Osaka PV: Argan

It’s been a while since I had a worthy enemy, and that… Pretty much sucks, because when you don’t have anyone to prove yourself against, someone to drill down and to win against, your body becomes lazy and your instincts lose their sharpness. You become weak, and the cold Northern wind does not accept weakness.

This life of aristocracy was not for me, for even when I trained diligently there was no one to compare myself against to see how strong I’ve gotten. Well, who the Hell was I lying to? There were times when my sword didn’t serve more than for the most degrading tasks that the so-called “teacher” imposed on us. No, this life was not for me, but I couldn’t see any way to escape it, and those who didn’t fear me already just plain ignored me, or avoided me at any cost.

I knew the rumors that had been spread about me, about being dangerous and not having pity on my enemies, and they weren't false. Still, being alone just because you're too dangerous gets boring. I want to prove myself! I want to show everyone that I'm still a force to be reckoned with, not some veteran with one foot stuck in the past and getting drunk on the sweet taste of my previous victories. I want to feel the shock when someone finally has the guts to try to bring me down.

I have been feeling weak lately, with no reasons to train and no battles to fight. Being the “new guy” was bad enough when I came to this stinky Eastern school, and now that I find only weaklings and cowards around me, it’s worse. Maybe in the past these guys would have been worthy - you know, the typical “samurai and ronin” types - but here they are just… Little fishes scrambling away from sharks.

Stretching with a groan, I return to the here and now. Looking around, I am not surprised at all to see that no one has even dared to approach my spot, even when I’ve been sitting under the cool shade of this tree for quite a while, even though it’s quite hot today. Cowards, all of them. I would have respected these lowlifes so much more if any of them had had the backbone to face me or even sit at my side, but none of them did, they just eyed me, eyed my sword, and backed away scared.

Tired of their badly concealed stares, I got up and began to walk back to the institution I currently inhabited (though this fact was not exactly of my free will). The heat was just too much out here, and even the short distance between the tree’s shade and the building made me wish for something cold to drink. This crappy weather often made me forget about training, as I preferred to avoid spending my energy on anything that wasn’t extremely vital.

I missed the northern lands: their refreshing weather, the daredevils that used to be my partners, and darn it all, I even missed the food and environment – and Ancestors know those things sucked there.

I wished to feel the energy that the wind gave me when I was fighting; I needed to feel the rush of the battle heating my blood after I felt my fingers go numb from the freezing wind, to feel the tingle in my spine right before someone tried to take me down. But all that was gone now...

This warm and humid weather, and these up-nosed people around me that scattered away whenever I rested my weapon on my shoulder, were so very tiresome.

I entered the building and found three boys in my path. They seemed intent to confront me for a second but, as always, they just backed down, allowing me to pass without even bothering to look directly at me.

At times I found myself wondering what would happen if I initiated a fight with them, if I forced them to show their true selves. Would they turn out to be proud red stags hiding behind their masks of fear, or would they hide like little wrens?

As I wondered that, I kept walking, patting my weapon against my shoulder. No one dared to cross me, or so I thought, but again, this life of aristocracy has spoiled me. Trusting others to get away from my path had not been very bright on my part, but it was both surprising and interesting as I nearly bumped into a dark haired student.

He gave me an even glare and then just kept walking, unconcerned about what had happened. Confused, I resumed making my way to the classroom. He hadn’t even apologized, he wasn’t even afraid, and his gaze had been quite challenging. I huffed, not being able to shake away the feeling that soon I would have my wish of fighting granted.

I just couldn’t wait for what the wind would bring to my, until now, boring path… Although, honestly? I preferred that it was not today, it was too damn hot in here right now.