World's Edge

by Ryan Kirk

  Ryuu was capable of climbing. He and Shigeru had often climbed trees out in the forest, and he had grown up with no fear of heights, but he also knew that his odds of climbing up those walls without assistance were next to zero. As they got closer, Ryuu looked for a path or a landing area, but no matter how hard he squinted he wasn’t able to make out a safe landing or a path to the top. For a moment, he doubted this was the island that was their destination. But when he saw the faces of the crew he knew he wasn’t wrong. They were looking at their home.

  They were still hundreds of paces out when the ship made a course adjustment and started to circle around the island. Ryuu figured it would only be a matter of time before he saw the harbor they were making for, but again he was wrong. As far as they traveled, nothing appeared to him. They continued to sail around while Ryuu looked for the harbor. He was looking so hard for the harbor he didn’t notice they were approaching the island until he looked up for a moment and saw the island towering over him. Except for a few details, the intimidating rock face seemed the same no matter how far they sailed. Ryuu realized he didn’t even know how far around the island they had come. His sense of direction was confused. He looked at the sun, only to realize it had disappeared behind heavy clouds.

  The captain saw Ryuu’s glance. “Storm coming in. We should be in before it hits.”

  Ryuu nodded, still not able to make out what they were approaching. The captain had turned straight towards the island, and Ryuu saw nothing but solid rock in front of them.

  The bow of the ship rushed towards the rock and Ryuu was afraid they were going to strike the face. He glanced around, but the crew all seemed calm, and some even seemed to be having some enjoyment at his expense. He took a deep breath and focused himself. A whole crew of men wouldn’t commit suicide out on the ocean just to kill him. They were taking him to the island as promised. He just had to trust them.

  At the last moment, the ship turned hard and brought in its sails. It was only then, with the rock face just a handful of paces from the ship, that Ryuu saw a small cut in the rock. It was narrow, leaving only a pace or two of distance on each side of the ship as she turned in, carried by her momentum. Ryuu nodded in sudden understanding. The hole was too narrow for oars, so the ship had to build up momentum, make the turn, and glide into a hole almost invisible to all. It was only from a certain angle that the entrance could be seen. Even if it could be seen, it was too small to allow large ships. It was, in short, a perfectly defensible position, and that was if someone somehow managed to find it. Ryuu was certain it would take him days of sailing around the island, and even then he wasn’t sure he’d see it. It was no wonder the nightblades had remained hidden for all these cycles.

  The ship pulled into a small cave. It docked next to one other small ship, which Ryuu assumed was the only other way off this island. He took note of it, but knew it would do him little good. He was a man who had grown up in mountains and trees. He didn’t know how to sail. If he had to leave in a hurry, he’d have to figure that challenge out.

  The cave was lit with a number of torches, and the ship was greeted warmly by the guards who stood at the docks. Ryuu saw there was only one path out of the cave, again a very defensible position.

  The nightblades Ryuu had fought on the docks joined those who were guarding the cave. Ryuu tensed. He wouldn’t be able to fight four nightblades. At least, he didn’t think so. Even if he snapped, he might not have enough strength and speed.

  But he didn’t have to worry. They had only been docked for a few moments when an older man came down the path. Ryuu was amazed. The man was old. Ryuu guessed he had seen sixty cycles, but he moved with a lithe grace that belied his age. Ryuu noticed all these facts, but they weren’t what he paid attention to. Instead, he focused on the energy emanating from the man. Even the Abbot from Perseverance paled in comparison to him. The difference was this man controlled it. Ryuu knew he was looking at the strongest man he had ever seen, even if he was over sixty.

  The old man was grinning from ear to ear. “My, my. What have we here? It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ryuu. I’m sure you have hundreds of questions, all of which I will answer soon, but first I must insist you complete a task.”

  Ryuu was taken completely aback. He wasn’t certain what he had been expecting, but it wasn’t this. How did the old man know his name?

  “What task?”

