By a castle window, Saga quietly watched Roy and his companions below.
He did not know whether agreeing to let them stay was for better or worse.
At another window nearby, Hawk Eyes, who was only twelve at the time, leaned over the sill and watched the lively scene below, which looked like a banquet. Envy showed in his eyes, but when he saw Roy, the man who had defeated him, his expression grew resolute again.
Saga shook his head helplessly, though a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
The arrival of this group seemed to have brought the silent old castle back to life.
Night fell, and Kuraigana Island looked even more mysterious beneath its thick fog.
Early the next morning, Roy arrived at the clearing in front of the castle. To his surprise, Hawk Eyes was already there practicing his swordsmanship. Judging by the sweat on his forehead, he had been at it for quite some time.
"You're up early, Mihawk."
"A swordsman's training begins at sunrise. You, on the other hand, are only getting here now. You're being far too lax."
Roy smiled without arguing. He drew Frost Snow and began practicing the fundamentals of swordsmanship off to one side: chops, slashes, upward cuts, and thrusts. He performed every movement with meticulous care.
"Your fundamentals are solid." Joramille Saga had appeared at the castle entrance at some point, a measure of approval in his eyes.
"But your sword lacks a soul."
"Please teach me, senior."
Roy sheathed his blade and bowed solemnly.
"There's no need to be so polite. I only wanted to find Mihawk an opponent. A swordsman needs opponents on his path. You can't become a great swordsman all by yourself."
Roy merely nodded. He just wants me to be a whetstone for Hawk Eyes, right? Fine. Even without a sword, I can beat the hell out of him.
Saga walked down the steps.
"Your swordsmanship incorporates your Devil Fruit power. That certainly makes it much more powerful, but relying too heavily on external power is holding back your progress."
He took Black Blade Yoru from Hawk Eyes and swung it casually. He used no Haki, only a simple swing, yet it made Roy feel an invisible pressure.
"A true swordsman can cleave mountains and rivers with a single stroke. Your physical condition is excellent, and your mental strength is formidable, but blindly imitating others won't make you a swordsman."
Roy fell into thought. He recalled how he had always been imitating that sword stroke of Rayleigh's, as well as combining his fruit power with his swordsmanship. He really had put the cart before the horse.
"Please teach me, senior."
"It seems you understand now.
"Starting today, you'll train with Mihawk. Until you've mastered 'cutting iron,' don't use your fruit power again."
And so Roy began his life of training on Kuraigana Island. Every day before dawn, he practiced the fundamentals of swordsmanship in the clearing with Hawk Eyes.
Whenever Saga had time, he instructed them from the sidelines, pointing out the flaws in their every movement.
"Lower your wrist a little more, Roy! And your footwork is too chaotic!"
Occasionally, after training, Roy would also have a fight with Bullet, their fists striking flesh with every blow. The tremendous commotion drew Hawk Eyes to stop and watch.
He had not expected that, besides Roy, who had defeated him, there was someone even stronger in the group. From watching them afterward, he saw that none of them were much weaker than he was.
Even Savi, the youngest of them, possessed considerable combat strength after transforming into a giant ape.
This made him even more interested in Roy and his companions.
Later, after finishing his daily morning swordsmanship training with Roy, Hawk Eyes joined Roy and the others in their physical training. He experienced the feeling of his physique rapidly growing stronger while training under the gravity Roy created, and he also grew closer to Tesoro and the others.
Occasionally, he would even chat with the others for a bit.
One evening, the group gathered around a bonfire. Even Joramille Saga came over at Roy's invitation and sat down at the table. They picked all sorts of delicious food from the plants Pea had brought to maturity.
"Come and try some! Everything Pea grows tastes amazing!"
Although Hawk Eyes had learned how amazing Pea was during their time together, this was his first time eating with Roy and the others. He hesitantly picked up a plate of steak from the table and took a small bite. A rich, savory flavor burst across his tongue.
His eyes widened slightly. He had never tasted anything so delicious.
Holding the fruit wine Roy had handed him, Saga looked over the young people, the corners of his mouth rising involuntarily.
The castle had been silent for many years, and it had been a long time since it had been this lively.
Seeing Mihawk join the scramble for food, he felt happy for him. After all, Mihawk was still a child, and spending time with Roy and the others had made him a little more lively.
"Senior Saga, thank you for your guidance these past few days."
Roy came and sat beside the old man. Saga sipped his fruit wine, his gaze distant, as though he were remembering the days when he had sailed with his companions in his youth.
"Roy, you have great talent, but remember this: training in the way of the sword is not about techniques, but about your state of mind. Only when you truly understand why you wield a sword will your sword have a soul."
Roy nodded thoughtfully. The past few days of training had given him a new understanding of swordsmanship. Saga's teachings placed greater emphasis on the heart, letting a person understand why they swung their sword.
"Mihawk," Saga called, stopping Hawk Eyes from scrambling for food.
"You were born for the sword, but you're too fixated on it. That has become a shackle instead."
Hawk Eyes silently lowered his head. Black Blade Yoru, beside him, gleamed faintly in the firelight.
Bullet picked up some roast meat beside him and tore off a large bite. Grinning, he said to Saga, "Old man, that's too profound for me. If you ask me, getting stronger is about beating every opponent!"
"It's good for a young man to have fighting spirit. But a true strongman not only understands how to win, he also knows why he fights."
The night grew late, and the bonfire gradually died down. Pea also conjured two small wooden cabins for Saga and Hawk Eyes. Neither of them refused, and everyone returned to their respective lodgings one after another.
Roy lay in bed and closed his eyes, reflecting on the journey so far. At first, he had simply wanted to see this fascinating new world. After witnessing the fight between Sengoku and Rayleigh, he had become even more determined to grow strong.
After he and Bullet had seized the Devil Fruit, he had witnessed the battle between Golden Lion and Garp. Its world-shattering power had shown him the gap between himself and the strongest fighters.
Now he was surrounded by a group of like-minded companions. No matter what enemies they faced in the future, he was confident he could defeat them. All they needed now was time. He figured it would not be many years before they gave the world a surprise.
A few mornings later, Roy and Hawk Eyes sparred in the clearing as usual.
After the past few days of training, Roy's swordsmanship had improved noticeably. He no longer deliberately imitated Rayleigh's sword strokes, but had begun searching for his own way of the sword.
He was only one step away from reaching the realm of a swordsman. All it would take was one small opportunity for him to enter an entirely new world.