Three months later…
Tatsuki awoke for the final time in his prison of a room, its dull wooden interior irritating him after so many months of idly watching the days pass.
It was finally the day he would be allowed to start his training to become a swordsman.
His left shoulder had finally been unbandaged, and the wound had completely sealed—a large, ghastly four-clawed scar hung from his neck all the way down to his upper pectoral.
It was a fresh, ugly pink pigment which clashed with his already pale skin, no thanks to the fact he hadn't been getting any sun for the last couple of months.
Though today wasn't the time to ponder such things, for Tatsuki had been left only with just his thoughts for too long already.
He had longed to feel his body move again, as he hated the feeling of being weak—his once rather impressive stature now atrophied.
His frame now much more wiry than his former time as a hiyatoi, though he still had a decent bit of fat on him thanks to the meals Mono brought him daily.
The young girl had come in every day to bring him food and, if needed, rewrap his injury.
In fact, Tatsuki would consider Mono an acquaintance at this point, as though their conversations weren't long, they were frequent enough for him to get a feel of her persona.
She was a rather awkward, if not kind girl—around two years younger than himself. Someone who would not put up much of a fight in an argument.
Which puzzled Tatsuki, as she, like every other young adult here, was training to become a demon slayer.
She had told him about who the demon slayers were and what they had to do to become one.
Which apparently involved some sort of final selection on a mountain, though she apparently didn't know the details.
Though what fascinated him most about their conversations was the idea of concentration breathing and breathing styles.
Which was what apparently gave the demon slayer the ability to contend with those monsters.
Though truly, Tatsuki thought of it as more of an exaggeration—but after seeing a demon, he began to think maybe it was possible.
He had also learned about the other apprentices of the master, as though he only saw glimpses of them throughout the months, as he was forbidden to even interact with them as he could interrupt their training.
Mono had talked about them in their brief conversations, and for the most part, Tatsuki could pick up on their general personalities.
Ushi was the oldest of the apprentices and was a year older than Tatsuki and was said to be the strongest of them. Which was apparent from Tatsuki's glimpse at him, as he was rather tall, with the frame and temper of an ox.
Haruko was the only other girl besides Mono at the estate. She was the same age as Tatsuki, and from what Mono said, she was rather reserved.
Then there was Renji—he was a couple of months younger than Tatsuki, though Tatsuki heard him the most of all over the couple of months he had been there, because of his habit of yelling around the compound.
They all seem so very difficult. I just hope they don't get in my way, was all Tatsuki could think about after trying to figure out a brief understanding of their character.
The sound of a booming knock shook throughout the wooden room, its power catching Tatsuki off guard.
"Com—" Before Tatsuki could even finish his sentence, Ushi had already barged in.
The boy was rather tall, standing at around one hundred eighty centimeters, with exposed bulging muscles full of scars, loosely covered by a red haori.
"The Master has called for you," Ushi said in a no-nonsense, booming voice.
The boy's sharp green eyes stared down Tatsuki like a cat waiting to pounce on its prey.
Tatsuki stood up methodically, taking his time to rise from his cross-legged position before throwing on his freshly patched-up grey haori.
"I said the Master called—don't keep him waiting!" Ushi roared in anger, Tatsuki's slothfulness making him furious.
"I understand," Tatsuki responded. His untrained eye could already detect the massive difference in strength and authority between them.
Tatsuki picked up his pace as he stood, a dull discomfort shooting through his left shoulder.
But as he walked past Ushi to leave the room, the older boy's eyes beamed down on him intensely. Only then could Tatsuki truly see the extent of his frame.
He looked superhuman—nothing like the serene and calm Mono, who was also an apprentice.
"Next time I call you, I will not be so kind and patient. Do you understand?" Ushi whispered as Tatsuki walked away, his words causing cold sweat to cover Tatsuki's entire body.
"I-I do," was all the younger boy could manage, his mind and body frozen in fear.
With that, Tatsuki exited his dull wooden room, which had felt like an eternal prison. But at that moment, he couldn't even enjoy the feeling of being outside again—there was only one thought on his mind:
What a monster that man is. He's at most a year older than me, and he has me trembling like this over the most unsubstantial threat!
Tatsuki looked down at his palms, their shaking forming an uncontrollable symphony as they cried out with sweat.
How could I possibly become that strong? Is that even humanly possible? And does that mean that Master Sachio is even stronger than that?
As Tatsuki's thoughts ran rampant with fear, he moved through the serene gardens of the estate, their beauty on full display.
After a few long minutes of searching, Tatsuki found Master Sachio standing silently next to a small gate, which he assumed led out of the compound.
Master Sachio's eyes were locked on Tatsuki—the same way Ushi's were—but there was something different about them.
Though Tatsuki couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
"I have arrived, Master," Tatsuki said, bowing deeply and respectfully.
"Come with me boy, don't fall behind, young Tatsuki. If you do so, I can't guarantee your safety," Master Sachio responded after a brief moment of silent acceptance, his straightforward, no-nonsense manner of speaking still off-putting to Tatsuki.
With that, the two ran off toward the mountainous forest, its lush green trees offering ample shade from the harsh, beating sun.
Master Sachio ran like lightning, his movements as efficient as his words—each stride perfect and concise, as if personally calculated by the man.
Tatsuki, on the other hand, was rather mundane in comparison. His freshly atrophied and withered muscles struggled to keep up.
Tatsuki's breathing was irregular and harsh, its roughness causing his throat to dry up and crack—the taste of blood and pine filling his mouth.
Twenty minutes passed as Tatsuki trailed behind Master Sachio, his body beginning to sway irregularly from exhaustion.
But after what felt like days of running, just as Tatsuki's hearing began to fade, Master Sachio abruptly stopped.
The area they had found themselves in was rather serene—a cliff's edge, its base a still pool of beautiful crystal water that reflected the noon sun.
The smell of fresh air untouched by man filled Tatsuki's defeated lungs.
Master Sachio stood still, looking down at the water, the sharp winds causing his brown kimono to sway like the trees.
"Solitude is a great gift… and an unbearable curse, Tatsuki," Master Sachio said, his natural stoicism on full display.
"While it's true that I have accepted you into the family, Tatsuki, I have a task you must complete in order for me to take you on as an apprentice."
"What is it, Master?" Tatsuki asked, his throat panting between each word.
"To truly know a man's character… he must be in his most desperate state."
"I need to understand your resolve and character, Tatsuki," Master Sachio said, looking up at the sparse clouds in the eternal sky.
"What must I do, Master? Please tell me," Tatsuki asked respectfully, the buildup causing a slow, all-consuming dread to form inside him.
"Three miles west of here, at the bottom of this mountain, there is a small shed. You will spend one week alone in it."
"You will need to hunt for survival and gather resources. But if you manage… I will grant you my full mentorship."
"Master…" Tatsuki replied in shock, panic escalating in his mind.
"Hurry, child. It would be wise of you to find the shelter before dusk," Master Sachio said, cutting off Tatsuki's protest.
With that, the old man vanished from sight—his speed like that of the wild, rushing winds—leaving Tatsuki to stand alone, overlooking the cliffside.
But with a deep inhale, Tatsuki tried to calm his nerves, his mind beginning to clear.
"Very well," Tatsuki murmured, its quiet echo gliding across the pond below.
With that, the boy turned around to descend the forest he had spent so much energy climbing up.
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"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
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