Lava and the Sea

Lava and sea met here and forged a massive mountain of stone. A breathtaking sight I never expected to witness. If only I had brought brush and paper; I would have preserved this moment in a painting. And yet... I am a disgrace. When I stand before an enemy, my sword hand trembles. My legs lock in place. I cannot move. I am nothing but a burden to my senior. I loathe this weakness, but I do not know how to change. Perhaps I never belonged here—a foreign body cast into the sea. But I have already stepped into these waters. There is no retreat now. Someday, I hope to carry the burdens I have placed upon my senior and lighten their load with my own strength. - A rookie Hashashin