Sirius's goal was to stay in Bright Village for a full week, to start understanding other humans, and then head north toward a large city, Sephoria City, to become a mercenary like Aurelius. His grandfather had said it was a good way to earn a lot of money.
In the morning, Sirius left his room and began roaming the village. He listened to conversations about people's lives and observed all kinds of shops and what they were selling. Everyone looked at him strangely because of his red hair, but Sirius didn't care much. If people judged him for something he couldn't change, then they were not the kind of people he wanted to be friends with.
He stopped at a bakery. He had never tasted that kind of food before, and it looked delicious. When he entered, he expected odd reactions, maybe strange looks or even higher prices, but nothing of the sort happened.
The girl behind the counter looked under twenty. She had long black hair, and her eyes matched its color. She welcomed each customer with a warm, sincere smile. There was no malice in her eyes, and she even blushed when Sirius stepped in. He didn't know why.
"I'd like to buy one bread."
"That'll be two copper pieces, sir."
Sirius handed over the coins, took the bread, and left the bakery. He felt in a much better mood. The innkeeper's behavior yesterday had annoyed him, but it seemed not everyone was mean, some people were honest and kind.
He continued his walk around the village and stopped again in front of a shop with a sword emblem. He wanted to buy a scabbard for his long Hendirun saber, which was currently hidden in his hanfu.
Sirius opened the door and began looking around for a suitable scabbard. As his grandfather had told him, Hendirun sabers were quite uncommon, so he didn't expect to find one easily.
"This shop isn't for kids. Get out, brat."
Sirius turned left and saw a tall, bare-chested middle-aged man with solid muscles and a small mustache. The man looked irritated and tired.
"I'm here to buy a scabbard for my saber," Sirius said calmly.
"As I said, this shop isn't for kids. Have you even swung a saber in your life, boy? These blades are for men, not babies!"
"I have."
"What?"
"I have swung a saber, millions and millions of times. What nonsense are you spouting? I'm a martial artist, and I'm here to buy a scabbard."
The shopkeeper stepped forward, then, without a word, he tried to cut Sirius in two with his bastard sword. No discussion. He didn't believe the child, and he was too annoyed to care. Killing him felt like the simplest solution. After all, who would cry over a red-haired brat? The villagers would probably be glad to hear this bad omen was dead.
But things didn't go as he expected. The moment the bastard sword was about to hit Sirius, the boy stepped back, drew his saber, and cut the weapon into four clean pieces, as if it were no more than a leaf.
Then, Sirius stepped forward. Just one step, so fast the man could hardly react, and the saber touched the shopkeeper's neck.
Did he just try to kill me? Sirius thought, stunned.
I just wanted to buy a scabbard. Why would he try to kill me? Is life truly so easily taken? Life is precious… yet this man tried to end mine without a second thought.
Sirius was clearly angry. He pulled back his saber but kept it in his right hand, ready in case the man tried something else.
"I... I'm truly sorry, dear martial artist," the man stammered. "I thought you were lying… I was just testing you."
He was lying, and Sirius knew it. A man with eyes full of murderous intent doesn't "test" children. It was an excuse, nothing more.
Yet Sirius said nothing, but his gaze didn't leave the shopkeeper for even a second. Deep down, he was afraid, truly afraid, for this was the first time someone had swung a sword with the intent to kill him. How could he not be afraid? What if it had been another boy in his place? Or worse, what if he hadn't been a martial artist at all? He would already be dead.
"A-Are you… not a novice, sir?"
The man asked, trembling. One move from Sirius would end his life, and like all creatures, the man feared death.
Sirius noded.
"I've reached the Self Vision Realm."
Horror filled the shopkeeper's eyes, for in that moment, death was standing before him. He had trained long enough to become what one could call an experienced novice, yet the gap between a mere novice and a Self Vision martial artist was vast, unreachable, overwhelming.
And to make things even worse, the one standing in front of him was just a child, at best, sixteen years old. How could that be? How could someone so young reach a Realm that he himself had never been able to touch, no matter how hard he trained? It was terrifying. No, he was terrifying. This boy would surely reach the Completion Realm… maybe even the Echo of Resolve one day.
"I... I wan't to buy a scabbard, is that possible? if it's not I'll take my leave."
The shopkeeper nod immediatly, he stand up and ask gentily, as nothing happend.
"I... I would be honored to sell you a scabbard, sir. what kind of scabbard do you want?"
"I want one for my long hendirun saber, how many that will cost?"
"Nothing! It's free. A gift, from the shop, of course!"
The man then left for the back room, picked an appropriate scabbard, and handed it to Sirius.
"I hope this will satisfy you, sir."
I took the scabbard and left the shop. My heart was pounding so fast, I had been this close to death just a moment ago. Is this what the human world is like? How terrifying.
Sirius then continued to roam across the village, still deeply shaken by what had just happened. And he understood something, clearly, if he wanted to survive in this world, if he wanted to protect others, if he wanted to bring his grandfather back to life… he would need strength. Far more strength than he had now.
As for the shopkeeper, he let out a long sigh the moment the red-haired boy stepped out without saying a word. He truly thought he was going to die today. Then, unable to calm his nerves, he closed the shop for the rest of the day, deeply afraid that the child might return.