  “Well, as I’m sure you know, this island is one for nightblades, and despite what you may believe, you aren’t a nightblade yet. To be one, you must pass three trials. So, if you wish to stay on this island, I must insist you take the trials immediately.”

  “And if I refuse?”

  The old man grimaced. “I’m afraid we’ll have to kill you. You understand, of course. We can’t allow word of this island to get out.”

  Ryuu was battling his emotions. Too much was happening at once. At first he was angry he was being asked to prove himself, but it was followed soon after by real fear. Shigeru hadn’t finished his own training before having to escape the island. What if he wasn’t really a nightblade? Ryuu shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He had to be. It was who he was. He had nothing to fear. “I’ll take your trials.”

  The old man grinned. “Excellent! Your first trial is right over there.” He pointed to a wall.

  Ryuu looked at the old man, questions written across his face. The old man explained. “Your first trial is to climb the wall. At the top, you’ll find a passage to your second trial. You’ll find them to be self-explanatory.”

  Ryuu studied the wall again. On closer inspection, he could see it topped out with a small ledge hidden in the darkness. The wall was easily ten times as tall as Ryuu was. He shrugged. He’d grown up climbing. The wall didn’t look easy, but he was sure he could manage it. He strode towards it, ready to take the first trial towards becoming a nightblade.

  Ryuu approached the slab of rock. It was high, but he’d been in trees of the same height. All he needed to do was not fall. He studied the face before he began, noting the cracks and holds where he could place his fingers and toes. There weren’t many holds, but there were enough. He stretched out his forearms and started climbing.

  The climb began with a crack running from the floor. Ryuu stuck his hands into the crack and pressed his weight to the side, allowing him to grip the crack. His progress was slow but consistent. He kept his focus on the rock and on his body, ensuring every hold was solid before putting his full weight onto it. When he looked down, he saw he was almost half way up the wall.

  He found a place where he could stand on his toes without handholds. Shaking out the tension in his hands, he looked at the last sections of wall and planned out his moves. His hands were getting sweaty against the rock, but there was nothing to be done about it. He wiped them against his robes, but they didn’t stop sweating. He glanced down and saw the eyes of the nightblades watching him. They were impassive, fine with whatever outcome awaited him.

  His grip was only going to get worse, so he kept climbing. The holds near the top were small, just enough for him to get his fingers over. When he finally heaved himself over the ledge, he lay there for a few moments to catch his breath. The climb had been harder than he’d expected. He glanced at his fingers, bleeding from their abuse against the rock. The skin had torn in the only places he didn’t have callouses.

  After a short break, Ryuu looked around. There was a cloth draped over another tunnel. His first trial had been completed, but he had two more to go. He stood up and prepared himself for whatever was next.

  Ryuu pulled aside the cloth to search for a torch, but there was none. So it was to be a test in the dark. Ryuu supposed it was understandable. If it was the ability to sense you were testing, you would want to reduce the role of vision as much as possible. Ryuu entered the tunnel.

  As he had expected, the path turned completely dark after a dozen paces. Ryuu felt his way along with one hand in front of his face to protect his head and one off to his si
de, feeling his way along the path. He let himself stay calmly alert. There was no knowing what was next, so he maintained a slow pace, wary of surprises. He imagined there weren’t any prizes for finishing the fastest.

  He lost time as he followed the tunnel. It was man-made, with smooth walls that could never have been created by nature. It was an unreal experience to walk through such complete blackness. He felt like he was moving, but if not for his own sensations, he would have had no evidence to support the claim. He could feel the brush of the smooth, cold rock against his fingers, but that was all. It was the first time he realized how dependent one’s sense of motion was on sight.

  The monotony of the hike started to lull him into complacency, and if it hadn’t been for a soft breeze against his skin he might have met his end before he found any answers. The cool air refreshed his awareness, and he knew something was different about his surroundings. He stopped moving and listened, but there was no sound in the caves.

