Hello everyone, after investing many, many hours into playing and reading the Cold Steel series, I thought why not trying to give something back to the fandom. This is my first ever fan fiction, so total newbie here, I'll already apologise for the many mistakes I will make, but I'll try to get better at this and critique is always welcome. I originally I started writing in AO but a guest suggested than should also post here, so here I am. I will slowy start on posting the remaining chapters here.
Trails of Cold Steel belongs to Nihon Falcom and Kondo, I don't own anything in the franchise.
Septian Year 1197
In a clearing outside Ymir, two people could be seen, the elder one was watching over the child, who was undergoing his exam for the beginner level in his sword style. The child was fully concentrated on showing the results of his training over the last year. Displaying the first to the seventh form he executed them to the best of his abilities, after sheathing his tachi he also performed the stances of the eight form, done with his demonstration he bowed to the older man and waited with halted breath for his results.
"Well done my boy, you did it, you have entered the Beginner-Level." The old man gave his approval with a small smile, before taking out a small scroll and declaring with a solemn voice,
"Rean Schwarzer, you are hereby promoted from Entry-level to Beginner-Level of the Eight Leaves One Blade School, you can now call yourself a swordsman of the Eight Leaves. Do not forget that this is only the very beginning of your journey on the Path of the Sword, you should always strive towards improving yourselves, so that you may one day, earn the title of Divine Blade along with achieving mastery of our style." Accepting the scroll from his master, Rean gave him a deep bow and thanked him for his teachings and the training.
With a playful glint in his eyes, Ka-Fai says, "Since we are done with the boring ceremonial stuff, how about we go back to Ymir and celebrate your promotion with some sake, eh?"
Rolling his eyes at his Master's suggestion Rean answered with an exasperated sigh, "Master, I'm only eleven years old, I'm too young to drink furthermore Mom would have mine head and yours if I ever drank before being of age." Suppressing a chuckle at the sight of his Master shuddering from imaging the wrath of an enraged Lucia Schwarzer, because even the Sword-Hermit himself isn't that brave (or foolish),
"But don't worry, I'm sure that Dad will be more than happy to drink on my behalf with you. Though don't expect him to keep up with you, he has to get up very early tomorrow for work and you too shouldn't drink too much either."
"Fine, fine, be a spoilsport, I keep telling you, you're far too serious for a child your age." Taking his bag they began their walk towards the town, while lamenting that this disciple of his is far too committed to keep himself from anything remotely fun. Falling in step with him Rean hesitant to ask but went for it nonetheless, "Master Ka-Fai, I was wondering if you could give me some tougher training exercises to do, since I have achieved the rank of beginner?"
"Hmm..." with a side glance at the boy Ka-Fai took a moment to answer the question, "You should take a break from training at least for a few days, while constant training is required for a swordsman to improve, there is nothing wrong with relaxing from time to time, besides you deserve a break after all the training you have done over the year."
Looking down Rean tries to convince his Master otherwise, "But..."
"Rean." came a sharp voice that made him look up, only to find the stern face of his Master looking directly at him "Rean, since you became my disciple, I have seen you do only five things during the last year, studying, eating, training, taking baths at the hot spring and sleeping, in this exact same order. You said it yourself you're only eleven years old, you should be playing with other kids or make mischief with them and not exhaust yourself while training."
"But... I... I still can't control it."
With an internal sigh, the elder swordsman tried to explain it to him, "Rean you sought my training because you wanted to control that power of yours, right?" A short nod was the answer from the young child, "What is the seventh Form of the Eight Leaves One Blade School?"
"Void"
"And?"
"The Void is all compassing which represents that Form is Emptiness and Emptiness is Form."
"You know the words, but do you know the meaning behind them?"
Rean fell silent while thinking for the next few minutes there was only the sound of the wind that blew through the mountains, finally he shook his head, "No, I don't. I'm sorry, Master Ka-Fai."
"You don't have anything to apologise for Rean, like I said you are only eleven years old, and you have just started on your path as a swordsman. I know that someday you will understand its meaning, but we are being side tracked. The reason why I put a special emphasis on the seventh form, was because I thought that it was the best suited one for you. You can't achieve neither control nor mastery in only months of training, nor can you be impatient while training, since it will have only the opposite effect."
While they were talking, they arrived at the entrance to village, where the Schwarzer family was waiting, Lucia and Theo Schwarzer stepped forward, "So, how did it go?"
"I passed Dad, Mom, I now hold the title of Beginner." Rean answered.
Picking him up and spinning him around, Theo laughed with pride in his voice, "Well done, my son I'm proud of you."
"You aren't hurt, aren't you Rean?" Lucia came to hug and patting him on the head.
