Nagare: ‘Eyes closed, as always’

No matter what happened, Shoyo never opened his eyes, but he always managed to react in time. By now, Nagare expected Shoyo to end up tripping over a log or something, but every time Shoyo would just skip over it or avoid the obstacle entirely.

Nagare: “You know, it wouldn’t hurt to open your eyes once in a while”

Shoyo: “No thanks, I feel fine as it is”

Nagare: “Then you wouldn’t mind if I do *delivers a punch* this!”

But instead of being hit, Shoyo simply bent over backwards, avoiding the punch entirely. Nagare tried to kick him, but Shoyo simply blocked the roundhouse kick with his forearm.

Nagare: “Do you have them half open or are you squinting?”

Shoyo: “Nope”

Nagare: “Then how do you…”

Shoyo: “Just because I am not using my eyes, it doesn’t mean I can’t see you”

Nagare: “If I close my eyes, I will be just lost in darkness”

Shoyo: “Human beings rely too much on theirs eyes. But once you stop using them, your other senses can develop. As far as I can see, you are the one with limited vision here, Naga-kun”

Nagare: “Human beings? Why speak as if you are not one? You are not a demon”

Shoyo: “That I am not”

Nagare: “Then what are you?”

Nagare asked half-jokingly, expecting another confirmation that Shoyo was indeed just another human, albeit one with healing ability.

He did not expect Shoyo to respond completely seriously.

Shoyo: “I am a Yaksha. That is all that I am”

Nagare: ‘Yaksha? What the hell is that?’

After walking for another few hours, they sat down and lit a bonfire.

Nagare: “Just to confirm, there are no bugs this time, right?”

Shoyo: “We exited the territory of insects, so aside from a few annoying animals, it should be fine”

Nagare: “But no roaches or centipedes…right?”

Shoyo: ‘Wow, this guy is something’

Shoyo: “Don’t worry about it. If another bug shows up, I will let you know”

Nagare: “Than you”

As Nagare turned around, Shoyo opened his left eye just slightly, taking a peek at the emblem on Nagare’s back.

Now that he took a closer look, it was an emblem of a star with a sword in the middle.

Shoyo: “The thing on your back, what does it mean?”

Nagare: “Oh, this? *Turns around and points to his back* .This is the emblem of the Order of Protectors”

Shoyo: “Aren’t you guys just demon hunters? Why not call it Order of Demon Hunters?”

Nagare: “Demons are not the only ones we hunt, we hunt all kinds of monsters. That is why it is the Order of Protectors”

Shoyo: “Protectors, you say? Protectors of what?”

Nagare: “Humanity”

Shoyo (sarcastically): “Wow, never would have guessed”

Nagare: “At least I am trying. What were you doing all your life?”

Shoyo: “Until recently, getting blackout drunk till I lost all my senses and walked wherever my feet carried me”

Nagare: “So the reason you know so much about different places is because you ended up traveling there while completely wasted? Are you kidding me?”

Shoyo: “I wish I was”

Nagare: “And here I thought you were a travelling expert or perhaps a master in disguise”

Shoyo: “Oh, I am a master, a master of getting wasted”

Nagare: “*Shakes his head*. If you were a master, I would have asked you to train me, but it seems that is out of question”

Shoyo: “Why do you want to train anyways? You are not exactly an amateur with a sword; in fact, you are quite good with it”

Nagare: “Quite good is not good enough. As I am now, I don’t stand a chance against the higher level demons or 10 Demon Blades”

Shoyo: “10 Demon Blades?”

Nagare: “Each one has a number etched somewhere on their body. They are far more powerful than most demons and answer only to their progenitor, the original demon who spawned them all”

Nagare: “No matter what, those demons must be stopped. They have been causing nothing but death and destruction in their way for centuries. Demons don’t age, so unless they are killed, they continue to feast upon humans. That is why I must become one of the Guardians, the mightiest swordsmen among the Order of Protectors”

Shoyo: “Why not just call yourself a Guardian and be done with it?”

Nagare: “Are you a fool or something? The title of the Guardian must be earned”

Shoyo: “How do you do that?”

Nagare: “There are 3 ways. First is personal recommendation, by the approval of majority of active Guardians, a Hunter can be promoted to a Guardian. Then, there is a Trial by Combat; you must defeat a current Guardian with many witnesses”

Shoyo: “What is the last way?”

Nagare: “Within a single year, you must slay 100 demons”

Shoyo: “Sounds not too bad”

Nagare: “Shoyo, a Demon Hunter is lucky to survive a single encounter with a demon, much less emerge victorious. But to do so 100 times….it’s crazy. Compared to that, challenging another Guardian sounds like a better idea….no, scratch that, it might be worse….”

Shoyo: “Why is that?”

Nagare: “Each Guardian is a master of his craft. The existence of Guardians is the reason demon kind has been kept at bay for now. In order to beat one, you need to be a master yourself and a powerful one at that”

Shoyo: “Rather than a Guardian, why don’t you aim to become a Dragon instead?”

Nagare: “Dragon? What do you mean?”

Shoyo: ‘I guess he doesn’t know yet’

Shoyo: “Aren’t you strong?”

Nagare: “Compared to them, not even close. They can use the advanced forms of swordsmanship and chi. I can only use basic chi flow, I have yet to scratch the surface of elemental chi usage”

Shoyo: “Elemental chi, you say?”

Nagare: “Yep. With basic chi, you can only do so much. It makes your sword more durable and sharper, but that is all it does. Those that have mastered a higher level of chi can master their specific element”

Nagare: “Usage of chi is like flowing a wave of energy through your body into your blade. A higher level chi user can make those waves of energy influence a specific element around him. Like Master Hiromasa, he is an earth type chi user”

Shoyo: “That is pretty cool”

Nagare: “Yeah, but an elemental type chi can only be used if that element is nearby. So, if master is on water, his earth type chi is useless”

Shoyo: “What type of elemental chi do you have?”

Nagare: “I don’t know. That is what I would like to find out after I join the Golden Dragon Branch. Apparently they have a way of finding out. Personally, I am hoping that I am a wind type chi user”

Shoyo: “Why is that?”

Nagare: “Air is everywhere! With that type of chi, I will never be left helpless, and wind type chi allows you to use long ranged attacks. I have fantasized about using a flying slash for years....demons will not know what hit them!”

Shoyo: “I am happy you are excited about this”

Nagare: “Yeah…but unless our order takes care of the root of the problem, the demons will keep coming”

Shoyo: “The root, you say?”

Nagare: “The Progenitor, no matter what, he must be dealt with. But the problem is, we don’t really know what he looks like or who he is, but we will get there eventually”

Shoyo: “Right….*Lays down to sleep*”

Nagare: “No matter what, I will slay those demons”

Shoyo: “Naga-kun?”

Nagare: “?”

Shoyo: “Naga-kun…there is not one but seven progenitors….*snores*”

Nagare: “What?! Shoyo, what do you mean? Shoyo?”

Shoyo: “*Snoring*”

Nagare: ‘He is already asleep?! Was he sleep talking?!’