Zeno is 10 and getting his first real sword. His father was leading him outside of the rural village first time in Zeno's current life. Leaving mother, Zeuxis and a 3 almost 4 year old Hinoe by themselves. There wasn't really a chance something would happen to them, the entire village is surrounded with wisteria. No, he was more worried about father and himself.
What if his training wasn't enough? What if they encountered a really strong demon and Zeno wasn't good enough to protect his father. What if his father would get injured and die of an infection on the road. He gripped at the hem of his yukata and walked faster as he listened to his father talk.
"Soon we'll be meeting some kakushi's who will take us to the black smith village. You won't be getting anything as strong as a Nichirin blade but a normal one of the best quality." So no Nichirin blade for Zeno just yet.
"It must be made for you specially, I won't accept anything under the best for my son. You'll use it in the final election this year, as you are entering a bit early, but you're ready for it and I can't teach you more without you going through the elections. You need experience to make the training count."
His father's voice bore through him. Zeno shivered, in this day and age 12 was the normal age to send apprentices to the final election. And it's going to be held sometime after Zeno's 11th birthday this year. Zeno knew he literally couldn't be killed but still entering early would be scary. Mostly just for being younger than everybody.
He smiled while his father talked to the two kakushi who would be their first carriers towards the blacksmith village. Soon Zeno receives a blindfold that he wraps around his eyes and over his ears like instructed. And although the many changes in carriers was a bit disorienting Zeno survived.
Then he met the man who would forge his blade. His name was Kiyomichi Gou and the black haired swordsmith was easily over 50 already. The man had looked long at Zeno's father with a judging expression before resuming the talks about what kind of sword they wanted.
Later while spending some time with some of the apprentice swordsmiths he over heard some of the adults talking. And honestly he should have expected the age to be somewhat weird for these people.
Apparently even people over 20 years are still going to the final election and never returning. So a child under the usual age limit would be surprising when not even half of the adults can survive the election.
Zeno is still of the opinion that he should only enter after he is 12.