Bladers: Rise of a Hero

9 years ago... Windhaven Village Shopkeeper: "Boy, this bottle is yours." Toshia: "Thank you! This is a great help." The saleswoman smiles warmly as Toshia leaves the store, hopeful. Toshia (thinking): I hope I can collect many today. He smiles despite the hunger gnawing in his stomach. Toshia: "I'm so hungry... I wish I had something to eat." As Toshia searches the streets for scraps, he sees a man’s wallet being snatched by a thief. Without thinking twice, he chases after him. Toshia: "Got you!" He tackles the thief, retrieves the wallet, and returns it to the man. Toshia: "Here’s your wallet, sir. I’m sorry — there are a lot of thieves around. Please be careful." Man: "Thank you, young man. I didn’t even notice him." Toshia: "It’s okay, sir. Just be more careful next time." Gibson: "I’m Gibson, principal of the High School Swordman Academy." Toshia: "You’re the principal of a famous school? I... didn’t know. Sorry." Gibson (chuckling): "That’s alright. I just noticed something — you’ve got hidden talent. Would you like to enter the academy? I can help you." Toshia: "Thank you, sir... but I can’t accept that." Gibson: "Why not?" Toshia: "I’ve never been to school in my life. This is just my fate..." Gibson: "You don’t have to stay that way. You’re still young. You can still dream." Toshia (quietly): "The truth is... I’m just a beggar. I don’t have a home. I sleep by the roadside." Gibson: "What about your family?" Toshia: "My mother died a long time ago... from an illness. We had no money for medicine." Gibson: "And your father?" Toshia: "I don’t know. My mom never told me anything about him." Gibson (curious): "Why wouldn’t she?" Toshia (suspicious): "I don’t know... Wait, why are you asking me so many questions?" Gibson (smiling faintly): "It’s nothing." Toshia: "Okay then. I’ll be going now, sir." Toshia walks away, leaving Gibson staring after him. Gibson (softly): "That poor child..." 4:00 PM Toshia is eating at a small eatery when he suddenly hears shouting outside. Toshia: "What’s that noise?" He runs outside to check. Toshia: "What’s going on?" Man in the crowd: "The Bladers are chasing someone! They say a demon was spotted in town!" Toshia: "Bladers?" Man: "You don’t know them?" Toshia: "No… this is my first time hearing about them." Man: "The Bladers are elite swordsmen trained at the Swordman Academy. They protect our village." Toshia (thinking): So that’s what the old man meant earlier... Man (looking at him closely): "Wait… this is the first time I’ve seen you here in the north. Who are you?" Toshia: "Oh, I’m Toshia. I’m from the south. I just passed by — people said the food here is good." Man: "Ahh, I’m Jay." Toshia: "Nice to meet you, Jay. So, what happened? Did they catch it?" Jay: "I’m not sure… I hope so. Demons are terrifying." Toshia (thinking): Demons...? Toshia: "Alright, I’ll head back in and finish my food." Jay (watching him leave): "That guy’s kind of strange..." TO BE CONTINUED....