  Ryuu threw out his sense, searching for more information. Someone was above him, at least twenty paces up. Ryuu focused and sensed the pull of a bow. He cursed silently to himself and threw himself forward. He tried to land in a smooth roll, but he couldn’t see the ground and he smashed into it with his shoulder. Behind him, he heard the soft hiss of an arrow as it passed where he had been, then clattering against the rock. He drew his blade, his body primed for action. But the person above him was gone, walking away through some passage high above him. Ryuu guessed he’d just passed the second trial, leaving one last. Holding his hands out, he traced the shape of the room until he came to another smooth passage. He followed it.

  Ryuu found the same technique of keeping one hand above him and one hand following a wall served him well. Again, he lost his sense of direction. He could feel the ground was angled upwards, but beyond that slight piece of information he could have been walking in a void.

  He paused on occasion to take a deep breath and throw out his sense, but every time it came back with nothing. In the Three Kingdoms, the darkness had been his friend. He could sense what others couldn’t see, but in here it felt more malicious. Was this the way his opponents felt when they knew he was near? He knew he’d welcome the first light he saw.

  Doubt was starting to creep into Ryuu’s mind when he sensed a shift in the air. It wasn’t much, but any sensation at all in these tunnels was significant to him. He threw out his senses and waited. He decided he was in another large room. It was impossible to say any more with any confidence. He moved forward cautiously, straining his sense to see if he could feel anything that would lend him a clue to what was next.

  Ryuu was surprised to sense a blade spinning towards him. He hadn’t sensed anyone in the room with him. It wasn’t thrown fast, but it was spinning rapidly, aimed right at Ryuu’s chest. He moved to the side as it went spinning past him. It clattered as it struck the rock behind him.

  Clatter? Ryuu realized it was a practice sword that had been thrown at him. His sense was strained, but he couldn’t sense anything else coming at him, or anyone else in the room with him. After a couple of breaths had passed, Ryuu searched the ground behind him and picked the sword up. He had a suspicion he’d be using it for the next trial.

  If he couldn’t sense the person throwing the sword, there was only one logical explanation. He had thought Orochi’s skills unique on the island, but apparently others possessed the ability to suppress their presence as well. They were in for a surprise. He’d been living with Moriko for two cycles. Now that he knew what he was looking for, he wouldn’t be surprised again. Ryuu found another passage and followed it, knowing the end was near.

  It was obvious to his heightened senses when he reached the final room. He had been in the darkness long enough that he was beginning to understand it. This room was different than the ones he’d been in before. Here there was a strong breeze, and although it was still pitch black, Ryuu felt like he must be getting closer to the surface.

  Ryuu found a place to stand his ground and halted. He knew if a challenge was going to occur, it would happen in its own time. So he stood and focused his senses, trying to understand the space around him. He was trying to sense someone who could suppress their power like Moriko. It was challenging in the room. Typically, Ryuu sensed Moriko as a shadow. Everywhere they went was teeming with life, from the bugs and the grass below them to the birds above them. Moriko’s ability cast a slight shadow, and if you knew what you were looking for, it was easy to find. But this cave wasn’t teeming with life, so there wasn’t any shadow to cast. It was probably why he hadn’t sensed his opponent yet. When everything is darkness, a shadow hides well.

  Ryuu’s mind raced. If he couldn’t sense his opponent he suspected he’d fail the next trial. There had to be a way to sense him. When the idea struck, it almost knocked Ryuu back with its brilliance.

  Moriko had been trying to teach Ryuu how to suppress his presence, just like Orochi had taught her. He had never mastered it like Moriko, but he understood the idea. But if one could suppress their presence, it followed that one could expand their presence as well. The Abbot at Perseverance had done it, so it should be possible. Ryuu thought back to the Abbot to try to remember how it had felt to him.

  When he thought he had it, Ryuu tried to expand his presence. It seemed like it was working, but it was tough to tell. He kept pushing and pushing, putting more mental effort into every attempt.

  He felt the faint stirrings of a shadow near him. His idea had worked! He brought his attention to bear, but it disappeared. Frowning, Ryuu focused again on expanding his presence, and again he could just make out a shadow near him. He wrapped his hands around his practice sword in preparation.

