The Dragonblade [On Hold]

Chapter 2: Training

Since history was the last lesson of the day, students were free to do whatever until it was lights out. Most of the students used this time to repair broken gear, prepare for the next day's lessons, and socialize with others. 

Shigeru, Hitoshi, and a few others almost always used this time for extra training. They dropped off their books, pens, and papers at the dorms and grabbed their weapons: practice katana for Shigeru, bow, and quiver of arrows for Hitoshi.

While the academy was most famous for its sword training, it also had a reputation for turning out expert archers. Hitoshi was an expert archer, and it was the main reason why he had been admitted into the academy. 

As they walked down to the training ground, they talked to each other about things of no importance. If you had asked them what they were talking about, chances are that they wouldn't have been able to tell you.

When they arrived at the training ground, Hitoshi and Shigeru went their separate ways. Hitoshi walked over to the archery range, and Shigeru went over to the sword fighting ring. There, as usual, he met up with his training partner and long-time friend, Kameko Takemitsu.

Kameko Takemitsu was neither tall nor short and was neither fat nor thin. Her averageness ended there. She was extremely clever, very quick on her feet. She was able to talk her way into and out of almost any situation, a skill that she exercised frequently. She had the ability to move without being heard or seen, and she was an expert pickpocket as well.

Kameko and Shigeru had grown up together, and they had both been ecstatic to hear that they would be able to go to the academy together. They knew each other inside out, and she was one of his closest matches in swordplay, mostly because she knew him so well. She preferred not to engage in prolonged one on one combat when possible, preferring to stick to the shadows and ambushing her enemies, but was capable enough of holding her own in a fight.

As he drew his sword, Shigeru found that his head was buzzing with he had heard in history that day. So much so that he had trouble concentrating on what he was doing. This was proved almost immediately when he moved in for an attack and was disarmed by Kameko in about five seconds.

"Shigeru?" Kameko asked as he reached down to pick up his dropped sword. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Shigeru, straightening up. "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."

"If you need it, we can skip today's training session."

"No no, I just need a minute to clear my mind, that's all," Shigeru said, shaking his head.

Kameko grinned. "Since I'm so generous, and you're a good friend, I won't give you a minute. I'll give you two."

Shigeru grinned back. "Thanks." He sheathed his sword and took a couple of steps back, taking a couple of deep breaths.

He tried to push his thoughts to the back of his head, taking deep breaths as he did, but they just wouldn't leave him. He tried to think of something else-anything else-but his mind kept straying back to what he had heard in his history class earlier that day. 

He groaned audibly, and Kameko looked up, a frown of concern on her face. "Are you sure that everything is alright, Shigeru?" She asked, "You're looking a little pale."

"Actually, I think it would be best if we skipped our training session, just for today." Shigeru sheathed his sword and walked over to the benches on the side of the training yard. He sat down and groaned again, burying his head in his hands. What was going on with him?

Kameko sat down next to him and said, "Hey, you ok? you seem kind of off today."

"You noticed, huh?" Shigeru smiled weakly at her. 

"Yeah, I did," she said gently, "And I'm worried about you."

"Thanks," he replied.

Later that night, when he had finally gotten that day's history lesson out of his mind, he was lying in bed, thinking about his future and what it would entail. 

He was an orphan, with no family and no influence in the world. His father had left his mother before he had been born, and his mother had died ten years ago. His only plans after graduation were to try and apply for a spot in the imperial army, but that was no life. He could go out into the countryside and try and start a farm, but that kind of life had never appealed to him, and it still didn't.

Shigeru sighed to himself, then turned over to a more comfortable position, trying to fall asleep. But as he closed his eyes and relaxed, what he had heard in history class came back to him.

He growled quietly to himself and shook his head, but couldn't get it out of his mind. He sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

Maybe taking a walk outside would help me to clear my head, he thought. He stood up and walked towards the door. As he walked out of the dorms, he paused for a moment and looked back upon his sleeping classmates. He smiled to himself, then walked out, closing the door silently behind him. 

As he walked through the grounds, bathed by the light of the moon, he thought of what he had heard in history for perhaps the millionth time. "The dragonblade can summon the dragons of the north and south wind... it can enhance the wielder's physical abilities..." He shook his head. "None of this has anything to do with me. My only concern is to find something to do with my life after I graduate."

Having satisfied the curiosity in him, at least for now, he turned around and headed back to the dorms, determined to get a good night's rest.