Void Genius

Since I took up the sword, my father had someone instruct me. My father was a good swordsman but never taught anyone and had no experience. He had contacted a close friend who had taught people before and asked him to teach me.

He knew him from childhood and their lives from a young age interlocked together. Arata Hiroyuki, my teacher, was the younger of the two. He was a renowned teacher and swordsman. He always carried an air of confidence in everything he did. Students he taught had all gone on to be great swordsmen.

He was loyal to no clan or family, but he always helped out my father in affairs. His name alone could solve most things, and the ones that weren't resolved immediately usually led to a fight. Even then, those 'fights' couldn't be called that, as he dispatched them quickly.

A man who held no rival, that is, until my talent had shone through, and I managed to keep up with him. He claimed my talent was better than his while he was an incredible prodigy. I was an extraordinary prodigy. That's what he claimed, at least. It was hard to believe that. I first thought he was exaggerating.

Despite not believing that at first, as the years went by, I got better. I was forced to accept his claim because I could keep up with him even more. Not many can, and even then, they only lasted so long before losing to him. He told me I needed the time and experience, and then I would surpass him.

This time, I did believe him, not because I was arrogant. It was proved that I did have the potential to do so. For years, he was my teacher, and primarily, all days were dedicated to training. Occasionally, he'd teach me some life-related things, and I'd take them seriously. This was our routine for years until I turned seventeen when he started to be gone for long periods.

I was sad when he said he'd be gone for some time occasionally. He stated that he had loose strings to cut and had to do some things he needed to get accomplished. Father knew what he was up to and tried to help me when Teach left on his trips.

When I started training, I sometimes sparred against my father and lost. After some time, I won against him and then never lost against him. The times when he took over, it was just practice of the same as he couldn't keep up. Despite that, my father had tried his best to help me when Teach wasn't there.

Teach left some instructions, but I quickly learned whatever he left for me. Sometimes, I was left with nothing but practice until he came back. The months coming up to my eighteenth birthday were boring, but my father made up for it.

Teach said he would go on his final trip, and I was happy. He'll be here with me and train me like he should've when he left for his trips. I was eagerly waiting, and it was nearing my eighteenth birthday. A day before my birthday, my father said he had arrived in the town. I was happy and tried to rush to find him. He stopped me and said he needed rest. I relented and listened to him.

The next day came, and it was my birthday. I was hoping he wouldn't bail on me again. As the day went by, I was bored and asked my father to spar. He agreed, but only if I went easy on him due to getting on the age and my skill being so much better than his. I was fine, and I just wanted to do something as I waited for Teach.

The times when sparring against Teach, I go full out at the start, which requires my full mind focus to go against him. His skill and experience at the current time are more terrific than mine. I've yet to see him go full out, and neither has my father. I will eventually pass him in skill and defeat him. Still, that moment hasn't come yet.

We were sparring, and I accidentally sent a swift slash toward my father, who didn't block in time, and he fell to the ground. I quickly sheath my sword and help him. I help him stand, and he looks past me to see Teach. He talks to him, and then they start arguing like always. I find this funny when they start, but it gets annoying because they always do it.

I begin to pout as they ignore me before speaking out loud to them. Teach looked a bit surprised and then made a comment which had my father glaring at him. Then his expression changed to that of someone remembering something. He asked how Arata's trip went, and I jumped in with a question as well.

He told us how his trip went, this one I was allowed to know. It was mainly miscellaneous, but then he got to the end. He was challenged to a duel of honor by somebody. I got a bit mad at this. Why would someone question his honor? He continued with his story and stated his main reason for being here.

I was glad he remembered and congratulated me on my coming of age. It's different for females and especially for those who are swordsmen. He had a gift for me, a sword he made for me. I was so happy that he made something as a gift to me, but I was even happier when it was a sword.

I unsheathed it, and it felt light. I've always preferred lighter swords. It works well with my speed, as it's one of my strong points. I did some swings as a small test, and it was swift. Teach outdid himself with this sword, which I would most cherish.

I was so excited that I asked for a spar with him. He agreed, and I jumped with happiness as it had been a while since we last sparred. Father had wanted to discuss something with him after the spar, and then he left for his office. Teach was okay with that, and we positioned ourselves for our spar.

