The Sword of Souls

Prologue

"Listen closely, for every word you hear is completely true.

The story I am about to tell you is not a story at all, but an ancient secret I am entrusting to you. But I must warn you, this story is not for the faint of heart. If you do not believe, if you do not hope, our hero will die...

The samurai unsheathed his katana, the unnaturally sharp blade hissing as it split the moonlight dancing across it. He strode through a vermillion torii as a breeze rustled the many cherry blossom trees lining the courtyard.

On the other side of the courtyard, another samurai patiently awaited him. The old master stood solemnly, his own blade drawn. His sword gleamed like solidified sunlight, illuminating his wizened features.

The master met his apprentice's gaze,"You look troubled, Muramasa."

Muramasa's steel eyes pierced the darkness as easily as his weapon,"Masamune, you know why I am here, what I must do."

Masamune gave a nod,"We forge our own paths, Apprentice. This does not have to end in war."

"War has already begun," Muramasa growled,"and you are no longer my master."

Masamune raised his blade,"Very well. But I must warn you, I will never surrender."

Muramasa's mouth curled into a sadistic smile,"Nor will I."

With that, the samurai charged. The swords glinted as they clashed together, light and darkness splitting the very air around them. Every blow from Muramasa's blade was met by Masamune with grace.

Black mist began to swirl around Muramasa's sword as he pulled in the darkness around him. The nearby plant life wilted and smoldered, and the air around him rippled with negative energy.

Masamune's weapon began to glow brightly as curtains of shimmering moonlight weaved around the blade. An aura of light enveloped the master, materializing into radiant armor.

The forces of good and evil converged on each other once more, each met with the equal intensity of the other. The fate of the world hung in the balance as the battle raged on.

Thunder boomed, and lighting broke across the skies. Wind spun around the duel in a fierce tornado, angrily churning up cherry blossom petals. The ground fractured as the swords connected and broke apart.

Muramasa's swiftness and vehemence made for a lethal combination, but was left unmatched compared to Masamune's resilience and expertise. The two extremes continued their unrelenting battle until Masamune finally obtained the upper hand, knocking the sword from Muramasa's hands.

The evil katana skidded across the smooth stone, seething in shadows. Muramasa looked to Masamune as the master held his sword to his throat.

"Leave this place, and never return," Masamune ordered. The master then sheathed his weapon, and turned away from the defeated samurai. He began his walk back to the temple.

Muramasa, unable to accept failure, grabbed his sword and lunged frenziedly. He flew through the air, his sinister sword ready to strike the old man down.

Masamune, without turning, intercepted the attack with one of his own. His hands, aglow with white light, grabbed the sword from the air by the blade itself.

Muramasa fell to the ground as the samurai brandished the blade. The surface of the metal rippled like water as he pointed the sword back at its wielder. Muramasa screamed as his reflection flashed across the blade.

In a flash of light, Muramasa vanished into the sword, locked in a prison of his own design- a sword of souls.

... The end." Grandmother spoke as she concluded her epic bedtime story.

Her grandchildren, a boy and a girl, looked to her from their beds. The boy sat up, lifting a brow,"Is that story really true, Grandmother?"

The woman chuckled as she tucked her grandson back into bed,"Would I ever lie to you?"

The girl in the bed next to him grinned,"So, what happened to the evil samurai?"

Grandmother kissed her granddaughter on the forehead,"He was trapped in his sword forever."

"And the master?" The boy piped up.

Grandmother gave her grandson a kiss as well before adding,"Legend says he too became locked in his sword, a sacrifice to bring balance back to the world. But don't worry, the master had more than one apprentice."

The woman crossed the bedroom, smiling from the doorway,"But that story is for another time."

With that, she turned off the lights.