The sound of ringing steel broke the morning’s stillness. An underlying sound called to her.

“Come and see.” it whispered.

She followed the noise, lured by a song violence.

Quietly, the young girl crept as close as she dared and watched in awe.

Two men battled each other, flowing as naturally as air and water, moving as if they were partners in a complex dance, blades flashing back and forth in a series of intricate patterns, quick as lightning strikes.

“Why did you follow me? You knew what would happen… what must happen.” One spoke with the voice of an older man, gravelly and deep, his voice filled with regret.

“If my honor requires my death then so be it.” The other replied.

Each of the swordsmen raised their blades in one final salute, faces carved in stone and met in the middle.

Separating a moment later, each took a single step and collapsed.

Mikka crept over to where the two men lay like lovers.

She could still hear the song. It was coming from one of the swords.

Now it was her song.