CALAMITY CORE : FREE THE WORLD

CH.10 'ZESHIN'

Colossal blade met Ban's katana, and sparks flew as Zeshin threw out his scarred free hand. Gritting his teeth, he held his ground, though for once, Andrei almost had him on the back end. Pushing through with a pulse of green Wind magic, he guided the breeze to the side, catching Andrei's thick blade and tipping it as the boy gasped. Jumping back, Andrei gasped for air, and Ban gave a thumbs-up. "Pretty good... you've gotten a hell of a lot stronger this week."

The man brandished his blade, slicing the air before swiping it across his belt in a reflexive motion, finally closing their fight by sealing his blade into its sheath. He smiled, then nodded again as Andrei set his blade down and began to rewrap the leathers which held it. "You think so?" He said as he looked up from his sword, standing up as he slung it over his shoulder. "I mean, I guess I don't feel as shaky anymore when I'm fighting..."

Ban waltzed over and took a seat on Hirano's shaded porch, the fall sun warming him up as he found a drink at his side. Water filled his mouth, and he gulped it back as Andrei joined him, passing the bottle to him. "Yeah, I'd say so. I've never seen someone fight like that with a big-ass sword... guess you're just consistent when it comes to shockers." He laughed to himself, then found his sunglasses as Hirano stepped out onto the patio from within the home attached to the blacksmithing facilities.

Andrei drank his share, then handed the bottle back to Zeshin, who passed it off to the vampire. Hirano drank as well, leaving the three quiet for a second. Ban sighed, and Andrei panted from exertion. It was Zeshin once more who started the conversation, though he seemed less like his familiar self when he spoke. "Say, about being a shocker... the Akotos ever tell you why everyone 'round town looks at you all funny? Aside from the obvious."

Looking over at Ban, Andrei got himself together and raised an eyebrow. "Huh? No, I don't think they did... why?" He asked, only partially perplexed.

Tapping the ground beneath him, Ban blinked and lost focus of his vision for a moment before nodding to himself. Looking back over at Andrei, he gave a weighty sigh and looked up to the sky, a more awkward face about him. "It's a real long story coming from me... you willin' to sit through it all, 'Drei?"

Andrei looked to Ban, then couldn't help but nod. In an instant, Zershin was transported back in his mind, and the pages of the story he was to tell began to unravel. He looked down to the ground, then back up at the sky before beginning to speak. "Before you came around, a real long time ago... back when Saiji 'nd Shoda were just lil' kids... their parents had a real noble goal. They wanted to help everyone out with the Guild, even folks like me, or you. Your kind..."

Ban paused, blinked, then shook his head. "Not your kind. The wild Chimera. They wanted to help all the strays. Then the kids came 'round... everyone called 'em a Nowhere Generation, didn't believe in 'em wortha' shit. 'Cept their parents, obviously."

As he spoke now, Ban's face grew dark, and his brow twisted in the shadow of his sunglasses. He held his head low, unable to look to the sky any longer. "It was when they saved me that things went to shit, I think. I had my ass handed to me, and the kids, their dad... He was the one to give himself up for me." He exhaled, then shook his head. "That's why the town knows me as the Chimera hunter... their pops gave me enough time to get my mana back, and I cut the thing in half after it tore him to shreds..."

Andrei blinked as he took everything in. 'Nowhere Generation,' 'Chimera hunter,' it was all going into his head, but he couldn't quite process it. Ban continued as Andrei was lost in thought. "The one I cut in half... It was like you for a bit. Human, for the most part... way more twisted though, that's why I think..." He paused, then looked over to Andrei as he returned to reality. "You're something different."

The two exchanged a glance, and Andrei felt the weight of some form of responsibility growing on his shoulders. The whispers in the back of his mind were like laughter, taunting him with his newfound purpose, to prove himself to Ban. "Right, that's... Right... and their mother?" Andrei gulped back nerves now as he asked the question.

Ban shrugged. "After that, she lost faith in the cause. Other'n me, the Guild stopped taking in strays... barely any kids either..." He sighed, then shook his head. "I couldn't even tell you if there's anyone else out there, so I just wanna' see this place flourish." Ban nodded to himself, reassuring that he was on the right path, then he perked up much to the surprise of both Andrei and Hirano.

Andrei stood rooted for a second, but a gust of natural wind blew through his hair, driving his attention back to the world before him. Blinking, he stood up and offered Ban a hand. "Then I'll make sure..." As he began, he pulled Ban to his feet, prepared to begin training once again. "... That the Nowhere Generation has a future. On my life."

Ever the recluse, even Hirano was taken aback by the conviction in Andrei's voice. Ban let himself be lifted, and he placed a hand on his sword with a sudden smile. Laughing to himself, he adjusted his glasses with his scarred, free hand, and he nodded. As they returned to the clearing to continue their training, he couldn't help but playfully slug his student's shoulder. Andrei laughed in return, though his promise had been nothing but serious... Deep down, even Ra couldn't help but hold a moment of silence if only for the will to live that the boy had shown, a finally worthy test of his own resolve...