" It's simple, I'll give you that weapon, free of charge. "
Anna, the woman who was seemingly the owner or lead blacksmith of the establishment, held her hand down to me.
Already so much was happening and it was taking me a bit to wrap my head around it. First off, she had just revealed to me I am sort of a hybrid mixture of Demon and Oni. That in and of itself was news to me. There was no library, loose books, or anything else I could use to get more information about the races of this world and so I hadn't even known Oni were a thing.
Of course, I knew about Demons since they were so commonplace in the Tavern, but Oni huh...
Then past that, I'm being offered a weapon that is capable of talking? She referred to it as a "spirit weapon", which I assume means it has a soul inside of it. That makes it a living weapon, right?
" Wait a minute—Hold on! You're not making any sense here. "
" I second what the kid says, I'm not getting handed off to some brat. "
" What was that, you slab of metal? "
Turning to the dagger that dared to refer to me as some brat, it wasn't too long into the glaring before Anna put her hand between me and the dagger and spoke up.
" Fine fine, I'll clear all the confusion up with this. Go ahead and open the case. Grab 'em. "
" 'Grab 'em?' You mean the dagger? "
" What else could I mean? "
I turned to look at the dagger inside the display case. There was an easy way to open it, you could even see the seam if you looked hard enough. But I didn't want to get too close to it just yet. As cool as it looked, it was still a weapon that was way out of my budget.
And it talked.
" And how do I know you won't scam me into buying it? "
" If I wanted to scam you, I would've charged you for swinging around my sword without purchase. "
I gulped. Back in Japan, it was fine to test out some merchandise before buying it...but...here it may be different. I can't contest that. I steeled myself for a bad reaction and approached. The dagger was completely silent. Why? It didn't speak up at all despite just earlier saying it didn't want to end up with me.
I pressed my hands against the glass case, opening it up with a clack and a click. The seam split and the top opened, the dagger's handle available for me to grab. And I reached for it.
My fingers wrapped around the slender black handle, it was smooth but had this gripping feeling to it that made it near impossible for it to slip, even as I lightly held onto it to draw it out. The glass acted like some sort of sheath, preventing it from coming out swiftly, instead sliding against it. However, once I got the tip of the blade up and out of it, I felt this rush. It was just like when I held that sword from before. My mind was clouded.
* SWISH—SLICE *
My arms were carried off with vigor and the cuts I made upon the air were deliberate. My entire body was filled with overwhelming energy and power, making me feel as though I could do anything—cut anything. I tossed the blade up in the air and jumped for it. My lunge carried me up into the air and I witnessed an explosive growth in my reaction speeds. Glowing slashes came from the blade as I cut against the air with vicious intent. I hadn't even landed yet and I managed to create over 20 arcs in the air with the blade.
And once I touched down to the floor, I paused. Looking at my hand, the blade seemingly looked back into me. I don't know why I was able to move like that...But something came over me. Something was welling up deep in the pit of my chest...And it only left my body when I struck the air.
" I'm Utanna. "
" Raksha, that's my name. "
I felt something new forming.
" You two are getting along, huh? Good! Now you get why I'm giving it to you, yeah? "
" ...If you're giving it away for free...Then I'll take it. "
" I was against it before but this kid's got something special. And I want to see where it goes, for now anyway. "
I had originally come around expecting to buy a simple straight sword and leave without any more money to work with. But now I'll be leaving with a living dagger named Utanna. But...Something wasn't clicking.
" Anna, you spoke like you knew I'd be able to wield Utanna before I even picked it up. Why's that? "
She stopped smiling for a moment and looked at me seriously. She then sighed and closed her eyes, shrugging.
" You really are in the dark…Come with me. "
She turned and walked back toward the door she had come from before. She opened it and waited for me to walk by. I didn't know the woman from a hole in the wall but she had already given me a weapon that far outclassed any of the others I had seen in the shop. And now, she was willing to give me some answers.
So I walked forward.
Once I moved past her, she closed the door behind us and took to the front, following behind her I could begin to hear the sound of metal banging against metal. This truly was a blacksmith's shop. However, it was all behind doors to the side, the corridor we walked down led to a back room. Once she had opened up and led me inside, I immediately recognized the office decor. She pointed to the seat in front of the desk that sat by the window and went around, sitting in the big chair behind it.
" I'm assuming you don't know the whole truth about your race, do you? "
" No...I'm lost. "
" Then I'll start from the beginning. This continent is split into three domains. The 'Human Territory', the 'Arcane Territory', and...the 'Demon Territory'. Many beings and species are living in each of these territories and within the Demon Territory reside the Demonic races. "
" Demonic races? Like Demons? "
" Of course. But there are many others. Goblins, Lizardmen, Orcs, and Oni. Goblins and Lizardmen are rather reclusive and Orcs are barbaric...But Oni...They're special. "
She shifted in her seat, leaning down and grabbing something. I simply watched, waiting for her to continue on these "Oni".
She brought her hand up and then down onto the desk, placing down a horn. Any sort of relaxed air chilled. She postured herself more forward, folding her hands up on the desk. The woman Anna looked dead into my eyes.
" The Oni have such strong life energy, life energy called 'Vitality', that they are feared. So much so that some are hunted and their horns taken as a badge of honor. The potential for war and combat they have is far beyond any other race in the whole continent. Such strong life energy makes them unsuitable for any sort of mixed race. The non-Oni mothers are incapable of providing enough nutrients to the mixed fetus. And the fathers don't have the vitality strong enough to fertilize the eggs of an Oni. "
My mother was not an Oni. She didn't have a horn. My eyes widened and I thought for a moment. I had been brought here via reincarnation, right? Does that mean...whoever was in this body before I came around, had died inside...and I was reborn?
