Nameless Identity

  As Blade struggled to stand up, he pondered everything said so far. Yet no matter how he turned it, he was left with too little. Minimal information, few answers. He had no true knowledge about anything.

  ?It was infuriating being beaten around by practically everyone he met. Having to be saved on multiple occasions, then being told to run away because of his own lack of strength. Afterwards, he was humiliated just trying to get his friends back.

  ?What was infuriating was the repeated reminder of his weakness. It was not that being defeated bothered him. As long as he was alive he could continue to try. The true problem was that the two people who had beaten him the worst, Raiden and now this woman, refused to elaborate about anything. They just appeared, beat him, and disappeared.

  ?And now he was fighting with his life on the line against someone who was treating him as a pathetic child, and asking questions like why someone would name their attacks.

  ?“No. I don't know why anybody would want to name their attacks. Isn't that just telling your opponent what you're going to do?”

  ?“Why? It seems I underestimated your idiocy.”

  ?She said, now suddenly laughing, though no humor was heard behind it. His answer had obviously irritated her, as in what could only be explained as a flash to Blade, she was suddenly in front of him, with her arm pierced through his chest.

  ?Blade could barely register the movement, the speed, the power. Everything about it was leagues above anything he could think. Indra, Iris, not even Raiden, had speed of this level.

  ?The position had been non-lethal, though the throw afterwards to get him off her didn't help his situation. As he hit the ground, millions of questions flew in his head, but he ignored them all.

  ?Blade clutched at the hole, trying to stop the bleeding. Even if the hole had been non-lethal, the continued bleeding would still cause him to die if it was not treated.

  ?“Why—”

  ?Yet he couldn't finish as she suddenly grabbed him by his leg, lifting him up before tossing him in the air.

  ?Then for some reason, she took a strand of hair and wrapped it around a rock she picked up. When he wanted to ask why, it was quickly answered as she threw it through his heart, the mora piercing through his defences.

  ?His body and mind did not even recognize what had happened as he fell.

  ?Yet as he landed, he wasn't dead, in fact, his body felt better than ever. He rose slowly, wanting to ask why when his thigh was suddenly pierced by his sword, as he saw her holding it.

  ?“You let go of your sword. You're a shame to all swordsmen. Another thing to add to your list of why you are pathetic.”

  ?“What the hell did you do? Just tell me what you want.”

  ?At this point, Blade began getting tired, not physically, but mentally. He was still mentally recovering from Raiden, and this was the exact opposite of what he needed.

  ?“I’m just pointing out your flaws, but I guess that’s something only you get to do.”

  ?She said before dragging it through his thigh. Pain exploded from it, yet her words angered him more, as he powered through, creating a sword and slashing at her only for her to jump back and throw the sword into his other thigh.

  ?Blade took it out and used it to hold himself up. He was hurting. He had been healed only for more pain to be inflicted on him. Yet he didn't understand why.

  ?Mentally tired, physically hurt. It was piling up on him. He did not know anymore. Did he want to give up? Did he want to continue? Could he just give up? Let himself lose?

  ?Blade’s mind was plagued with self-deprecating thoughts, all becoming more evident with the woman's continued insults. The thing that first cleared his mind was when she began talking.

  ?“You asked why someone would ever name an attack before, right?”

  ?“Yeah, why announce to your opponent what you would do? But why tell me now?”

  ?“To trick them and mess them up. If you knew what your opponent would do, would you not plan to dodge what you were expecting? Yet not all names follow that trend, even you must have realized that.”

  ?She was right, and he knew it. Many of the attacks he had heard up to now had practically given him a general idea of what the attack would do. Yet he didn't want to verbally agree with her on anything after everything she had done, so he simply stayed quiet as she continued.

  ?“You see, the reason we name our moves is because they can only bring out a max of about 20% of their max power without a name.”

  ?“What?”

  ?Blade was confused and surprised. What did she mean? A move couldn't be fully used without a name? Did a name truly have such importance that without it, a move was left with only a fifth of its strength?

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  ?“Why do babies and animals get names, do you think? It's to separate them, of course. To prove their uniqueness, but most importantly, to impart them their identity. It's the same with moves, especially those made by mora. By giving them a name, you impart them a sort of identity and uniqueness that lets them use their full potential. It's the same for all things, either dead or alive. Names hold power, yet the ones who give them are often clueless about it.”

  ?So this was the reason they named their serious attacks, yet why was she telling him this?

  ?“You know, there is not a lot of difference between an origin and a move made of mora.”

  ?“What do you mean? Shouldn't there be plenty of differences?”

  ?Those words were the ones that had caught his interest the most. There was no way an origin and a move made by mora could be similar, though the more he heard, the less sure he became.

  ?“An origin is simply an Absolute Authority given identity and then form. If the origin were to lose their personality, they would lose who they are and therefore become a tool. An object, and I mean that literally. They would revert to an item that reflects their authority.”

  ?This shocked Blade as his eyes widened. Meaning if Iris or Indra lost who they were, they would become items?

  ?“Why are you telling me this? How do you even know this? What's that even supposed to mean?”

  ?“Don't worry, it's not that simple. Something like a traumatic experience or pain isn't enough to remove an origin's personality.”

  ?“What is that supposed to mean?”

