xxx

Another few weeks passed, and nothing much changed. The generals has sensed that Sinbad was planning something big again, but the only thing they got from him was that he "can't tell them yet". Even though it was suspicious and slightly uncomfortable, it helped everyone get their mind off things.

Sharrkan was still recovering from his fight and spent a lot of his time in his chambers. Sinbad told him to take it easy and maybe try to study a bit more about world economy while letting his body rest. If it was anyone else, Sharrkan would be probably angered by their order to rest, when he wasn't even that injured, but since it was Sinbad, he tried to listen to him. Still, the order felt a bit off to him.

Also, staying in his chambers meant he won't have to face the rest of the generals, that were still giving him concerned looks. He knew that the fight made them even more worried, since situations like these happened to him rarely. But the swordsman still thought that they were exaggerating.

What worried him was that he couldn't find his sword anywhere. That night, when he regained consciousness, he completely forgot that he didn't have it with him. Which was honestly so stupid for him, because normally, he was checking his sword quite often.

Leaving it somewhere after a fight that he could have won if he had it…

Without his sword, it was a little less satisfying to train. He still did train, of course. But not as much as he used to. He was used to training daily for many hours, only sometimes having one day off in his week. Swordsmanship was something so dear to him that he didn't need to rest from it that much, and if yes, it was more physically than mentally. These days, he didn't train more than three times a week.

He didn't understand, because swordsmanship was always his escape from everything. Nothing mattered when he trained, it was just him and his weapon. But now.. all he could do was think about his cute little disciple, and the pride that he felt when he got better. And the empty feeling that was caused by his disciple's absence.

He was sure he was going to get back into it. But right now.. it just didn't feel captivating to him. Nothing felt captivating to him these days. And since it has been a few weeks without anyone finding his sword, he started spending more time in his room, instead of training and getting used to another sword. It felt a bit comforting, not having to face anyone, not having to lie about him feeling okay.

But at the same time, the nothingness of his days was so consuming that he knew he will get crazy if he didn't seek any change soon. Sharrkan loved being active, loved partying, training, drinking, getting to know new people. When he was like this in his room, it reminded him of his days as a prince. Of the times he had to stay quiet in order to not get punished by his mother. Times when he hated himself completely and utterly, because of how blank and emotionless he looked.

Right now, he hated himself too. Because he was lying in his bed, staring into the ceiling everyday instead of doing something that made sense. Rarely he did some work that Sinbad gave him out of pity.

It was so complicated and yet so simple. It was a situation that Sharrkan knew he could overcome, but didn't know how.
And by the passing days, he slowly stopped seeing any solution.

Another day passed and Sharrkan was back in his room, after doing some small job that Sinbad gave him.
"Go get some sun!" he said. Yeah, he said that, but he also gave him a job that was supposed to be done at the late afternoon, and in a building. Not that Sharrkan minded. He was kind of relieved to be out of his room for a while, even though it felt a bit uncomfortable for him at the same time. It was strange.

When Sharrkan got back to his room, Pisti almost immediately got in as well and told him that they were assembled. With a small nod, he followed his fellow general slowly, not really ready to see the rest of the generals again.

When he thought about it, he never saw Yamuraiha these days. Since that one night a few weeks ago, when they spent the night in the same bed, they haven't spent much time together. She left before he woke up, only to find a small note with instructions to the potion that were supposed to ease his pain.

Since that day, they only passed each other rarely. Sometimes she knocked on his door, which he kept locked, but he usually pretended to be asleep or not being there at all. It was kind of obvious that Yamuraiha knew he was there, but at least he wouldn't say anything nasty to her.

When Sinbad assembled them, he looked especially quiet again. This time, no one was talking.

"The Kou Empire is going through a civil war right now. It is a fight for a throne, held by Ren Hakuryuu and Ren Kouen."
Everyone listened carefully, not knowing where Sinbad is going. Sindria kept peace with the Kou Empire, but that was it. There wasn't any alliance.

