Borin turned the sword over in his hands, inspecting every last inch of the polished steel. The weight of it was perfect, well-balanced and firm. The blade shimmered faintly in the sunlight that leaked through the gaps in the trees, like it was breathing.
"A fine sword, lad." he said, his voice carrying a strange sense of pride. "It's not dwarven made, but quality still. It'll serve you well."
I took the sword back and held it in both hands, staring at the runes faintly etched along the edge. The symbols was slightly worn, but I could still make out the shapes, like faded memories whispering just out of reach.
"You need to name it" Borin added, folding his arms and giving me a serious look.
"Name it?" I blinked. "Is that a thing people actually do?"
"Aye" he said. "A named weapon has spirit. It remembers you. The blade'll bind with your soul."
I thought for a moment. I could've gone with something cool and edgy like Shadowfang or Deathwhisper, but honestly, those felt like names an edgy fourteen-year-old would give their Minecraft sword.
"Kazuma" I said aloud.
The moment the name left my lips, a ripple of energy exploded outward from the blade, a gust of wind whipping around us in a tight spiral. Leaves shot up into the air, Kuro barked in surprise, and Borin's beard flapped like a flag in a storm. But then, as quickly as it had started, the wind stilled. The air grew calm again and the sword in my hands shimmered once before settling.
"Well" I said, grinning, "guess Kazuma liked the name."
Borin coughed, brushing leaves off his shoulders.
"Ay lad, it seems it likes the name or maybe it's just happy not to be called Doom Blade or somethin' ridiculous."
"Hey, those were on my list!" I laughed.
Kurokami gave a short bark, almost like he was laughing too. Then he trotted off to the edge of the clearing and laid down in the shade. With Kazuma strapped to my back, I felt different. Not just stronger, but more anchored, like I belonged in this world a bit more than before. I wasn't just a lost kid from another world anymore. I was Kai, wielder of Kazuma, the boy with a wolf and a dwarf roommate, who could wield wind magic. I helped Borin chop firewood for a while after that. We'd gotten used to this rhythm. chopping, gathering, fixing things up around the cabin. Our little home was starting to feel lived in, with chairs we'd actually sanded down, a fireplace that didn't smoke us out anymore, and a table that didn't wobble unless Kuro walked under it.
"You know" I said, wiping sweat from my forehead, "this might actually be the most normal day we've had since meeting."
Borin snorted. "Give it an hour."
We were finishing up our lunch, some smoked boar meat and foraged herbs, when the ground beneath us rumbled. Not much, just a subtle tremble, like someone had dropped something very heavy far away.
"That. I doubt that's good." I said.
Borin locked gaze on me, "rarely is, lad."
Kurokami stood up immediately, ears perked, nose twitching. He let out a growl and stared toward the northern part of the forest. We both stood up, Kazuma in my hand now. I glanced at Borin.
"We checking it out?"
"Aye" he said, grabbing his axe. "You named a magic sword. Can't very well sit around with that kind of trouble brewing."
The northern forest was thicker, older. Trees had twisted into bizarre shapes, bark like wrinkled stone, moss growing in long beards. The smell here was different too, earthier, older. Like something had been asleep a long time and was starting to wake up. We found the crater after an hour's trek. Whatever had hit the ground did so with force. Trees were splintered in a perfect ring around a dent in the earth about twenty feet across and in the center stood a single figure. A treeant. Its bark was cracked and ancient, moss growing over half its face and down its back. Its limbs were gnarled like old roots, and its eyes glowed faintly with a green, eldritch light. It creaked and groaned as it moved, pulling itself from the earth like it was being reborn.
"That's... not good" I whispered.
"Aye. Not good at all."
The treeant turned toward us. Its mouth opened with a creaking roar, and a swarm of birds scattered from the trees above. It charged, slow but terrifying, its steps shaking the ground. I jumped back and pushed my palm forward. Wind burst from my hand, forcing it to stagger. Borin was already moving, flanking around to the side.
"Keep its attention, lad!"
"Easy for you to say!" I shouted.
Kazuma sang through the air as I swung it, deflecting a massive branch-swipe from the treeant's arm. The force still sent me tumbling, but I rolled and landed on my feet.
I planted my foot, focused my energy downward and jumped, this time on purpose. A blast of wind erupted from my boots, sending me twenty feet into the air. I barely managed not to scream from the surprise.
"Woooooah!"
Mid-air, I twisted and slashed down toward the treeant's exposed shoulder. My blade cut deep, but not enough to finish it.
"AY! Now that's a jump, lad!" Borin shouted, slamming his axe into the treeant's leg.
The monster roared again, swinging wildly. I landed with a blast of wind to cushion the fall, but it still rattled my bones.
"We're not doing much here" I said, panting.
"It's too tough."
"You got that fancy magic. Use more of it!"
I nodded, steadied my breathing, and focused. I pulled all the wind I could into my legs and jumped again, but this time I spun mid-air, Kazuma glowing faintly. With a roar, I dove, sword-first, and struck deep into the treeant's core.
A scream echoed through the forest, not just sound, but energy. The treeant shuddered, then burst into a cloud of leaves and dust, scattering like ash on the wind. I tumbled to the ground, gasping, Kazuma clutched tight in my hand. My left arm suddenly pulsed with pain. The tattoo glowed, lines crawling further across my ribs, spiraling with the same wind-like design. I screamed, biting my lip as the pain dug deep, then, nothing.
It stopped.
I blinked, heart pounding.
"Y'know" I groaned, "a little warning next time would be nice."
Borin walked up, shaking his head. "That sword of yours has some surprises. And that magic? I swear, you're either gifted or cursed."
Kurokami padded up and nudged my side.
"I vote for gifted" I muttered.
We looked at the scorched spot where the treeant had vanished.
"Well" I said, wiping dirt off my chestplate "that was exhausting."
"And you named the sword today. Quite the productive morning" Borin grinned.
"Right. Next time I name something, remind me to brace myself first."
Kurokami barked in agreement. I sheathed Kazuma, the blade humming faintly, as if pleased.
"Let's head home. I need food and maybe a nap."
"Aye" Borin said. "You've earned it, lad."
We walked back through the forest, me, the dwarf and the shadow-wolf, three unlikely allies in a world full of magic, monsters, and mystery and for the first time i felt like I truly belonged in the moment.