The Sword That Shattered Fate

Deep within the forest bordering the village, Hideki found himself ensnared in a skeletal nightmare. A pack of bone-beasts, shaped like monstrous hyenas, circled him with clicking joints and hollow eyes. He gripped his sword, his breath steady, watching their jagged movements. Suddenly, one lunged from his blind side. Hideki parried with lightning speed, but as he engaged the first, another leaped at his throat.

With no time to think, he drew the second blade—David’s sword. The beast snapped its jaws shut, grinding the steel between its teeth until the blade shattered with a sickening crack. Gritting his teeth, Hideki channeled his remaining strength; with his primary sword, he cleaved the first beast in two. Then, using the jagged remnant of David’s broken blade, he drove the steel deep into the second hyena’s skull.

The immediate threat was gone, but the pack still pressed in. Desperate, Hideki ignited a volatile substance and hurled it around him. A ring of roaring fire erupted; any beast that dared step forward saw its ancient bones melt instantly. Taking a gamble, Hideki cast a magical shield over his feet and plummeted through the wall of flame. The shield shattered under the heat, leaving him with a stinging burn, but he didn't stop. He ran until the trees thinned and the safety of the village appeared. Exhausted, he looked at the broken hilt in his hand and slammed it into the dirt in a fit of silent rage.

A Cold Welcome

Back at the house, David was pacing, his heart heavy with worry—until he saw Hideki approaching. The boy’s face was a mask of gloom, his eyes fixed on the ground, his knuckles white as he clutched a half-empty bag of herbs.

Inside, David tried to break the suffocating tension. "The bag isn't full this time, eh? Don't look so miserable. You’ll have better luck tomorrow. And tell you what—don't worry about the rent this month."

Hideki didn't look up. Instead, he placed the metallic shards of a ruined weapon on the table. "This was your sword," he muttered. "It broke while I was fighting the bone-beasts. Since you're waiving the rent... I won't have to pay for this either, right?"

The words had barely left his lips before David’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed in a dead faint.

The Morning After

The next morning, David bolted upright in terror. He found Hideki calmly preparing a meal.

"You... you can cook?" David stammered, still dazed.

"A few recipes," Hideki replied flatly.

David washed his face and sat down, trying to convince himself of his sanity. "You know, I had the strangest nightmare last night. I dreamt you came home and told me you broke my precious sword."

Hideki didn't blink. "It wasn't a dream. It happened. You fainted right after."

In an instant, David lunged across the table, grabbing Hideki by the collar. "You brat! Do you have any idea what that sword cost? It was my companion from my days as a soldier! And you break it in a single night?"

"I was surrounded!" Hideki choked out. "It was the sword or my life!"

"I don't care! Die then!" David barked, though his grip loosened into a frustrated shake. "From now on, you work for me. Every cent you earn goes to that sword. I’m going to milk you for every last penny!"

"But you said you’d waive the cost!" Hideki protested.

"That was before I knew my treasure was scrap metal!"

The Encounter

Their shouting was interrupted by a woman from the village. David composed himself instantly as he went to the door. She requested some medicinal herbs, and as David packed them, he asked for her name.

"Violet," she replied with a gentle smile.

As she walked away, David remained frozen at the door, staring after her.

"What’s wrong with you?" Hideki asked, leaning against the wall.

"She’s beautiful, isn't she?" David whispered, lovestruck.

Hideki scoffed. "Don't tell me you've fallen in love."

"Maybe I have! Now shut up and go get those herbs. You have a debt to pay!"

Shadows of the Future

On his way out, Hideki stopped a village guard. "If a massive horde of monsters attacked this place, what would you do?"

The guard looked at him, puzzled. "Monsters don't attack here; there's nothing for them. But if they did... I promise we’d fight with everything we have so you and the others could escape."

"How many of you are there?"

"Fifty in total. We’re just a small village."

Hideki thanked him and walked away, his heart heavy with a secret grief. That guard isn't lying, he thought. In another life, he fought until his last breath to let everyone escape. He died a gruesome death. I won't let it happen again. I must complete my training and find the current Sword Master to unlock the true power of this blade.

Meanwhile, deep in the woods, a cloaked figure stood at the site where the Legendary Sword once rested. Seeing the empty pedestal, his voice hissed with murderous intent.

"Who took it? Was it one of those pathetic peasants from the village? Whoever stole my destiny... I swear, I will tear them apart."

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