Ikaruga smiles fondly and with some excitement as she stares at Caleb being swarmed on all sides by the other girls as they try to grab at the sword, the Unfettered, happy to finally have someone to train with, especially a western swordsman.
Grabbing the sheath of Hien, she starts to sheathe the sword when something catches her eye that causes her eyes to widen.
Hien is chipped. Tiny pieces and cracks running up the originally impeccable blade. Even if the blade can be repaired with her ki, the fact that going against Caleb caused this raised a few questions.
"Ikaruga…" Kiriya said, noticing the state in which Hien is, opening his mouth, he was about to admonish her on letting Hien get to such a state but stops when he remembers that Ikaruga wouldn't let Hien get to such a state.
"Kiriya-sensei, I don't think that blade is normal." Ikaruga informs Kiriya, not thinking that the truth is that his technique and the Unfettered caused Hien to become like that. But it's not like she's completely wrong.
Holding a hand to his chin, Kiriya hums, he turns to his students and Caleb, as they try to hold the Unfettered but fail as the weight causes it to be too much. Caleb quickly moves so they don't injure themselves or someone else, with a care that wouldn't be seen in someone who doesn't care.
"I think so too, but for now, we don't do anything." Kiriya says as Ikaruga nods, inwardly happy that her new training friend won't have to leave.
Kiriya quickly calls for the other students to gather as Caleb stays back and sits down as he looks at them training, waiting for them to finish while also getting a few good looks at a little bit too much.
In the end, he closes his eyes as he tries to stave off an unfamiliar feeling and gain some sleep.
He was not very successful with doing either.
Thankfully, my sleep was peaceful, allowing me to gain the sleep I need to not be completely exhausted and improve complexion.
Nightmares are a pain in the ass if anything else is completely obvious.
Regardless, I blink away the grogginess as I stretch, raising both arms into a large yawn before slumping as I finally manage to clear my eyesight enough to see who was watching me sleep.
I came face to face with Hibari staring at me, her pink hair in twin-tails with a small smile on her face as she hummed in happiness, "Ah, you're awake!"
"Yup," I grumble, rubbing my eyes to return to completely, "what's got you so interested? Something on my face?"
"Nope~!" Hibari pops out the 'p' as her smile brightens, causing something in me to warm up slightly as she continues, "I was just here to tell you that our morning training is over. The others are already getting changed so I'll show you to the Ninja Room."
Sighing, I get up, being able to completely stretch now that I'm on my two feet as I give her a tired look, "Hibari, I'm not that forgetful, I remember where the Ninja Room is."
Hibari seems to ignore me as she straightens up and waits for me to follow, something I do with a sigh as I get up and follow after her.
"Caleb/kun/san." I heard a cacophony of voices as they seemed to have a worried look on their faces, except for Yagyu who doesn't seem like she cared for whatever the others were fretting over.
Turning, I gave a nod to the girls, "Hey, how was training?"
"It was… fine." Asuka answers with a strained smile while the others seem to try to broach a topic none of them seem to want to address.
"Are you getting enough sleep, Caleb?" Was Yagyu's blunt and direct questions as the others seemed surprised.
I could only blink and shrug, "That's quite the question for someone who doesn't seem to like me."
"If you did die, someone I cared for would be sad and I don't want that. So answer the question, Aridam." Yagyu responded with an intense gaze from her singular visible eye, the others nodding in agreement and worry.
I could only sigh and shrug, "It's nothing too big, just a slight lack of sleep. That's it."
"The bags under your eyes tell another story, Caleb-san." Ikaruga interrupted sternly, "If you don't rest sufficiently your health will decline and you'll find yourself making more mistakes."
Katsuragi was beside me quickly as she elbows my side, stage whispering "She's only saying that because she finally got a sparring partner who's into swords as much as she is."
"K-Katsuragi-san!" Was Ikaruga's flustered response at being called out as the swordswoman tried to refute the statement but only ended up making it worse.
