The Sword of The Past: 12

The will of the saint

It was dark. In this darkness, there was light. The light was next to where I lay. It didn’t illuminate the place I was, just the only thing I could see. He had straight, long hair, a kind face, and elegant robes.

“Saint, is that you?” I asked as I looked at him.

“Yes, please call me by my name.”

“Elijah, have I died?” I asked.

“No, even if the Heavenly Demon took over your body, you wouldn’t be able to die.”

It wasn’t reassuring. I didn’t want to live like some kind of puppet. Dying would have been better. Well, it was my choice, and I had to pay for it. I only wish I could have enjoyed what the world had more.

“I fucked up, didn’t I?”

“It wasn’t your fault. You had no other choice.”

No other choice, huh? Was there no other choice? Well, what does it matter anymore? I fucked up, and now there was no way back. Who knows what that Heavenly Demon will do with my body, and I won’t even die.

“Don’t question yourself,” The Saint’s voice brought me back from my increasing dark thoughts. “In the end, it was my fault not being able to kill the Heavenly Demon. It wasn’t your duty or responsibility to keep him sealed.”

“He was right, the Heavenly Demon. He said that kindness would make me suffer.”

“Don’t be ashamed of the kindness you show to others, no matter who or what they are,” There was a lot of conviction in the Saint’s voice.

“Not everyone can be a saint.”

“I am no saint either. At first, I was just a foolish, naïve boy. Rumors were spreading of the demon army rising in power, but I didn’t care about it. I was too busy playing with sticks as they were swords. Dreaming of becoming a knight and marrying a princess.”

“Even I know that a simple knight wouldn’t be able even to be near a princess.”

“Now? Maybe, but there were countless kingdoms across the west continent at my time. They were small, and people could rise to be noble overnight. It was a different era, and I was a boy dreaming of glory.”

“Let me guess, the demon army attacked your village and only left you alive,”

“Yes, they did, but our village survived. But not every village or town did. Our kingdom was overrun in no time. I had to see people with nowhere to go, people who lost everything. Even though I didn’t experience much loss and even was happy to move into a bigger city, when I saw those people and the pain on their faces, I felt that pain too. I hated that feeling, so I joined the kingdom’s army to stop that feeling of the quilt that started to dwell inside me.”

“And when have you become a saint?”

“I just was lucky to survive the first few battles and then learn how to wield my sword well. With every battle, I became stronger until people started to gather behind my back. I wielded my sword to protect them because I would feel bad if I didn’t. I would feel guilty if I let them down.”

“What does it matter now?” I asked, getting bored of his story. I couldn’t see the point of it.

“Now, I will leave it to you. I have suppressed the Heavenly Demon and won’t let him take over your body. I will give you what is left of my power to you.”

“And I have to make sure to keep that bastard sealed in your place.”

“No, I won’t give you that responsibility. I will free you of this. The wound you sustained will be healed with this, and you can leave the sword.”

“I can?”

“Yes, but I don’t believe you will. We are similar, you know. Both of us don’t like seeing other people suffer.”

In a way, he was right. It is hard to look away from when someone asks for help. I would wonder if that person was fine, and if he wasn’t, was it my fault? I wouldn’t call it kindness, though.

“It is time for me to go. I will leave my will to you. If you choose to disregard it, so be it. But don’t blame yourself for my disappearance. I am already dead. It was a long time since I should have disappeared from this world.”

“I won’t. I don’t even know you that much.”

“That fine. Just do as you wish. I would advise you to open up a bit to others. Don’t live a lonely life with no one to lean on. It isn’t the life you want. Trust me on that. Goodbye, Levi.”

“Wait, how do I use your power?”

“My strength is light, seek light, and you will be rewarded with my strength.”

And just like that, he dispersed. The light from him scattered all around the darkness, not illuminating anything but just staying there. I didn’t know what would happen next and closed my eyes, only opening them to see the roof of a tent.

“You finally awake.”

I heard a woman’s voice. Looking to the side, I saw Eve sitting not far away. Not answering, I sat up from the ground I was lying. I felt light, like I had not fought for days but just rested. There was no pain or uncomfortableness.

“You have been out for a day if you want to know.”