"No, nothing happened to me, Mom" Sensing movements behind him, he turned to see his little sister with a bright smile walking towards him, "Congratulations, big brother."
"Thank you, Elise." he said while imitating his mother patting method on the head of his little sister.
"Why don't you take Elise to the foot bath to relax and spend with some time with her, while I and your parents go back inside to celebrate your promotion?"
"Ok, come let's go Elise."
Inside the Schwarzer House the three adults were sitting at the table enjoying some green tea brewed by Lucia, while talking, "I think that's enough skirting around the issue Yun, what got you so worried? Is it about Rean?"
"So, you noticed, huh?"
"Of course, we did. He tried to keep a happy face for us, but we could see he was forcing himself.", Lucia explained with a frown, "We thought that it was because he didn't pass the test, but since he passed, it should be something else."
"You know the reason why he asked me to train him and that's why he isn't content, because after all his training, he still isn't able to control that power of his."
"But you said that isn't something one can learn in a short time, especially because you don't have any idea what it is and where it came from, so I don't see why he is tormenting himself with trying to control it as fast as he can."
Drinking his tea Ka-Fai grumbled, "You try to explain it to him, I swear that kid is as stubborn as a rock, I tried everything I can think of to change his mind, but you can see the results yourself and it isn't it just his stubbornness." With a more serious tone he went on, "It is that he doesn't value himself much, for someone of his age he is pretty reckless, it can be seen how he fights and trains himself to exhaustion, like he thinks that it is expected of him to do that."
"Since the accident back then, we noticed that he had changed somewhat, he became more withdrawn with his emotions like he is trying to control himself." Theo said while scowling at his cup, remembering how the behaviour of his son had changed over the last two years.
"That poor child is trying to do too much on his own, we tried to talk with about it, but every time we did he would try to assure us that we didn't have anything to worry about it, he would learn on how to control his power soon." Lucia added with concern thick in her voice.
"You two know that I will have to leave soon, there is some trouble in the East, and I want to take a look at what exactly is brewing over there, because the last info I received wasn't able to explain much besides raising my concern."
"Of course, me and my husband, are really grateful to you for helping our son out with his training."
"Please Lucia there is nothing to thank me for, Rean may have been the one to ask me to train him, but it was mine decision to take him on as my final disciple." Shaking his head with a wry smile, "And I can say without a doubt that from all my disciples, he is the one with the most potential, that is if he can master his power."
"We will miss you, old friend. I wish you safe travels and that Aidios watches over you, Yun. Does Rean know that you will leave soon?"
"No, I haven't told him yet, I was going to do it tonight and leave him with some training exercise, while I was away, but after talking with him today, I am not sure if that is a good idea." Chuckling humourless Theo said, "Yeah, I can already see him taking these exercises and make them harder than they need to be, just so that he can get stronger as soon as possible. We will try to keep an eye on him, but I don't think anything, short of chaining him to his bed, will stop him. Well, at least no one can say that he isn't willing to work hard, I just wish he would at least try to enjoy his childhood and not try to grow up faster than he should."
"Tell me about it, that disciple of mine can be a real headache and it isn't like someone can keep tabs on him the entire time…." Stopping mid-sentence, the swordsman fell silent while stroking his short beard.
Seeing this Lucia couldn't but feel hopeful that perhaps the old swordsman had come up with an idea to help her child, "Master Ka-Fai did you think of something that can help Rean?"
"Well, I have an idea on how we can keep an eye on him so that he doesn't overworks himself, but..." Ka-Fai hesitated before continuing speaking, "I'm not sure if you are going to like it."
Frowning the couple exchanged glances, before Baron Schwarzer asked, "What do you have in mind?"
"The problem here is that neither of you can keep an eye on him all the time because of your work and neither can the other adults in town, so what if I keep an eye on him?"
Confused Theo answered, "But you yourself said that you have to leave and travel to the East, and we can't ask of you to postponed that, for goddess knows how long so that you can keep watching over our son."
"I can travel and still watch over him, just not in Ymir."
"Not in Ymir, what do you mean…", Understanding dawned in Theo and Lucia resulting in them shouting out at the same time, "You want to take Rean with you to the East!?"
"I know it seems difficult to understand, but think about it, while travelling Rean can't exhaust himself with his training, because if does we will have to slow down and we all know how much he hates to inconvenient other people because of him. Plus, while travelling I can keep an eye on his training, so he wouldn't be worried of his power going out of control and maybe travelling and seeing the world can help him widen his horizon, so that he isn't so focused on trying to control his power."
Taking a moment to let his word sink in the elderly man continued with his explanation, "I know that you guys are worried about the dangers while travelling, but I swears that as long I draw breath that no harm shall befall him while he is with me." Looking the worried the parents straight in their eyes, the swordsman swore his oath.