"Ca-leb-chan~." Hibari smiled sweetly despite everything in me telling that I fucked up as her hand reached up before finding purchase on my cheeks, pouting as she pulled my cheek as I simply stared at her. Looking away I tried to find some help but only found eyes equally as worried as Hibari's.
"Mou~, you should rest some more, Caleb-kun." Asuka intercepted with a glare that wasn't as scary as she thought it would be. To me anyway.
"I rest enough." Was my prompt answer, even if it did come out somewhat skewed as Hibari was still pulling my cheek with an adorable pout.
At this point, I returned to looking at Hibari and surprised her by grabbing ahold of her cheek and pulling as she exclaimed before returning with an adorable glare as I simply stared back.
I was the first to let go and switched my target to her nose, "Ah!" Her nasally voice exclaimed as I pulled it up and smirked before letting go as she glared and pouted at me again.
"Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself." I tried to assuage their worry as I leaned beside the sliding door, "Besides, I'm confident enough in my skills to survive so I'll be fine if anything happens."
"And your sword too." Ikaruga interrupts, eyes shining as she remembered the Unfettered, "Its of excellent make."
Shrugging, I said, "It also has a story behind it, an interesting one too I think."
Asuka smiled, walking towards the sliding door and opening it, "Maybe you can tell us in a bit."
The others seemed excited with the exception of Yagyu. I only felt dread as I felt something crawl up my spine as I peered into the Ninja Room and stalled, "Is… Was that always there?" I note with a bit of hesitation as the girls looked, equally as confused as I am.
It was a sort-of stand, you could say, or no… god what's the name.
"A sushi stand?" Katsuragi notes as I nodded along with her, remembering the name as my trepidation only increased as an idea came to mind as I clamped down on my emotions for what may be the big reveal.
"No way…" Asuka stepped forward, eyes wide as she seemed to recognize everything that's currently set up, "Grandpa?!"
"Ta-dah!" The old man exclaimed, jumping up from behind as I stared at him, his old face and graying facial hair, gray hair tied up in a ponytail as he had his eyes closed as amusement rolled out of his person in waves.
Now, to say that I hate Hanzo would be a lie. It's more just because of the Umbral Awn and what I read on the plaque. I mean, a cursed weapon? Complete. Bull. They just don't know how to awaken its true powers.
The other four are shocked as they gape like fishes while Asuka calls towards the old man, eyes wide in surprise and confusion with a bit of excitement as well, "What are you doing here grandpa?"
"Well, why else," the old man starts with a tilt of his head, "but to see how my only granddaughter and her friends are doing and to interrogate this boy you've taken a liking to."
God, fucking… by Reshar's left tit, why? Does that mean what I think that means? Fuck it, a problem for later.
My mind, capable of perceiving things at a speed that would leave many confused and allow me to react in a knee-jerk manner that would leave even some of the best impressed, handily ignored, forgot and continued on as if nothing happened.
"Grandpa~!" Asuka whined for some reason that I'm definitely not ignoring. No way, you can't prove it.
Kiriya managed to appear once again and bowed towards Hanzo, "It is good to see you once more, Hanzo-sama."
"Hanzo-sama!" Ikaruga reacted first as she got on one knee as the others followed her lead as I quirked a brow. I've met strong people, a lot of the time, they're a little bit too casual, though I don't really know how to feel about the old man.
On one hand, he's heralded as a legendary shinobi and on the other, he seems like a doting grandfather if not a bit protective. But when you're in a job like being a literal contract killer then who wouldn't be?
Hanzo only chuckled at the apparent respect he was getting from the other ninjas, "That's enough of that Kiriya, I'm already retired. You four as well, for now, I'm simply a sushi chef."
The other four seemed reluctant but in the end conceded as they stood up, and his gaze turned to me, "So, you must be Caleb. My granddaughter speaks fondly of you."
