Tengen stepped inside the dojo. Witnessing Minosashi in deep meditation, he silently sat in the corner. The sound of crickets in the night and the faint rays of moonlight filled the silent space.

  Tengen’s eyes glanced over Minosashi’s body—motionless, chest unwavering, eyes closed as if his soul had been cut off from this realm.

  “So this… is called an empty mind…” Tengen murmured, so softly the words were lost in the wind.

  Succeed, my apprentice… For I’m sure you can do it…

  He smiled and sat on his knees, meditating alongside Minosashi.

  ---

  “Where… am I?” Minosashi whispered as he stepped onto the black sea. The water echoed with each footfall.

  “I’m not drowning? I guess not… And where is this place?”

  He looked around, observing the dark realm. Only the small white ripples from his steps broke the emptiness.

  "is this... The empty mind?"

  Minosashi walked deeper into the sea. Memories of old times—his birth, his mother’s younger smile—appeared before his eyes and faded as he walked passed them.

  The last memory was his mother’s final cries when he left.

  Minosashi fell to his knees, fists clenched at his sides.

  I can’t get lost in my memories… Remember, Mino. Empty mind. Focus on your path. Mom told me to become the greatest. She... Is waiting for my return...

  A single tear traced down his cheek and jaw, falling into the empty sea. Its echo faded the memory in an instant. A thin white line appeared before him, connecting the air to the water and diving deep below.

  “Should I… touch it?” He stretched out his hand. His palm passed through the line. Tracing it with his fingers, he slowly reached for his blade.

  “I suppose… this is the end…”

  ---

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Tengen’s eyes flew wide open. His muscles tensed as he sensed Minosashi’s movement—a raised hand, slowly moving toward the hilt of his blade.

  “Mino…” That was the only word Tengen managed to whisper before the strike.

  Wind blew outside with immense force. Candlelights flickered wildly inside the dojo. The crickets suddenly fell silent, as if the world were holding its breath.

  Tengen locked his gaze on Minosashi’s hand.

  Click.

  Minosashi’s hand finally touched the hilt. A single sound, feeling heavier than any battle roar in that moment.

  Tengen’s body shivered for a heartbeat. Then, the blade was unsheathed and had already completed an upward slash.

  “When… did he…”

  Minosashi’s eyes slowly opened, filled with effort. He silently watched the wall in front of him. Tengen’s eyes followed his to the shelves and the adjoining wall.

  A perfect cut ran through the dojo wall and shelves from the very ground to the ceiling. For a second, there was no cut within the path. Then, everything was split in two. Falling to the ground. Small wooden chips rained down from the ceiling with soft thuds. No trace of an actual blade cutting the woods. Only the absence that drained existence from within in size of the edge of a blade.

  The wind stopped. The candle flames steadied. The crickets began to sing again.

  Minosashi glanced at Tengen. A wide, bright smile broke across his face.

  “Master… I…”

  “Mino!” Tengen rushed forward and hugged him tightly, tears falling freely from his eyes.

  “You did it… You actually did it, Mino…!”

  Minosashi wrapped his arms around him, holding on as though Tengen were the only anchor in the storm.

  “Thank you… Master…” Minosashi whispered before exhaustion taking over his body. Falling asleep in Tengen's arms.

  ---

  Mount Takao, Dojo of Bōgu no Ken, 18th of December 2023

  Birds sang in the forest as Minosashi packed fruit and food into a cloth.

  “Preparing to leave, are we?” Tengen asked softly.

  “Yes, Master. It’s time to return to the monster world.” Minosashi smiled as he spoke, finishing the packing with a swift knot at the top of a thick stick.

  “It was a pleasure to be here, Master.” He bowed before Tengen. “I’m forever in your debt.”

  Tengen smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Never say that, Minosashi. Your patience and training were your own. I was only an anchor who showed you the way.”

  “That doesn’t change anything, Master. Take care of the dojo while I’m gone.” Minosashi walked down the mountain path, his figure slowly disappearing into the distance.

  “May your path guide every swordsman in the ages to come, my son,” Tengen whispered before turning back to the dojo.

  Minosashi was once again on the path of the blade. But this time, he was not alone—he carried his mother’s bracelet, an anchor within the chaos of a cruel world.