Chapter Five
I caught up with Jade a little later the next day. Before heading out to train, she insisted we find a weapon that might suit me. We took a walk through town to visit one of the local armories.
We entered the store and walked past rows of bladed weapons: swords, axes, scythes, daggers. I felt so overwhelmed. Jade led the way and I followed behind her. The shopkeeper looked up briefly, disinterested in us. He probably assumed we were just adolescents fooling around instead of patronizing his store.
Then Jade pulled something off the wall.
"What about a katana?" she asked excitedly, acknowledging the obvious correlation. She handed me the sword and I gave it an unenthusiastic twirl.
"Ironically, it's never been my weapon," I replied, handing it back to her.
"A little too on the nose for you, I suppose," she said, as she shelved the weapon.
Jade continued to look around and I broke off in the other direction. Behind a glass case, a pair of sais caught my eye. I took them out of the display. In my hands, they felt heavier than I expected.
I almost considered them until I spotted a unique set of steel-bladed fans at the end of the aisle. They were unlike any weapon I had seen before. I put the daggers back and walked over to the fans, giving them a try. I twirled them around, letting them flow naturally around my hands. Opening and closing them to admire their deadly beauty. To my surprise, they felt even more natural than the sais. They even came in an elegant shade of blue that matched the corset I was wearing.
From across the armory I caught Jade watching me.
"I like 'em," she said, approvingly. "How do they feel?"
I turned and noticed a practice dummy on the far end of the armory. I raised one of the fans, opened it, spun, and threw. The fan flew across the armory and decapitated the dummies head. Falling to the floor in dramatic fashion. I looked back at Jade and smiled.
"It's perfect."
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Jade and I headed back to our usual spot to train. I was eager to use my new fans in battle. This was my first time training with a weapon. Occasionally, Jade would incorporate her staff in our training sessions, so I could learn how to disarm an enemy. This time we would go toe-to-toe, on the same playing field.
Wasting no time, Jade began to ready herself. Twirling her staff in front of her in a rhythmic arc.
Show off.
I began preparing myself for combat. Bringing my new bladed fans to life, I flicked them open. They sprung apart instantly. I couldn't help marveling at them. Captivated by their deadliness and beauty.
We stood motionless for a few seconds.
Waiting.
Daring one another to make the first move. I was about to initiate when I noticed an odd shimmer forming behind my friend. Suddenly, a bright orange portal began to form right behind Jade and a tall, monstrous, four-armed creature stepped through it.
"JADE!" I screamed.
I ran toward her, but it was already too late. The portal closed before I could even reach them. Jade and the creature had disappeared.
I stood in disbelief. An intense fear began to grow inside me.
I was alone.