrowing as he stared at the towering samurai watchtowers. The thick smoke rising into the sky didn't sit well with him.
"Eleo... Eleo… ELEO!!" Tony shouted, shaking the boat slightly.
Eleo jolted awake, stretching and yawning. "Ugh… yeah? What is it?" He rubbed his eyes lazily.
Tony gestured toward the island. "Look. It seems we made it to where the newbie swordsmen train, but something's off. That smoke—it's too much. There might be a war going on."
Eleo perked up instantly. "Oooor maybe they're cooking a huge feast!" His eyes sparkled. "Imagine if it's carrots!"
Tony sighed, running a bony hand over his face. "Sure, Eleo. A giant battle-sized cookout. That makes perfect sense."
Before Eleo could argue, a sharp whistle cut through the air. An arrow struck the water just inches from their boat. On the watchtower, a samurai archer pulled back another arrow. "State your business!"
Eleo hopped to his feet, balancing on the boat like it was nothing. "HI, WE'RE JUST PASSING BY—"
Tony yanked him down before he made himself an easier target. "Maybe don't yell like we're tourists," he hissed.
Eleo peeked over the boat's edge and waved. "Okay, okay! Uh, we're here to, um… Oh! Fight strong people!"
Tony groaned. "That is the worst thing to say to a bunch of swordsmen with arrows pointed at us."
The samurai murmured among themselves before the archer spoke again. "If you seek a fight, then you may find one here. Dock your boat and prepare yourselves."
Tony sighed, gripping the paddle again. "Great. We haven't even set foot on land, and you're already challenging people."
Eleo grinned. "I mean, isn't that kinda fun though?"
Tony shook his head. "This journey is going to be insane."
With that, Tony paddled them toward the island, the samurai watchmen still eyeing them warily from above.
Eleo and Tony disembarked from the boat, They stepped onto the shore of Kenshi Island, their feet sinking slightly into the damp sand before they made their way to a worn dirt path leading inland. Ahead, a wooden sign stood tall, weathered but still sturdy. Eleo bounded up to it and squinted at the unfamiliar symbols.
"Tony, what's it say?" Eleo asked, tilting his head.
Tony strolled up and inspected the sign. "It says 'Kenshi Island.'"
Eleo's ears perked up. "Oh wow! That means there's gonna be strong sword fighters, right?! I can't wait to fight one!" He clenched his fists with excitement.
Tony chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course, that's the first thing on your mind."
As they walked along the dirt pathway, the scenery shifted. The trees became more orderly, their branches stretching wide with vibrant pink petals drifting lazily through the air. The scent of cherry blossoms mixed with the fresh mountain breeze, creating a peaceful contrast to the idea of battle.
Eleo took a deep breath and grinned. "Hey, Tony, do you think we can add one of the swordsmen to our team?"
Tony hummed in thought. "Mmm, yeah, that wouldn't be a bad idea. A skilled swordsman could be useful in a fight."
Eleo cheered, throwing his arms up. "WOOHOO! We're gonna have another teammate! Our team's getting bigger already!"
The deeper they traveled, the more the landscape revealed its hidden beauty. Small streams cut through the terrain, wooden bridges connecting different paths. Stone lanterns lined the road, their engravings telling stories of legendary warriors who once walked these lands. Further in, they spotted training grounds with wooden dummies, and a few younger swordsmen practicing their stances. Some paused to glance at the two newcomers, whispering amongst themselves.
Eventually, they arrived at a massive stronghold. Three towering watchtowers loomed over them, manned by samurai archers in full traditional armor. The fortress itself was built from dark wood and stone, its architecture sharp and imposing, like a blade in its sheath. The thick walls were reinforced with iron plating, and banners bearing the crest of the island fluttered in the wind.
Before Eleo could even take it all in, a group of samurai guards stationed at the entrance raised their bows, arrows nocked and aimed directly at them.
"State your business!" one of the archers demanded in a deep, commanding voice.
Eleo took a deep breath, ready to blurt out something reckless, but Tony, already predicting disaster, clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Uh, we're here to become swordsmen as well," Tony said smoothly, giving a polite bow.
Eleo, still muffled, flailed slightly before relaxing, nodding along enthusiastically.
The archers remained silent for a moment before exchanging glances. Finally, the lead samurai lowered his bow slightly. "You wish to train in the way of the sword? Then you must prove yourselves worthy. Enter and be tested."
