The commander of the Crimson Bear Tribe returned trailing the robes of disappointment, wrapped in a bitter silence as he stepped over the snow that showed no mercy to his broken spirit. Upon his arrival at the camp, his first question was about his son.
"Is he still confined to his place, or has he departed in rebellion?" the commander asked.
The guard answered in a calm tone, "He showed no resistance, sir. He awaits you in his tent with the dignity of the patient."
Inside the tent, the scene hinted at a deferred storm. Everything was organized with meticulous precision. In the center sat the young man on the ground, his sword cast beside him like a tamed beast, his eyes fixed on the entrance. It was not peace that enveloped him, but rather the stillness of a volcano seething beneath a thin layer of ice.
The son raised his gaze toward his father and spoke in a decisive tone, "I expected this outcome, Father, so do not grieve. The solution was clear from the beginning: to fight the Ice Lord and reclaim my sister's necklace."
The father tried to absorb his anger. "My son, you realize full well who the Ice Lord is... he is our savior."
The son interrupted him sharply, "I know that all too well. I witnessed his miracles long ago. But for how long shall we continue to feed on that memory?"
The father sighed deeply. "We shall remember them as long as we live. And if you wish to remember, then remember the hero you have forgotten... or have you forgotten Rose?"
The son's face darkened, and pain gripped his features. "I have never forgotten her. The blade of her agony is still embedded in my heart. I am trying to be patient, Father, but the time for waiting has run out. I have a right I will reclaim, and there is nothing left to keep me here."
The father took his son's hand in a final attempt. "My son, the Ice Lord has never committed an evil act. If it weren't for him, the sea beast would have devoured us in a moment of treachery. Even you... you were once his loyal and favorite deputy."
The young man replied as he calmly withdrew his hand, "Father... I either return with the necklace, or I do not return at all."
The First Demon's Sword
In the Ice Squad camp, I was still trying to understand what had happened. I asked Oliver curiously, "Why did that tribe attack us?"
Oliver replied with a faint smile, "You are new here, Andrei. You will know everything in due time."
Our conversation was cut short by the appearance of Hyuga—the majestic title by which Commander Rio was known—who eyed me with a scrutinizing, piercing look.
"Welcome," Hyuga said with his icy voice. "So you are the boy sent by Alexander, the Knight Commander? I wouldn't have accepted a new member if it weren't for his recommendation. Now... show us the strength you possess."
I answered hesitantly, "In truth, sir, I cannot use any magical powers, but I possess this sword."
The onlookers' eyes widened in astonishment, and someone whispered, "A sword without magical power?"
I added in a low voice, "This is the First Demon's Sword."
A heavy silence fell over the area, and all eyes turned toward the cloth-wrapped blade with suspicion and doubt.
Hyuga said in a commanding tone, "A warrior without a sword and shield is nothing but a walking corpse. Remove those wrappings and swing it."
I removed the bandages, raised the black blade, and swung it through the air with all my might. But... silence was the only response. No spark, no glow, and not a single drop of that overwhelming demonic power.
Hyuga commented coldly, turning away, "Perhaps its power has faded through the centuries. No matter. Your first mission begins tomorrow; you will accompany Emily to the neighboring village."
Clamor and Innocence
In the village, the meeting was warm with Uncle Takumi—which I had learned was the true name of the merchant who disguised himself as Marco. Takumi thanked me warmly for protecting his daughter, Emily.
Emily sat on the table and said in a mischievous, arrogant tone, "There is one thing you must admit, Andrei... I am the eldest and wisest here!"
I laughed sarcastically, "Eldest in what? In your short stature or your long tongue?"
Before I could finish my sentence, a wooden cooking pot flew through the air and struck me right in the face.
Emily shouted with childish anger, "In the wisdom of my mind, you rice-brain!"
After our usual bickering, we set off toward the mountain to collect the carcasses of the bears I had hunted earlier, hoping to harvest their meat and pelts. While Emily was prattling on endlessly about her commercial brilliance and how she would sell the furs, I suddenly stopped.
I felt a terrifying aura... a suffocating, deadly presence approaching with steady steps.
I shouted, warning her, "Emily, hide now! An extraordinary power is drawing near!"
The Thundering Encounter
From among the frozen trees, a stranger emerged. He cast a quick glance at the bear carcasses, then looked at me with an expression of appreciation tinged with overwhelming arrogance.
"Who are you?" the stranger asked in a calm voice. "You aren't a familiar face. Are you the one who felled these bears? Not bad, boy."
I answered firmly, standing my ground, "I am Andrei, of the Ice Squad."
The stranger smiled a mysterious smile and said, "The Ice Lord has begun choosing his members carefully, then. Forgive me, for I have important business in that village."
I blocked his path and placed my hand on the hilt of my sword. "You shall not pass. That direction leads to our village. What are your intentions?"
The stranger chuckled softly, "I am going to fight the Ice Lord... to reclaim what was stolen from me."
I drew my black sword and said defiantly, "Then you shall not pass except over my dead body."
The stranger sighed with boredom and said, "Boy... you talk too much. I have already passed you."
In the blink of an eye, the man evaporated from in front of me. My mind couldn't comprehend what had happened. His speed defied the laws of logic. Before I could even turn around, he appeared directly behind me. I tried to attack, but the stranger toyed with me like an untouchable shadow, ending the bout with a swift, powerful kick that sent me tumbling violently across the frozen ground.
The stranger stood looking down at me with contempt and said, "You need training. You are far too weak."
At that exact moment, in the deepest depths of my consciousness, the Demon King dwelling within the sword smiled a terrifying smile and whispered with his earth-shattering voice:
"This is truly interesting..."