My sword training lasted exactly two years, and getting along with my sword spirit was at least as difficult as my elder brother Cadeon said. Although I tried to talk to my sword spirit like a friend, it never loosened its attitude and always spoke formally. When I told this to Cadeon, he said it was actually a good thing—that my sword spirit respected me from its core and was bonded to me.
During these two years, the only thing I did was not just to get along with my sword spirit; I also fought with Brother Cadeon every day, ending each day with scratches—Is Cadeon cruel enough to scratch a two-year-old child‽ By the time I was four, I theoretically learned the first technique of the Verblades. The technique was called "Just Cut." According to Cadeon, it was the lowest level of the technique, but at its highest level, it could easily destroy a house.
To use sword techniques, I first needed aura or mana. Since I still hadn't learned aura, I started with mana. Luckily, I knew how to do it... Or so I thought. When I first activated my mana, Cadeon looked at me and said:
"This is not activating mana. You're just showing it. Only this way can you be protected from mana pressure applied on top."
"But the steward told me this was mana, and Lord Cauron also called it mana when I used it."
"Surely it's mana, we agree on that. But you can't use this mana. Try it if you want: strike something with your sword while releasing your mana so the mana flows into your sword and cuts what you hit. Of course, if you want to use mana instead of aura, you'll need a mana-absorbing sword."
My brother turned around and left, and I started trying, but I just couldn't do it. About two hours later, Cadeon came back holding a sword and said:
"You can't prove me wrong, can you?"
"What mistake? If I try a bit more, I can do it!"
"There are two reasons you can't cut this stone right now. First, you're not activating your mana. Second, you're not using a mana-absorbing sword. I fixed your second problem. Here, this sword will accompany you until you learn aura. Take good care of it."
"Okay, but how will I understand mana? Isn't my mana connected to my subconscious?"
"I already know my subconscious—it's a pure white endless void."
"Just like you recognized your sword, you'll understand your mana, Andre. Every fighting power has a spirit."
"I get it... So you want me to talk to the mana spirit, right?"
"Yes, Andre. Talk to it. The bond you have with it affects your control over mana."
"Wasn't mana connected to my subconscious?"
"The mana pool connected to your subconscious is not your mana control. But since your mana quality is white, it will be hard to control—meaning it will be difficult to get along with your mana spirit."
"I see. Now it's time to try."
I thought I activated mana in my subconscious and imagined a transparent image of my anatomy, seeing my mana channels. My mana spirit was roaming in those channels, and I pulled it out.
"What are you doing, man?!"
"You must be my mana spirit."
"If I am, so what? Don't think I'll obey you. That stupid sword spirit is so loyal to you that it never even talked about us. If you think about turning me into a submissive spirit like it, I'll leave you mana-less."
"That's not my intention. I want you to be my friend and strengthen the bond between us. I told the same to the sword spirit, but it refused. You can ask it if you want."
"Really? Let me check."
"Do you want me to summon the sword spirit here?"
"Was I supposed to go to you? You don't understand the situation at all. I've been running in your mana channels since you were born! You can't imagine how tired I am!"
"Since I was born?"
"Yes, spirits are formed as soon as a person is born, and some spirits like me have to work tirelessly."
"Really? Is there no way to stop this?"
"If there was, I would have stopped myself a long time ago. I have to work for the rest of your life."
"Your life? That phrase is usually 'my life,' isn't it?"
"Spirits die together with the soul they're attached to or alone. If you're not going to try something crazy, I can't die on my own."
"I don't understand. Why do you have to work constantly? When I'm safe, I won't need mana."
"That's your problem. You are from the Verblade family, and you are in danger at all times."
"What do you mean?"
"If no one told you, it means I'm not authorized to tell either, especially since the sword spirit is a loyal spirit to the Verblades and hasn't said a word, there must be things it knows. Sorry, I can't talk more about this topic."
"Are there things I don't know about the Verblades? Since you're connected to my spirit, tell me."
"Sorry, Andreas, I can't."
"Is there something forcing you not to tell?"
"Sort of."
"I see."
I decided not to dwell more on the topic. I had to be friends with it to control my mana.
"I still haven't changed my mind about being friends. What do you say? Let's be friends."
"You seem different from other Verblades. Why do you try to be friends with me instead of forcing obedience?"
"A bond gained by force isn't a bond. I believe friendship is the strongest and deepest bond between two people."