"Grandpa!" Asuka yelled as she tried to stop her but was ignored as three of the five shinobi sighs in agreement.
"Honestly, when it's back home it's always 'Caleb-kun' this and 'Caleb-kun' that." Katsuragi starts with a teasing smirk, Asuka's face beginning to flush completely red.
"Katsu-nee!" Asuka yelled as her arms waved around in a panic, trying to stop the others from saying anything else.
Hibari was pouting and cutely glaring at Asuka and then at me, while I simply slumped. Yagyu's glare was far more intense, somehow being able to tell me that she despises me while not saying anything.
"Honestly," Ikaruga joins in, "it's a miracle you aren't distracted during training."
"Ikaruga-san~!" Asuka pleaded with tears lining her eyes as she tried to do something to regain her composure.
"Now, now, we can leave the teasing for afterwards. For now, I brought some food," he showed a box with something that smells pretty good, "for everyone to share. And maybe we can trade stories?" He turns to me with curiosity in his eyes as he continues, "I'd like to get to know the young man who managed to get the attention of the girls."
This managed to get their attention as they all quickly sat down by the small table in the lowered area, "Futomaki rolls? Hell yeah!" Katsuragi yelled as I sat down with them as the case that was placed in the middle opened to show sushi.
I had to stop myself from drooling since they did look good and smelled equally as good. My eyes saw the wasabi and as soon as we were offered to dig in, I grabbed one and the wasabi parts and ran a line across the sushi and took a bite out of it. My taste buds celebrate the spiciness that came from my taste for spicy sweets and foods.
The others looked at me as if I was insane but I shrugged and continued enjoying the futomaki roll, something that they noted as they followed my example.
Though, I'm not sure people are supposed to eat the rolls like that. The way the girls were eating the rolls brought up… images that were less than appropriate corresponding with the way they were eating the rolls.
I had to quickly look away lest my body begin to react in a familiar but uncomfortable way, something that Hanzo immediately noticed as he sent me a teasing smile while I glared at him, trying to ignore the way the girls groaned and moaned while suckling on the roll before taking a bite out of it.
Why do they need to suckle on something like that? It's literally seaweed, what is there to suckle like that for? It's arousing. A little bit too much.
Wait, no, ignore it. Using the discipline nearly beat into me for the Diamond Mind style, I manage to calm myself as I continue eating the sushi.
"So," Asuka fidgeted, anxious and ignoring the previous teasing session, "how was it?"
"It was good." I answered earnestly, good food should be complimented honestly.
"I'm surprised you could taste anything with the amount of wasabi you put on that." Katsuragi notes as I shrug at that. I like things that give me a bit of a kick, you know?
God, I hope that doesn't mean anything or lead me down roads I'd rather not go down.
"Then, why don't you tell us more about yourself, Caleb? If you don't mind me calling you that." Hanzo asked as I shrugged, signaling him to go ahead as he nodded.
"I guess so. Why, though?" I asked, as Hanzo gained a serious look on his face.
"I'd like to get to know the bas-ow!" Murderous intent flared before being brought back down as Asuka dug her elbow into his side as he quickly corrected himself, "The young man whose going to take my grand–Ah!" He exclaimed once more as this time Asuka hit him in the back of the head, Asuka flushed and embarrassed but glaring at her grandfather, "The young man who caught the attention of the five young women in this room?"
At this point, he had to actively reign in his murderous intent as I chuckled sheepishly, "Um, there's not much to say. I lived in America for a few years before moving around for a while, picking up a few things here and there, before finally getting here."
"Asuka mentioned you're half-Japanese as well." Hanzo notes as I nod, "From your mother's side if I remember correctly, what was her name?"
"Well…" I started, scratching the back of my head as I shrug, "I don't remember them too well. Had a bit of an accident when I was younger before my uncle picked me up. A bit of amnesia so I never really remembered them." I admitted, ignoring the horrible taste that came to my mouth at thinking of him as anything more than the scum he is.