  Ryuu decided to let his opponent know the game was up. “I know you’re there.”

  Ryuu registered the shock from his opponent. He was so focused that when the attack came it was as if he had been struck by lightning. The sudden sensory input was far beyond what he had gotten used to. He had been prepared, though, so he moved out of the way while he gathered his wits. He could barely sense the second attack. It was as if the intruder had suppressed his intent instantly. Moriko couldn’t do that.

  The battle between the two was pitched. Ryuu wasn’t sure his attacker wasn’t carrying steel, so was hesitant at first, attempting to deflect cuts he would have preferred to block. But the sound of wood on wood reassured him, and he threw himself into the battle.

  The battle went back and forth. Ryuu figured he was better with the sword, but his opponent kept trying to blind his sense by alternating bright, intent strikes with strikes where his intent was hidden. Ryuu had never encountered any strategy like it, and it prevented him from getting the upper hand against his opponent.

  But as the fight wore on, Ryuu’s opponent’s abilities started to deteriorate. His opponent wasn’t able to switch from one type of strike to the next as quickly, and Ryuu gained the ability to sense the attacks with more and more clarity. Ryuu stayed on the defensive. He knew if he kept himself safe, his opponent would wear out to a point when Ryuu could strike with little risk.

  The moment was longer in coming than he expected. Every time he felt like he was just about ready to strike, his opponent would seem to find another reserve of energy and attack with renewed vigor, and Ryuu would find himself on the defensive again.

  The outcome, however, was inevitable. Barring a lucky strike, his opponent couldn’t outlast Ryuu. Ryuu could sense enough to know where the blows were coming and was able to keep one step in front of his opponent.

  When the moment came, Ryuu felt like a door had opened in front of him. In frustration, his opponent had struck out with too much force and lost his balance. It was only a matter of a moment, but Ryuu had sensed the moment coming and was prepared for it. He thrust violently, catching his opponent in the stomach.

  Ryuu was surprised when the gasp of pain was female. He had been fighting in complete darkness. There was no way to tell if his opponent had been man or woma
n. But he had assumed he was fighting a man. The blows he had deflected were strong. Moriko was the only woman he knew capable of striking with such force.

  He chastised himself. He was on an island where there were other nightblades, other women who were as strong as he and Moriko. Hopefully stronger. It was why he had come here in the first place.

  Ryuu’s thoughts were swept away by the wave of light that flashed all around him. Ryuu blinked away the tears at the sudden brightness. He looked down at his opponent. The woman was really a girl, a cycle or two younger than Ryuu. Her eyes shone with a bright intensity, but she was grinning through the pain. She was attractive, strong and capable. She looked up at him with a mixture of respect and nervousness.

  He smiled and extended his hand. It had been an excellent fight. She looked at it, hesitating, before returning his smile and placing her hand in his. He helped her up, surprised by her weight. She was small, but Ryuu could sense the strong muscles covered by the flowing robes.

  He took a moment to look around him. The room he was in was large, a perfectly flat surface contained inside a hemisphere of smoothly carved rock. The room must have taken ages to make, and Ryuu was impressed by the skill of those on the island. As he watched, a perfectly smooth section of rock developed a crack, and the crack opened to reveal a door the older man from below walked through.

  Again, Ryuu was struck by the power of this man. It was something beyond what Ryuu understood. It was a power deep and bottomless, but contained, like a well with no bottom. When Ryuu looked into the man’s eyes he knew the man held a knowledge and wisdom about the world that Ryuu could only dream of trying to obtain. His eyes sparkled with a hidden mirth as he looked Ryuu over.

  “Well done, Ryuu.”

  The voice was soft but commanding. Not even knowing the man, Ryuu found himself bowing deeply to him in a gesture of respect. As he came back up he saw the man looking at him again, studying him in a way that made Ryuu feel naked, but still strangely comfortable. It was difficult to describe. It was almost as though he was being observed by a parent.