Along the Banks of a Waterfall...

[Theian G. Makarn]

Theian wakes up and looks around. Urrrg, maybe I overtrained yesterday... The nearby trees are all cut down, sliced in two by what seems to be a sword. "Morning, Theian," Theian mutters to himself, "I wonder what today brings..." He goes over to one of the fallen trees and unseathes The Vorpal Edge, Zantetsuken. He runs toward the fallen tree, and in three... no... five... seconds, an entire section of the tree was chopped into firewood. Theian grabs some of the wood and places it into the cinders of the fire from last night.

Theian examines the wood. The cut edges were smooth. "Even for a blade that's lost its power," Theian laughs, "its skill is still considered godly." He got out some flint and started to make a fire... I wonder where Nieah is right now... Is she... even alive? A tear drops from Theian's eyes as he thinks about his little sister...

-flashback-

"Brother, brother! Wake up! We're in a storm!"
"Wha? Oh! A storm?!"
"Quick, grab the ropes!"
"Don't worry, my children, we'll survive!"

The storm was brutal, making several waves that would have sunk any ship. Winds screamed a scream that would scare the banshees away. Lightning streaked across the sky, only to be followed by its friend, thunder. The Makarn family was huddled together, they had tied eachother to the wood of their make-shift boat, hoping that... somehow... they would survive.

A huge wave struck the boat, sending months of hard work into splintered remains. The family was split.

"Daddy!"
"Nieah, stay calm!"
"Mother!"
"Theian!"
"Brother!"
"NIEAH!!!"

Another wave had struck, even bigger than the first. Theian saw, with his own eyes, his parents buried by the wave, before he himself was buried himself.

"Brother...."

His sister was calling, but he could not reach her, he himself was floating away... Theian could feel himself drifting asleep...

"Theian... brother... don't leave me here..."

In a last attempt, he dived toward his sister, trying to shout to her...

"Nieah... Don't worry, I'll save you..."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

He had woken up on the shores of a distant land, a foreign land. Even after years of treasure hunting, there were lands that he couldn't recognize. He was covered in salt, no doubt from the dried seawater. After waking up, he stood, and tried to pry off some of the filth off him.

"Haein? Mother? Nieah?!"

He ran, but only for a few seconds. After that night, he was completely exhausted. Theian, not wanting to give up, trudges along the edge of the beach... but couldn't find anything except... The Xurpeg and the Zantetsuken.

"The swords... how did they...? But, no one's here... did they, die?"

He falls to his knees, weeping over his lost family. His father, who had shown given him with these two blades... His mother, who had raised him and helped him in everything... and his sister, who had never failed to give him joy...

Theian looks up from his tears, and looked closely at the blade of the Xurpeg... there was a message inscribed in it...

This blade is not meant to give death, but is meant to give hope. Hope that through hardships, peace shall be found.

"Peace... Hope... Did father write this?" Theian looks at the Zantetsuken, and finds another message written on the hilt.

"We will never forget you. - Haein, and Nieah II/III."

Theian grabs both blades, and puts them on his sides. His parents... and Nieah... may still be alive. If he survived the storm, then his family could have, too. No... they DID survive. Brimming with new hope, he runs toward the nearby woods, promising himself... "I will find my family, and we will be together again, even if it's for a quick moment... we will be together again."

-end flashback-

He looks at the hilt of the Zantetsuken. The message had been blotted out from endless work with it, but the names "Haein, and Nieah II/III" was still visible. Theian had traveled everywhere, and had still found no sign of his family at all. Everytime he lost hope, he would look at those blades, and remember his promise... The fire is burning now, but Theian did not plan to stay. He cooked something to eat, and packed his things.

"I never forgot, and I will continue to search."

[Theian G. Makarn]

Theian walks over to the nearby town where he stayed at for the past 4 days. He had been training and sharpening his Xurpeg and Zantetsuken.

"Morning, Magh, how's it going?"
"Good morning, Theian! My, 9:00AM and you look as if you've killed an army! What happened?"
"Bears got me over at those woods over there..."

-flashback-

4 bears, each one hungry, chase Theian. Theian is running, as well, muttering under his breath.

"Note to self: Never take food from a bear's hunting ground." He stops at a clearing and hangs his coat on a tree branch. He unseathes the Xurpeg.

"Although the Zantetsuken can slice in one slash, it does not fare well against bone and flesh.... oddly... Xurpeg is useful for slicing the guts out of things... just. Like. NOW!"

One bear had run up to Theian, claws ready to kill. His sword deflects the blow as Theian neatly plunges the sword into the bear's chest. He holds it up and has it face the other two bears. They move back, wondering if this bear was alive or dead. Suddenly, Theian jumps up from behind and bashes one on the head. It roars in pain and lunges at Theian, while the other runs after Theian, preparing to stab him.

