"What exactly is this Tein?"
Dinan's smile deepens, his round black eyes narrowing as he snaps his neck, looking upward — toward the clouds, toward the sky.
No, it's like his eyes pierce through the clouds, staring at the place beyond them.
But what am I saying? How's that even possible?
"No one truly knows what Tein is, Ralyn." He begins to speak, in slow, measured fashion, "All I — and probably the rest of the world — know is that Tein is a gift that comes from…" He points his index finger towards the very same sky that his eyes refuse to leave, "From above!"
He finally looks down, his heavy gaze hovering around my decomposed posture.
"Tein is an invisible force sent from above. A force that not every life form has access to because not every life form has the amount of Chi needed to wield it. But those with the ability to wield it can master Tein until they're able to give it a physical form of their own." He pauses, allowing the weights of his words to press on me.
"And to all those who follow the ways of a warrior, and to those who follow the weapon paths, the Tein is a necessary tool. It helps us, it boosts our strength, it increases our mastery of weapons, and it gives us speed. That's why every warrior who learns a weapon art must be able to grasp and wield Tein too!"
"Oh," I speak, my voice barely audible.
My head drops low, and suddenly, the weight on my shoulder feels even heavier. I stare down at the grass on the ground, but my mind wanders far from the grass.
I expected something like this to happen ever since I read the contents of Ralyn's diary and memories, but..
"Can I really never learn swordsmanship?" I ask, and as I ask, my heart pulses, distributing a warm feeling around my body, and I raise my head, staring straight at him.
"Ah," Dinan says as his smile fades, his face changing shape, forming an apprehensive expression. "Don't get me wrong, Ralyn. You can still learn swordsmanship. You can still fight with the sword and train with it. But, at the end of the day, you'll never be a swordsman. A true swordsman. Because you would never be able to cross blades with men like me, men that have learned to wield Tein."
A soft exhale escapes my lips as I fall butt first on the ground. I close my eyes, massaging my forehead with my thumb and index finger.
"Has there been anyone?" I ask, my eyes still closed.
"What?"
"Has there been anyone?" I ask again.
"Has there been anyone... what are you trying to ask?" Dinan's voice drops low.
"Has there been anyone born with weak Chi like me who stood amongst true swordsmen even without Tein?" As I ask this question, I slide my hand down from my forehead, covering my mouth, and then I open my eyes wide, staring straight into Dinan's.
His forehead wrinkles, and drops of sweat slide across his cheek as he steps back.. Instinctively, I think.
"There.." He blinks, his pupils dilate as his eyes lose focus from mine, but still locked intensely on mine. "There was… once. But, that man.. he's long gone. He died in battle."
"But he stood amongst true swordsmen who wielded Tein?" My voice carries an excited edge to it.
"Yes, Jaran is... or was his name. He's a legend on this continent. But, not everyone can–"
Dinan pauses as I take my hand off my mouth, revealing the wide, uncanny smile that divides my face, and I stand up immediately, ignoring the belated beating of my heart against my ribs. And I walk toward him, raising my hands.
That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
My hands tremble, not from fear but from the knowledge of the path that I'm about to walk.
I've never felt such.. excitement in my life.
I rest my hands on Dinan's shoulders, gripping them tight.
His black eyes widen, trying to make sense of the scene unfurling before his very eyes.
"Vice Captain Dinan.." I speak with a weak voice, "Teach me how to fight with the sword." As I say this, I take my hands off his shoulders.
"Tein?" I speak, looking away from his direction, staring at the lines of buildings away from this garden. "I don't care about that, Dinan. Chi? I don't care about that either." I turn to face him again. This time, my eyes gleam with a feeling that I don't yet understand. "I want to learn the sword. I want to be able to place higher than last in the tournament. I want to leave this family, I want to see if one can really stand amongst the great without this Tein you all adore."
And I also plan to bring this family down. But, I don't know anything about this world. What kind of family they are, or the position they hold in this world. So, I need to leave here to find out more.
Ah, but I'll be back.
Once again, I stare in that direction. I see the black spire of the highest building in the distance. The building where I met the Patriarch.
I'll be back to do what I said.
I shake the thought off my head, looking at Dinan once again.
But for now..
Dinan has this weird expression on his face. An uncomfortable expression.
"Can you move?" He asks. There isn't any hint of aggression in his voice, but his expression says different.
I take three steps backward. Away from him.
It seems like he likes his space.
That tense expression on his face softens as he lets out a long exhale.
"You know," He says, grabbing the wooden sword he planted on the ground. "The way of a warrior has a much greater meaning than one's superiority in battle or in duels." He continues, "I gave you my word, Ralyn. I told you that I'll train you."
"You think I didn't know you won't be able to wield Tein when I agreed to train you?" He asks. A stern tone.
I just shake my head slowly.
Then why did you agree?
"So calm yourself, Ralyn. I have given you my word. And as a swordsman, my word is my blood."
With the wooden sword, he scratches the grass on the ground, drawing something.
I squint my eyes, and I read it:
"198 days," I mutter.
"198 days until I turn you into someone capable of placing higher than last in that tournament you've been so worried about."