The cold winds were blowing in the ruins, and darkness began to gather in the sky as thick clouds started to cover the forest. The ruins of the pillars lay quietly amid the massive trees filled with moss and creepers. Some stones were scattered on the floor, reflecting the relics of the past era. Kael was standing amidst the ruins, holding both his swords in his hand.
The dark sword named Umbra was cold and weighty, and its darkness appeared to be just like the darkness in a vacuum. No reflection came out from the dark sword, but instead, the sword appeared to be swallowing the light, making it look as if the sword were alive. Conversely, the white sword called Lux was totally unlike the dark sword called Umbra.
Kael slowly raised both swords and looked toward the older man standing nearby.
"These swords… are really mine?"
The older man crossed his arms calmly while wind moved his black coat.
"They chose you."
Kael frowned slightly.
"What does that mean?"
The older man stepped closer and looked directly at Umbra and Lux.
"Not every sword accepts every person."
Kael gazed down once again at his weapons. The flow of unusual energy within them could be felt by him. It was very subtle, but there nonetheless. His heart rate began to rise gradually.
"Why would they pick me?"
The older man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Because your soul carries both darkness and light."
Kael fell silent upon hearing those words. The Darkness and the Light. These two entities always accompanied him through his entire life. He was carrying that darkness which frightened everyone else, yet in his heart, he desired to safeguard others. There were times when his anger got the best of him, yet at the same time, he hated seeing others suffer due to that evil nature of the world.
The older man slowly walked backward and pointed toward the open space between the ruins.
"Show me your stance."
Kael raised both his swords immediately into a similar fighting posture that he had learned while training. While one sword was held higher, the other was held low near his waist. He was still balanced on his feet, with his eyes focused ahead.
For several seconds, only silence existed between them. Then the older man shook his head slightly.
"Too stiff."
Kael blinked in confusion.
"But I copied your stance exactly."
The older man stepped closer.
"You copied movement, not feeling."
Kael lowered the swords slightly.
"I don't understand."
The older man reached forward and adjusted Kael's shoulders carefully.
"A sword is not just a weapon."
Kael listened closely.
"Then what is it?"
"It is part of your body."
Kael slowly inspected the blades while pondering those words. He released his tight hold just a little and allowed his shoulders to relax. Right away, the blades became light and easier to handle.
The older man gave a small nod.
"Better."
As she opened her mouth, a loud crash sounded from somewhere deep within the woods. The birds immediately flew up into the air, and a heavy tension filled the air around them. In one quick movement, Kael whipped out her swords again as the old man looked towards the shadowy woods.
Kael swallowed quietly.
"What was that?"
The older man's voice became colder than before.
"A shadow beast."
Kael tightened his grip on Umbra and Lux.
"A monster?"
"No, something worse."
All of a sudden, movement came from the shadows between the trees. A big black monster leapt out of the shadows into the ruin with frightening speed. When it landed, the earth seemed to crack beneath its paws. Kael's eyes opened wide. The monster looked a lot like a wolf except that there was dark smoke surrounding it. Its eyes were red and glowed in the darkness.
The creature let out a low growl as it stared directly at Kael. There was something about its dark aura that felt eerily similar to him. He knew right away what it was. Its dark aura resembled his own darkness.
Kael slowly stepped backward.
"It feels… strange."
The older man nodded once.
"It senses your Noke."
The monster crouched down, then charged at Kael with a suddenness he had not expected. Kael responded immediately, crossing his swords in front of himself. Clawed limbs smashed into the blades, and sparks flew in all directions, while Kael was forced back several meters on the ground.
Kael gritted his teeth.
"It's strong!"
The older man remained completely calm.
"Then become stronger."
Again the beast moved on Kael without hesitation. Just before its claws touched him, Kael moved aside. Rocks crumbled from their force. Lux was then rapidly turned by Kael and aimed at the side of the beast, which unexpectedly backed away from him.
Kael breathed heavily while watching every movement carefully.
"It's too fast…"
"Watch the shoulders."
Kael knew that the training from battling the Fang Wolf was still applicable. He stopped paying attention to its claws and teeth and started observing its legs and shoulders. When the muscles tensed, he made his move.
Darkness flew from his blade in a black slash. Umbra slashed deep into the beast's shoulder, leaving behind a glowing gash of blood that was engulfed by smoke. The beast roared in agony and leaped backward.
