"Let's start with the basics," Nikado was saying as he walked ahead of the twins, leading them across the grassy field. "Combat experience. I'm guessing you two have probably not been in a real fight, so...have you had any experience with weapons?"
"My aunt showed me how to use a sword," Keisuke stated, "and a bit to Daisuke as well, I think. Daisuke? Hey, are you paying attention?"
"It's so blue!" The younger twin pointed up at the sky. "'kado! Why's it so blue?"
"That's the way this world is," he answered, glancing back with a grin. "There are lots of different skies you can see."
"Ours is always dark and full of monsters," Daisuke sighed. "This is much nicer. And those trees, why are they so wispy? They look like they're going to blow over at any moment!"
"Don't worry, they're much stronger than they look," Nikado laughed. "So have you had any experience with a sword?"
He puffed up. "My aunt taught me everything she knows."
"When you'd pay attention," Keisuke pointed out with a scolding shake of his finger, but his tone didn't hold any rancor.
Nikado nodded, looking back ahead. "Your world has magic, right? Can you tell me a bit about that?"
Keisuke drew himself up, pleased to show off his knowledge, even if he still didn't trust Nikado that much. "We have two kinds of magic in our world. One is bloodline magic. There's a lot of different types of magic that are passed down from parents to children. The other is relationship magic. Bonds between certain people can produce magic. For example, a married couple can perform protection magic."
"And as twins, you have a form of that magic too, don't you?"
Keisuke nodded. "We have barrier magic. Although I'm not really sure what barriers have to do with being twins. Marriage and protection magic makes sense. You want to protect the one you love."
Nikado smiled at that, and for a moment, Keisuke thought he saw a hint of sadness in the older man's eyes. "Yes, you do. Twins are very lucky people, you know. They share an incredibly tight bond. With power behind it, it can become a bond so powerful that it rejects the outside world. That's what a barrier is."
"Wow, you're pretty smart, 'kado," Daisuke said, tucking his hands behind his head.
"Really? I don't think that's the case," he laughed. "I have to study very hard to keep these sort of things in my fleeting memory. So, we already know that you two have one type of magic. Do you have a bloodline magic as well?"
"Well, that's the thing," Keisuke said slowly, "and it's something I've wondered about. We're twins, but we have different bloodline magics. I have noble magic, but Daisuke has bloodmagic, like our aunt."
"Most likely both of your parents had different bloodlines of magic themselves," Nikado said with a nod.
"I can assume that, but we're twins. Shouldn't we have the same blood?"
He tugged at his ponytail, thinking about it. "Well, in the case of the option of multiple bloodlines, I imagine it might be a result of personality rather than strictly blood. That's just my guess, though. At any rate, we'll have to start practicing with that magic. We'll focus on the barriers."
"Why the barriers?" Daisuke wondered.
"Because I doubt there's any force in the world that you can bring back that can repair the barrier around your world separating yourselves from the monsters in your sky. What you do have is the power to create a new barrier in its place."
Keisuke stared as he realized what Nikado was implying. "You want us to create a new barrier around our entire world?"
He turned around, walking backwards as he nodded. "That's exactly what I want you to do. And we'll start practicing now."
"But we've never even tried that sort of thing," Daisuke protested.
"You're twins, aren't you? It's in your very being." Nikado stopped walking, and the twins stopped with him, both watching the older man. "Okay, turn and face each other and I'll tell you what to do."
Nervously, Keisuke turned toward his brother, trying not to let his anxiety show. "Now take each other's hands and press them against each other," Nikado instructed. "That' your contact through which your energy should flow. I want the two of you to become one person. A person who rejects all outside forces. A person with such a powerful sense of self that they can do that. Do you understand? You must know yourself and each other, in order to succeed at this."
That wouldn't be a problem, right? Keisuke had been raised with his brother since birth, it was impossible for him not to know anything about his twin. He looked into his brother's eyes, steadying himself. "Are you ready?" he asked in a low voice.
"I'm gonna try," the other twin said, a bit of a shake in his voice.
