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Will of the Wind

   I am Ken! the man before me proclaimed. 

   I've been tasked with taking your life! 

However, I am willing to place a bet. As promised, once I win, I will gladly take your life!  But in the event that I lose, you can have the sword that I wield! It has been named the Wind Breaker! 

   This sword has been passed down for generations amongst my family and I am confident in my ability to cut you down, Ken smugly said. Since I do believe and honor and whatnot I'd like to even the playing field even for a tiny bit. Ken tossed me a wooden sword.

   I was in deep s**t. I still haven't manifested my magic properly and I have to go up against a trained assassin with only a wooden sword? His smugness does however add fuel to my fire! I definitely want to kick this guys ass and wipe that smug grin on his face.

   Without further ado, Let's get the part started! Ken yelled as he lunged forward.

   It was a miracle that I was even able to parry that first attack. 

   It took everything that I had to be on the defensive as I tried to follow Ken's movements. He was insanely fast. Even faster than Eddie when using his "Stockpile first form".

   Ken hacked, stabbed and slashed his way at me relentlessly as I tried to block each of his attacks, a few always managed to still connect. At this rate I definitely am going to lose! I can't afford to keep this up!

   I did my best to slow my breath and to try and concentrate on his blade. I had to block it one strike at a time. After going back and forth I began noticing the patterns in how he fought. 

   He could only wield his blade whenever he followed the pattern in his sword strikes. With each succession, He started again to his first strike after exhaling. And with each succession I slowly managed to keep up. 

   I was slowly growing accustomed and catching up to his pace as I was deflecting more and more of his attacks. 

Thinking that I was finally hitting my stride and that I could go on the offensive, I taunt him by saying

   " you're strong, but way too predictable". 

Just from the look on his face I knew I struck a nerve. 

   The pace of his successions began to quicken and as I began to slowly lose my confidence, Ken kicks me in the gut, which sent me flying. 

Under his breath, Ken mutters " Let's see you predict this dipshit," "Sword technique: Piercing Step". 

  Ken took one step and before I could blink he had already stabbed me. 

I was stabbed in between my right shoulder and chest. I fell to my knees as I suddenly felt this sharp pain.

   Ken stared at me as I tried to grip my wooden sword, but I was losing grip. My shoulder felt warm and my breathing gasp for air as it is now truly sinking in that I just got stabbed. As I looked at Ken, it seemed as if he was speaking but all I could make out was 

   "I guess I'll take your head". 

As he raised his blade, I felt it, the warmth in my chest as blood trickled down my arm, my grip loosening on the wooden sword, Eddie horrified as all he could do was watch, the sound of Ken's Breathing as he raised his sword. In that moment I knew that this was no place for me to lose, no place for me to die.

   I felt the winds gather as I heard a deafening ringing sound. I suddenly felt my grip tightening around the sword, that warm feeling coming from chest was slowly disappearing despite me still feeling the blood gushing out. 

The ringing sound ceased as I began to feel this warm feeling, different from what I felt earlier, deep within me. As I stood up my breathing eased and I felt power coursing through me. 

  I looked to see the stunned expressions of both Ken and Eddie. 

   "So you finally awaken your magic", Eddie says. 

As I raise my sword I felt the winds gather around my blade as I felt power pulsating from my fingertips, as if I was channeling the wind through the wooden sword. I step forward as I begin to strike.

   It felt amazing. 

   As I traded blows with Ken I felt incredibly light. 

As if the winds propel me with each step. And with each s***h, it felt quicker and had more weight to it, as if the winds I've gathered made my attacks powerful blows. 

   With each attack, it became apparent that Ken was struggling. Even after using his regular sword succession, after trying his first sword technique, and after going through all of the sword techniques he had in succession, he was still losing.

   I had to finish this now while I still had power!, I thought to myself. 

   Despite me overwhelming Ken right now, I was slowly losing power. The sharp sensation from my chest began to gradually increase as it began to tax my movements.

   I step back as I try to channel everything that I still have left.  

Somehow, I felt the weight of the wind from the sword, It felt unorganized, chaotic. 

   The wind went in every direction it pleases but as I channeled my power the reluctantly gathered around the wooden sword. 

   My wooden sword cracked, It couldn't take the magic I was gathering, so with what I've gathered I'll finish this fight with a decisive blow. I lunged forward, as I began to s***h. I felt the weight of the sword increase, and as I slashed at Ken I knew it would connect.

It didn't however. In a desperate last second attempt, 

   Ken used his "Sword technique: Piercing Step" to lunge backward to evade my sword. 

   I was already in motion, I couldn't lung any farther to connect. As I was finishing the motion I began to feel shitty, the power pulsating from my fingertips as I channeled the winds was leaving me, and I wasted it. 

   But as I looked it, all hope was not lost quite yet. As the wind began to leave the blade it seemed to follow the trajectory of my s***h. It was immaculate. 

   I stared in awe as the wind rippled forming a sort of crescent that came from the s***h of my wooden sword. The s***h of wind connected with Ken. 

   As Ken dropped to the ground he said softly " guess you win my blade huh?". as blood pooled from the cut on his chest.

   I always relived a memory I could not forget. 

Twelve year old Ken cried as once again he collapses halfway through the rigorous training his grandfather puts him through. 

   "Must you disappoint me!" his grandfather screamed, 

   "If you quit here, you will never become fit to inherit and wield my sword Ken!". 

   Endless years of enduring the harsh environment molded Ken to the person he was today. He was skilled with the sword, and yet he still yearned for approval, never satisfied. 

   He compensated this by putting on a mask of arrogance, If he could fool his peers, he could eventually fool himself. Even after inheriting the Wind breaker, Ken felt empty. 

   Each time he drew the blade all he saw was the disappointed scowl of his grandfather from the reflection of the blade. No matter what he did, the scowling face of his grandfather haunted him.

 Ken began work as an assassin, to prove to himself that he could go far with the blade, after working alone, he would soon begin to work under the famed Head Hunter.

   After a few odd jobs, Ken had a new goal in life, To rise the ranks and beat the Head Hunter. 

Which all lead to this moment, as blood pooled from his chest, he looked up to see Noah. 

With his vision slowly fading, he could no longer see Noah's face. All he saw was his grandfather scowling at him. With his dying breath ken muttered, 

   "Bring the blade honor".

   "Make sure it becomes the blade that strikes down the Head Hunter". 

   "With this I hope to make grandfather proud".

   Noah looked as Ken took his last breath. with what remained of his strength his strength he took the Wind Breaker, closed his eyes, and gave respect to such a fearsome opponent. 

   Eddie was finally able to move as he too joined in to give respect. After looking around for a suitable place to bury Ken's body, they settled near the secluded grove where they would usually train. 

   "I will bring honor to this blade and I will master my new found magic," Noah proclaimed as he stared at the make shift tombstone for Ken. 

"May your soul live in this blade and aid me in battle!"

   After tending to my wounds, I fell asleep. 

Once I woke up, Eddie told me that I could have the day off to which I refused. I wanted to learn how to properly channel the wind magic.

   "I wasn't able to draw out my full potential" I told Eddie. 

The sword and the greenery around ken were all destroyed from the s***h. If I could somehow master how to channel my magic, I think I could practice drawing out my full potential seeing as how I now owned Wind Breaker. 

   As I spent the afternoon combat training with Eddie it seemed that no matter what I did I couldn't properly harness the winds, and whenever I was able to it only came in small huffs. 

   It was annoying but seeing how it was a new found power, it was now time to master how to channel the winds.