Kael stared at the sword in shock.
"It cut through so easily…"
The older man's expression remained calm.
"Umbra feeds on dark energy."
Again the monster snarled in fury and charged. This time, however, Kael walked right into it, as opposed to moving backwards as he had before. The Lux flashed bright as the white sword hit the claw away. Without giving the monster any chance to defend itself, the Umbra sliced through the monster's chest.
With each move, the heart beats of Kael became more and more rapid. There came a bond that he had not experienced before. The bond was with the weapons that he held in his hands. Everything appeared smooth and easy. There was less fear and more excitement in his heart.
Without warning, the shadow beast jumped up into the air and fell to the ground with a thud. Kael rolled out of the way in time. The ground shook as the beast landed on it, breaking the stones. Before it could make another move, Kael came at it swinging his two swords.
The trail of silver was created by Lux when Umbra followed after him, throwing off dark energy behind himself. This attack caused a gash to appear on its body, causing it to scream and stagger back.
The older man watched carefully from the side.
"Do not stop."
Kael did not hesitate and began another attack. The creature attempted to bite the boy's neck, but Kael ducked and managed to dodge the attack. Umbra cut one of its legs as Lux hit it on the side. Blood spurted across the ruined landscape.
The shadow beast stumbled backward while breathing heavily. Its red eyes burned with rage and pain. Black smoke leaked from its wounds continuously.
Kael slowly raised both swords again. Sweat covered his face, and his breathing had become rough, but his eyes remained focused.
"I can win…"
The older man looked toward him carefully.
"Do not become careless."
A monstrous roar echoed from the beast, causing the walls of the ruins to crumble. Dark energy emanated from its form as a powerful gale. The beast's increasing in size took Kael aback. Dark energy spikes erupted from its back.
Kael stepped backward in shock.
"It changed…"
The older man's expression became serious.
"It's evolving."
The creature rushed forward again with speed far greater than before. Kael barely blocked the attack in time. The force behind the claws pushed him violently across the ground. Pain shot through both arms.
Kael struggled to stay standing.
"It's stronger now!"
"Then adapt."
The Shadow Beast continued its assault unabated. Kael parried one attack, dodged another and just managed to avoid a third aimed at his throat. Stone pillars collapsed into rubble all around them.
Breathing became ragged. His body could not sustain itself anymore. However, something unusual gradually happened. Dark aura silently started surrounding Umbra, while silver light started forming around Lux. The swords started responding to his actions and emotions in a much stronger manner.
The older man noticed immediately.
"Focus."
Kael tightened his grip on both swords.
"I am trying!"
"Do not think. Feel."
Kael froze there for just a second after hearing the words. But he started to slow down his breathing steadily. Rather than moving himself around, he relied on how his body worked instinctively. It all happened in slow motion. Kael managed to notice the tight muscles of the beast before it made a move.
The shadow beast lunged forward one final time.
Kael moved first.
Lux jumped up and parried the attack of the other claw, while Umbra cut right through the body of the monster. Darkness came out of the blade from the wound inside. There was silence for a moment in the ruins.
Then the creature stopped moving.
Black smoke slowly leaked from the wound before the beast collapsed heavily onto the ground. The red glow in its eyes slowly disappeared until only darkness remained.
Kael just froze and panted. Sweat was covering his face, neck, and both trembling arms due to exhaustion. Slowly Kael looked down on Umbra and Lux. Both blades were as clean as before even though he had been fighting.
Silence filled the ruins once again.
The older man slowly walked toward him.
"You learned quickly."
Kael looked up in surprise.
"Does that mean I did well?"
The older man gave a small nod.
"You survived."
Kael let out a tired laugh.
"That's your way of praising people?"
"For now."
Kael smiled slightly for the first time in days. Then he looked toward the dead shadow beast lying among the broken ruins.
"What exactly was that thing?"
The older man's expression became colder again.
"A creature born from corrupted Noke."
Kael's smile disappeared immediately.
"You mean… I could become like that?"
The older man looked directly into his blue eyes.
"If you lose control."
A cold wind blew about the ruins, and once again silence reigned in the vicinity. Kael eyed the shadow thing and gripped his two blades tightly. Fear was present in him, but he had another one along with it too.
He would master this power. No matter what it took.