"Don't try," Nikado instructed. "Just do it."
Keisuke nodded, watching his brother's eyes. As he did so, he concentrated on his hands, trying to build up energy in them like in the spells his mother had taught him. He could feel it building....
With a cry, Daisuke stumbled back, falling on his rear. "Daisuke?!" Keisuke yelped, reaching down to give his brother a hand. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"I'm okay," he reassured.
"You're not pushing hard enough," Nikado instructed. "There needs to be equal pressure between you. Sense what the other is doing. Feel it. You two can do it."
Daisuke nodded, pressing his hands against his brother's again. This time, Keisuke tried not to push as hard, trying to sense what his brother was doing, and this time, it was he that fell on his rear. "I'm sorry!" Daisuke said with a flail of his arms.
Nikado let out a little sigh through his nose. "We'll work on this more when we stop again. Let's keep going. We need to make it into the woods by nightfall if we're going to get to where we're going in a decent amount of time."
"Where are we going, anyway?" Daisuke wanted to know.
"A weaponsmith," their guide explained. "He lives deep in the mountains. He works with very powerful weapons...ones suited for great deeds."
"Why didn't we just teleport to him?" Keisuke wondered.
Nikado laughed. "Because that would be too easy, wouldn't it? Plus we wouldn't get all this quality time together." Expression turning a bit more serious, he continued, "Weapons like that can be a danger in the wrong hands. It's forbidden to teleport directly to him. No, we're going to enter the proper way, through the woods. It's for everyone's protection."
"What's this guy like?" Daisuke wanted to know.
"Well...I haven't seen him in quite a few years, to be honest," Nikado said. "Haven't had the need to, for what that's worth. He's a kind person. He has a daughter, she's terribly cute."
"Have you been to a lot of worlds, 'kado?" Daisuke wanted to know.
"Yes, a lot. Your journey will probably consist of quite a few yourselves," Nikado said with a nod. "This will take some time."
"Do we have that sort of time?" Keisuke asked with a frown.
"I don't know. We'll take as much time as we can," the older man answered seriously, "but it's hard to say for sure if any amount of teaching could prepare you. We'll just have to do our best."
The day's walk had led them up into the mountains, into the swaying, blue trees, the forest floor covered with a mat of feathery leaves and bare patches of dirt. Nikado was perched on a large rock, watching with a frown as the twins attempted to make a barrier. "Focus on each other! Project your sense of self and bring it to the other and become the same!" he instructed, scowling as he watched Daisuke get knocked over again from their uneven forces. "Get up and try it again."
"Are you really sure we can do this, 'kado?" Daisuke asked as he pulled himself up.
"What are you talking about? This is your world we're talking about," Nikado told him. "It's your family and friends, your futures at stake. If not you, then who? There isn't anyone in the universe that can do what you need to do. Now try it again."
Subsequent tries proved equally ineffective, and as the sun finally set, Nikado called a halt, starting up a small fire with some odd device he produced from somewhere. "I think you two are too focused on yourselves," he observed as he offered them some food. "Do you have a link?"
"A link?" Keisuke echoed.
"I'll take that as a no. We'll lay off those exercises for a while," Nikado sighed, "it can't be avoided. You two need to learn more about each other first. We'll start on your bloodline magics. Admittedly my knowledge of noble magic isn't that strong, but it'll have to do. We'll start you practicing on what you already know tomorrow."
"Are you mad at us?" Daisuke wanted to know, munching on the food.
"Why would I be mad at you?"
"Because we couldn't do it."
"That isn't a reason to be mad," Nikado said with a shake of his head. "Worried, perhaps. Concerned. We don't know how much time we have, or even what we're going to need for sure."
"Where will we go after we get weapons?" Keisuke asked, resting his chin in his hands.
"Don't know. That'll be up to my boss. Don't worry, I'll know when it's time to depart," he said, tapping his forearm. "Trust in me, and the Nexus. Things will happen that are meant to happen, as long as you do your best. Just succeed at what you're given and let someone else manuver the tasks to you."
