Alone in this world, but that's alright. Perhaps my sister is in a better place than she was with me... an old horse cart without a proper toilet or kitchen...
I won't hide from you that after my sister's death, I haven't engaged in any activities with my sword. Yes, I haven't cut down anyone—not out of repentance like the old hag would say, but simply because I don't leave the cart during the day; I have no desire to face a cowardly world.
At sunset, I make my way to the river to fish. Yes, I've fashioned a fishing rod connected to a line and a hook. Well, I'm not a skilled fisherman; I rarely catch a fish or two, and most of the time I go to sleep with an empty stomach...
I love the tranquility that envelops the place, the gentle breeze brushing against your face, the constant sound of the river flowing.
Alright, it's sunset. I took a metal cup in my hand in case I succeed in catching any fish tired of its life. I placed the fishing rod on my back and left the cart heading toward the river...
Before casting the line into the water, I sat on the grass at the riverbank, my feet intertwined and my knees slightly raised, a Kiseru (Japanese pipe) in my mouth. I gazed for a while at the remaining orange sun on the horizon as it bid farewell to the day...
I don't know how much time has passed, but the result is nothing. Don't be surprised; I'm a skilled swordsman but a failed fisherman. It looks like another day with an empty stomach...
Damn it, what an unfortunate moment! It's the sound of someone's footsteps running nearby. Okay, they're close. As I turned left to see who was approaching, my fishing rod moved. By the time I turned back and raised the rod, there was nothing—damn the newcomer; I even lost the bait...
Foolish, foolish, foolish... It's as if I came here to feed the fish, not to catch them. But it's not entirely my fault; you know that.
I turned to my left to find a girl, about 14 or a little older, kneeling and panting with her face to the ground...
I couldn't help but unleash my anger on her; I was so close to catching one. Who knows, it could have been a big, sleek salmon...
You idiot! You didn't pass by for hours until the moment I was ready to catch a fish... Who sent you to this hell, and what are you doing here at this time in a place like this?
Speak...?
How lucky you are! If I hadn't left my sword in the cart, I would have cut off your head and fed it to the fish!
The girl lifted her face. I don't know why, but I saw my sister's face in hers. I can't tell how much they resemble each other, but she has my sister's features... Is what I'm seeing real, or am I imagining it because I lost her?
"I need your help; no one else can do it."
You made me miss my chance at catching a fish, and on top of that, you've mistaken the person.
I don't know who sent you, but I'm not the right person for this. If you need help, go to the appropriate place based on the kind of assistance you seek... The care center, the church, the police, the governor at the palace.
"They killed my father right in front of me... and my mother too. I don't know if she's still alive!"
And so? You want me to take revenge for you? Let's say I helped you with that; I wouldn't know then who is good and who is evil. So tell me, little one, how am I supposed to judge that, for heaven's sake?
Of course, if I killed those who killed your father, you would be happy about it, but... for heaven's sake, what proves that your father was a good man...
I don't want to be an accomplice to anyone who rushes to me with a sob story, playing the role of the angel as if they were the victim. Right now... I'm just a killer serving my own interests.
Just one question piques my curiosity: who is your father's killer?
"Karl."
Which Karl are you talking about, you fool? Wait, ha ha ha, no way, don't tell me it's the same person...
Interrupting my thoughts, she said, "Yes, it's Karl, the leader of the mercenaries, the commander of the Golden Hawk Squad, the unit that served under the palace in previous battles."
So what you're trying to say is that your mother and father didn't do anything wrong, they committed no sin against him... right?
I placed the Kiseru in my mouth and exhaled the tobacco through my nose... trying to comprehend what the girl was saying.
Use your brain, child. There's no fighter, especially from the Golden Hawk Squad, who isn't a member of the unit you're talking about. Their leader Karl fought side by side with the governor's army, killing someone for no reason...
"But... but... I just..." She placed her forehead on the ground and began to sway and cry.
Alright... stop wailing over my head.
"This is painful, incredibly painful! There were so many of them! Killing them like that isn't fair!" The girl kept repeating phrases about pain, her tears pooling beneath her face...
Are you really ready to give up anything for the sake of revenge?
"Yes... yes..." She lifted her forehead from the ground without looking at me.
Alright... show me that now.
The girl raised her face, her eyes weary from crying, the front of her hair covering her forehead, oblivious to what she was doing... She said she was ready to give up for revenge, but she was clearly conflicted.
What's wrong? Don't look away from me... I said prove it, girl! Prove how serious and determined you are about this...
She wiped her tears, then placed her hand over her mouth, thinking, "But... I..."
What's the problem? Or was that just talk!
"Alright... alright... I will... I'll give you myself, do whatever you want with me."
I won't hide from you that her response was shocking to me, not for any particular reason, but simply because she seemed like a child and, on top of that, resembled my sister.
I was expecting other answers from her—perhaps offering to pay me with money, working for me as a servant, or her ability to give up her home for revenge.
While I was staring away from her and hadn't responded to her proposition for several seconds, I looked at her as she began to slowly remove her kimono.
"What the hell?" A loud slap echoed.
I slapped her and told her to put her damned clothes back on. A child like her shouldn't be toying with that. But I quickly apologized, for I saw my sister's face in hers.
She stood up, said goodbye, and began to walk away.
Could it be that this is the signal the old hag spoke of? Could it be that she came to me in this way?
Karl is not just any ordinary swordsman... even reaching him is no easy feat. I've heard so much about him, and he is considered the strongest.
Could he be my ticket to salvation from immortality? Damn it, well, I'll see where this leads me...
"Hey! Wait!" I shouted to the girl, and she stopped...
I saw the joy in her eyes as if she knew I had accepted her help.
"What's your name, child?" She tensed, stepped back, then bowed. "I'm Eva."
I've decided to accept your offer of help in exchange for a sum of money that I'll specify later.
I'll go with you on this revenge journey; maybe I'll have a good time and you'll be the signal the old hag spoke of.
Alright... the first thing you'll do is advance the payment. Don't worry; it's not a lot. In an hour, we'll meet in front of the cart I live in, with tobacco in your hand. I'm not going into a fight without my Kiseru.
"But... I don't have any money. I'll need to borrow from one of my father's acquaintances, but they're far from here."
I don't care about your excuses; you can steal a tin of tobacco from someone and bring it back... I'll see you in an hour...
Damn it... I can clearly see that this adventure I'm about to embark on will take quite some time, and I'm excited about it... I'll head to the cart to retrieve the rest of my weapons and sharpen them...