I didn’t really care how long I was passed out. It didn’t matter if I slept for a day or a week. What mattered was that I didn’t see the stone sword anywhere. Maybe because I was quiet and looking around, Eve answered my silent question.

“Elisa has taken your sword. You are suspected of killing a hunter.”

Yes, I guess Markus’ death would bring some questions. Killing a fellow hunter, and especially a partner. Of course, there was nothing that could make me accountable. There was no witness but me. Markus is known for his shady business, too. Still, word would spread. Nobody would want to partner up with someone who could stab them in the back.

Standing up and without a word, I left the tent. I could feel where my sword was, so I walked towards it. Reaching the tent where I first met Elisa, I heard voices. Not particularly caring, I went inside. Once inside, everyone fell silent and looked at me.

“Sorry, leader, before I could stop him, he just went on his own,” Eve rushed in front of me and informed Elisa.

“Is fine. What do you want, Levi?”

Why people are questioning me like they have some authority over me. Looking around, I saw my sword near Elisa and walked towards it. Before taking my third step, a sword was pointed at me. I didn’t know his name, but he had a curved sword pointing at me, warning me.

I knew he wouldn’t do anything to me. Someone who was half-naked and unarmed, so I just stepped around him and walked to my sword. Nobody stopped me as I took the stone sword and turned around to leave.

“Why do you care about this sword. Even if it is an artifact, I couldn’t detect any magic or unique abilities. It is just a stone sword.”

“It is a sword of the past,” I answered.

“Doesn’t it matter from where that sword is? It is just a burden, and any other hunter would have sold it or just thrown it away. Why are you not doing so?”

“Even if it is a burden, it is mine to bear.”

I didn’t really care what she thought of my words, so I didn’t elaborate further. Now this sword isn’t just my burden but my dept too. I will pay back my debt to the Saint no matter what. I will do what he failed to do. I will kill the Heavenly Demon.

The saint told me to collect the blessings of at least eight gods. It would strengthen him or something like this. But at the same time, the blessings should weaken the Heavenly Demon. I will start from there and look for a way to kill him.

“So it does something that only you know. Isn’t that right?” Elisa again questioned me. “Don’t try to deny it. How else would you have been able to kill a Silver rank?”

I didn’t answer her, as I saw no reason to do so. She can think about what she wants. As long it didn’t bother me, I didn’t care. I needed to prepare for my next excursion into the ruins. I couldn’t let Guts die for nothing.

“Answer the leader, punk,” The guy with a hammer, which name I didn't care to remember his name.

“I don’t answer neither to you nor your leader.”

“The word will spread. Nobody will ever trust you to join their parties.”

“It doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t trust anyone to join their parties.”

“Even mine?” Elisa asked and looked at her eyes, trying to see what she was up to.

“Leader, you can’t be serious?” Eve asked.

“You know better than anyone else what kind of person Markus was. Still, I asked him to join because I didn’t care. As long as someone is capable enough, I will welcome them to my party.”

“I have no desire to join you,” I simply answered and left the tent.

It was night, with twin moons shining high in the sky. I walked to my camp. On the way, I saw how some hunters looked at me. The word already spread that I returned alone from the ruins. Even if there was little detail, rumors would escalate the story. After all, how could a Bronze rank defeat a Silver rank in a fair fight? People would likely believe that I stabbed him in the back.

Once I was in my tent, I could feel how empty it was. Without Guts whining, it felt quiet. I didn’t want to think about Guts' death. I refused to have lingering feelings for Guts, but it was hard not to blame myself for what happened to him.

“Heavenly Demon, are you here?”

‘I am the only one left now, boy, hahaha.’

“Teach me.”

‘Well, well, well. Now, why would you ask me to do so?’

“I want to be stronger, even if it means I have to put up with your nonsense.”

I wanted to be stronger, so I could kill him. I wanted him to teach me, so I could see how truly powerful he was. It was the only way I could think of ending his existence. The only way to carry the will of the Saint.

‘Hahahaha, now that bastard is dead, you will fall to my hands. Nobody will save you.’

“I don’t need anyone to save me. If I fall to your hands, so be it. But don’t think that it will be easy.”

I still dream that I will live freely with money to live leisurely. Nobody will take away that dream. When I am done with the Heavenly Demon, I will be strong enough to do as I wish. With no burden shackling me.