The mana spirit was impressed:
"Wow... Are you really a Verblade?"
"And from the main family."
"I don't know who your current family head is, but if they find out, they might deprive you of mana, you know?"
"Don't worry, my trainer has a secret too. I think he can keep a secret."
"I don't understand why everything is going in your favor, but you're a warm person, Andreas. I accept being friends with you. I will never say 'my lord' to you, and you can't command me. If you ask something from me, I'll take payment—even if it's years later. If you accept these terms, I'll be your friend."
"The last one sounds like we're entering a business relationship rather than friendship... But I accept."
"Really?"
"Do I have a reason to lie?"
"Could your spirit be from another family or world? No Verblade ever befriends their war spirits, right?"
For a moment, I thought I understood, but then it laughed. I felt relieved and started laughing too. Then I opened my eyes and turned to Brother Cadeon:
"I did it!"
"On the first try‽ You really have a blessed talent, Andre. So, how was your relationship?"
"Well... Actually, there's something I should tell you first."
"Go ahead, I'm waiting."
"I have a secret about you too, right? Can you keep one?"
"Is it something you want to hide from my father?"
"Not by choice, it's a necessity."
"It depends on what your secret is. Tell me."
"I became friends with my mana spirit. If my father finds out, he might deprive me of mana."
"He told you right. We Verblades always force obedience from our war spirits. You are the first Verblade who managed to be friends."
"Can you keep this a secret?"
"Do you think I'm the eldest brother for nothing? There's not even a word about secrets among us!"
I relaxed and the fear inside me turned into happiness.
"So how will I use mana now?"
"You remember how your mana spirit looked, right?"
"Yes, it was a white, soft-edged cube with eyes. But why was my sword spirit shaped like a sword?"
"Every war spirit takes the shape of its weapon. But since mana and aura have no weapons, they take different shapes."
"I see. So how do I cast spells?"
"Imagine your mana spirit in your hand and try to feel it. Then, in your mind, transform this spirit into a fireball by saying 'Fireball!' and throw it like a ghost."
"Okay, I'll try."
Imagining my mana spirit in my hand was easy, but feeling it was hard. This was probably because my mana color was white, making it hard to control. Although I could feel my mana spirit a little in my hand, I managed to transform it into a fireball. When I opened my eyes, there was a fireball in my hand that was at least as big as a giant.
My brother shouted, surprised:
"Hey Andre! Cancel that spell immediately or the training field will explode!"
"I don't know how to cancel it!"
"Think of the fireball returning to your hand!"
"Okay!"
While thinking this, I accidentally said 'fireball' in my mind, and the huge thing in my hand hit the target board.
The moment it hit, I saw my brother next to me; he took me on his back under his cape and suddenly jumped. The training field was an open area, and Cadeon took me to the main family house roof by jumping. The whole training field exploded, creating such a shockwave that even all the windows in the main family house shattered. Then I saw my father and the steward running outside, followed by my mother and brother Kaedor.
Cadeon brought me down and faced my father:
"Cadeon, what's going on?"
"Father... As the trainer, all this is my fault. Please don't be mad at Andre."
"What happened to you? Should I ask you who to punish? Know your place, Cadeon!"
I decided to intervene:
"I'm sorry, but can I explain? After all, it was all me."
My father was surprised.
"You? How did you make such a huge explosion, Andreas? Answer quickly!"
"Brother Cadeon was teaching me mana, and I wanted to try using magic. He taught me how to create and throw a fireball. I guess I made the fireball too big—bigger than you all."
Brother Cadeon interrupted and stood in front of my father:
"I didn't even teach him the magic spirit; he only managed to use mana activation."
Lord Cauron: "Only by activating mana‽"
I didn't understand why Kaedor looked scared behind him, but my mother was smirking slyly.
Then Cadeon turned to me:
"Do you need the magic spirit to use magic?"
"Yes, Andre. Magic spirits usually take the shape of a staff and determine the quality of the magic. But you... You are a..."
My father cut off my brother's words:
"A dual-attached spirit."
"Yes, you are dual-attached, Andre."
Even though the atmosphere was tense, I had to ask:
"What does dual-attached spirit mean?"
"It happens between sword spirit and aura spirit, or assassin spirit and poison spirit. But yours is a rare combination of mana spirit and magic spirit. Such people are called dual-attached spirits. The number of spirits you need to control is fewer."
