第4章无鞘之剑
ASWORDWITHOUTASHEATH
BYJOELANSFORD
Whatisaswordwithoutthemanbehindit?Teachingaswordsmantokillissimple.Thetruechallengeliesinteachinghimnottokill
WhenIwatchedmyyoungbrotherbegintraining,hebreathedlifeintothebladeatfirsttouch.Oneheardwhispersinthehallscomparinghimtotheswordmastersofold.ButasYasuogrewandhisskillsincreased,sodidhisego.Hewasimpetuousandboastful.Heignoredourmasters’lessons,andknewnothingofpatience
Fearingmybrotherhadstrayedtoofarfromtheway,Iwentnottowarnhim,buttomakeanappealtohishonor.Igavehimamapleseed,ourschool'shighestlessoninhumility...oneYasuoseemedtohaveforgotten.Aseedisjustaseed,butgiventimeonemaycometoknowthebeautyitholdswithin
Yasuotookmygift,andthefollowingdayhepledgedhimselftotheElderSouma.Ihadhighhopeshewouldlearnthepatienceandvirtuerequiredofatrueswordsman
Itwasnottobe
Today,itseemscleartomethatYasuomurderedtheverypersonhewassworntoprotect.Hehasbetrayedhisnation,hisfriends,andhimself.Wereitnotformyactions,Iwonderifhewouldeverhavebeensweptdownthisdarkpath
Butmytaskisnottoquestion.Imustbeartheburdenofmyduty
Atfirstlighttomorrow,Iwillsetouttocaptureaswordwithoutasheath:mybrotherYasuo