The Sword of Kaigen

by M.L. Wang

Hyori was the kind of legendary beauty men went to war for. “Couple of pure-bred princesses, both of you!” Setsuko said, looking from Hyori to Misaki in exasperation. “With your smooth skin, and your teensy little waists. Don’t you sit there and complain about your weight to me when I could fit the two of you inside me.”

If you like the girl, just tell her straight,

theres some wisdom in this!!

The thought pierced her chest with a sudden and unexpected pain. Be careful, big brother, she wanted to say then, be careful how hard you love what you know you can’t have.

be careful how hard you love what you know you can’t have.

“His father is Matsuda Takeru,” Hyori said, “master of the Whispering Blade, the greatest swordsman on the mountain.”

Interesting

“Tajakalu may be able to use their physical strength to throw a projectile,” Yukino Sensei said, turning back to his class. “Fonyakalu may be able to use their nyama to push against one. Our nyama is the projectile. When a weapon is made of ice, we can control it down to the molecule. As jijakalu, we are the only race of theonite who can fight with a solid weapon that is truly an extension of the self.”

“Matsudas are more than flashy fighters,” Yukino Sensei said. “They are leaders, and a leader must think of those around him.”

Thats some wisdom right there

A student like you, who can absorb what he is told but also think beyond it, is capable of anything.”

There was only so much a person could understand, having lived her whole life on the same tiny island cluster.

Thats true

“You realize that at least half the stuff he tells you isn’t even true.” Kwang looked around at the three Takayubi boys. “It’s propaganda.” “Propaganda?” Mamoru had only heard the word used a few times before. People said that propaganda was what the Ranganese Union used to trick its uneducated citizens into fighting its battles. It was a distinctly Ranganese tactic. Kaigen didn’t use propaganda. Everyone knew that.

Hmm. SOunds worse than it looks. I hopelater in the book there will be some rebellion against thr gov.

“Falleke!” Kwang swore. “You guys in this village really believe all this stuff, don’t you? You believe everything the government tells you?” “Why wouldn’t we?” Itsuki asked earnestly. “You must see what’s happening here.” Kwang’s voice was almost imploring as he looked from one face to the next. “The Emperor is using you.” “We’re happy to serve our Emperor,” Yuuta chimed in passionately. “How can he be using us?” “He can feed you lies about Ranga and about your own ancestors. He can make you think you’re invincible when you’re really not.” “We are the Sword of Kaigen,” Yuuta said fiercely, “the defenders of the Empire.”

“I said you’re cannon fodder.” Kwang’s voice was even. “The Emperor will give you guys any made-up story if it means you’ll stay put and die for him. You may think you’re great warriors with some noble purpose, but as far as the capital is concerned, you’re just game pieces.”

“Easy, Mamoru-kun! Take the edge off that blade before we get in trouble!” “You’re a good fighter,” Kwang said, somehow still smug with a blade at his throat, “and your small-town pride is cute, but it’s all based on a lie.”

Playing with fire are we

talent is meaningless without self-discipline.

He was not supposed to let his emotions whip his soul into storms. You are ice, he reminded himself,

Kwang suggested. “It happens. If the Emperor is good at one thing, it’s censorship.”

Yikes. I dont like gov. I hope they rebel and use powers against the gov

You are a Matsuda, he tried to tell himself. You are solid ice, but his inner sea had turned to roiling brine.

Kwang—perhaps

This i my fav charecter so far. A man of intellegence and care for another person. Doest lie to another to make them feel good but a truth teller

You can control blood?” Mamoru’s jaw clenched, and he tried to focus more deeply on his work. “A bit.”

Thats actually crazy

Aunt Setsuko had once whispered that his mother could use the Blood Needle—a Tsusano bloodline technique wherein the jijaka put a finger to their enemy’s body and froze a drop of the victim’s blood into a needle thin and sharp enough to pierce major blood vessels and lethal pressure points. Mamoru’s jovial aunt could easily have been joking just to scare him; she liked to do that, and local lore had no shortage of horror stories about Tsusano blood manipulation.

Thats insane. S tier power. But also terrifying

The moon and the ocean fear no change.

“So, the Kaigenese military has never produced anything made of Zilazen glass?” “No,” Kotetsu said, “although, my cousin tells me that the Empire has been importing a lot of Yammanka bullets, so maybe—” “What about bigger things?” Mamoru asked. “Has Kaigen ever had Zilazen glass machines? Like tanks or planes?” “Not that I know of,” Kotetsu said.

Im seeing the holes and fabrication

“Most strong things are rigid. If you are water, you can shift to fit any mold and freeze yourself strong. You can be strong in any shape. You can be anything.”

“Why don’t you try taking responsibility for the things you can control instead of the things you can’t?”

theres some wisdom in this.

“I thought I was raising a warrior, but your words reflect the ignorance and weakness of a child.” “Tou-sama—” “A warrior’s sword isn’t made of ice or metal. It is his soul, his focus, his conviction. That is what makes a Whispering Blade, and it’s why you continuously fail to produce one.”

The hipocracy is crazy. I really don't like the father. I love that mammoru is trying to see things for himself. But I wish the gender roles in this province weren't how they are. Maybe thats a difference of my generation where women have equal opportunity, but I really dislike the father, he's abusive and a hypocrite. One of the worst combinations unfortunately.