"Does that mean there's some sort of destiny?" Daisuke asked. "Like everything's fated?"
"Yes and no. I've certainly seen enough from experience to know that there's some manipulation of things going on. Everything happens for a reason. But that doesn't mean you can't fail if you don't try. Worlds have been lost that should not have been lost, when a hero fails."
Keisuke tried not to shiver. "I know it must seem like a lot of pressure," Nikado said in a gentler tone, "but you wouldn't have been chosen if there wasn't a good chance that you could do it. Don't worry. We'll definitely get your barriers working before you have to fight. Now, you two should try and get some rest. You've been working hard, and we're going to be moving again as soon as the sun rises."
"Should someone keep watch?" Keisuke asked with a frown, looking around. "What if there's monsters?"
"There aren't monsters in this world, Keisuke," Nikado reassured. "I don't think there are any large animals that will bother us, either. All the same, I'll keep watch for a while for you, okay?"
He sighed, but laid down, taking the blanket Nikado offered him. "Wake me when you get tired."
"All right, I will," he promised. "Sleep well, boys."
"'kado, you said there were no monsters in this forest, right?"
"Yes, that's right," Nikado said, looking around to make sure they were going the right direction. "Why?"
"No large animals either, right?"
"What are you getting at?" the guide asked with a frown. "Is something the matter?"
"I think there's something up ahead," the younger twin said, pointing. "I hear weird sounds."
"All right, stay back behind the tree," Nikado warned, slipping over to one ahead. Keisuke followed with a little less stealth, peering around underneath the taller man.
Ahead was a clearing ringed by a loose circle of tree trunksand in the center a solitary figure stood, facing their direction. It was unclear if he was actually looking at them, for he was covered from head to toe in a suit of dark armor, a drawn sword in his hand. "Is someone supposed to be here?" Keisuke questioned in a whisper.
"No. I don't like this," the older man muttered. "I'm going to go find out who that is. You stay here with your brother and let me handle this." Nikado stepped out from behind the tree as Daisuke joined his brother.
The figure stayed perfectly still as Nikado approached. "Hello," he greeted, raising one hand. "Nice day, isn't it? You from around here?"
The figure didn't respond. "We're just passing through," Nikado said with a nod. "so don't mind--"
As he got close, the armored person raised his sword, still not saying a word. "I see," Nikado said quietly, eyeing the sword. "I'm sorry, but we must pass."
The sword swung around to point at him, and he leapt, landing behind the enemy. "He's fast!" Daisuke gasped in surprise as Nikado grappled for the sword.
"Is he crazy?" Keisuke muttered to himself as the armored person twisted away, flicking the sword out in a swing that came close to the man's head. Nikado moved back a few paces, raising his hands in a prepared stance. "He's going up barehanded against someone with a sword."
"I'm sure he wouldn't do it if he couldn't handle himself," Daisuke pointed out.
The armored person pressed against the guide aggressively, swinging and thrusting in quick, controlled bursts. They were surprisingly fast for someone in armor, but Nikado was managing to keep pace, dodging around the blows. His sharp eyes kept on the opponent, waiting for the best opportunity to strike a decisive blow.
A moment of weakness seemed to come, and he struck forward, aiming a kick at the person's sword hand. Even as the sword went flying, the armored person didn't seem to care, pushing against Nikado and throwing him to the ground. Using the weight of his armor to keep him down, the figure pressed a hand against the man's throat, squeezing.
"'kado!" Heedless of the danger, Daisuke jumped out from his hiding spot, ignoring the protest of his brother as he seized the fallen sword. "You leave him alone!"
The armored figure moved to get back, but it was difficult to get up from his position in the heavy armor, and the sword impacted directly on the helmet. The reverberations from metal striking metal went up Daisuke's arms, forcing him to drop the sword as the helmet neatly split in two, Nikado pushing his attacker away.
Underneath the helmet was not the man they had expected, but a young woman, sea-green eyes wide with shock as she fell back, a wave of lavendar hair spilling around her. "A girl?" Keisuke echoed in surprise as he joined his brother.