"Two years ago, prince Hakuryuu asked me to help him fight the Kou Empire. And I hesitated. I didn't believe that that boy would be able to obtain a power that will take down the Kou Empire. But he did. And when I saw him conquer Zagan, I promised him, that Sindria will become his shield when the time comes." He fell silent for a moment, eyeing every one of his generals, as he always did before something big.
"The time has come. And not only Sindria, but the whole Seven Seas Alliance will help Ren Hakuryuu get back on the throne. So I am asking you once again, will you lend me your strength in this battle?"

xxx

When the meeting ended, Sharrkan got up, ready to leave. He was called by both Yamuraiha and Sinbad, and for a moment, he thought he was going to die in the next few minutes.
But before he got to them, Yamuraiha was asked by Sinbad to leave them alone for a bit, so she did.

"Sharrkan."

"King Sinbad."

"How do you feel?"

"Better. I got a lot of rest, as you recommended. "

"That's great to hear. What about your training?"

"I haven't been training that much... these days." Sharrkan answered with difficulty.

He expected a different reaction, but Sinbad patted his back in a comforting manner. "I understand. But I think you should start training again. Slowly, but surely. I think that we won't need to fight in this war, but I still need you to be in condition."

"Yes, king Sinbad."

After that, Sinbad gave him a bright smile. Sharrkan left without another word, but with many thoughts running in his mind. Not having to fight? What is Sinbad planning?

But he didn't have much time to think, since Yamuraiha was waiting in the halls.

"Hey." She greeted him with a bright smile and the spark in her eyes that he haven't seen for a while. She always looked like that when some magic experiment went well, or when she got a new magic book.

He expected that her mood was changed because of something magic-related, but he still couldn't help but smile a little as well. "Hey, what's up?"

"I got some great news!"

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you, but I will show you."

"Oy, I don't want to see your magic experiments, you nerd."

"It's not that! Now, come on."

He followed her, into familiar direction, when someone interrupted them.

"Miss Yamuraiha!" One of the magicians called her and started saying something about damaged experiment and how she is needed right now or it will explode. Yamuraiha, of course, rushed towards the laboratory, only shouting at him that she put it in his room on her way to the assembly and that she put a message to it anyway. And then, she left without another word.
With a sigh, Sharrkan returned to his room, only to find something covered on his bed. It was kinda.. long and thin. A sword?
It couldn't be a new sword, right? Well, if his old sword wasn't found, of course it wouldn't mean that he'd stop training swordsmanship. But right now, training with a new one, as he said, felt unsatisfying.

But this one.. the length was familiar. He didn't lose any time and unfolded it, only to find his sword in its sheath. He picked it up with fascination, taking it out of its sheath before swinging it in familiar gestures.

He laughed and sighed out of relief… even though it was just an object, it meant so much to him, since his father entrusted it to him. It was the only thing he had ever gave him and it meant a lot. It was also something that kept him alive thorough many years. It was good to have it back.

Sharrkan started looking out for any scratches, but the only thing he noticed was that it needed to be sharpened again, which he wanted to do the day after he went to that bar. He gave it back into its sheath and hanged it on his waist, where it belonged. Just then he realized that he missed the familiar weight.

Only then, when he looked at his bed again, he noticed a piece of paper. Oh, the message. Sharrkan picked it up as well and started reading that messy writing, that could belong to no one else but Yamuraiha.

"I found it.

So you can stop lazing around and get back to training or I won't be able to call you an idiot swordsman, because you won't be one. I'd have to call you just „idiot", and that would be pretty lame. Also, please, never stop swinging that stupid piece of metal around. It's what brought you and him closer and it's what made both of you happy. And I think you should keep doing what makes you happy, even if he's not here anymore, because he wouldn't want you to stop. And also, because you smile easily while doing it, and that makes your face a bit more acceptable.

Yamuraiha"

He couldn't help but grin.

That stupid magician…

At these moments, he just knows why he likes her so much. And has no regrets that he feels this way.
He sighed while smiling and took his sword.

"Well, time to train."

xxx