"What happened?" Came Hibari's worried voice as the others nodded in interest and sympathy.
"A fire, they were found dead in it while I was at a friend's house." I admitted, an uncomfortable feeling coming from their pitying or sympathetic looks as I quickly pushed it down, "Afterwards, my uncle picked me up and we went traveling. This time, I'm planning on staying here a bit longer than usual and by myself so that's that."
"That's good." Hanzo noted with a relaxed attitude before turning to Asuka with an expression that somehow conveyed support, love, and caring for Asuka, while condemning and cursing me, "That means my dear granddaughter will have a chance to se-Agh!"
As soon as Hanzo uttered the first syllable, Asuka was up and, with a speed that nearly reached my own, sent a devastating palm strike to Hanzo, forcing the air out of his lungs and causing him to fly back, with an overdramatic cry, and slide for a bit before raising a hand an expression of shock showing the white of his eyes and an attempt at raising a hand only for it to fall down lifelessly along with the rest of his person.
I swear I could have heard the ringing of a bell, the one that usually ended boxing matches.
Slowly turning to the others, the only one that seemed mildly different was Asuka, as if they were used to the old man's antics, "G-Grandpa~!" Asuka called, holding her hands to her cheeks while swaying from side to side, catching both my and Katsuragi's attention as she gained a dangerous glint in her eyes, "Don't say such embarrassing things. Mou~."
In the end, I only shrugged and followed their example, and just ignored it.
"So, Kiriya," I turned to the teacher, who instantly perked up and turned to me, "what's the deal with the knife in front of the school?"
"The Umbral Awn?" Kiriya asked as I nodded.
"I've always had an interest in swords. Knives too. Even the Unfettered has its own story, fantastical it is." I admit with a shrug as Kiriya nods in acceptance.
"Curiosity is always a good thing. But too much of it can get you in trouble." Kiriya warns as I nod, already aware of that due to my own actions.
"Trust me, I'm aware. Still, I read that it was a cursed weapon. What's that mean?" I ask as Kiriya seems to ponder for a second.
"It's a family heirloom." Hanzo says, sitting once more beside her granddaughter as his face becomes serious once more, "A knife that, if the records are to be believed, was wielded by the first user of ninjutsu and has the power to manipulate darkness itself."
At this, I was interested, "You're fucking with me." I say, my voice flat and actual interest seeping into my voice as the others nodded. I already know about the shadows thing, but the first user of ninjutsu?
"You should've seen our reactions." Karsuragi jokes as the others agree with her.
"Of course," Kiriya interjects, "this is only speculation. Assasination arts were around since before the first recorded appearance of the Umbral Awn but it's only until after that the wielder was shown doing actions of Ninjutsu."
I tilt my head but no as I wonder out loud, "Couldn't it have just been magic? Or something else?"
"Ooh! Ooh! I can answer that!" Hibari exclaimed, excited as she stood up and cleared her throat, "Umm, according to the records, there have been actions that could be considered 'magic' but the Council tends to refer magic to things that aren't supplied by Yin or Yang energy."
What's that? I rest the Ring of Force Armor, the black iron rings ready to block any attack at my person, on my right hand to my lips as I nod, "Are Yin and Yang energy the energy you girls use for your Ninjutsu?"
"That's…" Hibari trails off, seeming a bit sheepish as Ikaruga interjects.
"Ninjutsu and Ninja Arts are two different things." She explains patiently, taking a moment to sip at her tea, "Ninja Arts, as the name suggests, is an art. And what does an art needs to be considered one?"
"Errr," I thought, reaching my hand into the Bag of Holding and grabbing the journal and a pen, writing down as I bit my lip, "a medium to be expressed through?"
