17 Then There Was Darkness

The day seemed to slow down for me, Riku had spent extra time teaching me calligraphy as he seemed to think I was a little behind in my writing. My etiquette teacher was as strict as ever and by the time I had finally gotten to my rehabilitation with Dr Ishi I was exhausted.

I had finally finished everything I needed to do. At last it was time for my sword training lesson with Ren. Ki had shown me to the training ground that the soldiers used. I could spot in the distance Ren with his long flowing white hair in a training outfit. It was a deep black colour with a white trim. He was strung like a taut bow as he swung his sword rhythmically.

"61, 62, 63" I could here Ren count after each stroke.

[ Sixty?! I could barely do ten without getting tired ]

He saw Ki and I walk over. I caught him as he seemed to avoid looking at Ki before he looked at me and became flustered.

Ki clicked her tongue and hmphed.

[ What was that about? ]

Ignoring what seemed to be bickering I made my way over to Ren. Ki walked over to the side and found a bench nearby to sit and watch over us.

" You ready to go uh.. I can't say it!" Ren said as he looked down.

" Say what" I responded confused

" Uh, are you ready to train young mmm..aaa..ster Yuki?" Ren replied his face went beet red.

" It's fine to just call me Yuki you know" I retorted.

Ren quickly looked over at Ki's direction and then shook his head.

" I can't, I can't!" Replied Ren, his embarrassment getting worse.

" Well if you insist on it Ren!, I am ready!" I responded brushing of the strange mood before getting excited.

[ Yep definitely a weird guy ]

Ren looked me over once and noticed the eye bags under my eyes. They were due to the tossing and turning I did last night excited for today's training coupled with the intense lessons of the day.

" Are you sure? I won't go easy on you just because your tired" he said in a warning tone.

" mm Let's do this!" I responded happily.

Ren then sighed a small sigh before he walked over to a weapons rack. He found a small wooden sword. He tossed it at me before he found a thin bamboo pole and held it. We walked back to the centre of the training ring.

Ren had looked down at the ground for a moment. The aura around Ren changed from a kind and shy young man to a bloodthirsty tyrant. I unconsciously took a few steps backwards in fear and my heart began to race.

He looked up at me and smiled sinisterly before saying " No good! If this bit of bloodlust is making you scared you will never survive a true fight! COME ATTACK!"

[ Ahhh scary! ]

He walked up and tapped me on the shoulder, this simple action snapped me back to reality. His aura disappeared completely and he scratched the back of his head with his hand.

[ What a monster! ]

" Are you okay? I am sorry I didn't mean to scare you that much!" Ren said with an apologetic look on his face.

It took me a moment to readjust but I smiled it response. " How did you do that face melting thing? The darkness and the scariness were so cool!" I blurted seemly gibberish in my attempt to explain my excitement.

[ If I could be even 10% as scary as that if my household turns to dust I can still earn a living! ]

Just thinking about being an invincible sword king made my blood boil. I looked at Ren with expectant eyes.

Ren had a shocked look on his face. He wiped the sweat that had accumulated on his brow due to worry before going back to his flustered self.

" Uh.. my magic element is darkness... I can use it to cause fear in my opponents as well as shield my face, so I can do stealth missions." Ren replied after a minute of silence. I had nodded at every word he said before becoming downcast.

[ What if I don't have the darkness element? ]

I sighed as my dreams of being a horrifying swordsman faded away as quickly as they came. Ren seemed to sense my emotions. He gently patted me on the back.

" No matter what element you end up having, as long as you practice the sword long enough I am sure you will become good at it!" Ren tried his best to reassure me.

In an attempt to change the subject Ren said " Do you understand why I did what I just did?"

I thought about it for a moment before being unable to reply I shook my head.

He nodded before saying " It's good that you said you didn't know, asking for help is the first step to being good at something!"

He paused for a moment before continuing " I did that to show you that being a great swordsman is more than just practising. You have to overcome your fears, your ego and remember no matter how good you get there will always be someone better than you. So fight to improve not just your outer strength but your inner strength too!"

When Ren had said those words holding that flimsy pole he looked like a hero on the battlefield holding a banner of hope. I could see he meant every word as if they had been etched into his soul through years of practice and tireless battles.

I took what he said to heart and tried to savour his words like a fine wine. I then looked at him resolutely and held my fist out.

He looked confused at my actions.

" Uhh sorry I was just trying to fist bump you," I said as I had temporarily forgot I wasn't on earth

" Fist bump?" Ren replied still bewildered.

I went to drop my arm embarrassed but he stopped me.

[ I'm such an idiot! ]

" Wait, I am sorry I don't know, please teach me!" Said Ren as he panicked.

I looked over at him and laughed mostly at my own stupidity. I took his hand in both my hands and clenched Ren's hand into a fist. I then held Rens fist up in the air and knocked my fist against his. I then put my arm down and Ren mimicked my action.

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I heard the faint buzzing in my head from Kibble's voice but I ignored it.

" What does this fist bump mean?" Said Ren

" It's for friendship and my way to tell you that I promise to keep what you said in mind," I said quietly.

" Huh Really?! That's Umm. Thank you" Ren said and once again copied the actions of a fist bump I showed him to himself. He seemed really excited.

Ren looked at me and said " I don't really know many customs... I am glad you taught me this."

I scratched the back of my head before quickly blurting out " uh it isn't a custom, I just um made it up. It can be our friendship sign or something"

[ Whoever invented the fist bump would be so mad at me right now]

" Ahh I see, well I still like it so, let's use it more!" Ren said cheerily.

Ren spent a few minutes explaining to me the basics of the sword, everything to how to find the swords balance to why the shape is the way it is. He talked about the sword so passionately even I could not help but be swept away.

I was then told to show him the sword positions I had learned. I did my best to copy the manuals that I was given but up until recently, I had been doing them sitting down. Ren had spent the time tapping each part of my form that needed to be corrected and watched for a little while.

He had finished correcting my form after thirty minutes or so. I was sweating slightly. It had gently dripped down my forehead.

" Need to take a break," Ren said worriedly.

" I am okay" I replied. The adrenaline from today's lesson was coursing through my veins. We kept going for a little while and he showed me a few leg techniques since I was sorely lacking in them.

I was so focused on training that I didn't see Ki walk up to my side with a cold drink and some snacks on a tray, in her other hand was a damp cloth.

" Young Master" Ki called.

I looked over to see Ki standing next to me. Ren had walked several steps away.

" I don't know much about swords but you look very tired, do you want to take a break for today?" Said Ki sweetly.

I nodded.

[ I have more training tomorrow I guess ]

Ren seemed to shiver. Still standing a few steps away Ren said " Training was good today, think about your foundations and we will do more again tomorrow"

"Want to stay for some snacks and a drink, you must be tired too right? " I said to Ren as Ki handed me the sweat towel. I wiped my face and neck with it.

[ So soothing! ]

" Maybe uh next time Young Master Yuki, " replied Ren nervously. He took one last look at me and then Ki before bowing and putting the wooden pole back in the rack.

He left soon after.

" Ki, what did you do to him? He seems frightened of you for some reason" I said to Ki curiously as we walked to the pond in the centre of the manor.

" Nothing at all young master Yuki, I just taught him to rules of living here, maybe my face is just scary?" Ki said dodging the subject.

She grabbed the sweat cloth in my hand and put it in her front pouch skillfully. The tray in her other hand did not move even an inch let alone wobble.

" Did you have fun today?" Ki asked.

" Mmm," I replied nodding.

" I am glad to hear that young master," Ki said and smiled.