"Emi?" Nikado questioned, getting to his feet. "Is that you?"
She pushed herself up partway, looking up at him through the pale purple strands. "Sir Nikado," she said quietly.
"Are you all right? What was that just now?" he asked, offering her a hand up. "Tell me what happened."
She accepted his hand, but did not answer right away, turning toward Daisuke and walking toward him. Nikado made no move to stop her, but Daisuke stepped back. "Don't come near, I don't wanna--"
Wordlessly, she kneeled in front of him, taking his hand in her armored ones and pressing it to her forehead. "My lord, I owe my life to you. From now on, I am your humble servant."
The boy just stared for a moment, then waved his free hand in a panic. "Wh-wha--? What are you--You were just--What's going on?"
"I'd like to know that as well," Nikado agreed, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Let's take a short rest before we proceed on to the weaponsmith." He noticed a quick shadow of some emotion flash across her face.
"If I may have my lord's name?" she questioned, keeping her eyes lowered.
"I'm not a--" He caught Nikado's eyes, and the man shook his head. "I-I'm Daisuke. And this is my brother, Keisuke."
"Nice to meet you," he said, expression still a little unsure.
"Lord Daisuke," she repeated. "My name is Emi, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
"What's going on here," the boy whimpered. "I don't think I understand, everything happened too fast."
Nikado produced some snacks and tea from his bag, sitting the twins down with some before offering Emi a cup. "Here you are. Why don't you tell me what happened."
"I...." She sighed, holding the cup in her hands without taking a drink. "If you're going to the weaponsmith, you may as well turn around and go back the way you came. He will not see anyone, anymore."
"Why is that?" Nikado asked in a gentle voice, placing a hand on her back.
"I don't know." She seemed to steady herself, tightening her hands on the cup as she took in a breath. "My father betrayed me, Sir Nikado. He is the one that placed that cursed armor on me and sent me to guard this place."
"Your father did that?" Daisuke blurted out, shock in his face. "That's horrible!"
"Did he say anything to you?" Nikado asked Emi.
She shook her head. "No, nothing. It happened very suddenly, I apologize."
"How about before, was he acting oddly?"
"Only that he'd been in his shop more and more. He was working very hard, but he seemed so determined, I didn't want to interrupt," she sighed.
The guide sat back, thinking for a moment. "I think we do need to go see him. Setting aside our current need, I don't have a good feeling about this. I think something might have happened to him."
"I will go with what Lord Daisuke decides," she said with a nod.
"Huh?" The boy sighed. "Uh, if 'kado thinks it's a good idea, I guess we should go."
Nikado nodded, standing up. "It's not that far a walk from here. Let's go ahead and get started, if you lot are ready."
"By the way, you really don't have to call me 'Lord Daisuke'," he told the older woman as he got up. "It's really weird."
"But you are the one who saved me," she pointed out. "It's only natural to address a lord by his title."
"B-but I'm not a lord!"
"Emi's terribly stubborn, I doubt you'll have much luck with her," Nikado laughed as he led the way. "I gave up on the 'sir' years ago."
"Sir Nikado!!"
The path through the forest eventually opened up as the mountainside sloped back down, and soon a small house became visible, set in the hillside. Nikado glanced over at Emi, the girl's face stony as she rested a hand on her sword. "There's no fire," she observed softly.
"Maybe he isn't home?" Keisuke suggested.
"Perhaps, but where would he go? We had all we needed around the house. That house has never been without a fire going," Emi told him.
"I'll go in first," Nikado said. "I'll make sure it's safe."
Emi nodded, taking a protective position beside Daisuke. Keeping his footsteps soft, Nikado walked around the edge of the cliff the house was set into, peering sidelong into a window. Jumping down and landing in a crouch, he then moved around the house, grasping the front doorknob and trying it. It came open.