"Exactly, good job Caleb," I couldn't stop the sheepish chuckle as I had to squash down the weird feeling of pride, "as the name suggests…"
This time, Ikaruga trailed off, looking towards Kiriya for permission to tell me as he gave me a critical gaze but relented, closing his eyes while humming, "Hmmm, it seems like the inventory of weapons needs to be restocked for tomorrow's training."
"Kiriya-sensei…?" Asuka trailed off as the action of walking away seemed to unnerve the group of five, all of them looking at each other with worry.
"We'll be having a quiz tomorrow," all of us gained a horrified look until I remembered that it doesn't matter for me anyway, I'm smart enough for a surprise quiz, "For the Shinobi, I mean. You'll be given a set of events and details and it will be your job to turn them into a satisfactory mission report. I'll also be assigning a report on the use of Ninja Scrolls due tomorrow as well. And as it turns out," he glances back, "repeating information vocally tends to be a strategy used by Shinobi to retain information and details acquired in missions."
And so, he walked out, excusing himself as his footsteps became farther and farther away as everyone looked at each other, wondering what that meant.
"Ah, Kiriya, always the cryptic." We all turned towards Hanzo just sitting there with an understanding look.
"What do you mean, Hanzo-sama?" Yagyu asked, curiosity apparent in her one visible eye.
"Well, we can't exactly go telling all our secrets towards strangers now, can we?" Hanzo mentioned as the others nodded, giving me a look as I shrug.
"So, go ahead, but if you're gonna do it, do it right and in a structured manner." Hanzo explained as the others nodded, some more excited than others as I stared at Hanzo.
One of the best Shinobis around indeed.
"Ooh! Me! I can explain more!" Katsuragi flailed around with a large grin until Ikaruga relented with a sigh, "Alright! So, you know how prettier people have big boobs?"
Katsuragi was instantly smacked with the sheath of Ikaruga's sword with a loud 'ow' and Ikaruga managed to sound Demonic while saying, "Be serious about this!"
"I am! I am!" Katsuragi exclaimed, flailing her arms, blueish green eyes wide in panic, "This is going somewhere, I swear!"
"You do?" Ikaruga continues, eyes shadowed by her hair and a menacing aura around her.
"I swear that if it doesn't, I won't grope anyone for a week!" Katsuragi tries as Ikaruga continues glowering at Katsuragi.
Finally, Ikaruga's aura relents as she sighs in resignation, "Fine, continue."
"Yay! As thanks, I'll give you a nice gropi-fuagh!" She exclaimed, the sheath of Ikaruga's sword finding purchase on Katsuragi's head quite roughly.
"Just get on with it." The aura was back and Ikaruga was glowering at Katsuragi.
"O-okay." Katsuragi whispered, rubbing her head and slowly turning away, "Scary~!"
There was a quiet click and Katsuragi straightened up and said, "So, you know how you can tell girls apart from their breasts?"
"Are breasts the only things you pay attention to?" I mutter, a small smile despite myself as I turn to a different page on my journal and write down what I know.
Her perverted expression returned, eyes roaming my figure obviously, "No, I also pay attention to hunks like you~."
"Katsuragi," came Hibari's weirdly flat and almost unnerving voice as Katsuragi's head, who usually swivels between the girl's breast and my own figure on an almost constant motion that almost makes me wonder how she doesn't get whiplash, almost creaks at how slowly it moves while turning towards Hibari, "please stop flirting with Caleb."
"A-alright," Katsuragi gulped, turning back to me with a strained smile and continuing, "So, in the same way this bodaciously busty body is mine, so are the Ninja Arts we can use, kind of like an identity. There can be similar, but rarely, if ever, are there any identical Ninja Arts."
Ikaruga slowly sheaths her sword, causing Katsuragi to slowly release a breath as she seems to completely unwind as she falls back, all tenseness gone, "Katsu-nee! Close your legs, Caleb can see your underwear!"
"Let him, it's not like I mi-ow!" She yelled in utter shock as the new handmark on her thigh burned red as she rubbed it, turning to Asuka with a shocked expression, "Why?"