"Is that the only advantage?"
"No, Andre. You know how magic is done in theory, right?"
"Yes, people use mana to summon magic from another realm into this world."
"They summon because of the magic spirit. The better your bond with the magic spirit, the less mana you spend for a spell. But you are dual-attached; things change here."
"What do you mean?"
"People with attached mana and magic spirits don't summon magic—they create it. This means the power and mana limit of magic don't exist."
"So it's harder to control because I have to determine the mana amount myself, right?"
"You learn fast. Exactly as you said."
"But my magic can be stronger than anyone else's?"
"Yes, Andre. You have another blessed talent."
My father angrily interrupted:
"This is impossible! You are a VERBLADE! How can you have dual-attached mana and magic spirits!?"
My brother Cadeon said angrily while releasing his aura:
"Calm down first, father. Andre's mana and magic dual-attached spirit doesn't mean he's not a Verblade. His sword spirit talks to him formally as every Verblade's does and respects him from its core."
Then he said angrily with his aura:
"Do you really think about throwing out or killing a small child just because he's dual-attached mana spirit? Especially when you call him the future of Verblade!"
My father suppressed my brother's aura:
"Since when do you dare interfere with my decisions, Cadeon! Get out of my sight!"
He threw my brother out of the Verblade house with a single hand movement. That's when I understood why it's called a massacre. His being a demigod was probably true.
My father walked toward me without suppressing his aura. The surrounding aura was enough to suffocate me, so either I was resistant to aura, or my father was deliberately not directing his aura at me.
The cage started melting before fully closing. My father's aura was very dominant. Even the steward was struggling. My sister was holding her ground with armor, and my brother still stood firm. Probably, he had trained so much with my father that his aura didn't affect him.
What was really strange was that my father's aura didn't pressure me. Either I was resistant to aura or my father was consciously avoiding it.
The cage melted, and my father came out. My sister was on the left, my brother on the right, and my father was in the middle.
They all drew their swords and activated their auras, and of course, my father's aura was dominant.
My siblings were able to hold him with a combined attack, but he kept getting closer to me.
Eventually, only 20 steps separated us. I realized I couldn't escape.
I shouted:
"Stop! Let's talk!"
My brother and sister shouted in unison:
"Andre! Run!"
My father responded to my shout:
"There is no use running, son. Even if I die, I will find you."
"I already know that, father. If you want to kill me, don't hold back. But if not, let's sit and talk. Also, stop fighting my brother and sister."
"You talk too much, kid. But you are not a Verblade!"
Suddenly, he swung his huge sword at me. I pulled the mana-absorbing sword Cadeon gave me and instinctively infused it with mana. Thanks to the mana I infused, I blocked my father's sword.
Everyone looked at me in shock, especially my father, who dropped his sword and sank to his knees, looking down.
"Did I... try to kill my own son?"
Cadeon angrily said:
"I've never seen a more stupid father! If you're going to destroy your own family, how can you call yourself family head?"
Everyone was stunned by those words. Then my mother stepped forward and slapped my brother.
"That's enough, Cadeon! How can you talk to your father like that! Leave Andre in his room and go to your own immediately!"
My sister approved my mother and told my brother to leave.
My brother took me inside the house to my room, sat on a chair, and started a conversation:
"Are you scared, Andre?"
"Yes, very much. Why did my father want to kill me?"
"It's time to tell you. The Verblade curse."
"Verblade curse? What is that?"
"Sometimes, the Verblade family heads lose their minds, get angry at everything they see, and try to kill. Luckily, it only happens to family heads. Don't worry, Andre. I'll always be here as a brother you can lean on."
"Promise?"
"Verblade's word."
"What will happen to my father?"
"My sister and mother will calm him down."
"I see... So what's my next training?"
"I wanted to talk about that too, Andre. Your training will be shortened by one year. We need to change our plan because you're dual-attached. You have 7 years left until your training ends. For the first 2 years, you'll learn how dual-attached spirits control mana; then 2 years for aura; and 3 years for Verblade family techniques. Actually, magic training isn't in the Verblade family, but I taught you one spell. If you want to learn more, come to me, and I'll tell you where to go."
"I'm actually glad my training is shorter; it'll end one week after my 11th birthday. But why is magic forbidden in the Verblade family?"
"That's related to Verblade history. I'll tell you about it later."