Letting his eyes adjust to the darkness, Nikado could tell that something was wrong right away. The air in the place was fetid and stifling, causing him to put a sleeve to his face. The source of the smell immediately became obvious, and he sighed to himself before reaching down to touch the body. Pain shot into his fingers as he made contact, causing him to jerk back. "As I thought," he muttered to himself, finding a blanket in a nearby room and using that to cover the still form. Stepping outside, he called, "It's safe to come in."
"Waugh!" Daisuke yelped as he stepped inside. "What's that smell?" Keisuke frowned, and Nikado suspected the more observant brother didn't have to ask.
"I'm sorry," was all he said to Emi.
"It's...what I expected," she said quietly. "You wanted to see the weapons, right? They're this way."
"We need to prepare a proper burial," Nikado told her. "The weapons can wait. You three go find a good place and dig a hole. I'll look around here for something to bury him in."
Twilight had begun when the hole was finally finished. Nikado dragged the box he had found outside, the pitiful remains of the weaponsmith inside, and lowered it into the shallow hole with the help of the others. "May your soul find a better future," Nikado said solemnly. "Emi?"
"I do not have anything to add," she said with a shake of her head. "Let's replace the dirt."
Nikado nodded, grabbing a shovel, and while the burying went much faster than the digging, the stars had already come out by the time they finished. "'kado, what are those?" Daisuke asked, pointing upwards at the brilliant specks of light across the sky."
"Those are stars, Daisuke," Nikado answered, leaning against the shovel as he looked up.
"What are stars?"
"Well, I don't know for sure. Every place I go has a different answer. Some say they're nothing more than fires burning very far away. Some say they're gateways to the other worlds. Some say they're lit insects that escaped into the sky, or even the spirits of our ancestors watching."
"Do you suppose there'll be stars in our sky, once the monsters go away?"
"Yes. I'm sure there will be." Nikado tossed the shovel over to Keisuke, who caught it one-handed. "We'll finish up here, you two go ahead and get clean and find a place to sleep. The place should smell fine by now. We'll finish up here."
"'kay!" Daisuke picked up the other shovels, following his older brother into the house.
"He is a kind boy," Emi said to Nikado softly as she watched them enter the house. "Who are they, Sir Nikado?"
"They're my latest students," he answered in an equal volume, leaning against a nearby tree as he gazed at the house.
"So there is something they need to save, then? Is that why you came here?"
"From what I understand, their world is in a grave peril," the older man answered seriously, folding his arms. "Their need is greater than most I've seen, if not all. This is going to be a terrible journey. I hope...that I will not have to destroy that smile."
"I will do what I can to protect it," Emi said, touching a hand to the sword at her side. "Sir Nikado...let me journey with you. I will do what I can for Lord Daisuke. I am not a weaponsmith like my father; I have no reason to stay here."
"I was going to suggest you do that, actually," Nikado told her. "I think you need to stay with them, and return with them to their home world. For your own sake as much as theirs."
"My sake? Why do you say that?"
"Call it a hunch," he said, looking up at the stars. "There isn't much that I would call a coincidence anymore. That we came here at this time, that has a meaning behind it. I think part of that meaning is that you should come with us. We'll look for weapons in the morning, but should I give you a moment with your father now?"
"It isn't necessary," she said firmly, turning toward the house.
"Emi," his voice made her stop, "do you understand what happened to your father?"
"No. All I understand is that I was no longer worthy of his love. Is that what you were going to tell me?"
"No. I think we may have become a little arrogant," the man sighed, looking down at the grave. "He was a much greater man than me, to do this for so long. But all that terrible energy that he distilled...it must have had an effect on his body and mind. Evil is what killed him, Emi. I knew it when I touched him." He rubbed his fingers together in recollection. "All the same, I don't think you ever lost his love. I remember him telling me about when he first found you as a child, and how happy it made him. I don't think he did what he did to you to hurt you, Emi. I believe he wanted to send you away, so that you would not be destroyed by the dangerous power that was building up inside him. It...may have been the last act of love he was able to perform."