As the two continued, Yagyu turned to me, "In essence, us Shinobi use scrolls to activate our Ninja Arts. Every Shinobi has their own scroll hidden somewhere in their body. Should we lose them, we would basically be naked and open to any attack."
At this it all connects, "So that's what Ikaruga meant with the art thi-wait." I gave Yagyu a suspicious look, "You wouldn't happen to be feeding me incorrect information, right?"
Yagyu gave me a disgusted glare, "Are you really prideful enough to believe that your demise ranks above Hibari's potential sadness?" She clicks her tongue, looking away as she continues, "I hate to admit it, but Hibari would be heartbroken if you died. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters. And if that means having to put up with you and making sure you're at least somewhat informed, then so be it."
"Then, what about your happiness?" I ask before I could stop myself as Yagyu blinks, turning to me with a curious look hidden behind her usually blank eyes.
"Excuse me?" She asks.
"What about your happiness? Where does that rank?" I ask, deciding to go all in.
"Below Hibari's." Was her immediate response as I nodded.
"Then, what if Hibari's sad because you put her happiness above yours?" That seemed to garner a response as she bit her lip. The conflict clearly visible in her eyes as I sigh. Leaning back as I stare at the light fixture on the ceiling before continuing, "But, what do I know? So don't put too much stock into what I said."
"Impossible," Yagyu interrupted, singular visible eye burning with passion, "such a question must be answered, come hell or high water, I will find an answer to such a conundrum if it's the last thing I do."
"Right~," I drawled, seeing as how we've gone way off topic from our original subject, "so, Ninja Arts are an art expressed through this Yin and Yang energy in tandem with individual scrolls. Then, what's ninjutsu?"
This seems to stump them for a second until Asuka raises her hand, "See, Caleb, Ninjutsu is turning the natural into the unnatural without the use of a scroll."
Noting that down, I turned to Asuka, "How so?"
That seems to stall her as she tries to find a correct way to say so before finding a way, "Ninjutsu can be used to confuse how many Futomaki rolls you ate."
That answers nothing and I made sure that my gaze depicted that single statement as I'm fairly sure I was successful, if her flushed cheeks and lowered eyes were anything to tell.
"Ha! Good try, Asuka, but not exactly," Hanzo called, barking out a laugh at the expense of his granddaughter, "to explain it, ninjutsu is the art of using the spirit, body and mind in tandem to enact your will upon this world. Or," Hanzo explains, holding a hand to his chin, "I think that's how my father explained it."
I tilt my head, writing down this new information once more as he continues, "Not to say that it's impossible to learn a Ninjutsu Art, it's one of the requirements to be the highest rank of a shinobi, but it takes mastery over one's spirit, mind and body to enact even the weakest one."
"I think I understand," I note, "So, like, igniting your body using the oils the skin naturally makes?"
"Or a girl can make their breasts shrink or grow for a bit of time, same thing with their butt." Hanzo explains as Asuka and Katsuragi seem a bit too interested in the first half, if I'm being honest.
"Oh, I think I understand." Was my answer as I nodded along. Learning things is always fun.
"Yup, so after my ancestor appeared, wielding all of these skills, others also started doing the same, but never to the same extent as my ancestor," Hanzo explained with a bit of pride in his voice, "Sadly, the blade itself isn't much, only a family heirloom despite the stories that surround it."
"Supposedly," Ikaruga started, "the first of Hanzo-sama's line could control the shadows and travel through them."
I can do that too.
"Well, no one really knew how our family came across it, only that our family was the first time anyone really saw it." Hanzo explained with a shrug.
"Speaking of cool swords, what the hell Caleb?" Katsuragi exclaims, pointing a finger at me, "that sword was heavy! Yet you swung it around like it was a toy!"
"You mean the Unfettered?" I ask as Katsuragi nods excitedly.