And to that end, just how much did my mother suffer?
" Raksha you are a Demon and Oni combination. And it doesn't end there. You're no normal Demon either. "
" ...What...? "
Already reeling from the revolution that my birth alone wasn't even biologically sound...I was then confronted with this.
" Demons are a race that can wield both potent life energy called 'Vitality' and a warrior's energy called 'Aura'. Aura can typically only be used by the races of Humanity, those that dwell within the Human Territory. While Vitality can only be utilized by those of a Demonic nature. However, Demons have roots in Humanity and therefore have the blood to use Aura. Though, it's weak, far weaker than the natural aptitude we hold for Vitality. But you? You're filled to the brim with Vitality, that much is certainly true. However, your eyes indicate that the sheer amount of aura within you is producing physical changes. "
All at once I'm filled with more and more knowledge that I wasn't able to acquire anywhere else. Vitality, life energy demons can wield...And Aura, just like in so many fantasy stories, seems to be the energy swordmasters use to gain more power. It must've been that sort of Aura, right?
And here I am being told I wield both this Vitality and Aura in such high quantities it's changing me? Then...that's the explanation for my eyes...
" You're a Demon of Noble blood that has the blood of the Oni coursing through your veins. "
" You're an anomaly, kid. It's why you've got such talent with the sword with such obvious amateur tendencies. Your blood rules you. You're a being made for war and born with a talent for the sword. "
Utanna interjected at the end. I suppose the dagger would know best about any sort of natural sword skills I used considering I was wielding it. Though, listening to both Anna and Utanna speak, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. All at once I was told these things that made no sense to my natural common reasoning. I tightened my grip around Utanna, looking into it and back at my reflection. I stared into my dark eyes and then looked up into Anna's.
" So you're just like me—a noble Demon, right? "
" Yeah. "
It took me a moment, a while to wrap my head around it. That energy I felt welling up inside of my body when I grabbed onto Utanna, was that Vitality? Or was that Aura?
" Then tell me...I've been experiencing pain, sharp and searing pain in my arms and legs, so much so I wear pain inhibitors. "
I raised my free hand that wasn't holding Utanna, showing off the ring that cuffed my wrist.
" Ah, of course...You're rapidly growing, that's why. The vitality within you is far too much to contain within the small body of a Demon. So you're growing, adapting. The Oni are a war race. With such blood deep within you, your body will grow to adapt to whatever hardships you face. Even if that includes a frail body. If I were you...I'd take those off and let it happen. The sooner you suffer it, the sooner you'll come into your own. "
Looking at the cuffs, I thought about it. Now I finally understood what I was. What I had come to this world as. Almost as if on autopilot, I set Utanna down and began to unhook the band around my left wrist. It clicked open and almost immediately, raging pain shot up my arm. I could feel it all at once, the pain coursing, surging.
" Kid! I've got an idea! "
Just a moment after watching me nearly collapse to the ground from the pain of unhooking just one of the clasps, Utanna called to me.
" Grab onto me. Your body's expanding with Vitality and Aura all at once—I can see it! Take hold! "
Without even thinking about it, I listened. I snatched Utanna off the desk, feeling the surge come again. Pain shot up from my arm but relief flowed from my chest. It came from my right side...The side I held Utanna in. I could feel a battle raging within me. This was Vitality and Aura all at once within me. The pain at first was unbearable...But now...the pain was beginning to turn into invigorating energy.
Before long, I closed my eyes, almost instinctively. I focused on the feeling welling up in my chest. It felt like two waves, two forces meeting in the middle. When I felt more pain, my left side took over the right. And when I was relieved, the two sides were just about in the middle, a mixture being created. I focused heavily, sounds blocking out from all around me.
" Good work, Utanna. I leave him in your hands. "
" ...This kid...he truly is special... "
I slowly opened my eyes, and the sound came back to my ears. The pain was still there but...I could think. Looking up to Anna, I felt much better. These two...
" Thank you, Anna. "
It had always been...hard for me to show gratitude with words. Saying thank you was just too chummy. But...in this case, there was nothing else I could say. I was being given a way out of this unbearable pain...And I had been given not only a weapon but something far more valuable, information.
" And you, Utanna. Thank you too. "
I spoke down to Utanna, the blade that helped me get a grip. It seems like I won't be alone in this.
" Don't thank me yet. You still have yet to truly balance both the Vitality and Aura within you. While your pain stems from the Vitality forcing the growth of your body, the Aura within you in the right quantities can calm the raging storm and provide a more gradual growth. Until you master properly using both Vitality and Aura all at once, you won't be free of this pain. "
" Right... "
I got a bit serious within myself. I now had something of a goal. For the past few months, I was simply operating and listening to whatever Ragnor and my mother asked of me. Working at the Tavern, doing chores. All boring tasks that I felt obligated to do since...I had nothing else.
But now...I know what I've got to do. To live a life without this pain, I've got to master my Vitality and Aura. And...to do that, I'll need Utanna to teach me some things.
Anna shifted and looked at me, smiling a bit now. Maybe she expected my response to all of this. But whatever the case, she seemed to be something of a reliable ally in this.
" I'll be in your care, partner. "
I spoke to Utanna again, looking down at it earnestly. My own face reflected in its black blade but for a moment I could imagine a featureless face smiling right back at me.
" Sure then, kid. "
CHAPTER 5 END