"Bears becoming smart? Who sprinkled the "crazy" powder?"

Theian grips the Xurpeg and plunges it into the ground, making a useful ladder to get back to his feet. He takes it out, and stabs the bear rushing at him. He then finishes the last bear by slashing at his stomach.

"Uhhh, not the best choice, but... hey, it works!"

He grabs the dead carcasses of the bears, skins them, grabs his coat, and starts walking again... as if nothing happened.


"Oh yeah, you'll like these." Theian goes back outside and brings in 3 bear skins, fresh off the mad beast. "You may have to clean these first, they stink of the meat that they've eaten."

Magh carries them and puts them in a room out back. "Thanks, Theian. I'll give you a some of the money I get from selling them. Actually, I'll mail it."

Theian raises his eyebrow, "Mail? You know I'm leaving?"

Magh points over to a notice on the wall, "More fights at... what's the place... Bah, it's on there. I thought you'd be interested with those.... mysterious blades you own. Hey, you might find your old man. If he was alive, by the way you described him, he'd be in there."

Theian sighed, "You're right. Keep your profits, Magh. Use them to pay for the food I'm getting right now." He gets out a bag and sets it on the table.

Magh laughs, "Alright, Theian. I'll get you some meat, fresh biscuits, some slices of bacon, and a bottle of wine." As he says this, he grabs the items from under the counter. As get gets to the bacon, he goes out back and brings back the bacon along with the bottle of wine. "This is 35 B.C. wine, Theian. Enjoy every drop."

Theian graciously takes the bag, now heavy with food. "Thank you, Magh. I hope you'll stay in good health. Bye!" He leaves, going over to a stable to get a horse for the journey.

"To the Colluseum."

[Theian G. Makarn]

Theian walks along the road into the woods. He checks his map and compass. "So, If I keep going in this-" He points toward the South, "direction, I'll land at a harbor. There, I can nab some kind of passage to Orund. Man, maybe I'll see my old man. Heh, maybe he'll refuse to fight me, after Nieah had almost killed me..."

-flashback-

Theian and Nieah are in the middle of a field, blades out. Nieah wields her daggers. The shards of the wind: Muramune; she had found the split remains of a katana on one of their treasure hunts. Haein and a local blacksmith had managed to forge them into twin daggers. Now, she fights with them; and they haven't failed her once.

"Brother, I respect you for your ability to wield the blade, but don't think I won't stab you!"
"Sister, you are great with those daggers, but you winning is an impossible task."
"Feh, I know your fighting styles. You don't stand a chance."
"Oh? As if I don't know yours? Enough chat, test your mettle!"

They both rush towards eachother, blades in hand. Theian grips the Xurpeg and does well, slashing quickly and forcing Nieah to use both daggers to stop the force of the blade. However, Nieah is getting faster. It won't be long before Theian misses: a perfect opporitunity for the young girl.

Oh, it happened! Nieah managed to deflect the blade and cause it to swing to the right, leaving an open space for Theian. He quickly dodges, but not fast enough. A slash goes right through his forehead, causing blood to spill out. Theiah cries out in pain, and starts beating Nieah with all he had. She could hardly keep up. But then, right there! He isn't protecting his shoulder! Nieah grabs her weapon, and prepares to lunge. A spark, then the sound of metal hitting metal. Haein was standing inbetween Nieah and Theian. His daggers, the Dragoon and the Tempest, were out.

"Nieah Makarn the third and Theian Gahaen Makarn! I have warned you BOTH about using your weapons in a sparring match. YOU!" He points at Nieah, "almost diabled your brother; Permentantly. While you," He points at Theian, "could have split her head in two. You're still kids. Also, you're still learning how to use your blades. Both of you. When we go into the nearby bandit lair, I don't want you to touch a single item in there. Understood?"

Both heads are down.

"Yes father," the words come out automatically.

"Come on, Theian. Let's get that wound treated. It'll probably leave a scar."


-end flashback-

Theian touches the scar on his forehead. He's gotten better, but now he has another blade to carry: the Zantetsuken. He wants to master this blade, but its power... it won't open up to him.

"Someday... someday..." Theian continues walking... and then he sees something. It's an opening. He ru- no... he bolts toward the opening. After a few minutes of nonstop running, he makes it. Theian is looking at a boat. And nearby was a bulletin reading:

"Ship to Orund: Now boarding.
Price: 5 gold coins."

Theian grabs a sack of money. He opens it up and counts the five gold coins. He goes up to a man there. "Excuse me, but I'll be joining this ship."

The man smiles, and collects the five coins. "Welcome aboard."