[When Hayame had first felt the feeling that blossoms in both her hearts the moment she hears that she is the first to speak the name tsukumogami, she honestly hadn't known why it was. After all... She had grown up in a world where humans and jinba both existed, neither more real than the other. If it were centuries before her birth... Yes, jinba had been seen as reclusive, mythical creatures, and humans had worshiped them as gods of the mountains, praying to them for rescue from dangerous predators, blessings for their harvests, and relief from natural disasters.

That had been ages ago, though, before humans discovered war, and developed a greed for more. More land, more wealth, more power... and more powerful soldiers to win the battles required to get them, whether those soldiers had to be captured, broken, or bred.

But because of that... She'd never needed to be desperate for someone to know what a jinba was. Everyone knew, even if they might not have seen one for themselves. They were "real".

And the feeling there aching in her chests... It's a black, ugly emotionshe stuffs it down as deep as she can, but. It's jealousy. That this man (sword) she just met... has someone who knows what he is. And she doesn't.]

I have heard tale... But I always thought them the domain of foolish children or men in their cups.

[But she has no right to deny his claim, in this world where so much impossible has already happened, witnessed with her own eyes. Even if he claimed to have seen centuries since... Well, he was a blade. And blades do not die until they are broken.]

Did that Yima woman make you this shape... ?