I entered my stance, and he entered his. My stance was like his, although mine differed in how we positioned our swords. As a leaf dropped by, we dashed and rushed each other. The thrill of fighting, even if it was a spar, was incredible, and I loved it.

We slashed at each other and got into a clash. I shaked a bit due to the force, and soon after, I backed off. I dashed with a slash downward and did two side slashes. He parried my last strike, and I had been left open to an attack.

He slashed toward my open side. I just barely blocked, but the force threw me off for a bit. Teach started to throw strikes toward me in a fast manner. I matched his speed, and we met in multiple clashes. We continued to clash as I saw that he kept striking faster than before.

As we continued to increase the speed of our attacks, sparks bounced off each time we clashed. As we continued to spar, Teach eventually pushed me back and backed a bit. I sensed that he was going for an attack and prepared for it. An attack that would later become my signature strike(s).

He disappeared, and my instincts told me I wouldn't be able to block it entirely. The attack came like lightning, and I blocked it; yet another force came down the same way. It was two attacks that occurred at the same time; the first I was able to block. For the second one, I could not block, and the force pushed me to the ground.

'Teach really is something else, and he says I can suppress him?'

I thought as I started to get up from the ground. His sword in front of me, which signaled the end of our spar, he sheathed it. A smile on his face with an expression of pride for me. I was disappointed and pouted, but I couldn't help but smile in the end.

I sheathed my sword and waited for his feedback; this was training, after all. He started by saying that it was an overall good spar. My skills hadn't fallen off and were even greater than before. Despite not getting the training I needed, he said it was my talent at work.

"I needed to go harder on you because your talent shines incredibly. We've never gone that hard before, as it wasn't in the best interests then. This time around, due to my absence being somewhat long, it was necessary. I didn't expect you to block the first strike. You proved that you don't need my tutelage any longer."

I understand now that he went more aggressively for my best interest. My skills being better than before was unexpected as I didn't think it would get better. Despite that, my talent, once again, proved extraordinary. ...I was sad when I received the news that he won't be my teacher anymore.

I was expecting this due to my coming of age, but it still brings me sadness. He was, to me, many things: a mentor, a family member, a friend, and a model of what I strive for. My father treated him like his own brother, one he never had. It wasn't far-fetched to call him my uncle, although he'd not like that.

"You got that? Good, I must go to your father's office, it seems important. Also, try to figure out a name for your sword; it adds character. After all, you'll be using it for a long time."

With that, he left for my father's office in the manor. I thought about eavesdropping, but he would immediately notice me trying to. He has, strangely, excellent senses, yet he gets caught off guard at times. The injury he has was caused by his senses being off, or so I assumed from what he said earlier.

Not wanting to think too hard about it, I found a distraction to occupy me. Figuring out a name for this new sword, he was right; I most definitely will be using this a lot. Suddenly, my stomach started rumbling, and it passed me that I had gained a thing of having an appetite after sparing with Teach.

I went to our guards and told them that if my father needed me, I'd be in town. With that, I head to get some food, and maybe I'll encounter something interesting. After being let out from the gate, I went to a food shop in town.

...

T□e Ch□□n□□cle□ o□ □□□□□ □□□□□□□□ M□dif□□d. D□te □f is□□□: M□□ 8th, □□3□

...

Date: Unknown.

The book was charred, burned, and scarred with marks of all kinds. Many letters were missing, lost to the fire before getting in my possession. Yet, I know what this book is about. My great-grandfather, at one point, was his student. He didn't leave much and only told stories to my grandfather.

Which were passed onto my father and then me, although he's been missing for a while. I don't know if he's alive; I hope he is still alive. Mother has been worrying a lot, and grandfather died without knowing he was missing.

Enough of sad things; I opened the charred book. Many pages were burned and missing. Some pages were stuck together, and as much as I tried to part them, they didn't. Eventually, I reached a page that interested me a lot, and it included someone of importance.

Due to the burning, some sentences were missing words, and others were missing entire sentences. But the vital part was mostly intact, and I could read it. It was interesting, to say the least. It revealed a lot to me and clarified some history.

Unfortunately, the rest of the pages were either unreadable or the sentences burned. It didn't matter, as the primary essential facts were still intact. I closed the book as I continued my preparations for the □□□□ □□□□□ □□□ happening soon.