Emi looked back at him, her expressive green eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Father," she moaned, putting her hands to her face. "Even so, I would have wanted to be with you."
Nikado stepped forward, silently putting his arms around her, letting her cry onto his shoulder as he rubbed her back. It could have been a lie, he reflected to himself. With the madness caused by a corrupted soul, the weaponsmith could have cursed his own daughter merely to see her pain. But in this case, the lie was what Emi needed so desperately at the moment. And even then he couldn't be certain; the weapon he had found with the body implied the possibility of a self-inflicted death, and with that, the possibility of enough self-awareness to end his own life before he caused more harm. "He would have never allowed that, Emi. It is the duty of a parent to guard the future generation. Come on. Let's go inside and check on the boys."
When they got inside, they found the pair curled up on a couch together, having not even bothered to clean themselves off. "We really wore them out, apparently," Nikado chuckled. "You go ahead and get some rest. I'll set up a watch."
She shook her head. "I am fine; it is you that should rest."
He laughed at that. "What, do you think you'll have trouble sleeping?" He fixed her with a gaze, touching a hand to her forehead and watching as she flinched away from the touch. "Or is it that you *can't* sleep?"
"So you could tell?" she asked quietly.
"Only because I know you. I won't tell them, if you don't want me to," he promised. "It was something your father did, wasn't it?"
She managed a jerky nod. "I never get tired anymore, and I can't eat. I just feel cold, and I can't even hear my own heart beating. Sir Nikado, am I...?"
"Not at all," he reassured. "It's just a stasis spell. It can be removed." Although not easily, and certainly not cheaply. What sort of worlds would have access to abilities like that? Not that I really get much say in the matter, he reflected. "Here, come sit down with me, and we'll wait for the dawn together."
She shook her head. "You should sleep, Sir Nikado."
"It's not necessary. Not for someone like me," he reassured.
Emi looked up at him, eyes holding a bit of surprise, as well as curiousity. "Sir Nikado, are you...like me?"
He shook his head. "Not in the way you're thinking. I'm asleep all the time. I'm also awake all the time. That seems pretty silly, doesn't it?"
She didn't answer, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Sir Nikado...I am glad you came."
The smell of some sort of food was filling the air, and it was enough to force Keisuke up from his sleeping position, blinking as he looked around. "Hi, boys," Nikado greeted. "Come get breakfast. Emi is already preparing the weapons rooms for you two. After you eat, we're going to find your weapons and then practice with them until it's time to go."
"Go where?"
"Our next destination is Talis. I just don't know when we'll be leaving," Nikado said, placing a plate on the table before yelling into the other room. "Oi, Daisuke! Get your lazy butt up or you don't get any of this delicious breakfast~"
"I didn't know you cooked," Keisuke said slowly as he began to eat.
"Oh, I'm a lousy cook. Emi made this," Nikado explained, "I just did the dishes. We figured we may as well use up the supplies while we're here. They'll probably seal off this place after we're done, so I imagine it isn't going to be long."
"They?"
"Aye, whoever my boss elects to send. There are a lot of weapons here that can make or break the fates of worlds," Nikado said with a nod. "Can't just leave them unattended."
"So big sis Emi is coming with us?" Daisuke asked as he entered the room. "Wow, that looks good?"
"Thank you," Emi spoke up as she entered behind him, brushing off her hands. "And yes, I am, Lord Daisuke. I'm no weaponsmith myself, just a swordswoman. I'd have more use with you, and besides, I did swear an oath."
"...you really can just call me Daisuke, you know."
"Yes, Lord Daisuke."
He flailed at that. "Now you're just doing it on purpose!"
She gave him a winning smile as Nikado sipped from a steaming cup. "After the two of you finish eating, Lord Daisuke, you'll come with me. Sir Keisuke will go with Sir Nikado. We will be helping you two pick out the proper weapon."
"How do we know which one is the right one?" Daisuke wanted to know.
"Oh, you'll know," Nikado said with a chuckle.
