Chapter 2 Silver Blood
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Are you awake?”
I opened my heavy eyelids and stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling. A hoarse voice spoke to me.
Normally, if a stranger spoke to me, I would have been terrified and sought my beloved parents. But this time, I merely turned my gaze listlessly toward the source of the voice.
”…Can you speak? Do you remember what happened just before?”
I couldn’t answer the old man, notable for his white hair and beard. I couldn’t possibly answer.
Because I had killed my parents with my own hands, snapping their necks.
”—Ugh—GAAH!!”
The vivid sensation of taking a life, the faces of my parents turning with expressions of concern as if to soothe me—it all flashed back, overwhelming me with a violent urge to vomit. I didn’t know how long I had been unconscious. Agonizing spasms wracked my empty stomach, desperately trying to expel something.
”I’m sorry for making you recall such cruel things… For now, please drink some water and try to eat something.”
He placed a tray with a cup of water and a bowl of barley porridge beside me without trying to touch me as I hunched over, tears streaming down my face. But I had absolutely no capacity to put anything in my mouth right now.
”…You can ignore what I’m saying for now, but I need to talk about your current situation.”
The old man sat in perfect seiza beside my futon and began to speak.
”My name is Silver Blood. I am the martial arts master of this dojo… The neighbors were the first to find you collapsed with your parents’ bodies. After they reported it, the guards and temple officials discussed the matter, and it was decided that I would take you in.”
He gave various reasons: that I had obtained the rare title of ‘Vessel of the Void’; that because the incident occurred near the temple and officials were suspected of involvement, I couldn’t be left to an orphanage; that this dojo was the only place capable of guiding an orphan with a special blessing until enrollment in the holy knights’ academy. All these reasons just passed through my head. Though the discussion was important, deciding my future, I couldn’t focus.
’—Therefore, you need to become as strong as possible before the main story begins.’
The moment I heard that voice, my shoulders jolted.
’So, you need to train a lot… but aren’t you passing out too often? (sigh)’
While pressing my aching head, I recalled the voice’s words… Didn’t it imply my weakness led to my parents’ death? If I extracted only the understandable parts from this voice, which mostly spoke nonsense, wouldn’t that be the implication?
’Hmm, I want you to get as strong as possible before the main story starts… You were lucky to be taken in by a good silver old man.’
”…Ngh.”
Before the voice, now ominous, could act, I desperately uttered clumsy words. I didn’t want to experience the sensation of my body being controlled by someone else and killing someone ever again. I never wanted this unfathomable voice to take over my body again.
”…C-can… can I train at this dojo… and become strong…?”
I questioned Silver Blood with pleading eyes. After killing my parents, he was the only adult I could turn to.
”Revenge isn’t a bad idea, but I advise against it.”
”Will I become strong?”
I kept asking, relentlessly. I had nowhere else to turn. Even if I were driven out, I wouldn’t give up after just a few rejections. I was prepared to stay in front of the gate even if they kicked me out.
”To become strong—”
”Stop, first, you need to put that water and barley porridge into your stomach.”
As instructed, I forced down the water and porridge, along with the pain and nausea. The lukewarm water and porridge, warm like human skin, reminded me of my parents. I forced myself… Even with tears streaming down, I forced it down, determined not to vomit.
”…I’ve eaten…”
I covered my stomach, nodding to Silver Blood. My gesture asked what to do next.
”Wash your face and come to the main hall—the largest building on the grounds.”
”…Understood.”
”From now on, we are master and disciple. Use polite language when speaking.”
”…Understood.”
I must become strong, strong enough to resist the voice.
”—Welcome to the Suijin-ryu Dojo.”
To satisfy it, I first needed to acquire the skills to become strong.
* * *
”…”
He observed his new disciple. Her eyes, though young, reflected desperation and fear, not hatred. Fear fueled her desire for strength.
”…Hmm, ‘Vessel of the Void,’ is it…”
The ‘Vessel of the Void’ title was rare for her age. Its effects were unclear, but it promised significant change. This likely drew temple interest, or caused the attack.
”Either way, it’s a cruel fate for a five-year-old girl…”
He accepted her reluctantly. Encouraging revenge was wrong, but aimlessness would harm her.
”It’s simply a matter of me taking responsibility,” he thought.
If she strayed and brought wicked change—
”—I will be the one to settle it with my own hands as her master.”
For now, she was his disciple. He’d guide her toward humanity.
Notes:
• –
• Silver Blood – Martial arts master of the Suijin-ryu Dojo. Reluctant guardian to Reina Alcott, balancing duty with fear of her potential wickedness.
• Suijin-ryu Dojo – Martial arts school led by Silver Blood, becomes Reina Alcott’s refuge and training ground after her parents’ murder, a place of harsh discipline and fragile hope.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply