Hilt & Grimm
Grimm
Hey Hilt, your reverence for ancient swordplay is admirable—do you think the codes of honor were really about virtue or just a clever way to justify violence?
Hilt
The old codes were a mix of both. They set a rhythm and a discipline that kept warriors from becoming wild, but they also gave a cover for bloodshed when it was deemed necessary. Honor and violence were intertwined, not separate.
Grimm
So, a moral filter wrapped in a contract—nice. But what about the ones who slipped past the lines, using honor as a smokescreen for self‑interest? That’s where the real drama lies.
Hilt
You’re right, the drama is in the gray. When a warrior claims honor but acts only for personal gain, the contract breaks. Then the code turns from a shield into a weapon of deception, and the real battlefield is the one where virtue is tested, not just steel.
Grimm
Yeah, so honor becomes a mask, the real fight is inside the soul, not the sword. That’s the truest battlefield.
Hilt
Exactly, the true duel is within. When the blade rests, the mind remains the front line. Keep that inner guard steady, and the honor you wield will never be a mask.