Sapphie

Sapphie the Swordswoman (女剣士サフィー) is a collection of nine books written by author Caramulo Calamus. The books can be collected throughout.

Volume 1: "The Two Swordmasters"
Few know why she is called Sapphie. Some say it's her sapphire-blue eyes, others say it's her cold gemstone-like personality. Her rapier was faster than the wind and struck truer than the rays of the sun. She was at the very least equal of her male peers, and often showed superior talent. Sapphie found her only match from brad, a swordsman in valhalla. The names of these two swordsmen were known even among royalty, and their swords knew no fear - until the day they met.

Volume 2: "The Duel"
Sapphie and brad's first encounter was on a cold night, under a new moon. Sapphie was hired by Viscount Tormarine to take part in a duel. The opposing party was Garnet, eldest song of Barron jade and popular figure in social circles. Garnet's arrogance had crossed the line once too often, and viscount Tormarine was determined to teach him a lesson. Back then it was common to send a proxy to duel between aristocrats. The Tormarine family hired Sapphie, while the jade family hired brad to represent them. With their respective patrons looking on, The two swordsmasters faced each other, neither needing a cue to begin the duel. The two swordsmen drew their swords, the sharp sound of metal echoing in the dark night...

Volume 3: "Drifting Smoke"
Sapphie's rapier drew glinting arcs against the night sky. Brad's cutlass parried her blows with linear yet masterful precision. It was the first time Sapphie was impressed by an opponent. he was the first person to remain unscathed after being exposed to her lightning-quick assault of barrage of lunges. Brad, too, was surprised by Sapphie's lithe, natural grace. He also realized that his strength was rooted in hatred - a strong murderous intent against someone. Their clashing swords gave off sparks, small stars in the darkness. Their breath, white from the cold, were as nebulae in the night sky. A small thin girl, holding her own against a veteran of countless battles... Viscount Tormarine was enthralled by the two duelists, almost forgetting his animosity towards Baron Garnet. Baron Garnet, on the other hand, was smoking his pipe in a strangely relaxed manner. Sapphie and brad had no way of knowing the true reason for his composure.

Volume 4: "Bleeding wound"
Their duel, which seemed to last forever, ended in a way no one had expected. After sapphie tried to give her best reverse lunge at brad, she felt a sharp pain in her left arm. Brad didn't miss the chance. His cutlass made a deafening sound and repelled sapphie's rapier. Brad's last sword fell on a flinching sapphie. she closed her eyes firmly and waited for his blade to kill her. However, Brad turned around and threw his cutlass into the bushes. After a few moments, a man with a crossbow fell on the ground with a dull thump. sapphie stood up, pulling out the arrow pierced deep into her left arm. Her eyes glared in rage against Garnet who used the third party in the duel. Brad calmed down sapphie. Baron Garnet, who had sapphie shot from darkness, was stripped of his title for violating the rules of the duel.

Volume 5: "A Town in Grey"
It was almost dawn. Sapphie was walking down a narrow alley in the grey town, covering her wounded arm with her right hand. It was the dust heap of the kingdom the slum where adulterous women lived. No one called the Grey town by its real name. She found her home in Grey Town, calling herself sapphie. She sees a crumbling old mansion people with unclear pasts gathered and began living there. Sapphie was staying in a room with Amethys. People who lived there had little money and little consideration for others. A handful of aristocrats took the food from their hands. And they sold their conscience for a piece of bread. "This life fits me the best now..." Sapphie smiled bitterly and sarcastically because of the pain in her arm. The poorly-made bed with cotton padding hanging out here and there became her beloved possession. Amethys, who just turned 8, greeted her looking at his innocent smile, Sapphie felt as though she was losing consiousness.

Volume 6: "Nightmare"
A shadow moved across the candlelight. The dagger reflects an eerie light. It was a nightmare she had seen time and time again. She knew it was a dream, but she also knew she couldn't avert her eyes from the cruel sight. A shadow wielded a sword in madness. "Run!" She must have said this a thousand times. Red spatters of blood splashed onto the wall. Flowing blood took the life of her loved one. She saw herself when she was young, standing vacantly in front of the dead body. She remembered Brad's words after the duel."Hatred in the sword will bring you down." The young girl lifted the blood-covered sword. The girl had firmly shut lips, bundled brunette hair and chilly blue eyes that scared anyone who saw them."No!" Sapphie was released from the nightmare by her own scream.

Volume 7: "Father's Sword"
Cold sweat ran down Sapphie's cheek as Amethys stared at her worriedly. Sapphiehad slept for four days after the duel. Sapphie smiled at Amethys. The little boy had cared for her without sleeping. Relieved, Amethys handed Sapphie a small leather bag and a sealed parchment roll before falling asleep. They were delivered to her while Sapphie was sleeping. The leather bag contained a beautifully polished sapphire. It was a witty gift from Viscount Tormarine for her work. She casually opened the parchment. Reading the elaborately written letters, Sapphie tried to suppress the thumping of her heart. It was an invitation to a fight before the king. The long-awaited time has finally come. She took out a sword she had hidden under a wainscot."This sword will put an end to everything. . ." Sapphie whispered to the peaceful sleeping face of Amethys.

Volume 8: "Rematch"
Renowned swordsmen from throughout the realms arrived to fight in front of King Topaz. Brad and Sapphie drew particular attention, because everyone knew about their recent duel. Under the curious gazes of aristocrats looking for blood and glorious skills, Brad and Sapphie began a rematch. There would be no surrender. The title of first-class swordsman would be given to the winner, but the title had no value to Sapphie. Staring at Brad, she coordinated her breath. Bring down the man in front of her, and her life as a swordswoman would end. Sapphie drew her well-used saber and dashed at the overwhelmed Brad like a gust. She thrust her saber twice at his head and once at the side, in perfect rhythm. Initially on the defense, Brad turned to offense against Sapphie whose attacks became somewhat monotonous. Sapphie repeated the same offensive pattern whenever she had a chance. Everyone knew who the winner was. Sapphie repeated the same movements like there was nothing else she could do.However, in the final move she managed to twist her wrist and shoved her saber toward Brad's head. He knew it was coming, but Brad reacted in the same pattern his body had learned from Sapphie's repetitious movements. With her saber pressed against his forehead,Brad threw away his cutlass silently. A woman fighter became the number-one swordsmaster in the country.

Volume 9: "Avenging Blade"
Sapphie waited motionlessly for King Topaz to come down from his throne. "If you were a man, I could employ you as a court swordsman," said the king in a friendly tone as he approached Sapphie. Looking at the saber, the King murmured, ". . . Silfing . . ," and his voice faded. There had been a swordsman who masterfully handled this famous sword at will. His talent brought him closer to the secret of the royal family, and ultimately died with obvious cause. It was King Topaz himself who gave the order to kill him. Realizing something was wrong with the king, soldiers ran toward him. However, her saber was already at the king's throat. Her eyes turned into cold burning gemstones. They kept on burning in the flames of hatred. All she needed was to take a step forward, and she could kill the man who ordered the death of her father. When she saw herself in the aged eyes of the king, she remembered what Brad said: "Hatred in the sword will bring you down." Hatred awakens more hatred. What Sapphie had been fighting against was the burning, blue hatred inside her. Sapphie quietly put the Silfing into the sheath and walked off slowly. No one else moved. Her eyes gradually turned into tranquility like the surface of a lake. Swordswoman Sapphie - End