Stella Sora

Searching for the Wielder

The Basic Standard for a Wielder One who is not harmed by my aura of edge.

Parents and Master The twin blades on my back are "Father and Mother," while the odachi is "Master." My own strength is still lacking, and I have yet to truly become a worthy blade. Thus I must still rely on their power.

Amekiku A once-abandoned traveler's inn on the outskirts of the City of a Thousand Monoliths, later refurbished by Chitose into something resembling a dojo and given the name "Amekiku." Chitose usually offers conveniences here to passing Trekkers, including but not limited to weather forecasts and tea service. —From the words of Trekkers passing through

Treasure bag Besides the three katanas she carries, Chitose's pack holds many other things, bundled together like a treasure bag. When opened, it can even serve as a quilt. It holds: a set of blade maintenance tools, Chitose's daily necessities, a change of clothes, a cloth bag for rice balls, and more. "Even in the Wilds, one must not act with abandon; propriety, cleanliness, and restraint must never be neglected." —"Family Rites", Volume VI (excerpt)

Blade Maintenance First, remove the hilt and separate the blade; Then wipe the blade with a clean cloth to remove old oil and dust; Next, use a cloth dipped in blade oil to coat the blade evenly, preventing rust; Finally, return the blade to its scabbard, taking care never to leave it in a damp place. This is a task that must be done every day.

Next time, let's grab a drink together! A new Monolith bubble tea shop just opened in the City of a Thousand Monoliths, and their specialty is really good! —Cosette So that noble gave up on his plan? Or did the kid manage to escape on her own strength... Interesting. If I get the chance to meet her in the future, I'd like to have a talk with her. —██

Absolutely accurate! This is the first time I've met such a powerful Trekker! She can cut down most Stellaroids and monsters without relying on magic! That being said, I always find it a bit difficult to communicate with her... I just hope she doesn't get taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives. —Willow

Shuriken Charm A charm marked with a shuriken pattern, which Chitose has always worn at her waist as a family heirloom.

It is said that in the distant past, a terrifying "Oni" once ruled over Windhowl Island. It could peer into human hearts, control their will, and force the people of Matsukawa City to climb the Monolith and offer up their memories as sacrifice. Time and again, the islanders chose brave warriors to slay the Oni, but because it could sense all hostility, every challenger was killed before they could act. At last, a swordswoman named Matsuko proposed a plan called "the human blade": to temper someone into a being without love, without hate, without heart—thus becoming a pure "blade" that the Oni could not perceive. This heartless Blade, stripped of all emotion and distraction, possessed only the will to cut; its speed was nearly divine. Yet, though the Blade was sharp, it could not choose its target on its own. It needed a "Wielder" to guide where the edge would fall. Only when the Blade and its Wielder became of one mind, reaching the state of "Jinken Hitotsu," could the Blade sense the Wielder's intent and act without command. In the end, only a single pair ever achieved this Oneness—and they succeeded in destroying the Oni. From then on, the tradition of "human blade" endured in that land, and families tied to it flourished for a time. But never again did anyone reach that supreme state of Oneness, and so those families declined, leaving only whispers of the tale carried on the wind.

"Wow, it's really coming down!" "There's a pavilion over there! Let's get out of all this rain for a bit!" On Nova, during Tonitrua Month, the weather could turn in an instant. Clear skies in the morning, but by noon the clouds rolled in, and before long a torrential downpour left Trekkers drenched from head to toe. "Sorry... Hope we're not intruding..." Two Trekkers darted into the pavilion, and there they found a young girl quietly polishing her blade. "Not at all. This pavilion was built as a shelter for Trekkers from both wind and rain." She rose, poured two cups of hot tea from a small kettle, and offered them to the visitors. "Thank you so much!" The Trekkers accepted gratefully, thanking her again and again. She only gave a small nod before settling back into the corner, wiping her blade once more. "Master, do you think we can still make it to Philae on time?" "If the rain stops before sundown, we should." "So ... We'll have to travel by night?" "Yes. If this letter isn't delivered on time, the pay will be halved." The older Trekker frowned at the sheets of rain outside, silently praying for it to ease. Not long after, the storm seemed to let up, and the misty mountains came back into view. "Come on, let's go!" The older Trekker urged, quickly packing up. "The rain hasn't truly stopped. It'll likely go on for another two or three days." The girl set her blade down and looked at them. "How can you tell?" "If that's true, then we need to leave right now!" But the moment one of them stepped outside, the rain came crashing down again. Raindrops as big as beans pelted the flagstones, splashing up bursts of spray. The Trekkers froze, looking back at the girl. "Even so, I would not recommend traveling in this weather." "Why not?" "To reach Philae you must cross the mountains. In rain like this, the roads grow muddy and the slopes become treacherous. There will be dangers unseen." The Trekkers studied her—At her side there was no rain gear, as if in this fickle season she had no fear at all of being suddenly soaked by the rain. "There will be strong winds tonight. If you turn back now and explain things to your client, they might be understanding." Her gaze stayed fixed on the distant peaks, calm and certain. "We shall go back." "Master? Back to where?" "Back to where we come from." Rumor has it that on the outskirts of the City of a Thousand Monoliths, there stands an inn called Amekiku. If the girl inside says rain is coming, the skies will open without fail. If she says the winds will rise, then the mountains will surely howl.

"Remember, the highest form of swordsmanship is a mind as still as water, occupied by nothing but the cut." "Understood, Master." "Then... Again." With that, the girl slowly slid her blade back into its scabbard and closed her eyes. For an instant, time itself seemed to stand still. "Ha!—" No one could say exactly when the sword had left its scabbard. A flash of white light tore through the air, leaving a cross-shaped afterimage ahead. To the onlookers, it looked as if she had swung only once, but in truth she had delivered two strikes. Without the aid of magic, to unleash such speed with nothing but flesh and bone was already the very limit of human capability. And yet— "Not enough! Still not fast enough!" "Master..." "That's enough for today." The girl quietly picked up the odachi beside her. She traced her fingertips along its edge before she wiped it clean and carefully set it back on the rack. "Are we really going to keep up this charade, my lord?" A faint voice drifted from a small room beside the dojo. "It has been years, and she still can't perform that legendary strike! Was the legend nothing but a lie?" "Then...?" "Starting tomorrow, remove all the servants from this hall." "Even her 'parents'?" "I am her 'Master', and I shall no longer be here. Do you really think there's any need to keep the 'parents?'" "As you command." From that day on, the girl kept watch over the ever-emptier dojo alone. Her "parents" and "master" never show up again. Her world became nothing but the daily rhythm of sword practice and study. Years passed. The roof of the hall began to leak; the wooden floors slowly rotted away. Until one dawn, when the dew was still fresh, she caught her reflection on the cold steel as she wiped her blade—the silence of her "parents" and "master" had not been punishment for her lack of improvements. Instead, they had already become the "blade" in her hands. At last, in the morning fog, the girl shouldered her pack and walked away, disappearing into the distance. She was setting out to find the one person spoken of in legend, the "Wielder" who could make her truly become the Blade.