CHAPTER 45 — First Steps with a Sword
📅 7 July, S.C. 1510
👦 Ren — Age 7
📍 Windmill Village → Cliffside Clearing
The morning sun was warm, painting gold across Windmill Village.
Ren walked toward the cliffside path, Zemo trotting beside him, when he heard someone call out.
"Oi, Ren!"
It was the village chief, standing outside his small home with something wrapped in cloth.
Ren approached curiously.
"For yesterday's bravery," the chief said with a gentle smile, "I think you're ready for this."
He unwrapped the cloth.
Inside was a sturdy wooden practice sword—polished, balanced, and surprisingly well-crafted.
Ren blinked.
"For… me?"
The chief nodded.
"You're not just smart. You have courage, heart, and determination.
A tool like this might help you find strength beyond your mind."
Ren carefully held the sword.
It wasn't heavy.
But it wasn't light either.
It felt… right.
Zemo sniffed it, tail wagging once.
The chief chuckled.
"Even your wolf approves."
Ren bowed slightly.
"Thank you. I won't waste it."
PART 1 — THE FIRST SWING
Ren walked toward his favorite open clearing near the cliff.
Zemo followed, ears perked.
Ren held the wooden sword tightly, testing the balance.
He took a stance—feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent.
He tried to imitate the few stances he'd seen from fishermen and old guards.
Then he swung.
The air cracked—
but the sword dipped at the end.
Zemo tilted his head, unimpressed.
Ren frowned.
"That… didn't feel right."
He swung again.
And again.
The blade wobbled every time.
Ren sat down, frustrated.
"…How do people swing these things properly?"
Zemo pawed the ground, making small lines with his claws.
Ren stared.
"…Are you trying to teach me footwork?"
Zemo barked once.
Ren blinked.
"Well… all right then."
PART 2 — SCIENCE MEETS SWORD
Ren drew a circle in the dirt.
"Let's test force application."
He swung the sword downward onto the ground.
The dirt dented unevenly.
Ren muttered:
"Angle of contact is off…
My wrist isn't straight…
Balance shifts too much during swing…"
He analyzed like a scientist.
Zemo nudged Ren's foot, forcing him to widen his stance.
Ren corrected.
Zemo nudged again.
Ren lowered his center of gravity.
He swung.
CRACK—!
A clean, stable strike.
Ren's eyes lit up.
"That worked!"
Zemo barked proudly.
Ren laughed quietly.
"You know… you might become a better instructor than I am a student."
PART 3 — BREATH & BALANCE
After a few more tries, Ren realized another issue.
He was getting tired too quickly.
He sat down to catch his breath.
Zemo lay beside him, head on Ren's lap.
Ren whispered:
"…Strength isn't enough.
I need control."
He remembered something he'd felt during the fight with the boar—
His heart pounding.
Breath uneven.
Movements shaky.
"What if breathing matters… just like in science?
Steady breath = steady movement."
He tried again.
Inhale — raise sword.
Exhale — swing.
The blade cut through the air smoothly.
Ren's eyes widened.
"That's it."
Zemo circled around him, tail wagging.
Ren continued practicing:
Swish.
Swish.
Swish.
Each swing grew clearer, sharper, more controlled.
PART 4 — A SHADOW WATCHES
As Ren trained, someone approached from behind.
Kiro.
He stopped and stared.
"…Ren, what are you doing?"
Ren didn't pause his swing.
"Practicing."
"With a… sword?"
Ren nodded.
"Yes."
Kiro scratched his head.
"But… why a sword? You already have Zemo. And science. And traps. And herbs—"
Ren stopped swinging and looked down.
"…Because I can't rely on other things forever."
He tightened his grip on the wooden sword.
"Zemo won't always be able to reach me in time.
My traps might fail.
My inventions might break."
He looked at his hands.
"But I always have these.
My mind.
My body.
My choices."
Kiro's eyes softened.
"…You're different, Ren."
Ren smiled faintly.
"I hope so."
PART 5 — ZEMO'S TEST
Zemo suddenly jumped forward.
Snatched a branch.
Ran ten steps away.
Then stopped.
He stared at Ren.
The message was clear:
Catch me if you can.
With your sword.
Ren laughed.
"Oh, so you're testing my timing now?"
Kiro grinned.
"This should be fun."
Ren readied himself.
Zemo darted left—
Ren swung right.
The blade missed.
Zemo flicked his tail smugly.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
Again.
Zemo moved.
Ren anticipated—
and swung cleanly at the air where Zemo would have been if he hadn't jumped again.
Kiro shouted,
"You almost got him!"
Ren grinned.
"I'm learning."
PART 6 — NIGHT DIARY
Back in his shed, Ren opened his notebook.
He wrote:
Sword Training — Day 1
• Balance requires stable stance
• Zemo's movement drills improve footwork
• Breath control smoothens swing
• Wrist alignment affects accuracy
• Timing with moving targets = difficult
Conclusion:
A sword is not just a weapon.
It is a tool of precision.
Of science.
Of control.
I will master it.
Zemo curled against him.
Ren whispered:
"…One day, I'll use more than a wooden blade."
Zemo growled softly, agreeing.
Ren looked at the wooden sword.
For the first time,
he saw not a toy—
But the beginning of a path.
A path of strength.
Of protection.
Of responsibility.
A path that would change everything.
END OF CHAPTER 45