"Never underestimate a person with knowledge capable of moving mountains itself." - Ishido
After class on a Friday evening, the trio ran through the village like shadows with grins. They stole rice balls from the market, slapped banners on rooftops with silly slogans, and knocked on doors only to vanish into smoke. Ishido did teach them basic manners, but at the same time, this shows how much the three are enjoying their lives and their freedom.
During the day, after tripping two guards, they laughed their way to the roof of the old shrine. The old shrine has long been abandoned, and there are many stories surrounding it. When they asked their Master Ishido about it, he told them the legend of how one man, one samurai, alone...fought against an entire army of soldiers, and won. But he was the one getting blamed; he was the one getting sentenced because of the corruption in the nation. Since that day, the shrine has been abandoned. And there are many legends about it, but they cling to Master's theory.
As they relaxed on the shrine, laughing and eating the rice balls they had stolen, they began their conversation.
Kamui grinned, rare and wide. Surprising for him."You know what we should do?" he said."What?" asked Arma."We should blow up the government. "Argon snorted. "Can we start with the school first?"
Kamui sighed. "You always choose education. I know you are from the noble family, and that your dad is quite powerful, but you should agree with your friends once."
Arma just stood, quietly watching, as he knew it was getting tense.
Argon explained. "Indeed, I choose education. A man without education is nothing. It is necessary if we want to survive in this world, let alone in this village filled with old people and no bright future ahead. My novelty has nothing to do with it."
Kamui didn't agree with that, but he didn't want to start an unnecessary fight. "Fine, you win this time, Katana nerd"
Arma jumped into the conversation, "Guys, do you know how GOOD these rice balls are....!"
Argon slapped his face. "We are living in a corrupt country with barely any good leaders, and you are talking about rice balls..."
Arma just laughed while Kamui said, "Classic Arma, a man of true food culture, no matter the country is suffering, as long as there are rice balls for us to eat!"
They all laughed, like true brothers.
Later that evening, Argon's father arrived. Yoshiro Shinjuku has arrived. A tall, cruel-faced man in embroidered robes, with polished swords at his waist. He found Argon laughing with Kamui and Arma at the abandoned shrine, way past the time when he was supposed to come home.
He stormed forward and slapped his son hard."You disgrace our name! Everything I have created for us!" he barked. "Laughing with beggars and mongrels!"
Kamui stepped between them instantly, eyes blazing.
"You don't touch him."
"You're a rat without parents," Argon's father spat. "You deserve the dirt."
The swordsmen accompanying him unsheathed their blades.
"Kill the orphans, as if they were worthy of my presence. I don't know what Ishido sees in these two."
The noble commanded coldly. And they moved.
But then…
In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind split the silence.
Ishido stood between them, his white robe untouched, his katana glowing faintly. Both swordsmen collapsed — one with a kick to the stomach, the other knocked cold with the butt of the blade. He looked at his students, as he smiled at them, telling them in a calm voice that the situation was now okay.
Argon's father gasped.
"You'll raise them to rebel, Ishido." "I'll raise them to see."To see what?"
Utsuro turned. His gaze pierced mountains.
"To see that the world you built is not sacred. That truth doesn't wear robes. And that power… doesn't need bloodlines."
Argon's father dragged his son away.
"You're forbidden from that school. You're no longer a student of the pitiful Teacher of Beggars. Long ago, you were an actual man who knew what was right. It seems you have lost your way, Ishido."
Argon didn't say anything; he just let out a silent tear. He just lost one of his main reasons why he loved this life, but it wouldn't last for long."
Ishido, walking quietly with Kamui and Arma afterwards, spoke differently that night. His voice, usually calm, carried fire.
Ishido explained.
"Argon's father is quite hotheaded. I've known him for a long time now, but this is something new. I know why he opposes my teachings now, and personally, that will not stop me. I only pray that Argon will be okay."
Kamui asked: "Why does he oppose your teachings, Master?"
"There is a truth this world fears," he said."What is it?" Kamui asked.
Ishido smiled.
"That you can think for yourselves. That you can build your own justice. That you can choose."
Kamui clenched his fist. He finally had the courage to ask.
"Master, I hope that I am not imagining things, but how did you manage to stop their swords in such a short amount of time? I barely blinked and you deflected their strikes, Master."
Utsuro chuckled."Yes. You have answered the question yourself, Kamui. Blink, or Mabitake, as that's what the old ones called it." He glanced up at the sky."Back when the Tree still whispered."
Kamui tilted his head."Mabitake? The Tree? What is this master?
"The Tree of Echoes." It saw the first lie, and the last truth. And one day, if you listen close enough… it will speak to you too."
Kamui frowned.
"How did you move that fast?"Utsuro only chuckled again, eyes gleaming."Mabitake…" he whispered. Kamui blinked. And the word etched itself into his soul.
As they continued walking, Arma quietly asked Kamui. "What secrets is our master hiding from us?"
Kamui just said. "I don't know."