Hey, everyone.

I'm your host, Faith McQuinn, and this is Epic, Born to the Blade, episode two.

Enjoy.

Chapter 1, Michiko.

Belona's sword whipped around and caught Michiko a stinging slap on the forearm, nearly making

her drop her own blade. You see, Belona said, retreating out of reach.

Your simple blade work is out of practice.

You don't want to be like Takeshi, do you? His craft is beautiful, even I have to admit it,

but ask him to carve sigils while actually fighting, and he's almost useless. Would you have been able to capture the Golden Lord if Lavinia hadn't been with you?

Michiko's breath caught. She shook out her fingers and bowed her head to conceal the reaction.

I would have done my best, she said, that much at least she could be sincere about.

It wasn't until after his execution that she'd discovered he was her grandfather,

along with all the other things his spirit had claimed were true.

It's a pity I wasn't there, Bologna mused.

She returned her practice blade to the rack and began stripping off her padded armor, shaking

out her short, sweat-soaked hair.

I know he hadn't used a blade in forty years, so defeating him wouldn't have been an impressive

feet of arms, but still think of the glory. And it would have been so symmetrical. Mityiko thought

she knew Mertikin idioms inside and out, but if symmetrical was slang for anything, she hadn't heard it

before. What do you mean? Bologna's smile was toothy,

with my previous life. What would it be like, remembering past lives, feeling the weight

not only of your ancestors' expectations, but your own past examples? Whether you remembered

...