  ?“Why should I tell someone like you?”

  ?She responded, hitting him as he was sent away.

  ?“Someone as pathetic as you who doesn't understand the reason for names. Someone as worthless as you who doesn't understand the importance of names. Yet you hold one yourself. Maybe if you weren't such a failure, maybe then your dreams wouldn't be so irritating.”

  ?She said, knocking him away, again and again. Yet he stood back up each time.

  ?“Have you understood how meaningless you are? Understand the betterment your death would bring.”

  ?Blade could only take it, because deep down he knew she was not wrong. Beaten, yet not defeated.

  ?“I can see all your points… no, it's more like I understand each one. You're right. If I die, maybe it all would be better.”

  ?He said, struggling to get up.

  ?“But I won’t. I refuse. I refuse going down to someone like you.”

  ?“To someone like me? And what's that supposed to mean?”

  ?“Are you proud of yourself then? Breaking me down? Kicking me while I'm already in the mud? Tell me, are you proud!”

  ?“Get to the point.”

  ?Blade breathed heavily, yet his determination grew by the second.

  ?“I won't say something cliché like 'you don't know me' or just sit and watch. So I’ll simply say this. Shut up.”

  ?“What did you say?”

  ?The woman asked, obviously daring him to say it again, yet he only gained a tired smile on his face.

  ?“What? Can't handle having your dream of crushing me crumble in front of you? Well, listen up, I couldn't care less.”

  ?“Is this some sort of last ditch effort to make me kill you faster?”

  ?“No, this is an apology. Both to you, and to the world. You're right, I am pathetic. Seeing myself as the center of the world is wrong, but it’s also human.”

  ?Blade said before continuing, lower this time.

  ?“I'm worthless, not knowing the importance of a name and casting it away.”

  ?“It is far too late for an apology.”

  ?She replied, though she was shut up by his next words.

  ?“These are my dreams, my stupid ideals, and I won't accept you ruining them. I know it is childish, that it's unreasonable to save everyone, that no matter my strength, saving everyone is impossible… yet I reject the future where I can’t, with all my heart.”

  ?He faced her, with newfound determination and realization.

  ?“If an identity means nothing without a name, then a name is nothing without ideals. I'll continue down my path, no matter how damned I'll be. I will protect everyone, and if the world punishes me for it, then so be it.”

  ?Blade said, before continuing.

  ?“I’m not a hero, and I don’t feel like a villain. I don’t even know what my tale should be, but I know it's mine. And if you or anyone else opposes it I’ll continue. In spite or perseverance. I’ll continue fighting, until everyone is saved.”

  ?The silence after his words rang heavily. No actions were taken, and the woman made no move to try and attack, having lost the will to fight by his words.

  ?“Why do you say all this now? What use does that bring?”

  ?“Because I want to know who you are. Tell me your name.”

  ?She laughed. A bitter laugh filled with both hate and self-deprecation.

  ?“I have tried. Countless times I have tried, calling you, reaching you. For my voice… for my name to reach you. Yet each time I have been ignored. And now I lay broken, in your arms.”

  ?Blade listened, before choosing his words lightly.

  ?“When you said you hated me, what were you referring to?”

  ?“What I hated about you the most? Right now, I'm not sure… maybe I'm just scared you will break me.”

  ?Blade listened to her. The calm in her voice contradicted the words she spoke, yet he answered in the same tone.

  ?“I won’t break you, not if I don't have to. Plus, I can't really break you anymore, can I?”

  ?He said, showing his sword.

  ?“So you realized? When?”

  ?She asked calmly, giving away no true curiosity, yet Blade answered all the same.

  ?“Your speech about names and their importance. You also seemed to be able to use mora and knew a lot about me. Every hit resulted in a cut as if done by a sword, which happens to be the only treasure I can say has been mine since I was a child.”

  ?Holding the two parts of the blade, before saying.

  ?“It has been with me for as long as I remember, and when I think about it… My first true friend. Isn't that right, Severance?”

  ?At her name, her eyes widened, the light returning to her eyes. No, not only her eyes, the world also lit up. A sigh left her though in it she let out something between gratefulness and relief.

  ?”That’s right… I guess this is my loss…”

  ?“It is?”

  ?At his cluelessness, she walked closer, placing a hand on the broken blade..

  ?“I am, and forever will be, your blade. My ideal is protecting, and I will keep it, for as long as I hold my name.”

  The words were precise and a reflection of who she was. A blade that now was whole. A last farewell for someone content.

  ?“Thank you, Severance.”

  Character Card:

  A blade of unknown origin, and the manifestation of the Absolute Authority of weapons, making her the root of all weapons, and what all weapons originated from.

  Name: Severance

  Age: Unknown

  Race: Weapon

  Mora: Purple

  Absolute Authority: Weapons

  Title: None

  A slim woman with dark grey hair, the color of her weapon form, and grey eyes. Her nails are also painted grey. As she is a weapon she can change the form of her body whenever she wishes, and even turn parts of it into weapons.

  She wears a black kimono with grey linings.

  As the original weapon she can take on whatever form of weapon she wishes, but chooses the one that suits her master the most. Therefore she takes the form of a katana with a dark gray blade, white hand guard and black hilt. The hand guard is formed like a circle with intricate patterns in it.