Keisuke frowned, not terribly sure he liked the idea of being separated from his brother and stuck with Nikado. "All right, let's get this done," he said, standing up. "I'm done."
Nikado accepted the plate, rinsing it off in some water. "I'll be there in just a minute!" Daisuke hollered after his brother as the two left.
"Not so fast, Lord Daisuke!" Emi's voice followed them down the corridor. "You'll choke!"
"Stop calling me 'Lord Daisuke'!"
"Let's try this room first," Nikado said to Keisuke as he opened a door.
Even though he knew the person was a weaponsmith, he was still unprepared for the massive amount of weapons that lay in the room beyond. Rows upon rows were fastened into racks, laid out on tables, and hung on walls. Swiftly, he noticed that they all seemed to be of the same kind. "He made knives?"
"He made everything," Nikado said with a nod. "Anything you can possibly imagine, each with its own special quality. We can try some of the other rooms if you don't find it here, but I have a good feeling about this room."
"And why is that?" Keisuke asked as he began to walk down a row, picking up a few of the knives that caught his eye and hefting them to test the weight.
"Because I think this sort of weapon will be more suited to you than a sword."
"And why is that?" he asked with a scowl. "I was taught the sword. My mother uses a sword. Why would I not be suited for a sword?"
"Trust me, there are reasons."
"We've been over this; I trust you about as far as I can spit."
Nikado raised his eyebrows at the phrase. "I did say you didn't have to trust me personally. But I need you to trust my judgement. I won't be able to teach you otherwise. That is why I'm here."
"And what's your real motivation? Why would you go to the trouble of helping us out?"
"Because it's my job?"
"And what do they pay people that train heroes?" Keisuke asked sarcastically.
"Credit," Nikado replied softly. "For the procurement of a miracle that is necessary to realize my dream."
Keisuke paused at the older man's unusually serious tone, looking over at him. Nikado had his eyes closed, one hand resting on the table, seemingly in thought. "I'm sorry," Keisuke said quietly, turning away. "That was uncalled for on my part."
"Nothing to worry about. I wouldn't have told you if I didn't want to. All who go to the space between worlds have two things in common; a need, and the ability to pay for it."
"Pay?" Keisuke frowned, looking back at the older man. "Nikado, we didn't bring--"
"Not in money. In service," Nikado said. "It's a measure of your karma. The good things you do now will allow you to gain the services of the Nexus. In addition, you also gain the knowledge and experience from doing those good things. The people that help you are also working toward their own goals, and the people you help will find a way to repay their debt. That's how the universe in general works, but in the Nexus it is realized on a more concrete scale."
"I see."
"Ah, and you seem to have found one already," Nikado said, changing the subject.
"Huh?" Feeling an odd weight at his hip, he looked down. A long knife in a dull, almost unnoticeable sheath, had somehow attached itself to his belt. "When did...?"
"These weapons are not the kind you simply make and sell off to the first buyer," Nikado explained. "Each has a future purpose, and only one, to be fulfilled by the one person that is meant for that weapon. That is the one that your future requires, Keisuke."
He pulled it out of the sheath, examining the silver blade in the flickering lantern light of the room. It felt absurdly light in his hands, too light to weild the way one would a sword. "I don't know about this. It feels clumsy in my hands."
"You'll get used to it. Just trust me. I have a fair bit of experience with knives myself, so it won't be a problem running you through the ropes," Nikado reassured.
Keisuke regarded the weapon for a moment longer before resheathing it. "All right. I will trust you on this. Is it just a weapon, then?"
"I'm sure it has some kind of powerful quality," Nikado said. "We'll have time to figure it out. Hey, Emi! Have any luck?"
"We sure did!" she called back as Daisuke skidded into the doorway.
"'kado! Brother! Look!" he shouted, waving a sword above his head. "Emi said I can keep this one! Isn't it super-cool? I gotta give it a name!"
Nikado laughed, then paused as a soft orange glow illuminated his forearm. "Looks like they want us out of here sooner than I thought," he murmured to himself. "Let's grab our things. We're leaving for Talis immediately."