The massive wooden gates creaked open, revealing a grand courtyard where dozens of swordsmen were sparring, each clash of steel echoing through the air. Some wore traditional kimonos, while others donned more practical battle gear. In the center stood a man with long silver hair tied in a loose ponytail, his arms crossed as he observed the newcomers with a piercing gaze.
Tony sighed, lowering his hand from Eleo's mouth. "Well, looks like we're in."
Eleo grinned wide. "YES! Time to show them what we got!"
As Eleo and Tony walked through the open courtyard, they took in the sight before them. The air was filled with the rhythmic clashing of wooden swords, the shouts of training warriors, and the occasional bark of an instructor correcting a student's stance.
Dozens of kids, teens, and even a few adults were scattered across the area, all engaged in intense training sessions. Some were sparring one-on-one, their wooden bokkens striking against each other with sharp cracks. Others were performing synchronized drills, moving fluidly like a single unit. A few were off to the side practicing kata—graceful, repetitive movements designed to refine their technique.
Eleo's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wow! This place is so cool!" He bounced on his feet, his long ears twitching as he soaked in the energy of the training grounds.
Tony nodded, arms crossed. "Yeah, this is where all new swordsmen come to train before they're allowed to set foot in the world as warriors."
Eleo tilted his head. "Wait, so where are their parents?"
Tony sighed, looking around at the young trainees. "The kids here? They don't really have parents—at least, not in the way you'd think. They're born into this system, raised, and trained here from childhood."
Eleo blinked. "Huh? So… they never get to go home?"
Tony shook his head. "For them, this is home." He gestured toward a group of young trainees who couldn't have been older than six, swinging their tiny wooden swords with intense focus. "These kids don't grow up with normal families. They're brought here the moment they can walk, and from that point on, their only purpose is to become swordsmen. It's a tradition that's lasted for centuries."
Eleo frowned, rubbing the back of his head. "That's kinda sad… don't they ever get to just, y'know, play?"
Tony exhaled through his nose. "Not really. Play for them is sparring. Training. Getting stronger. The only way out of here is to either pass the final trial and become a full-fledged warrior or… fail."
Eleo furrowed his brows. "What happens if they fail?"
Tony shrugged. "Depends. Some stay and work as instructors. Others become servants or blacksmiths. The best fighters get sent to war as frontline soldiers. And the unlucky ones? Well…" He didn't finish the sentence.
Eleo's ears drooped slightly. "Man… that's rough."
As they continued walking, they passed a massive stone monument in the center of the courtyard. Names were carved deep into its surface, rows upon rows of them stretching down to the base. Some were fresh, others worn by time.
Eleo stopped, tracing a finger along one of the names. "What's this?"
Tony glanced at it and exhaled. "The List of the Fallen. Every swordsman who dies in battle or fails their final trial gets their name carved here. It's a reminder to every student—this path isn't for the weak."
Eleo stared at the monument for a moment, then clenched his fists. "Then that just means we gotta get stronger, right? No way I'm gonna let my name end up here!"
Tony smirked. "That's the spirit."
Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots echoed across the courtyard. A group of senior swordsmen approached, their wooden sandals clacking against the stone as they stopped in front of Eleo and Tony. The leader, a tall man with sharp green eyes and a sheathed katana resting on his hip, looked them over with a calculating gaze.
"You two. You're not from here," he said, his tone firm but not hostile. "State your purpose."
Tony straightened up. "We're here to train. We want to become swordsmen."
The man studied them for a moment before smirking. "You want to train here? Then let's see if you have what it takes."
He snapped his fingers, and two students—one a teenage boy with a long ponytail, the other a stocky girl with short hair—stepped forward, wooden swords in hand.
"If you want to be here, you'll have to prove yourselves first. A simple spar should be enough."
Eleo grinned, stretching his arms. "Oh-ho! Now this is what I'm talking about!"
Tony sighed, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, let's get this over with."
The senior swordsman smirked. "Then step into the ring. Show us what you've got."
The surrounding trainees paused their own training to watch, forming a loose circle around the newcomers. Excited whispers spread through the crowd—who were these outsiders? Could they really stand up to trained swordsmen?
Eleo bounced on his feet, hyped for the fight. "Let's do this, Tony! Time to show them what we're made of!"
Tony just smirked. "Try not to get hit, Eleo."