A sunny morning came… calm, peaceful and quiet. Yesterday's fog of fire had not yet cleared from the air over the village.
Venshiro still sat confused.
Venshiro lived a quiet life at the edge of the Hizukari village, forgotten by maps. His parents — gentle, protective, and always watching — never spoke of the world beyond the hills. They said the world was cruel. That he was safer here. That there was nothing out there for him.
He was a talented, strong and ambitious.
it was his gift, a gift from a higher power maybe, he thought twice before every action. That made him special.
He looked at his hand, which was smeared with blood, embracing the deadly sword. Something was bugging his mind. He wasn't sure about that strange and powerful ability he used.
His father trained him in secret — not the usual swordsmanship, but something older,deeper. Movements that felt sacred.
After he rested for a couple of hours, he finally decided to leave the burned village behind because of shame and guilt.
As he was walking on a cold and foggy path that stretched deep into the forest, the mysterious voice resounded in his mind, a tiny bit of anger founding its way into it:
'Feed me… again'
But he didn't pay it much attention and decided to put it back in its sheath.
As he was walking on his path, he saw two large statues looming in the distance. He was still too far away to measure how tall they were and what they resembled.
As he continued walking curiously on his way, he saw that the path continued between them. When he neared them he saw that they were about 20 meters tall and resembled 7 godlike humanoids.
They looked different , every one of them
represented emotion and element expression.
He also noted that he hadn't seen this type of statues.
Surprised by the fact that he had not seen them before, he wondered:
'Why haven't i seen these statues before?'
But again... a recent memory returned to his brain. A terrifying memory.
It showed him a fraction of the seconds of a warrior during a battle, his sword flashed into the air, leaving black flames in its wake. The seven statues could be seen near the furious warrior.
He wondered and said to himself:
'Was that me?'
Continuing walking, he came across an old, probably even ancient forgotten shrine deep in the forest…
He took the most overgrown path to find it.
A disturbing crow was sitting there right on the roof of the small shrine,watching Venshiro walk away.
The shrine was small in size and area, which was covered in symbols of a clan unknown to him.
He was alert and cautious…
A sudden pressure in the air hit his lungs and shattered his peace.
"Someone is watching," he said in a frightened voice.
The voice in question was of an unknown spiritual energy that did not feel pleasant.
A soft voice whispered from the distance of his convulsion:
"You shouldn't be here, Venshiro!"
He turned and what did he see...
Rin...dressed like a typical assassin with a hood and coat that blew in the breeze and a fox mask that showed her cunning, speed and patience.
Circling him in a circle while looking at him she said the following things to him:
"Furious flames were blowing. Defenseless souls were screaming at the top of their lungs".
"The sword chose you... but we heard it scream."
"Please tell me, I want answers"
he said
"Every answer has a price" she said
She drew a large circle on the ground with salt and fresh blood and made him enter
into the middle of the circle
"Enter the circle... and I will tell you the truth you fear."
Entering the circle… a black mist surrounded the place, taking him to a Dream, in which
before his eyes stood a sword as black as obsidian stuck in a pyramid of human bones and skulls.
There was something there
It was looking at him.. with a purple-red aura in its eyes that oppressed him and watched him from above. But he wasnt able to see who or what was that.
He suddenly woke up, but Rin attacked him in the middle of the ritual with a knife hidden by her.
Venshiro and Rin began a fight..
While they fought, the Black Vein surrounded Rin's shadows without her seeing or understanding.
Venshiro only repelled the blows and did not return them.
The Vein hissed in its sheath, impatient for his role.
But Venshiro resist his intention .
Rin: "Oh, you managed to resist. That's rare haha".
-"Most men taken over by the control of the Black Vain don't survive their first encounter with it. But you did."
-"I will help you unravel the whole truth about this sword and why the clans want it".
-"Legends say that this sword was once sealed when the balance between the gods was upset. It is said that
only a descendant of the Crimson Clan has
full power over it."
-"It is said that it is inhabited by the Undertaker - who once inhabited the sealed artifact."
Venshiro asked her:
"Clans?
Crimson Clan?
I am confused".
Rin: "Haha you probably got pretty fried from my test attack on you, but now is not the time to discuss it.."
She turned and continued walking in the opaque fog.
"If you want answers..follow me. Or stay here and wait for another clan to find you…it won't be favorable"
He hesitated.. but followed her.
(In the trees)
Three Assassins from the Moon Shade clan were watching the scene, masked and silent on the branches.
"He's stable. For now,"
one assassin said
"Lady Yunari will want to see him with her own eyes."