"Yeah! You told us it has a story, so why not tell us?" Katsuragi asks excitedly as the others seem to nod along in curiosity, except for Ikaruga, whose whole being turned to show interest.
"So, you use a sword?" Hanzo asks with a bit of interest in his voice as I sighed in resignation.
"Yup, the Unfettered," I start, reaching into my Bag of Holding and retrieving the Unfettered, the greatsword heavy in my hands as I bring it out and rest it on the table, "the story itself is a bit fantastical, so you'll have to bear with it."
That didn't seem to bother them as they only motion, in one way or another, to get on with it as I huff out a chuckle as I run my hand up the blade of the Unfettered, lacking sheen or polish with a blocky handguard and a leather-wrapped pommel unfit for its name.
Yet, the story is what gave it meaning.
"RIght, so, bear with me, this story is going to get a bit fantastical, like dwarves, goliaths and shit." I started as I tried to recall all the details in a good enough order to make a good story.
"Ooh, like 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'." Came Hibari's excited squeal as I froze.
"Er, Hibari, those aren't the dwarves I'm talking about." I began as Hibari tilted her head.
"But, what other dwarves are there?" Hibari asks, face scrunched up cutely in honest confusion.
"Er, mountain dwarves, gold dwarves, and whatnot. Besides, dwarves are short, usually at around four feet, but they're also stout, broad bodied and tend to grow thick facial hair." I began explaining as Hibari nodded along.
"Oh, Okay~!" She continued on as if nothing was wrong, just a difference in views.
"The females also grew facial hair." I dropped the bombshell as Hibari blinked, trying to come to terms with what was just said.
"Well, we start our story-," I began, only to be interrupted by Hibari.
"Waitwaitwaitwait! Caleb-chan, you can't just say that and…" Hibari starts, arms flailing around as her pupils turn into swirls as she tries to come up with a counter to the bombshell I just dropped on her.
"Well, if I'm going to be interrupted before I even start telling the story…" I start, voice completely sorrowful and sarcastic.
"Wait, Caleb-chan, I'm sorry, please continue!" Hibari said as I chuckled.
"Right, right," I start, setting myself back in position as I continue, "then, let's start in the frigid North, where the moon rises, and so does the curtain of our story. The floor trembles and so does the cold as it becomes colder, the beings causing the trembling setting up camp, their skin a blue that sends shivers down the spine of those unfortunate to meet these frost giants."
They seem to lean forward in interest as I keep my voice steady as I narrate the story, "Their height reaching the tallest pines and their attitudes failing to reach those heights acting as little more than a band of bandits, among them an elderly dwarf and a weaponsmith by the name of Thungrim."
His height likening him to an ant among the giants he was forced to be around, Thungrim's tired body continues its work under the orders under the frost giants, mocking him as his forced servitude showed no sign of ending any time soon.
In a shocking turn of events, the weaponsmith was given a servant to do the heavy lifting in his forge, a goliath, a gray skinned large being whose age reached the lower double digits, by the name of Kanithiak Amunugathua.
Quickly, the young servant took to sword crafting and excelled as the elderly dwarf watched over the excitable servant despite the conditions they were in.
Soon, they came to a decision. To make a blade. A blade not forced into making due to their status as slaves, ordered by one of the frost giants to do so, but a choice made by their own free will and anticipation, as master and students worked day and night, searching for any opportunity to work on it as they did so under their master's noses. The silent act of disobedience, Kanithiak's youthful exuberance, and the aforementioned details gave Thungrim a measure of hope, something that fueled his will to survive despite the back-breaking labor and the abuse by his captors.
Yet, this vigor didn't go unnoticed by the frost giants nor their cruel overseer, who expected Thungrim to become too weak to operate the forge. One day, after close examination, the blade, near completion, was found under a heap of scrap metal near the forge as both master and student stood by it as well, the cruel overseer picking up the blade and neither being able to stop him from picking up their treasure in their exhaustion.