Looking less than convinced the Schwarzer couple glanced at each other, "The problem isn't the danger, we both know you can take care of it; it is just that the East is pretty far away and for how long would the two of you be away?" asked Lucia while trying to warp her head around this absurd idea.
"Well, we would have to travel pretty far into the eastern half of the continent, just to travel there would take at least a full month and that is using airships, then taking a look around, training… etc. I think we are looking at three to four years tops, for this trip." You could hear a pin drop at the silence that followed that statement. Two blank faces looking at Ka-Fai, then at each other, before Theo stood up and went into the kitchen, coming back with three glasses and a bottle of strong sake. Pouring himself a glass, he drank it just to fill it up again to repeat the first motion one more time,
"That is a pretty big decision you are asking us to make, my friend."
"I know and I wouldn't ask it if we had a better option, believe me. Think of it like this, as long he is with me, he can't neither overwork nor be reckless with his training methods while travelling, I will plan the entire trip so that we will try to spend most of the nights in towns and for his studying, I can help him with the basics and if not, the church is always happy to teach children. Besides like I said taking a look around the world can do him only good and help him mature better, instead of rushing ahead without thinking of his well-being. I'm not asking you guys to just allow it, talk about it with each other and with Rean, see if he agrees. I'm just putting an option on the table and if you guys don't agree, I'm sure we can find another way to help him."
"Alright, we will think on the matter and then talk with Rean about the possibility of allowing this training trip." decided Lucia after exchanging another look with her husband.
"Good, now to a less serious topic, but as equally important as the other.", declared Ka-Fai while narrowing his eyes and making once again a serious face, "Theo Schwarzer, are you going to share that sake or will continue hogging it?"
The couple sweat dropped at that statement, the rest of the evening was spent with lighter topics and a lot more alcohol, while the following week was spent with discussions between Rean and his family, regarding if they should allow him to travel with his Master to further his training with him.
A Week later
The Schwarzer family and Ka-Fai could be seen at the entrance to Ymir, with both Rean and his Master wearing traveling clothes with a backpack on their backs while a sad looking Elise was hiding behind her parents.
"Rean be careful while travelling, don't speak to and don't follow any strangers, always listen to Master Ka-Fai, brush your teeth every day at least two times, eat your vegetables …." ordered Lucia her son, while arranging and rearranging his clothes and combing his hair with her hands.
Theo couldn't suppress a little smile at the scene before him, "Rean, we allow you to travel with Yun, so that you can learn more with him, but I want you to know, and you better take these words to heart young man, because I except you to listen and engraved them inside your heart and brain."
Rean couldn't suppress himself from gulping out loud as he hadn't seen his father so serious before, stepping forward Theo took Rean in his arms with a hug and said, "This here is your home, where you have a loving family waiting for you to come home safe and sound, because you are our son and no matter what we will always love you."
Lucia and Elise joined in on the hug while Elisa was now openly crying and even Lucia was tearing up. "Don't worry Dad, Mom, Elise I will come back safe and sound and stronger than ever, so you don't have to worry about me." Promised Rean while hugging them back, "I will always write you letters when I have the opportunity, so that way you will know that I'm alright."
"Do you have to go Rean, why can't you stay and train here?!" Sobbed Elise while refusing to let go of him.
"Elise, I have to become stronger so that what happened last time never happens again." Came Reans answer to his little sister tearful plead.
"Don't worry Elise, I will watch over him so that nothing happens, and that he can come back to you guys in one piece." A smiling Ka-Fai tried to comfort the youngest member of the Schwarzers.
"Master Ka-Fai I entrust my son to you and hope that nothing bad happens to the both of you." ,Lucia expressed in a serious tone nodding to the Lady Schwarzer, Ka-Fai suddenly felt a chill travelling down his spine, looking at the source where that feeling came from, he was soon faced with a Lucia Schwarzer wearing an aura, the likes which could send even the most seasoned swordsman (including the Sword Hermit) running in the opposite direction,
"But should my son pick some up, let's say, unsavoury habits while travelling with you, I would suggest that you…" approaching the elderly man she whispered something in his ear, so that only he and her husband could hear it, "Because that would be the easy way out for you if I manage to get my hands on you and please believe me that I will get you." ,Finished Lucia with a smile so sweet that the contradiction between it and her promises was so jarring that both men turned whiter than withe at that sight while shuddering uncontrollably and swearing that she shouldn't be worried at all.
Sometime later after some more hugs and tearful goodbyes the two swordsmen left Ymir to journey to the eastern part of the continent. That one step would lead the future Awakener down a different path than the one fate had planned for him, now it remained to be seen if it would be a better one or a worse one.