Moments before Shawn’s grandfather was stabbed, Shawn went into the forest to search for his sword. He was deep in the forest, searching frantically in the dim twilight around the bushes but unable to find it. Unbeknownst to him, the mysterious figure who had been with his grandfather emerged nearby, ensuring his presence remained undetected.

  Shawn muttered to himself while searching for his sword, “Stupid grandpa, throwing the sword in the name of testing after we spent the whole night forging.” Suddenly, the figure turned his gaze toward the village and sensed that the soldiers had neared the house and that his master was in imminent danger. He faced a critical decision: rush to aid his master or help Shawn obtain the profound power he needed.

  Realizing that going back was not an option since he had received instructions from his lord, the figure decided to help Shawn, as it was the only way to save his master. By obtaining this power, Shawn could defeat the soldiers who had infiltrated the village and save his grandfather. So the figure approached Shawn.

  Emerging from his hiding spot, he called out urgently but kindly, “Young master, please allow me to introduce myself. I’m a loyal servant of your grandfather. Please, follow me; we don’t have much time.”

  Startled, Shawn fell into a bush, confused by the sudden appearance of the stranger, and demanded, “Wait, what? Who are you? What do you mean by 'my grandfather’s servant'? I’ve never seen you before. And what do you mean by 'we don’t have much time'?”

  The figure began walking swiftly, glancing back at Shawn. “We can stay here, and I can answer all your questions, but it won’t do any good right now,” he replied, his voice tense with urgency.

  Torn between curiosity and concern for his grandfather, Shawn hesitated for a moment. The figure’s next words cut through his indecision. “If you stay here, it won’t save your grandfather or the village.”

  With a sense of urgency, Shawn made a split-second decision and ran toward the village. The figure noticed Shawn’s movement and called out, “You can go back now, but it will be of no use. Follow me, and I will help you obtain the power that can save your grandfather and the village.”

  Shawn stopped in his tracks, his heart racing. “What do you mean, I can’t save him if I go back now?” he asked, still unsure.

  The figure continued walking deeper into the forest, his voice carrying back to Shawn. “If you go back now, you will witness despair and wish that you hadn’t.” He added urgently, “I have been instructed by your grandfather to help you obtain this power, and I promise you it will give you all the strength needed to stop what is bound to happen. Now please, follow me; we don’t have much time left.”

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  After a moment of indecision, Shawn decided to trust the mysterious figure, sensing a familiar bond radiating from him. He followed into the depths of the forest, hoping that whatever awaited him would indeed help save his beloved grandfather.

  The forest was dense and dark, aided by the gathering storm clouds above. As the forest was illuminated by the first lightning, Shawn saw the mysterious figure move swiftly while he struggled to keep up, his heart pounding both from exertion and the uncertainty of what had happened to his grandfather and the village, followed by a loud thunderclap.

  “Where are we going?” Shawn asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and anxiety.

  “To a place where your grandfather has thrown your sword, young master,” the figure replied without breaking stride. “Your sword is the core essence of this power.”

  Shawn, confused, thought to himself, “My sword?”

  As they navigated through the thick underbrush, the figure passed through obstacles swiftly, ignoring fallen logs, low-hanging branches, and treacherous patches of uneven ground. He moved as if he were made of smoke. Shawn, though less graceful, followed as best he could, determined to keep up.

  “What is your name, by the way?” Shawn asked as the second lightning illuminated the forest again.

  “My name is not important, as I will soon become not of this world,” the figure replied cryptically, a thunderous clap following his words.

  They continued in silence for a moment, the forest sounds made by insects creating an eerie backdrop, signifying a brewing storm. The figure occasionally glanced back, ensuring Shawn was still following.

  Suddenly, the figure halted, raising a hand to signal Shawn to stop. “Young master, we’re here,” he whispered. He pointed to a spot across the grove pond where a small waterfall fed into a river. Shawn approached and saw his sword plunged in the middle of the waterfall, splitting the flow. Only the handle and a few inches of the blade were visible.

  “Young master, now you must retrieve it. By doing so, you will obtain the power. Please hurry!” the figure urged.

  Shawn nodded to show he understood, then waded into the grove pond, moving against the current. The river's force was not overpowering but still presented a challenge. As Shawn neared his sword, he hesitated. He turned to look at the figure, who gave him a confident nod from afar.

  Taking a deep breath and steeling his resolve, Shawn reached out and grasped the handle of the sword with one hand.

  He tried to pull it out with one hand, but it was plunged in deep. Leaning closer, allowing the waterfall's flow to hit his face, he used both hands to grasp the hilt, closing his eyes against the waterfall. After a brief struggle, he gained a firm grip and began to pull the sword out inch by inch. As he did, a white light began to seep from the crack behind the waterfall.

  Unbeknownst to Shawn, the crack widened with each pull, shaping like a spider web from the centre where the sword was plunged, and the light grew more intense. The figure observed from afar, noticing that the ritual had started. Shawn grunted with effort, the noise loud, his eyes still closed, and continued to pull the sword. With a metallic scrape, the sword budged a significant amount, nearly halfway out. The light now poured heavily from the widening crack, illuminating the entire area. It was so bright that it would blind anyone nearby, yet the figure, watching from afar, saw a small shadow—Shawn—but Shawn was unaware, his eyes still tightly shut.

  Sword Master.

  Sword Master