And so, the cruel overseer swung the weapon towards Kanithiak, looking to kill the younger one only to have Thungrim jump in front of Kanithiak, protecting the young goliath from the attack and dying in the process as the blade stayed buried in the body of the elderly dwarf.
Seeing red at the death of his master and friend, the young goliath picked up the blade and attacked the overseer in a rage, intent on killing the giant once and for all. Something that should have been impossible, not only because of his exhaustion, but his height, and his overall lack of skill wielding a sword.
Yet, despite it all, he won, the Unfettered stained red in the blood of the cruel overseer as the young goliath ran from the encampment.
Years passed, stories were told and young Kanithiak is now the mighty chieftain of a tribe of goliaths as he wondered what to do with the sword he and his friend slaved for months to make under the nose of the frost giants that enslaved him. He considered giving it to the captains but jealousy over its ownership could lead to strife among the tribe, but his days of leading the tribes were numbered, and so, he decided that he would prefer to leave on his own terms lest he be defeated by a youngster or be sent away by a lamenter.
After informing his people that he would set off on one last journey to the forest, communing with the Ram-Lord, Kavaki, and the other goliath gods, he did as such, heading to the wilderness and set to return in three days. IN this journey, inspiration came, not in the form of the goliath gods, but a human by the name of Reshar who was also on a path of spiritual enlightenment.
The two sat down, trading stories of their youths, mistakes and successes with each other as each passing story, Kanithiak's belief only grew that he found the right inheritor of the Unfettered.
In a desolate mountain cave, the goliath presented the Unfettered to Reshar, entrusting him with its future. His final task in life completed, Kanithiak rested on the cold stone floor, ready to see his friend Thungrim once more. His soul, once scarred by his early captivity, would be set free as he drew his last breath.
"...and so, the story of the Unfettered, a sword of beautiful quality, was passed on and on, until I got my hands on it, the blood, sweat, and tears of a student-teacher pair who gave their all to make the sword only adding to its worth, comes to a close." I clapped my hands together, the loud, crisp sound snapping all of the people in the room blinking as they came out of a trance, something that usually happens when I tell a story.
And damn were their reactions were telling, Ikaruga was inspecting the blade with a bit more trepidation and a bit of understanding, Hibari was sobbing and her hands seemed to be unable to find something to set on as she tearfully murmured, "Thungrim… Kanithiak… Thungrim~." Constantly muttering the two names as she sniffled.
Yagyu seemed to be deep in thought until she noticed Hibari, quickly bringing her into a hug and comforting Hibari, "There, there, Hibari, it's going to be okay."
"B-but," Hibari babbled, " Th-Thungrim just wanted to finish the Unfettered a-and Kanithiak wanted to-," she couldn't finish as she sniffled and dug her head into Yagyu's breast as Yagyu herself seemed to be too deep in thought to really enjoy spoiling Hibari.
Asuka was in a similar state, if not a bit more composed with only tears edging her eyes as Hanzo patted at her head, who seemed to have a far off look, as if trying to find something that's not there physically.
Katsuragi is unusually quiet, her head tilted downwards and eyes shadowed by her bangs, and anything that is visible from her eyes being unreadable except the sadness in her eyes.
God, I didn't know this would happen, sure I like to tell stories, sometimes getting jokes from those who know more about me saying that I 'dual class as a bard', and tended to do so to the orphans I visited, but I didn't think I could invoke emotions this well.
By Reshar's left tit is this awkward, I don't know if I should speak up or not.
A/N: And that's a wrap. I could continue but I want to post this already and get on with my other projects. Specifically, Scion of Jedidiah as I already have the second chapter ready, something you may see tomorrow.
That said, drake, I hope you're happy and whoever else decides to read this, leave a review, favorite or follow, I'm fine with whichever. Especially, enjoy this. I also have an Ao3 account under the same name(I think) and will be posting this on there after giving it a re-work along with other works.