A few years ago...

Shinon sat cross-legged on the mat in his room, his eyes closed and his breathing slow and steady. His father, Tatsuo, sat beside him, also in meditation. The room was silent except for the soft sounds of their breathing and the gentle rustle of the trees outside.

"Relax your mind, Shinon," Tatsuo’s voice broke the silence, "let go of all your worries and concerns."

Shinon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to release the tension he felt in his body. He struggled to clear his mind as his thoughts kept wandering.

"You’re not clearing your mind, son," Tatsuo said, sensing Shinon’s frustration. "Focus on your breath and the present moment. Let everything else fade away."

Shinon tried again, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath in through his nose, filling his lungs with air, then slowly exhaling through his mouth. He focused on the sound of his breath, and soon the other thoughts in his mind began to fade.

"Good, Shinon," Tatsuo said softly, "keep your mind still and your body relaxed."

They continued to meditate together for a few more minutes until Tatsuo broke the silence again.

"Now, I want you to visualise a peaceful place, somewhere you feel calm and relaxed," he said.

Shinon tried to think of a place, his mind drifting to a clearing in the woods where he would often go to be alone. He imagined the soft grass beneath him, the rustling of the leaves, and the sound of a nearby stream. He felt a sense of calm wash over him, and his breathing slowed even more.

"Good," Tatsuo said, sensing his son’s relaxation. "Now, whenever you feel stressed or anxious, I want you to go to that place in your mind and let the peacefulness wash over you."

Shinon opened his eyes, feeling more relaxed than he had in weeks. He looked at his father, a sense of gratitude filling his heart.

"Thank you, Dad," he said softly.

Tatsuo smiled at him. "Remember, Shinon, your mind is like a muscle; the more you train it, the stronger it becomes. Meditation is a powerful tool to help you deal with the stresses of life."

"Got it, Dad." Shinon smiled.

For as long as he could remember, he had always referred to his father formally. Just like the rest of the staff had. But ever since Tatsuo began teaching him the art of smithing, his father’s behaviour towards him changed significantly. So much so that he allowed Shinon to can him Dad.

It was one of Shinon’s favourite memories, the ones he cherished forever. Unfortunately, Tatsuo also mysteriously disappeared around that time, leaving a legacy for Shinon to continue.

***

In the present time...

Shinon had always been a troubled child. Even from a young age, he struggled with his emotions and struggled to control his anger, primarily because he never really had a real parent to look after him.

Shinon never got to know his mother. No one ever talked about her; even the servants were no help, as Tatsuo had instructed them not to reveal anything to Shinon till he was 21.

As for his father... well, he was never really there for him at his early age. Much like Shinon was now, Tatsuo also spent most of his time inside the forge, sparing little to no time for his son.

At first, Shinon hated him, but as he grew up, he realised things were never as black and white as he had thought. Even if Tatsuo didn’t show it, he loved Shinon more than anything or anyone else, as Shinon came to know once he began training with his dad.

"Those were the good days..." Shinon sighed. "I can’t believe it’s only been 5 years since then."

As Shinon sat in his tent, surrounded by the quiet of the night, he couldn’t help but think back to those days. He remembered how his father had always been so calm and collected, even in the face of the toughest challenges. A trait he admired and vowed to achieve one day, though he knew it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

He loved how his father would sit with him for hours in the forge, training hall, or lawn, teaching him the secret of life, which was to focus on the present moment. At the time, Shinon had thought it was all a waste of time, that it would never help him in the real world.

But as he sat there now, feeling the weight of the day’s challenges slowly lifting from his shoulders, he realised just how wrong he had been. His father’s teachings had been invaluable, helping him find the strength and resilience to face even the toughest of challenges.

Shinon closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the memories wash over him. He remembered how his father had always encouraged him to find his own path and to never give up, even in the face of adversity.

And that was precisely what Shinon had done. Even after his father had disappeared without a trace, Shinon continued to search for him, to try and find some answers. But as the years went by, he had slowly come to accept that he might never know what had happened to his father.

But that didn’t stop him from carrying on his father’s legacy. Every time he sat down in the forge, he could feel his father’s presence with him, guiding him, helping him find the balance between chaos and inner peace.

As he recalled his past, Shinon felt a sense of gratitude wash over him. He might never know what had happened to his father, but he had the gift his father left behind - the strength and resilience to face whatever challenges lay ahead. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

And that was exactly what he would do. As he stepped out of his tent and into the cool night air, he felt a renewed sense of determination. He would face whatever challenges the world threw at him, and he would do it with the same calm and collected demeanour that his father had always shown.

Shinon knew that his father’s legacy lived on, not just in his teachings but in the way he lived his life. And he was determined to carry that legacy with him wherever he went.

"Now that I got my mind at the right place," Shinon mumbled, removing a monster core from his shadow. "I can do something about this."